I was reading an article in Self magazine yesterday (or at least trying to - I was bouncing up and down on an exercise machine that simulates side-to-side cross country skiing so it was hard to focus on the words) and the subject was happiness. The gist was that too many people are focused on the goal they've made for themselves and don't enjoy the journey. For instance, "I'll be happier when I ... get that job, find that mate, lose the weight." Then, when they don't reach their goal, they not only feel like failures, but aren't any happier than they were when they started.
Since many of us have just signed on to reach a goal of some sort I thought I'd pass along that wisdom. (I'd bet money it's easier to lose the weight if you're enjoying yourself.)
I took stock while I was trudging through my workout and realized that I am happy when I'm at the gym or working out. When I'm not happy, I change what I'm doing. Get off the treadmill and do some weights. Go on the elliptical instead of the stairmill. Take a new class, or stop taking the same class I always do. Nothing says the process has to suck (although some days, that's just the way it's going to be). My 4.5 year old niece and I played "Soccer Coach" the other day. We kicked the ball around. We stretched. We did sprints from the fence post to a lamp post. She giggled and laughed the whole time and thought it was an amazingly good time. To her, it was playing pretend. You remember what that was like right? When a cardboard box could be a rocket ship, or a castle, or a cave? I got in some quality time with her AND some cardio.
On a totally unrelated note, here's a silly, but astute, internet quiz. (Any quiz that tells me I'm perceptive and smart is a good one in my book.)
What color are you?
On another, only vaguely related, and mildly TMI, note, an additional good thing about eating your veggies is having good poops - as opposed to the kind where you end up passed out on the floor of the bathroom at work. Not that I'd know anything about that.
Since many of us have just signed on to reach a goal of some sort I thought I'd pass along that wisdom. (I'd bet money it's easier to lose the weight if you're enjoying yourself.)
I took stock while I was trudging through my workout and realized that I am happy when I'm at the gym or working out. When I'm not happy, I change what I'm doing. Get off the treadmill and do some weights. Go on the elliptical instead of the stairmill. Take a new class, or stop taking the same class I always do. Nothing says the process has to suck (although some days, that's just the way it's going to be). My 4.5 year old niece and I played "Soccer Coach" the other day. We kicked the ball around. We stretched. We did sprints from the fence post to a lamp post. She giggled and laughed the whole time and thought it was an amazingly good time. To her, it was playing pretend. You remember what that was like right? When a cardboard box could be a rocket ship, or a castle, or a cave? I got in some quality time with her AND some cardio.
On a totally unrelated note, here's a silly, but astute, internet quiz. (Any quiz that tells me I'm perceptive and smart is a good one in my book.)
What color are you?
| YELLOW |
You are very perceptive and smart. You are clear and to the point and have a great sense of humor. You are always learning and searching for understanding.
On another, only vaguely related, and mildly TMI, note, an additional good thing about eating your veggies is having good poops - as opposed to the kind where you end up passed out on the floor of the bathroom at work. Not that I'd know anything about that.
Comments
And that is why I am loving having more salads.