From "I can't" to "Why can't I?" -- NSV!!!

I have had good stretches of working out in the past.  I even built up to running a half marathon (ok running 10 miles of it and hobbeling the last 3.1).  

But eventually as I was trying to get stronger or faster or just keep up my routine, my head would go into the "I can't" mode.  Once my head starts saying I can't, my legs get heavier and heavier and indeed my body "can't".  

Lately, whenever this starts coming on, I'm tired or whatever, I very quickly shut it down.  I ask myself, "Why can't I?".  Sometimes I am legitimately overworked and need to stop, but more often than not, I can.  I have a verbal dialogue with myself.  "You are breathing fine, your legs are good -- or they are a bit tired, but that is ok"  and ultimately, "You totally can do this".  I also remind myself of the satisfaction I will feel when I complete whatever training I am doing.  

Today, I didn't have time to do my intervals that I had planned after my lifting.  They take a solid 21 minutes and I only had about 10 minutes left to still allow for enough time for a cool down and stretch.  I decided to run a fast mile.  I wanted to see how quickly I could do it.  Historically -- even as a 3 sport varsity D3 collegiate athlete, a 10 minute mile was my best.  Today I did it in 8 minutes and 27 seconds.  Holy Canoli!!!  

Our bodies are amazing.  We just need to treat them well and believe in them!

What a great post!  You rock :D  

That's awesome! I reeeealllly need to step my exercise game up too! Going to start hitting the gym next week. Being a single mom of 2 little ones, those same things run through my mind, come time to exercise too. But I know I will feel a ton better once I get into the groove! 

That's awesome! Good for you! 

Good for you!  You have a great mind set!

You are a complete inspiration to me!

Very smart.

I had a trainer tell me the ten minute rule. He said if I didn't feel like doing something, to give it a try for ten minutes. If I still didn't want to after ten minutes, I could quit. But 95 percent of the time, I was ok with continuing.

I am so happy for you, Stacy! You work out in a way that I can even imagine myself doing, but I am so glad that you are achieving these goals for yourself. You ROCK!

Awesome NSV!