Well I survived the Geneen Roth workshop.

Thank you Katniss Everdeen for the inspiration.  We’re killing FEARS one by one this year!  We’re shooting them down!

The experience was quite fantabulous!  I felt that I got a lot out of it.  I didn’t break down into hysterics and neither did many in the audience.  It was a very liberating experience for me.  If anything I realized that I was on the right track and that it was time to continue to make steps forward.

Confronting my own Eating Routines

Geneen took us through her eating guidelines and I decided which ones I wanted to focus on.

  • Sitting down while eating – There are plenty of times I’m standing up and eating some raisins or some fruit.  It’s just mindless snacking and even though it’s healthy, it’s unnecessary.

 

  • Slowing down and eating – Geneen made a point that I had not considered.  How often do we go for the next bite while we haven’t swallowed the one that is in our mouths.  Coincidentally that’s how I live my life.  I’m always on to the next one. That’s the entire premise behind Geneen’s book:  Women, Food, and God.  The way we eat is the way we live our lives.
  • Sitting in Full View of Others – Sometimes I feel like food is a way for people to judge me and I don’t want to sit in view of them.  I would rather sit alone and eat in peace without anybody offering any commentary on my food choices.

These are all things that I can improve upon and need to observe about my own behavior.

My own breakthrough

At the end of the workshop when Geneen asked people what they knew now that they didn’t know before, I stood up and said:  “I have made a religion out of suffering and I am leaving the church!”

It’s true.

So many people romanticize suffering. It’s the default mode for many of us due to our belief systems growing up.  The health and fitness industry thrives off of that mess and it’s their B.S. motivation.  It’s all rooted in self loathing, reeks of punishment, and beating yourself up.  This is not and has never been the road to positive changes.

I’ve started a morning practice that Geneen taught us at the workshop called 3 Things that are NOT Wrong right now.  She started this practice after she and her husband lost their life savings to Bernie Madoff.

I’ve been doing it and it really helps me put things into perspective.  I can focus on the problems so I can have something to fix or I can focus on all of the good things in my life right now and what’s NOT wrong and there is more RIGHT than there is wrong.

Work in Progress

There is no perfect.

You hear me say it all the time and I want to reiterate that point:  There is no perfect.  We are all works in progress and should be striving to get 1% better every day.

This is why I attend these personal development workshops.  It’s important that if you’re teaching others that you keep learning so that you can pass on your knowledge to others.

While I was encouraged by my own progress compared to 3 years ago, I still found ways that I can progress.

Not Working out as much

Last week I worked out 3x and that was enough.

Gone are the days of 2 workouts, 2 hours, 6 times a week.  That’s a great way to get injured and also the body makes it’s greatest gains with rest and recovery.

For me that was a win to not feel any guilt or shame about only working out 3x during the week.  My goal is always 4x per week and I’ve been consistent with that.

Last week I was surfing the crimson wave and as I’ve explained on the blog, that’s a great time to take it easier due to fluctuations in hormones.

This coming week will be my 12th week on this particular training program so I think it’s time to switch this up.  I’m thinking of doing more of a Strength and Conditioning Routine for six weeks.

Will keep you posted!