Ever been disheartened that a week isn’t going quite the way you planned? 

For many years I had terrible exercise habits. I would start with great momentum get in the swing of it, and then something would interrupt the routine and I’d find myself making excuses for not going again. the week was written off.

Monday would come around and I would be dreading the return to exercise, after days off I would resent having to get up early, or having to do exercises that “tired me out”. And then I was getting little from the session. Results would flail and I’d lose confidence in myself and before I’d know it I wasn’t going at all.

It’s a hard cycle to step out of. Because fundamentally it’s a mental challenge to overcome and not a physical one.

I distinctly remember talking to Tom from TPM Health and Fitness in the early days of us working together, about how a busy work life, a commute and family responsibilities were getting in the way of what I wanted to achieve. I was being hard on myself instead of being accountable to myself. It was a lesson to learn. 

Following a change in training plan this week, I really wanted to hit the ground running this week. Unfortunately, it has been exceptionally busy. I have made 5/6 sessions this week and “Old Wayne” would have fallen into a pit of despair over his failure to achieve a simple goal. But not today! 

Monday is my fresh start. I have not failed. I have prioritised other things that also have value in my life, how is that failure? 

Work has been crazy and all-encompassing but I have made it through. How is that Failure? 

I spent Sunday with my family at the cinema watching WICKED and sharing in a giant family sized popcorn – this may be counter-intuitive to my fitness goals, but my god was this quality time needed. 

I cooked a meal, which was nutritionally balanced and we sat around the table and enjoyed each other’s company. We caught up, laughed and even had a dance break (because that’s how we roll). 

I painted my kitchen. I have been meaning to do it for years. It is now done. When I walked down stairs and turned on the light at 5.57am and saw it, I realised straight away that today would be a good day.

These moments have added value to my life in other ways to my fitness journey, but best of all it has not stalled what I wanted to achieve. It has spurned me on to achieve a whole lot more this week. A fresh start indeed.

Every rep completed this morning, was a testament to how focussed I am on a balanced life. A life that means I can be body-confident, have a successful career, be present in my wife and son’s lives, and challenge myself daily. 

A Fresh Start  is what we all deserve, building these into my routine (when required) has stopped me from making excuses, which I knew were holding me back.

Just a thought.

TIB