How do you handle disruptions in your fitness routine?
I’ve been away from home for over three months now. It took me several weeks to find a good rhythm with working out after my father’s death. Last week my mother and I traveled to visit my youngest brother and his family. I packed up my resistance tubes, fitness bands, tennis shoes, and my weighted vest. I actually managed to do two workouts and a 3 mile walk during the 5 days there. Then. BAM. A horrific toothache. I had cracked a crown and the pain was unbearable. I ended up having the tooth extracted after returning to my mother’s house. The combination of my husband’s arrival from Belize, pain medication, and the side effects I experienced from the meds, resulted in me not working out for four consecutive days.
It would have been easy to take another day or two off. But, I know me. One day can become two weeks that become two months if I’m not careful. Here are three things I told myself that helped me get back on track:
- “Change your thinking.” I used to think that if I couldn’t get in a full workout then it wasn’t worth it to suit up and workout. Nonsense. Instead of an intense 5 mile walk wearing my weighted vest, I went for a 1 ½ mile stroll holding hands with my husband and that was good enough for that day.
- “Check your goals.” I’m not training for a bodybuilding competition at this point so I don’t have to workout as if I am. My long term goal is still to compete but my short term goal has changed to finding a maintenance mode, learning how to program my own workouts, and improving my form.
- “Create a new plan!” Grab a fresh notebook or open up the note app on your phone and write/type out how many days you want to exercise, what kind of exercise you will do on those days, and when you’ll do them.
Change your thinking, check your goals, and create a new plan. Two workouts a day, five days a week just isn’t sustainable for me right now. But instead of giving up, I choose to refocus, and slowly determine my newest version of normal amidst all the turbulence in this season of my life. If you’re struggling to get back to where you once were, or needing a push to actually get started, then put these three things into action, and see where they take you!
Let’s Reflect: How has the way you’re thinking impacted your fitness routine? What changes, if any, do you need to make with your goals? Take some time, but not too long, contemplating a new plan to help you get on track.
Let’s Pray: Father God, we praise and adore You. You are our God. We are grateful for the way You have designed us. Help us to glorify You with our bodies. Help us to take care of ourselves so that we can better serve You and Your people. Give us the insight we need to see what changes we need to make in our thinking, our goals, and our routines. We trust ourselves into Your hands and we dedicate our bodies to Your service. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Amen! This was great. Most times when I get into a steady workout pattern, after a few months something happens to throw me off. Then it becomes hard to get back.
Although I need to lose fat, right now gaining strength and flexible is sort of priorities. So to restart, I’ve started doing old school aerobics. It has been helping my joint pains and stiffness. After a few days, I don’t feel like I need to be oiled like the Tin Man when I wake up in the morning.
And also, those strenuous workouts have me in a lot of pain the next day. Which often makes me want to do nothing at all.
It’s great that you were able to find something that doesn’t make you feel stiff and sore. I’ve started using resistance tubes, bands, and a fitness ball. All of them are so much easier on the joints!