One of the messed up things about human nature is that we never do more than we have to. We ‘think we can do this and think we can do that’ but we can’t – only because we don’t have the track record built up. Take New Years resolutions for example – what is the success rate of a New Years resolution? 10-25% – maybe? The reason that things like resolutions do not yield results is because we bite off more than we can chew and freak out. We revamp our diets, begin training programs and busy our lives with things that don’t matter. Most of us inevitably quit because its just too much. We quit because it becomes difficult or inconvenient.
The human brain can take on approx 2-3 new habits at a time – that’s it – and if you don’t have the track record built up to do something you most likely won’t. What you could do and what you will do are two very different things. You have to put a little bit of pressure on yourself… You have to make yourself a little bit uncomfortable; and you know what… sometimes it sucks.
It sucks that I have to watch my diet and exercise in order to achieve my health and fitness goals, and it sucks that as a business owner I have to work every single day of my life to produce results, and it sucks that I have to rely on medication to mange my lupus.
Lately we have been doing a lot of travelling for bodybuilding competitions, which means I have to prep a lot of food. Combined, Monkey and I consume over 5000 calories per day (on a low day) so you can only imagine how large this ‘food prep’ task is. And to make matters worse, we are still squatting at the in-laws, which means I have to use my mother in laws’ dull knifes. If you have ever cut kabocha squash or yams you can attest to how frustrating dull knives would be in this instance…
The day before we leave is filled with chopping, washing, baking and bagging. It takes me approximately 4 hours to prep our food for the trip. It would be so much easier to eat out, but that does not fit into our nutrition plans at this time, and you know what? That sucks.
Food prep isn’t the only thing that sucks, sometimes being a business owner sucks. We left Regina on Wednesday morning at 4:30am and arrived at our hotel for the evening around 11:15pm. Even after a busy day of travelling I had to attend to the 3-4 hours of emails I had waiting for me. I do not have a 9 – 5 job. I work 24/7. I do not leave work at work. I live and breath my work. I hold myself to a very high standard and demand occupational excellence.
It also really sucks that I have lupus. It sucks that I have a rash on my face, that I cannot tolerate a laundry list of foods, and that I have to pay for medication each month.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be born with it all? To be blessed with a super jacked, fit bod, financial security and good health!?! With genetic engineering this may happen one day BUT that’s not me and that’s likely not you.
We are going to have to focus and grind and challenge ourselves, because we don’t live in a utopian society where things are handed to us. Motivation comes from results not from pep talks from our girlfriends and a warm wish from our moms — but trust me, the results, are most definitely worth the work.
Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for every struggle in encounter. Sure sticking to my training plan and nutrition program, working around the clock and receiving an IV sucks but it contributes to my character and my strength and for that I will be forever grateful.
With love from the Trench kitchen,
xoxoErika♥
