Yeah, I know — not the kind of thing I usually write about, right?
The psychological elements of exercising and dieting are important, key even. I find that it’s fairly easy for me to get into a routine and stick with a plan, which is probably an artifact of experience. But from time to time, I notice I go through spells of, for lack of better phrasing, not giving a damn.
This seems to happen to me about once a year, so I’m used to it by now, and don’t mistake what I’m saying — this doesn’t bother me. I think it’s just part of the process.
It does have me thinking though — how do you react when you hit spells of not giving a damn? Do you let it pass? Try to find motivation from elsewhere? Or do you just not sweat it and let things go as they fall?
In the past, in my more “hardcore” lifting days (if I ever had any), I’d consider it a problem and something to work myself out of, whatever it took. Now I find that I’m leaning towards looking at it as a seasonal lull, time to focus on other things and not worry so much about lifting. This is a growing trend with me now, since I’ve pretty much made an official end to any competitive aspirations and any real strength goals.
I still want to keep lifting; I couldn’t imagine quitting after being at it so long. It’s as much a part of my life as eating. But the focus is starting to shift away from the biggest number I can put up for one rep. It’s too much toll on my body (just in the last year I’ve racked up a couple of injuries ranging from pretty bad to worrisome and liable to get worse), and honestly it just doesn’t lure me in the way it did 4-5 years ago.
So what are your strategies for staying on point, and coping with those times when you may not be so fired up to train?