Help! I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!

My 'Birfday week' has essentially turned into two. I feel like I accidentally slipped into a rut last week and haven't climbed out. I am not eating nearly the way I was, and my gym attendance has tanked. To make matters worse, one of my accountability partners has been away on business/ preoccupied with familial responsibilities and the other lives with me and we can sway each other for bad just as easily as for good and this week we were equally swayed away from the gym. So what now? Is this it after only two months? Is this project over?

Nope.

This is just another challenge to overcome. This presents a new aspect of the lifestyle change: the rut or burnout, or Life Alert moment if you will. Like so many geriatric actors form the TV infomercials I have fallen and I can't seem to get up.

Physically there are challenges present, but mostly, this change feels very mental/ emotional. So here's how I plan on addressing each of those issues:

Physical Limitations and Getting in Shape

Since beginning this project I believe I have injured one of my shoulders and I am experiencing some issues with one of my hips (told you I was like a geriatric actor). I know lots of other people have their own physical limitations that can get in the way and keep them from exercising, but they don't have to. Sometimes all it takes is activity replacement or taking breaks from specific exercises. For me I currently can't do any overhead presses or bench press exercises because of the pain it causes in my shoulder. So instead I have been (or was, and will be again) replacing them with alternative exercises that put less pressure on the joint and decreased weight while I work on strengthening the stabilizing muscles. Is this a bummer? Absolutely! In some ways this is a big setback and will limit the growth I might have otherwise seen, but this isn't an end all. I still have my goals, I just need to get my head back in the game.

Staying Mentally Engaged

This one has been a struggle for me the past couple weeks. The soreness in my shoulder/ hip and the wave of sugary birthday treats made for a nasty motivation killing combo.How do you get back in? how do you keep those discipline aids handy? After thinking about it, there really is no other way than doing as Nike and Shia Labeouf say:

 This is where most people fall apart. I can say honestly that I want to, except that when I look at myself in the mirror, I am still not pleased with what I am seeing. There is no fix-all for keeping your head in the game, and my approach may be different than what works for you, that may be a matter of self discovery. But my mantra this week will be "suck it up buttercup".


This Week's Prime Directive

I am going to put my 6 week goals on the back-burner for a bit and focus on a single primary objective this week: Get back in the saddle. I need a hard reboot and I think it deserves full focus for this week as I will be re-cleansing myself both physically and emotionally. I invite everyone to do likewise: pick a single 'Prime Directive' for the week and don't stress about anything extraneous. If there has been something you are putting off or something that you have been in a rut with, Then join with me in conquering your own barriers.

I would love to hear what your Prime Directives are this week and how you are going to get out of your rut. Post in the comments below!