Thursday, August 8, 2013

Getting on a Training Schedule

Yep, I would say for me this is the hardest thing to do. My wife Elizabeth is a runner too, but she is also an incredible mother to our 3 amazing boys; 8,7, and 5. In addition, she does the family finances, runs her Food For Life Classes, cooks meals for all of us, does the shopping, etc. etc. So when can she workout? The answer; whenever she can fit it in, but it isn't always about what time, but whether she has the energy at that time.

Truth be told, being an actively involved mother is like 24/7 cross-training, and if your a mom, not only do you not get paid for the intellectual skill set you have on the non-mom stuff, but you're not even paid as an athlete. Spiritual and physical pay-off can sometimes run pretty thin, and a non-regular workout can keep one in a maintenance mode.

It's simply not fair, but as an involved Dad I have to remember to take over for her the best way possible, which can mean that even I don't get to workout. At least not when I would like to. Often times we are pushing ourselves through a workout that isn't as enjoyable as it could be, hoping to make that weekend long run all the more enjoyable as we tag-team our workouts and watching the boys.

I love the early morning runs in the canyons in SoCal. It is meditative, and revitalizing. It is often my church. Balance is so critical, and with a busy family and work. If you are bent on gaining in your fitness, or even just maintaining you have to get to bed early, rise early to run, eat the right food, leave work at work, embrace the family as it is w/o feeling robbed of time to yourself, don't drink too much, etc. etc. Just remember that you are human, and it won't happen consistently, just aspire to it.

So how do you do this? Well if you are mentally prepared and stable, you will be ready to get physically stable and fit. Proper sleep and eating right are the most critical to a sound mind and body. People with less stress and greater optimism are more productive, and have a greater impact on the people around them. If you put that which is good in your body, you will get good from your body. Otherwise it is crap in, crap out. I find so much helpful information on what foods to eat from my wife's  research and cooking classes https://www.facebook.com/FFL.Elizabeth.Federman, as well as http://www.pcrm.org/health/

Find out what foods can put you in a positive mental space. One of empowerment, kindness, healthful living, and growth. Once you do this, you will be able to lock into a routine better. Your schedule will become more organized because you are better able to deal with the mental adversity of the day.  Yes there will be unexpected setbacks, but you will be able to deal with the better in a more healthful way.

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