Fake it Until you Make It

Fake it until you make it is a concept I've heard in different areas of life...in sales, they tell you to fake it until you make it to project an image of success or to believe in yourself before you've seen the fruits of your labor. In other areas of life it's the same principle, when you want to have a certain frame of mind but you don't yet, fake it until you do.

I haven't been to the gym in a long time. Even recently when I've worked out, it's been hiking, kayaking, yoga, etc..., but I haven't been to the gym. I think if you are trying to lose weight and/or gain muscle, and you aren't a fitness guru, the gym is probably the easiest and quickest way to make that happen.

I love outdoor exercise and variations for working out, but I think there's something about the gym that makes me work hard, and in turn helps me reach my weight loss and fitness goals. I can measure the progress I'm making, time myself, keep track of accomplishments, etc... I will always take on variations of my work out and include things other than the hamster wheel gym activities, but I think it's important that I keep the gym in the rotation as well.

When I get to the point when I'm maintaining my weight, I can probably rely on outdoor activities, sports, yoga, pilates, etc, to stay fit, but with the amount I still have to lose, I need to work out hard core.

I haven't felt great since I got back from Dubai. I started eating the right things yesterday, but I didn't work out as I had planned to. I felt sick and tired, and I worked for 12 hrs, plus spent hours on my CD, so I didn't do it.

Today, I felt just as sick and weak and tired. It's rainy and gross, and I'm fighting off something. I slept for 11 hrs last night - that's unheard of for me! I got on the scale to a disappointing number this morning, and I knew I had to start faking it until I could start making it.

With all of my heart and soul, mind and spirit and body, I wanted to avoid the gym, but I didn't. I not only forced myself to go, I forced myself to work out HARD. 25 is the top level on the bike, and I did 25...only for a few minutes, but still! Most of the time, I was pushing myself as hard as I could.

I did about 6.5 miles on the bike, at fairly high levels, and then I did some chest and back work with the machines. I was going to do more, but I felt really weak from pushing myself so much on the bike, so I cut my workout a little short, but I was still there for about 50 minutes...not too bad. I did a calorie burning calculator, and it says I burned about 550 calories, so if that's true, that's good.

I have to admit - I'm a little tired now, but I feel better than I've felt in a long time. My mind feels sharper, I feel like I sweat out some of my bloat, so I feel slightly thinner, I feel good about myself, and I feel like my energy is coming back.

I have learned this lesson over and over and over, but I still manage to forget it. When I'm feeling lethargic, and tired, and lazy and weak, I need to get down to the gym and really push myself. My body will release endorphins that will make me feel better, mentally and physically. The mental and physical improvements will make me feel better emotionally. I know this. I know this!

So today, I faked it, and I made it in just one session. Now I'm a believer once again, and I'm hoping when it's time for my workout tomorrow, I'll remember this feeling and these realizations, but if I don't, I'll just fake it until I make it, once again.

It may take practice, and that's okay....somehow, I see a new bracelet in my future...LOL