Sunday, September 19, 2010

Help me out

Help! I've lost my mojo.

Despite last week's post on getting serious about planning for success, I have had a pretty crappy week when it comes to fitness. My diet has been okay, but not stellar. I have been dreading every run and not putting my heart into my workouts. What's worse is that I've totally been neglecting the blog, and all of YOUR great blogs because my heart just isn't in it. What is up with that!? I guess I kinda feel like a fraud to be posting here when I'm just talking the talk and not walking the walk.

I'm sure everyone feels this way once in a while, but I've been fighting it for about two weeks now. How do you get past it? Advice please!!! ;)

I've taken a few small steps to help get me 'back into it'.

First, I bought a new scale. My old scale was giving me grief due to inconsistency. I mean, I could weigh myself within three 30-second intervals and get weights that swung by 10-pounds either way. Not cool. The new scale is very consistent and it's digital. Yeah!

Second, I am setting the weight-loss clock to zero. I am going to be tracking pounds lost from here on out and tracking them in my side bar.

Third, I am taking advantage of music. I don't know about you, but music can make or break a workout for me. The right song can motivate me to get my shoes on, or push me to give that little bit extra on a run. I've been listening to The Killers album, Hot Fuss today and it has already helped inspire me to get in a big hike with the dog and play tennis with Hubs for 45 minutes....and I'm already planning my evening run or bike ride! I've included some songs in my playlist. What music keeps you moving?

Finally, I'll leave you with a quote that has meant a lot to me this week:
Success is not final,
Failure is not fatal,
It is courage to continue that counts
- Winston Churchill.

Have a good one & keep moving!
Rae
xx

15 comments:

  1. We must be on the same wave length. I was going through my reader and wondering where my posts from you were. So I went straight to your blog to see if you just weren't showing up on the reader and it said you posted this one minute ago.

    I am struggling with my mojo too! I blame the scale for my issues. I have been working so hard with the challenges I am participating in...and yet there is NO change on the scale. It is soo frustrating! Last week I sparked all week, did my shred, and did 3 gym workouts and lost NOTHING!

    I have decided the best thing for me is to ignore the scale for awhile and just focus on fitness. I pushed out 10 miles today at the gym (ran 4 miles, biked 6 miles) and I feel so much better. I am going to continue to spark 5 days a week and really focus on fitness. I will go back to only weighing once a month.

    Hope you get that mojo back! I know you have it in you! You don't know how much of an inspiration you are to me!

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  2. Rae, I get most of my motivation from reading the blogs of others. There have been at least 3 days in the last two weeks that I have come home from a long day of work and told myself I wasn't going to work out, but I would blog and read other blogs. Then, after reading about everyone else's success I WANTED to work out. I didn't want to be left behind. I don't know if that would work for you, but it's work a try. I am also a sap for motivational mixes (youtube videos, TV interniews, etc.) so I'm going to email you a youtube video that was on Annie Weigh's blog a couple days ago. I cried when I saw it because I wanted the feeling of finishing a marathon like this guy SO BAD! And I know you do to. I am rooting for you!

    And I LOVE the song SEXY BITCH by David G. It always keeps me going.

    <3 Katie

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  3. I am facing it a bit too right now...I think my head is just enjoying not "working at it" right now. Many people would disagree with me, but I think that this effort can handle a few breaks now and then. You'll get back to it soon enough, I'm sure.

    Music? The Fratellis (Costello Music album).

    Also, this is what I used last time I was really in need of my mojo. http://clydesdaleproject.blogspot.com/2010/07/in-slump-try-my-lowered-expectations.html

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  4. We all struggle with this. Clyde's right, in my opinion - sometimes a plateau is a reasonable thing. The path to a new body is never straight.

    My advice is:

    1. Stay accountable. Great idea to track weight on the sidebar.

    2. Mix it up. What workout have you thought about doing? Try it for a while. Or try a new eating plan, new foods, etc. I love that my plan switches every two weeks. It keeps me out of ruts.

    3. A friend of mine played trumpet on "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones. That's a good pick me up.

