Wednesday, October 31, 2012

#124. or, One over par.

You haven't been getting all that many posts from me lately. As much as I'd like to be writing, it's just been really hard the last little while.

  Luckily for me, the Pish Posh 8 Week Challenge has brought me back here almost every week for the last 2 months.

  If you read my last post, which was only a few days back, you're aware that I didn't really do all that well on this challenge. I didn't achieve my weight goal, didn't exercise or get to the track anywhere near as much as I had planned on. At first glance, it seems, that I may have failed miserably in this go round of the challenge. The same challenge, that I had done so well on, the first time around.

  It might seem, that maybe, for all intents and purposes,  I was just there.

  But......maybe that's just it? I was there. I know that every time I made a decision on what I was looking at to eat, the challenge was in the back of my mind. At the end of every stress filled day, when I'd get in and think to myself, "Good Lord, I could use a beer right now!", the thought of being in this challenge was there. When all that I wanted to do was melt into the couch and watch the mind numbing crap that seems to pass for TV these days, there was this germ in my head that I could walk or stretch or anything really, to try to make my tired body better than it is. Because I was there.

  I didn't reach my goal. Whether it was time, or stress, or lack of motivation, or a combination of all of them, I didn't reach my goal. Yet, the goal remains. I haven't given up, or thrown in the towel. The goal stands. Be better. I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure, if I didn't have that tiny Pish Posh, sitting on my shoulder these last 8 weeks, I wouldn't be flush. That I'd be digging out of a hole, trying to get back to where I started  to be a better me. I think that's good.

  There's some really inspiring people involved in this challenge. People that I'm proud to call my friends. New and old. Brett, who posted every day through the last 8 weeks. That was pretty incredible. Peach, whose working on hand stand push ups! (and I'm certain could snap me like a twig!) Carrie, who's dealing with all kinds of shit. Literally! Reanna, trying to quit smoking, Michelle, with no power cause she's dealing with a fricken hurricane. Pansies & Sunflowers, whose also dealing with the hurricane but also, juggling life as a single parent while trying to be healthy at the same time. Jules, who wants to drink less coffee. (but for the life of me I can't even begin to fathom that.) The anonymus DSLikesit, who made excellent progress to healthier living and his weight loss goals. Or Kianwi, who had her 5K marathon goal cut short because she has to wear a Franken-boot to fix her wonky foot.And to anybody I missed, you all inspire me to be better.

 (Just a side note, Kianwi and I are currently in the planning stages of some type of virtual Blogger 5k marathon sometime this winter. I'll give you more info on that and how you can be a part of it as we figure things out.)

  And to Pish Posh herself, who has a plate so full of crappy life right now, that I'd just like to give her a big hug and tell her that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, even if she can't quite see it just yet. She looked after us like a mother hen, sitting out in the rain, dealing with life, while we all took a little bit of refuge under her protective wings. She's truly one of a kind.

  So it's over. The Pish Posh 8 week Challenge is done. But not really. There's still work to be done. I've got a ways to go to be where I want to be. And whether or not we can come here to link up every week and share our stories and struggles, I need to keep moving, and Pish Poshing my ass off if I have any hope whatsoever in meeting those goals.

So I will. And I'll be better.


23 comments:

  1. Good job, Ken! You are right, just having your goals on your mind is success. It's when you just push it away that you start getting into trouble.

    And, yay, we both mentioned our 5K in our posts! I think that means we are both serious about it :)

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    1. Thanks Kianwi,

      I have good days and I have bad days. The challenge made the bad days easier.

      Now, the new goal of this 5k is going to drive me on. :)

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  2. Look at it this way Ken, the challenge is not over, this just opened the door for you to continue.

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    1. Thanks Jimmy, That is a good way to look at it.

      I'll keep pushing on. There's always room for improvement.

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  3. I applaud your positive attitude.

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    1. Thank you Stephen. I try to be positive. I'm not always successful though.

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  4. Great post. Also true that goal can still be achieved even if it was not reached by original deadline. Too many people give up (myself included) when something did not go according to plan or on the planned timetable.

