Running shoes.  Check.  Sweet and stylish new running pants.  Check.  Comfortable hoodie for that brisk cold run.  Check.  Load running app on phone.  Check.  Bring up music player with heart pounding, adrenaline inducing music.  Check.  Favorite location to run.  Just arrived!  Let’s go for that run!  Turn on the running app, turn on the music, plug in my headpho…. Oh no.  I left my headphones at home!!!  My run is ruined.  I’m heading home.  Maybe I’ll run tomorrow.

It’s amazing how easily some of us get deterred from doing something.  Bad hair day, headache, didn’t get the morning coffee, broken toe, sore shoulder, gym clothes are in the washer…I’ve heard all the excuses.  And accepted none of them.  There is always something that you can do at the gym or for your health.  Going along with the theme of limits from the previous article, it applies to exercise as well.  We like to set limits on what we do.  Yes, if you broke your foot, it’s probably not a good idea to do squats.  But why do use this limiting factor to limit everything else health wise?  I’ve seen far too many clients take time off for something simple such as a broken toe or sore shoulder only to return to the gym months later 20 lbs heavier.  Since when does a broken toe lead to poor eating decisions and removal of upper body workouts?  Because limiting yourself is contagious!  We see minor setbacks and assume all is lost and give up on the big goal.  These minor setback are a quick way to discover who you are.  Did you abandon your goals due to a minor setback?  I find those who do this, tend to be looking for a way out at all times, and when given even a small reason, will take the road out.  While others look at the minor setbacks as obstacles to conquer and opportunities to spend more time and energy elsewhere.  If you have an injured leg, this means you can now fill that leg workout slot with more upper body or core to get even stronger!  We don’t learn who we are on our best days; we learn who we are on our worst days.

This article is short but sweet.  Don’t take those minor setbacks as a way out, but as a challenge.  Like I mentioned in the previous article for this month, not only is limiting yourself contagious, so is removing those limits!  Here’s some advice.  Make the right decision and don’t hesitate.  How many times have you laid in bed, all comfortable, still a little sleepy and thought to yourself, “Should I stay in bed a little bit longer, or get up and get started with the day and what needs to be done?”  Stop thinking, just do it, you know the right answer.  The hesitation leads to wasted time, nothing else.  Remove the hesitations, remove the limits and watch yourself propel past those supposed limits!