I’m a personal trainer and it took me 6 months to complete a 12 week workout program and I couldn’t be happier. Here’s why…
This summer, I decided to try something different when it came to my workouts. I have been a personal trainer for nearly 10 years, and to be perfectly honest, when it came to planning my own workouts, I was bored.
I create workout programs for clients often, and while I am more than capable of making a great program, much like many of my clients, sometimes I just don’t want to have to think about what I’m going to do at the gym.
Outside of working out, I am typically quite active. I do Brazilian jiu jitsu 2 - 3 times per week, kickboxing once per week, and, if I can make enough time in my schedule, weekly yoga. I also walk to work most days of the week, except right now, because I sprained my ankle doing jiu jitsu last week.
Long before my injury, roughly 6 months ago in fact, I decided to purchase a program from a coach I had been following online. This coach works specifically with jiu jitsu athletes, and after following home for awhile, and consuming some of his free content, I had come to appreciate his approach and decided to sign up.
When I went to start the program, the first thing I appreciated was that, although he had suggestions about how much and how often to train, he acknowledged that it was important to find a training frequency that makes sense with your other activities, and your schedule.
So while I had chosen to start with a “12-week Program” the program would only be completed in 12 weeks if you did 3 sessions per week, without interruption.
Fortunately, I am at a place in my relationship with exercise, where I can (FINALLY) look at what is going to be realistic for me, and be ok with that, instead of pushing myself to complete everything perfectly.
Instead, I focussed on what I could realistically do the most consistently.
I decided that, since I am already so active, I would be better off reducing my frequency to 2 times per week, and looked at what days/times I could realistically fit that into my schedule without sacrificing rest and recovery time.
At first, I kept my 2-per-week routine going strong, as usually happens during a new workout routine, especially one that I was enjoying as much as this one. As the weeks went on however, inevitably, things would come up.
I got a cold
My body was stiff and sore
I went on a vacation
My schedule changed
I got injured
You know… ordinary, every day, life stuff happened.
But instead of beating myself up when I missed a workout, I just allowed it to happen, and then I moved on.
There were a few weeks where I only managed 1 workout and a few where I didn’t work out at all. There were also a few weeks where I finished 3 workouts, and others where I choose to shorten or modify the workouts.
And I just kept trucking along.
I was no worse or better from week to week, I simply gave myself permission to be, and do, or do not.
This gave me the opportunity to actually listen to how my body and mind were feeling and choose my movement accordingly. It also encouraged me to keep moving forward.
I didn’t have to quit or start again because it wasn’t perfect, I just had to keep doing what I could, when I could, and give myself credit for that.
So although it has taken me nearly twice as long to complete this program, I am celebrating this win simply because I completed it, and I completed it with self compassion. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I also got stronger, improved my mobility, and was able to perform exercises that had previously been too challenging for me. Progress comes with consistency, and imperfect action is the best way to achieve consistency. Fitness is not a race, it is not about reaching the finish line as fast as possible, it is about being able to keep going.
Comments