As I mentioned in my last post, this week I had to get my backside back into the gym and this felt a lot harder than I had anticipated.
I took my gym bag to work with me on Wednesday, full of good intentions, that was until my motivation went out of the window. My office buddy kept verbally poking me when I showed signs of wavering:
Me: I'm so tired today, I might not go tonight.
OB: Alex, go to the gym.
Me: But I feel really tired, I'll see how I feel at five.
OB: Alex, go to the gym.
Me: *sigh*
It got worse. By the end of the day I really didn't want to go. That mental hurdle was too high and I didn't want to play. I even stayed late at work in order to mistime my bus, arrive late at the gym and do a lot less.
OB: Oi. It's 5.20pm. Why are you still here?
Me: *faffs* I'm leaving in a minute.
OB: Alex, GO TO THE GYM NOW.
Me: *huffs* *picks up bags* *leaves*
"Alright. Blimey. I'm going." I headed out, put my gym playlist on my iPod and off I went. I heard those words in my internal voice all the way to the gym. Alex, go to the gym. I got my bus on time. Alex, go to the gym. I got to the gym on time. Alex, go to the gym. I was on the gym floor on time. My music had put me into my exercise frame of mind, that little voice was relentlessly nagging me and the universe clearly wanted me to go to the gym that evening. I was there now and in no state to argue with the universe, so I cracked on.
Wow. I beat my personal bests for weights that evening. I decided to run for my cardio (destined to fail, surely - I'd had 10 days off the gym and hadn't run since New Years Eve). Nope! The universe intervened again and I got into my stride and managed 2.5km in less than 20 minutes. I really surprised myself.
Along with my verbally-pokey office buddy and her lovely mantra, music is probably my best motivator. I created a playlist (yes, it's called Gymbunny) and it really keeps me in the gym flow when I listen to it (it's become my favourite playlist, actually). Music has always been very powerful and very important to me. It can lift me, it can break me, it can soothe me, it can move me - I doubt I'd be able to function for very long without it. I'll make a promise to replicate my playlist on Spotify, I'll post the link to it when it's complete.
Anyway, back to that workout. I surprised myself and felt delighted with myself afterwards. It inspired some confidence; that even though I'd taken time off all my hard work hadn't gone to hell. I could still achieve personal bests and even run! I took this motivation to the gym with me today and after my weights session I decided I'd have a go at running again. The treadmills in my gym work on 20 minute countdowns, so I set it for double time, started up my Nike+ and got running.
I felt awful just before the 1.5km mark so slowed down, caught my breath and listened to my music. A great song came on so I picked up my pace, I only had 5 minutes to go, this song would get me through it.
Then another great song came on. And another. And another. Eventually the treadmill hit Cool Down and I stopped. I'd run for 45 minutes and covered 6.22km - my longest distance in 6 months! By accident! I LOVE MY PLAYLIST!!
Everyone motivates themselves in different ways, and not everyone has a office buddy who nags you, but I know from now on that the music I carry with me is my best friend in such circumstances. As is that little voice in my head that still chirped up at 3pm this afternoon when I was sat on the couch drinking tea.
Alex, go to the gym.
And look what that little voice helped me achieve today.
