Two Hundred Crunches!
Remember this post? And the excitement that ensued? Drumroll, please, because on Saturday I successfully completed this challenge:
Woohoo!
I skipped the first couple weeks when doing the 200 crunches challenge and began with week three. After I had reached the first day of week six, I just stopped doing it. Every time I set out to do the challenge with the decision to finish the week, I decided I wasn’t quite ready for it. And then on Saturday I knew that I was good and ready to do all 200 consecutive crunches. So I did.
I think that I have been capable of doing those 200 crunches for some time now, but I needed to mentally get myself in the right place for it. As I’ve mentioned before, aikido has had a huge impact on my ability to focus and keep going. And it feels wonderful. Physically I could have done the 200 crunches quite a while ago, but I wasn’t ready mentally.
Considering the mental aspects of physical fitness, @writingaddict (check out her blog, Compulsive Writing Disorder!) recently asked a great question: how do you stay motivated for so long to physical fitness?
Although we have addressed this question before here and here and here, I found the for so long part of the question to be particularly interesting. It’s one thing to get ourselves motivated to exercise, but its another to exercise toward a specific goal- training for a marathon or a competition or a personal challenge. One of the things I like most about physical fitness and what keeps me coming back to it and participating in these challenges is the feeling of accomplishment that results from successfully completing the challenge. We like to feel good!
Are you struggling with physical fitness right now? Is it your body or your mind that is holding you back? And how can you overcome that problem?
WOOHOO! Congrats Sagan!
I am with you in that it is all about working towards something for me. If I lose that connection, its often my mind that’s holding me back and to overcome it, I will seek out new challenges (i.e. change up my routine).
Have a good day!
~rupal
wow! 200 is a LOT of crucnches. Go you~! x
Hi Sagan,
Awesome!! Way to go, you rock!
The mental part of physical fitness is a huge thing. I know that I have to be mentally prepared when I’m working out – if my mind’s not in it – my workout will be less than optimal.
HELL YES, GIRL!!! 😀
Fantastic Sagan! Mental of course! Just get started and it comes!
Yayeee! Great job! The mental part of fitness has always been my struggle 🙂
Congrats, lady!!
As for me, I’d have to say my *mind* has been holding me back. But enough is enough!
Congratz on the 200!
I am struggling right now, and there is no doubt that it’s my mind holding me back. It takes a lot of willpower right now to keep myself on track.
Right now I’m using gold stars to motivate myself ^_^ Childish, but it’s working!
The mental part is definitely a struggle for me. I think that’s why I tend to stick with easier things (like walking) because I don’t have to gear up mentally for it that much.
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Long term motivation: competition.
Mentality?
“I will out-natural-select all of youzz!”
p.s. congrats on the 200. I WILL catch you. Someday. Somehow. Err… yeah.
Great job!!! And what a great challenge to do! Think I will check it out – a little motivation is always a good thing.
Nice going Sagan!
It’s always a balance between the mental and physical. In college when I ran track, I was not disciplined. After, as my ability to focus matured, I became a much better runner. Too late for college, but just in time for life 🙂
Wow. That is so awesome! Way to go!
**bows in awe**
that’s pretty frickin amazing.
Congrats!
I’ll test myself this weekend and see where I’m at.
Right now my body is holding me back. I have a stomach bug. I’m killing it with antacids and ginger tea.
WOW! That is awesome! It makes me want to do a challenge like this. I hate crunches…I’m sure this would motivate me. 🙂
Way to go, Sagan! I keep forgetting I’m supposed to be training for that. 🙂
That’s terrific!
I think that my body holds me back in small ways and then my brain uses that as an excuse for everything else.
Thanks everyone for all your support and kind words!
Rupal- changing things up a little does wonders. And its fun, too.
Lance- I agree; when we aren’t focused, our physical capabilities really suffer.
Meg- aw I love that idea!
Maggie- I think that’s why I prefer walking over running, too.
Westwood- competition is so good for that!
Cathy- its all about the motivation!
Dr. J- discipline really makes all the difference, doesn’t it?
Tricia- feel better 🙂
Hil- ooh that’s a sneaky trick your body/mind is playing on you… it’s almost frustrating how EASY it can be to come up with excuses!
congrats!!
my body is holding me back- my rotator cuff is killing me so a lot of my workout is focused on that- which sucks cause i like to mix it up
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I’m motivated by the things i enjoy doing with my health…surfing, biking, hiking, playing with my kids, skiing, soccer, and the way i feel when I’m healthy. Looking good is just a bonus, but the way i feel is most motivating.
It’s all in the mind. There was this 60 year old man who was able to leg press a crazy amount of weight all thru the his own belief in himself. I have to believe in me more then anything. Gota have faith =)
right now i’m struggling with my mind and [mind-less]eating, the physical fitness hasn’t been an issue. I find that changing up the routine, or taking some time off, can provide the impetus to get back on track!
Ouch, that sounds tough! Hhm, I guess that answers the question of what’s holding me back. Today I think I might blame it on someone else though. All those magazine articles that keep telling me how healthy I will be if I start jogging. I hate jogging, so I avoid excercising.
Fitness Surfer- your faith totally inspires me.
ttfn300- gah the mindless eating… So tough.
Spring Girl- I hate jogging too! But heart walking. Do you like walking? We can go walking together 😉
thats alot but i just did 527