Counterintuitive

[sorchawench]

Contrary to what common sense would suggest, I'm trying it again. Another New Year's resolution.

What is the point of New Year's resolutions? As if for some reason, this time of the year willpower is stronger than other times. As if, during the cold months of winter we find it easier to hold fast to those changes we want to make than in the summer months.

That's bunk and I know it. New Year's resolutions are about hope—the thing with feathers that allows us to believe self-improvement is possible.

The New Year brings forth a renewed sense of hope. That maybe we can persevere and make this coming year better than the one before. Maybe we can quit smoking, loose 30 pounds, work out more, spend more time with our family, volunteer more often....the list goes on and on.

Despite my past resolutions and failures, this year I'm going to make a concerted effort to regain a certain level of fitness. It's not about the numbers this time, it's about how I feel. I need to get back some flexibility and health. Less pain when I move. I know part of this is impossible, there are aspects of my health that will always preclude a certain level of pain for me. But I also know I have a lot of areas I can improve.

And so once again, with the dropping of the ball, I start again. Despite my past track record, despite what common sense would dictate will happen. Hoping that this time I'll succeed.

Comments

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

OH yes with you---, am the same, I write 'goals; in the front of my diary. This year, just for once want to tick them all at the end of the year. Well done.

[blue-eye.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel...I struggle with that all the time, but my inner laziness and tiredness kicks in...ugh...

As a rule, I never make reservations because I always break them. The only reservation I ever made was the one where I said I would make no more reservations and that is the only one I have ever kept.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

My lack of willpower/follow through/laziness is usually my downfall.

[greeklady.livejournal.com]

So cool man. I can't tell you the range of motion just in the sac has improved so much because of my weight loss. Not to mention being able to sit cross legged on the floor without pain, legs falling asleep and just being comfortable.

You can totally do this. My trick is to try not to let more than 3 days happen between a workout. Then the pattern seems to be broken. Unless it is due to a migraine but that means I need to kick my ass that 4th day.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I can't sit cross-legged right now due to knee pain & lack of flexibility. And that's sad.

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

I knwo this feeling! I want to get some kind of fitness routine going, but my motivation is so low, and I'm not really sure what to do while the weather is so cold around here.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Yoga. All you need is a little floor space.

[whipchick.livejournal.com]

Go for it! And good luck!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm going to need all the luck I can get!

[phoenixsansfyr.livejournal.com]

Even if it's a little bit, every day, every tiny little bit counts towards better. Good luck.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Right now I'm baby stepping it with walking & light yoga.

[phoenixsansfyr.livejournal.com]

Walking is always good! How do you like yoga? My gym offers yoga twice a week and I keep thinking maybe I'll go, just so I have something to do other than swim and stare dubiously at the machines, but I'm not sure.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I enjoy yoga. And it helps me stretch those stiff joints in a low impact kinda way.

[basric.livejournal.com]

Well done.(=

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shadowwolf13]

Yay you! :D

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

<3

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

Some wise person said the only real failure is when we stop trying--
so good luck with your endeavors!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

I make resolutions every year, even when I know I probably won't keep most of them. I agree, it's about hope, hope that the next year will be better than the last, and hope that things will not always be like this. If you can't have hope, what can you have?

Funny, though, because New Year falls in our summer, so I'm not sure if we're better or worse at keeping to them than you in the Northern Hemisphere!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

The big thing here in the winter is always about getting ready for swimsuit season. They tout the winter as the time to get ready for summer and bikinis.

[m-malcontent.livejournal.com]

A good idea to be less scale-centric this time. I hope you accomplish much good stuff in the new year.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

It's taken me years to get away from the numbers game. It should be based on overall health, not weight to height ratio.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Death to Common Sense (if Common Sense dictates failure)!

Good luck! :)

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[liret.livejournal.com]

I've recently started trying monthly goals, and I'm having a bit more success with them then I did with the New Years ones. I think what I really like best, though, is getting that chance to start over every 30 days instead of having to wait until January.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Several of us at work are going to do a 6 month challenge with monthly rewards for the person who loses the biggest percentage of weight.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. I have similar goals.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your resolutions - hope they all work out for you :D

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so far, so good!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I agree, that's why I'm starting with it instead of something like Zumba or pilates.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

You can do it! I liked this contemplative look at resolutions. Personally, I think we do it on January 1 because: the calendar year feels like a clean break; and since we know other people are doing it. There's something to be said for the feeling that others are in it with you.

FYI, if you'd like to follow my alt LJ, renewmom, I'm tracking my efforts to lose my pregnancy weight. If I manage to lose a pound a week this year, I'd actually be down where I was pre-pregnancy!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I friended your alt journal. A pound a week sounds completely reasonable and doable.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

I'm focusing more on flexibility and how I feel as opposed to the numbers game this year. I'm hoping that as I see results there, I'll feel a sense of accomplishment, even if the scale doesn't budge.

[dslartoo.livejournal.com]

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions but this year I've done the same as you. Of course, this year I have a deadline as well: my brother's wedding in mid-February, so I have an incentive to lose a few pounds and look my best for that. The rest of the year should be cake by comparison.

I'm hoping to lose 40 by the end of the year. Perfectly doable, once I start exercising again. It IS hard to get back into good habits. I feel your pain.

cheers,
Phil

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you!

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Goode luck! I hope you are successful!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Good luck! Don't think about the past, only focus on now. Take it day by day. I'm working on getting back into a fitness routine too.

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and good luck to you!

[dblicher.livejournal.com]

Hunh! What a great use of the prompt. I had never thought about New Year's resolutions are being counterintuitive, but of course they are. Good luck, too!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your resolution - if you believe it, you can achieve it!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

LOL, Which is why I didn't set myself too high a standard. I can never fool myself into believing it. Thank you!

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

I think that's a healthier approach to a 'new' year than making a bunch of promises to yourself that you know you can't possibly keep. I don't make resolutions at all; I have goals and when I reach one, I go for the next one. Eventually I can look back and see a lot of little changes become habit instead of a big mess. Good writing!

[sorchawench.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!