make it fit

Your schedule, that is. Your life. Your work, your family, and fun and fitness. Balance to be balanced. How the hell...?
Having a non-traditional work-schedule and multiple activities makes balancing pret-ty hard sometimes. Sometimes we get up earlier to be able to work out. Sometimes we leave home earlier to go to work. Sometimes we have extra projects and "things" that have to be fit into our already loony schedule. Yeah, it's called life. How are you supposed to manage and maintain that balance and what suffers when you don't?
I tell you something, when workouts and training get cut to make room for something else, no matter how important, it may (if it's done frequently enough and with increasing ease) create a chain reaction that I have been hearing about from clients. It can be hugely damaging and difficult to reverse. I"ll explain.
When that 5 o-clock workout gets tiresome because you stayed up passed midnight working on something, or just didn't get a good night sleep and you decide to sleep this one out, you start a trend. It's kind of cutting your intervals short on training day because you just give in and don't feel like pushing yourself. Because that's is all it is. It is self discipline and commitment and when it's broken once it will be broken again. The second time easier. But that's not it, my little troopers, it will also bring about physical and psychological changes and not for the better! Exercise helps manage stress and maintain and/or boost metabolism, helps with sleep and digestion, overall energy levels and blah-blah-blah we-all-know-the-rest. That's all great, but would you notice when all starts declining? And it will, it does. Then you'll stay in bed BECAUSE you have no energy to get up. Then you'll sleep in BECAUSE your sleep pattern is not so balanced and restful anymore. You'll NOT eat less but you now burn less so weight gain, sluggishness, even mild depression can set in and creep up. And I am saying this because I have done extensive research and I am a qualified biochemist/psychologist/PHD/MD/OCD. Not...
I've BEEN THERE! And I can also confess, that I will be the first one to not want to get up and do what I must! Because we must! Must commit to training and health, not just for a specific time, not just till my shoulder feels better, my abs pop out, my butt firms up, my lower back stops hurting, my upper arms tighten up, the diet program runs out, I can fit into that dress, the beach season is over... NO! And here is why I'm going to tell you how much I love working with the older, mature population, not just because they exercise for the right reasons and for life, but because they are so dedicated and appreciative and not looking for instant gratification, visible improvements and changes but come to train and tell me how GREAT they're feeling, how much easier daily tasks are getting, how proud their spouses are of them and how great it feels hanging out with the grand kids without tiring out.
The purpose of this post really was to reiterate to all of you how important it is to find, and I mean FIND and actively search for something that you like to do for life, something that will keep you fit and challenges you, and make a commitment to sustain your training for LIFE! It is such a powerful influence and I can honestly say this without any special qualifications, just from the heart, and from experience. I can say this because I believe it with a passion and would do anything to change anyone's views if they doubt my words. Great rewards do not come with half a... efforts. Great rewards come from great efforts. So trust me when I say this, it is sometimes a huge effort for me too to maintain and stick to my commitment, even if it happens to be my job. I have to stay dedicated from the heart, otherwise I will not be able to motivate anyone, including myself. So if you, or anyone you know feels a need for motivation please direct them my way. If you need a change of routine ask for my input, I'll gladly give it. I've tried a lot myself. I am not Sonja the-greatest-runner-in-this-zipcode-and-beyond and my life is NOT running, however, I am a libra who seeks balance. The greatest tool EVER to balance everything around you, including your self, is regular, challenging exercise and fun activities for fitness.
Make a decision today and make it part of your life. Just like work, and sleep. Experts say that if you do anything for three months it becomes a routine. Three months. Challenge yourself and reap the rewards for life! LET'S GO!