Posts Tagged ‘motivation’

the point where “energized” becomes “overwhelmed”

Disclaimer: if you’re here looking for a #BiSC recap, this is not that. Apologies.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was talking with my supervisor/mentor/superwoman, Jerri and I said to her, “It’s like I’m energized by my own life.” She told me I should blog that. I think there’s an unfinished draft in there … somewhere.

There are SO! MANY! amazing things going on in my life. House shopping! Mentoring! Ad2 Reno reorganizing! Writing! Bike rides! Live tweeting the raddest blogger event! Hanging out with my superawesome family! Not to mention all of the growing, learning and amazing work* I do at my job.

But at some point, the law of diminishing returns comes into play and the energy I put in to the awesome starts taking away from the energy that comes out. And that = tired Becca.

So um, that’s it I guess. Because, right now I can’t and/or really don’t want to put any of it down. So tell me, friends. How do you balance it all? How do you make room for everything in your live that’s important to you?

* Amazing, as in the work is awesome and fun. NOT amazing, as in I produce amazing work. I mean I do – but that’s not what I mean here. Just, shhhhh.

this post is not about my bike

Just had to issue fair warning. In fact, this post should actually be in my BFF’s blog.  So just pretend it’s a guest blog on her site.  But it’s here instead.  So I guess that means I am guest blogging on my own blog.  Yeah, you read that right.

I am hoping that if I put this in writing, maybe I’ll make a genuine effort.

Somehow, in all of my bike-riding glory, I made it up in my head that I don’t have to eat right.  I do this all the time.  When I was swimming twice a week, those were the days I was allowed to indulge.  For some reason in my head it’s always either exercise or eating right.  Never both and I have no idea why.

Overall I am a generally healthy eater.  Lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein like fish or chicken, etc. etc.  When family comes to town, it’s license to eat like shit.  In fact, family gatherings of all kinds tend to revolve around food.  I don’t think all families are like this, but mine definitely is.  Not that this is a bad thing.

So, after talapia tacos on Thursday night (a la me, so they were pretty healthy); Bully’s on Friday night; burgers, brats, pasta salad, cookies, beer and various other BBQ staples on Saturday; Nu Yalk Pizza on Sunday night; Panda Express on Monday night; and Capriotti’s [insert Homer-Simpson-drooling-over-food sound byte here] last night, I feel like I should be eating salads for every meal for at least two weeks.

But I know I won’t do that.  There is some kind of “well I have already screwed up for the week” mentality which keeps me eating that way for several days.  And yes, I am VERY aware of the shocking amount of junk food I just described.

Somehow the days always start off well.  Breakfast is easy: honey bunches of oats with light soy milk and a banana or some combo of fruit and fat free yogurt.

Lunch is easy most of the time, too.  A Lean Cuisine and some carrots or bell pepper.  Unless someone mentions lunch out.  It’s dinner that gets me in trouble.  I am weak.  Boyfriend mentions [insert terribly high-calorie fast food here] and I’m all over it.

Just need to get it through my head that my three miles a day on the bike is NOT a substitute for working out!  Don’t get me wrong.  I am thrilled with myself for riding to work all the time (rode three days in a row and it’s not even Bike to Work Week anymore) and totally loving it!  But that should not give me permission to eat whatever I want.  And from this point forward I need to have the will power to keep that in my mind. We’re cooking dinner tonight, dammit.

The worst part: I actually really like healthy food.  Vegetables taste GREAT!  Fruit is like one of my favorite things to eat.  IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS HARD.

I’m going to an Aces game tomorrow night (yes, my first) where I will probably have a hot dog and a copious amount of beer.  I will plan for it.  I will not make that let me eat junk today.  Already had my healthy breakfast and have a Lean Cuisine in the freezer for lunch.  I can do this.  I can be someone who eats right and has an active lifestyle at the same time.

lesson learned

So, yesterday’s post was kinda lame.  I’ll admit it.  This is why none of you read it (yes, I’ll wait for you to scroll down and skim) because I didn’t announce it anywhere.  Because it was lame.  I think I knew it when I posted it, but pretended not to.  But then I read my BFF Annie’s blog post, and realized hers tell stories.  Mine didn’t tell a story.  Not that I need to always be telling stories.  But this is not my diary (I could never keep one anyway).  I should only be posting, sharing things that I think other people will want to read and/or find useful.  Not, the daily uninteresting happenings of my life.

Now, that’s not to say I won’t stop sharing my quips about odd happenings in my life.  You’re not that lucky.

But I am going to be more consciencious about what I post here.  I am not 100 percent sure what that looks like yet.  But I do know this–I definitely need to be on my bike a lot more to have better stories to tell.  Now, the learning part is mostly taken care of.  I can ride the bike.  Now I need to start experiencing life from my bike.

Which reminds me!  I had my first experience last week with a driver not paying attention to and/or not caring about sharing the road with a cyclist.  Luckily, I was paying very good attention and neither of us were going very fast.  But, a good reminder about how important it is that I am completely alert and aware of everything happening when I’m on that little red Schwinn.  I gave him the WTF look, he stared back at me blankly and we both went on our way.

I didn’t ride againt this weekend.  But it was yucky weather, which just begs for staying inside.  At any rate, it felt good to get a TON of cleaning done.  It was really, really necessary and now I feel good about my dad and Brad’s family coming in to town for graduation!

BUT, I am promising myself to ride both days this weekend.

On a last note, I really, really, REALLY did not want to ride to work this morning.  So much that, I actually managed to convince myself not to.  It’s gonna be windy, I’m too tired, it’s too cold, I don’t have time, etc.  Then, by some sort of miracle, I re-convinced myself that I should ride!  Not sure how, other than I guess I really wanted to!  Which is very, very good.