Category: Willpower

One month on …

A month without a blog post. It’s been a busy month and something had to give. So what have I done since my last post?

Well I visited France, tried Eurostar for the first time (a fan) and last week I ran a half marathon.

Did I feel ready to run? No. Honestly I don’t think I’d prepared enough and I knew it would be hard but wow.

It was hotter than the weather forecast predicted and my knee, even strapped up, didn’t hold out for that long.

For the first 6/7km I thought I was going to be pleased with my time but then the knee really started to hurt. So much so that when the 10km race and half split at 8.5km I really almost turned to finish at 10km.

A very last minute switch back the the half and i limped my way up multiple hills (Birmingham is hilly) and battled cramp right at the end (same point in the race as last year) to eventually get to the end.

Whilst I was really disappointed in myself in terms of time and how I did, I finished it – even when I really didn’t want to and that in itself is a win.

This week I’ve got back to it with a couple of Bootcamps, a strength class and some gym sessions and one small attempt at a run. My knee is still a massive issue but we move.

This week’s mission? Eat less!

Willpower

How many times have you lamented yourself for having no willpower when it comes to your diet?

We tend to think that sticking to something comes down to willpower, how much that we are committed to wanting it.

Willpower is a bit like motivation though, in that it comes and goes. It isn’t something you can rely on always having consistently.

The thing is you really only need willpower when things are very strict or restrictive.  If something is very hard to follow, time wise, or in how hungry/tired/ miserable it’s going to make you then there will be times where mind over matter is the only thing that keeps you sticking to it.

A diet plan or workout plan that is flexible and not restrictive however, allows for life changes, surprises, days where you can’t do the ideal. It allows for days where you want to eat more or things different to what you originally planned, it has wiggle room.

In effect willpower, like motivation, on it’s own will only ever allow for short term results. For longer term results you need a fool proof plan that accounts for the days where nothing goes right.