This post appears as part of our healthier series 2021, in which we follow three members of the WebMD team while striving to improve their health this year. You can follow your journeys here.
by Mark Spoor
Back in December, WebMD sent internal email asking employees if someone would like to blog in trying to lose weight they won during the large pandemic of 2020 ( And now, sadly, 2021).
To be honest, when email arrived, my mind was anywhere, but in fitness. The holidays were coming, and my house was full of these big scents that the holidays bring: baking cookies, big meals and sides being prepared, and if you are married to my wife, candles, candles and more candles.
oh my lord, the candles.
Still, for a day or more, I went back to my head on whether or not I should raise my hand. I knew it was going to be difficult (fitness trips are always), but I knew if I offered myself or not, I would have to do something. My clothes were fitting tighter, and with all the stress of the pandemic, I just was not feeling well.
Diet Entrance Exam Date 2021 - Healthier 2021: Mark's Accomplishing More Than He Thought He Could
And then hit me: Knowing that I had a blog there standing every week would probably give me the impulse I needed to totally commit. Then I raised my hand.
I'm so happy that I did.
Was that difficult sometimes? Absolutely. There were days when the only reason I got to my bike was that I had a blog due in the next few days? Guilty.
But here is the thing: I learned that with the right motivation, and the right circumstances, I have it in me to be disciplined when it comes to fitness.
and then you.
When this whole thing began, there was no one less athletic than me. I was that boy in the gym class that fell 50 yards behind the package when it's time to run. My sport growing: Bowling - one of the only sports where pizza and french fries are almost required equipment.
As I became an adult, I honestly thought that all the aptitude had passed by me. I had never been taught to exercise, and I saw myself as awkward and uncoordinated when it came to anything approaching the athletics. So I would never have dreamed of taking fitness classes at a gym. I would be very self-conscious.
Of course with the pandemic, the classes I had avoided in gyms were now going on online, and once I had the chance to try them alone, in the privacy of my office, I came to a surprising revelation .
I can do this - as long as I stay out of my own way.
If you are on site I was last December - if you know you need to make a change, but you're not sure you can do this - you know you can.
You really can.
First, find at least a real reason to do so. You can have more than one. I had two:
- Fear of diabetes
- The need to be healthy for my family
You have yours. No matter what they are counted from being important to you. No one needs to know about it. Just find him, and remember him every day.
Once you have your reason, find activities you would like to do. Be bike, swimming, race, yoga, walk, jump rope, or anything else that takes you in motion and your heart pumping, make sure you find things you think will stay with.
Next, find people who hold you guardians. For me, it was all of you, just like my colleagues healthier bloggers 2021, Laura and Bill. Both are going so well. I am totally positivity, completely proud of its achievements, and honored to call them friends.
More important, be patient with yourself and concentrate on the long game. You do not have to be ready to manage a marathon tomorrow. It does not matter that you can not touch your fingers yet. One day you go. It does not matter if a walk around the block feels as a high goal. Stay in this. One day, you will crush it, then you will look for the next challenge and conquer this as well.
It's your journey - and alone. No one is keeping the score. No one is making fun of you. In fact, you will be amazed at how many people will end in your corner. I sure was.
No matter where you are on your journey. The important thing is that you are in one.