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    1. Thanks Brett,

      Sometimes, the goal is a hard deadline when you have to be at a specific weight or achieve something by a date because of what's happening right then. If nothings written in stone, why give up on your goal? And it seems, for me anyways, one's less likely to fall back into all those bad habits the day after the deadline if you look beyond it.

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    2. That makes sense. I heard a quote recently that said, "A goal without a deadline is only a dream."

      I agree with making deadlines. I just hope someone doesn't give up on what they were trying to do if they miss their deadline.

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  5. You know, I already had you pegged as a persevering sort-of guy so I am not surprised at all that while you may not have reached your goal in the set time frame, you are still having a go at it. It's a trait we don't see too often anymore. Good luck and keep at it!

    Also I like thinking about running (it helps me get mentally prepared in case of a zombie apocalypse) so count me in on a virtual run. I bet I'd be good at that!

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    1. Hi Heather,

      I try to persevere and get things completed that I set out to do. I'm not always successful, and sometimes I wish things were just done. But I try to see them through.

      You can't be too prepared for the zombie apocalypse. Plus you have to be able to pack all of those weapons. You might not know this, but weapons are heavy! :)

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  6. My comment got eaten yesterday.

    I think you're right about holding the line. With what you had on your plate I think it was enough to have your health in mind that much. I know that every try puts you further toward being in control of your health.

    Well done.

    The 5k idea sounds mysterious and intriguing.

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    1. Thanks, I lose a comment now and then as well, glad you re-posted it.

      Some days were certainly harder than others, but the challenge honestly did help me to keep being healthy in my mind.I wish I could have done better, but I'm not giving up. It's going to be easier as things settle down for me.

      We're still planning things out for this 5k thing. It's looking like it might be in February.

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  7. I really loved this post! You are so right! She was a mother hen to us, pecking us into submission when we needed it, giving support and encouragement! And as for you! I love that the challenge was always in the back of your mind, sitting there.. germinating. It was like that for me too.

    Great post! I hope to read about your 5k adventures this winter!

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    1. Thanks Carrie,

      It's funny that we both had that there. Like I said, I'm certain that even though I didn't do well, things would have been worse if I hadn't been part of the challenge.

      We're still in the planning stages on the 5k. It's going to happen, we just want to get everything right. :)

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  8. Thank you for always being a truly amazing and kind friend to me. Your nice notes have helped more than you know. And I do have a plate full of crappy. Its about to get worse.

    But you're an inspiration and I am grateful for you. Good luck on the 5k duet!

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    1. I'm feeling pretty bad for you these days Pish. You're never far from being on my mind. I worry about you and wish I could do something to repay you for all that you've done for me in the short time that I've been here.

      My thoughts are with you.

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  9. What a heartfelt and wonderful sendoff of our 8 week challenge. I'm so glad to have met you too, Ken! Your kind spirit has been a comfort to us all. Just know that we're all there for you, whatever you need! Count me in for the Virtual 5K, too. :)

    And for the record, I'm not nearly as formidable as you think. ;)

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    1. Thank you Peach,

      The friends are certainly one of the best parts of being in this challenge.

      As things develop in the 5k, we'll do posts to keep everyone informed on what's happening. We're pretty sure there's going to be some sort of link up. Still figuring it out.

      I'll take you at your word on not being formidable. However, if we ever find ourselves in a bar fight, I think I'd feel better knowing you had my back. :)

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  10. The challenge may be officially over, but I think we will all have it in the back of our minds and it will continue to influence our choices. If nothing else, we made new friends that we know will support our goals.

    Good luck with the virtual 5K! I'll be cheering for both of you!

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    1. I'd like to think that we will all try to continue to be better in one way or another. Like you said, I hope that the memory of this stays in the back of our minds as a reminder of what we need to be doing.

      Thanks about the 5k. I think it's going to be fun. :)

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  11. So glad I got to meet you in this challenge!! I think you're pretty awesome and thanks for the shout out in your post. Looking forward to reading more from you. I agree about the challenge being in the back of my head. I didn't want to let you guys down - you were cheering me on and that meant so much.

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    1. I was glad to meet you as well Michelle, you're pretty awesome yourself.

      I think that you did so well in the challenge. You certainly didn't let anybody down.

      I think the connections that we made were the biggest thing. I plan to keep following you as well. :)

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