Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
Ten professionals and 10 teams are competing in the 2015 Get Fit Challenge. Who will earn the healthiest marks? Follow along on Facebook and then find out at the In Business Expo & Conference on Oct. 21. This week, IB checks in with John Ganahl, general manager for Air-Lec Industries LLC, who is competing in the individual challenge.
If you’re reading this blog for examples of days at the gym, sweat expended, and weight lost, you may come away disappointed. My hope in writing this will be to admit, I start … I fail. I start again … I fail again. There are always reasons. Good reasons. But the rationalization of failure is one of the most insidious prospectors, mining the bedrock of my self-esteem. I will speak only for myself, though many of you may hear your own voice in my words.
WWW — What went wrong?
As I’m writing this, I realize I am the poster child of weight-loss failures — and the thought of it does not place me in a good frame of mind.
How often has this happened to you? You think, you plan, you begin, only to have one “distraction” after another gnaw at your resolve? I have had several of these distractions over this time — serious distractions — and any number of reasons not to succeed. I’ll admit to succumbing to those cellulite sirens!
I find it interesting and distressing at the same time that I can be an accomplished professional and yet find this (losing weight and getting fit) so tough. I can set up a Gantt chart for complex projects but follow an exercise routine and eating plan? Fuhgedaboudit!
My mistake
No partner to push me. Yes, sure, my wife and I shoulda, woulda, coulda the important piece — diet. She is willing, I falter. I like my routines. I mean, how much more difficult is making an egg versus a bowl of cereal and peanut butter toast? My personal “breakfast of champions” for decades.
All my life, my exercising has been solitary. Of course, I played team sports, but my passion is golf. Historically, I have lifted weights, run, walked, and biked solo. Maybe that worked for my younger self, because right now the loudest voice in my head says, “Eight more minutes,” and I’m listening.
(Continued)
Tunnel and light
The problem with being in the tunnel is we see the light behind us long before we see the one ahead. The light is comforting. Old habits are comforting. We/I venture into the tunnel time and again but keep turning back before I see the other light. I admire those remarkable few who seemingly breeze through challenges like this. I suspect they’ve been in their own little life tunnels and have learned patience in the dark. I lack patience for losing weight and getting fit. Pop psychology would say it comes from our instant gratification culture. Maybe.
The light is this: I did improve in all the measured categories within this contest. I lost weight, gained good cholesterol, did more pushups, and stretched further, etc. So, although I suspect I did not “win,” I am happy with my results and the chance to share my experience. I hope my blogs have humored you by hearing your words come out of someone else’s mouth.
Congratulations to my competitors. I am not in their league. Thank you to the sponsors. You’ve done a “sponsorful” job.
Meet all of the competitors here and see who wins at the In Business Expo & Conference.
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