    Raegun, you've been a great support to all of us. We want to see you succeed!

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  5. You can do this...come back to blogging - that always helps!

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  6. You'll get through this Rae. Just keep fighting one day at a time. The battle may have to fought a few times because there you win for good. It's worth the fight...I believe it!

    I hate running to music. Can you believe that? I think it's b/c I teach music for a living, so I constantly analyze it and I find it hard if the beat of the music isn't consistent to the rhythm of my running.

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  7. Great post and I can totally relate! Just blogged a few minutes ago about my challenges this week! As for getting into a workout. I used to dread going for a run. But I knew once I got into it I would love it and feel great! And I always did. And then I hurt my ankle about a month ago(while training for my first 5K that I never made it to...grrr) and havent been able to run since. And I swear my whole outlook on exercise and running has changed. I am so bummed and now I cant wait to get back out there! I totally took my capability to even be able to exercise for granted. And now that I cant I am so lost! While the situation totally stinks it may be just what I needed mentally. And you are definately right about finding the right music. I keep a piece of paper and pen with me and whenever i hear a song that pumps me up I write it down so I can download it later to my workout playlist. I know for sure I could not run without upbeat music.
    You are doing great! You will find what works for you best for motivation. Keep up the great work!!!

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  8. When I excercise I tend to listen to a mix of the old 80's music. It tends to bring me back to my teen years and the memories keep me moving. Because I am seeing a dietician, I am also not focusing on the scale, but concentrating on excercising and eating to what they have told me to eat. Everything, for me, will come in time, so just stick to it.

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  9. my mojo has been missing for months, and only just coming back, thanks to my zumba, bellydancing and pilates classes. maybe you could try a new class a week? i'm all about variety, too, and this has kept me focused and interested.

    i need variety in music too, and when i'm giving the rock a bit of a breather, i'll go for a bit of booty-shakin' beyonce. can't go wrong.

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  10. Everyone gets in a slump now and then. I think you are making great changes to help you get back into things. I think that if you keep up on other's blogs, that will help keep you motivated. Maybe you'll read about someone not feeling like getting a run in, but they did, and then that motivates you to get your workout in. I know you'll get back into it!

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  11. You know from reading my posts that I have been in a funk for a while, but I am busting free and I'm going to drag you with me! You are such a sweet and encouraging person...take the time to use a little of that gift on yourself to help get you back in the game. It looks like you're at the door, so here we go!

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  12. You already said what I was going to say! When I'm feeling like I need a boost to pull me out of a funk I always turn to music. I get bored with the same thing over and over and sometimes its fun for me to just mix it up and put old songs that make me smile on them. Cyndi Lauper is always a winner, and then songs like EMF's Unbelievable and Jesus Jones' Right Here, Right Now. LOVE those songs. I like the stuff that reminds me of being a care free kid - or in the instance of those last two songs - apparently an awkward teenager!
    Another thing I do when I feel like I have no motivation - I read everybody else's bogs about their great runs. That makes me want to have one, too!
    And my last thing I do, mostly 'cause I'm totally obsessed with him, is watch movies about Steve Prefontaine. He had such amazing drive and ran no matter what. Stitches in his foot? Eh, no biggie - he still went out and set a new record. I figure if he can do that kind of stuff, I can go on a little run through my neighborhood.

    Good luck - you'll be back in fighting shape in no time!
    ~RR

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  13. Geat honest post Rae. I had been feeling this way myself. I just signed up for a 12 week body transformation program which will take me until christmas. I'm comitted to it and had to write myself goals of where I wanted to be in 1 month and 3 months, 6 months and 12 months and it really makes you stop and think about where you really what to be. Sometimes it helps to work backwards to get to your goal. I realised I need to stop fluffing about if I am going to get to my new year goal (which is sky diving in NZ) and so far so good, the motivation is right up there!

    Hang in there, you'll get your mo-jo back xx

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  14. you've got to get your mojo back I'm counting on you for my Saturday race!

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  15. love the quote!

    doesn't it make you feel good to know that you're not alone in this slump! we all go through it, it's just important not to stay stagnent! chin up!

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