Psych, Psyche, Psyched

You all know that I have started an exercise program, and it s going well, I usually make it to the Y five days a week and workout on the exercise machines as well as the treadmill or the stationary bicycle. There is one machine that I have a hard time with - it's the one that's like a bench press - where you almost lie down and then push up a the weights with the handle bar - if you don't know what I'm talking about, I can't help you, because I can't explain it any better - but anyway, I can only lift 10 pounds on this machine - all the others I have been able to either do more reps or add weight - but not this one, and I have to psych myself up for it just to do 2 sets of 12 reps. I was thinking about that today as I was approaching this machine. I literally have to talk myself into it and then visualize myself doing at least 24 lifts. One day I will increase the weight, but for now I am satisfied just to be able to do the 24 lifts.

As I was thinking about this, I also wondered how many of you have to psych yourself up just to get started on a new eating program that will reduce your body weight to where you want it to be. And then,I wondered how your psyche was affected when you had a bad day and completely blew your eating program - did you beat yourself up over it and then decide that since you already blew the program, you might as well continue eating everything in sight because it wouldn't make any difference. It probably wouldn't help any to tell you that what you have just done is something that is experienced by almost everyone who has ever decided to reduce their weight.
It may not be a desired reaction, but it is a normal reaction - to beat yourself up for not keeping the faith - your faith in you that you have been building. I started to say that it was a rational reaction - but you can rationalize yourself into almost any situation - and come out on top with some sort of a acceptable excuse for your actions. If you have had a "bad eating day" put it behind you and get up tomorrow morning knowing that this will be a better day and that you can psych yourself up for a great day, free from guilt of past transgressions - because psyching yourself up is the same as looking at the day with a POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE!

You just made a mistake, and mistakes can be forgiven and learned from. Even though you had a bad day yesterday, take away from that day only the lesson you learned, and that would be "Do you know why you went off the wagon?" Do just a little analyzing and see if you can pinpoint the reason or reasons you decided you needed to stray a bit, and when you have learned what that reason was, remember it for future reference so you will be aware of it if it pops it's ugly head up again, and then forget the rest - the guilt, the blame, the shame - you just made a mistake
that will not be repeated.

So if this is the day after, psych your pshche and remember you have been psyched by your POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE and go out and slay your dragons with a free and clear mind and the knowledge that today is a new day and a better day.

Think Thin Thoughts,

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