Workouts are supposed to be tough, they are supposed to be challenging.
Unless you are in a maintenance stage and perfectly happy with your body (which,
usually, is not the case), then you are asking your body to improve from it’s
current condition, which inherently means, pushing past your comfort zone or
GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE!

I think some of you have a misconception that people like me bound out of bed
and go “gee I can’t wait to workout today”. Wrong! Most athletes, myself
included, have to drag themselves out of bed just like you, with the little
devil on their shoulder, screaming “but I don’t want to, not today, just let me
sleep in, Plllleeeaaaasssse”. So what’s the difference, one simple thing,
discipline. We have disciplined ourselves to tell that little devil to shove it,
at least 90% of the time.

So how do you discipline yourself? Start by acknowledging your successes,
little victories. Every single day write down something you did right, something
that went better in your workout, some improvement that you noticed. Did your
jeans fit a little looser, today? Did you make it further up the ramp on your
morning jog? Did you hit the snooze button, one less time?

If you journal your workouts and write down your improvements, it’s
scientifically proven that you will improve faster and to a higher degree.

Here are some ways to tell if you are rockin’ it at camp.

-You show up, 3 days a week.

-You work out on your own, on the off days.

-When you show up you actually give it your all.

-You notice improvements, in the following areas: You’re able to run further,
or it’s easier to run the same distance you used to, you recover quicker. You no
longer feel like puking, regularly at camp. You notice improvements in your
strength. You’re not as sore. Your clothes are fitting better. You’re feeling
more energetic the rest of the day. You’re sleeping better at night. You’re
friendlier. These are all signs that you are Rockin’ it!

Ways to tell if you are doggin it-

-You make it to camp once or twice a week.

-You don’t work out any other time but at camp.

-You show up to camp, but really don’t put any effort into it. As if somehow
just showing up was enough.

-You haven’t noticed improvements in the above mentioned areas.

-Everyday there’s a different excuse as to why, you can’t work out.

-You experience pain that travels around the body, today it’s my knee,
yesterday it was my ankle. This is called “chasing the pain” your body has
learned that by sending you a pain signal it can get out of something. Yes, the
body is that smart!

Watch out for these pitfalls. When you get back in touch with your body you
will know. When you are doggin’ it and when you’re rockin it or if you just need
a little break that day.

Last Friday, my training plan called for an 8 mile run, I knew I was not
feeling it, but I went out there anyway. (*If you ever feel real low energy one
day, go ahead and start your workout About 20 minutes into it you will either
turn the corner and start feeling better or you will feel worse, if you feel
worse it’s time to pack it up and go home.)
And about 20 minutes into the workout I felt really bad, so I hobbled home like
a sick little puppy. Before I let myself beat myself up too badly I looked at my
workout journal. Turns out I had, had a pretty Rockin’ week and had just hit a
mini wall. So I got in the tub, had some chicken soup and took 2 days recovery
instead of just 1, because that was a sign that I had pushed a little too hard
that week. Today I’m back on the horse and feeling great. Had I not been
journaling my workouts I would have not only felt physically bad, but I would
have been beating myself up for nothing!

So journal your workouts, how you feel and how you are improving everyday!
And you’ll be successful, in your journey to optimum health.