And although this type of flexibility is very important....

ummm....OUCH!

[Source]

...I am actually speaking about flexibility in our workout schedules and, for that matter, all of our schedules and plans.

Susan from The Great Balancing Act recently did a post where she mentioned her workout schedule and asked about everyone else's schedules and how they approach their own workouts.

Without a doubt, I am a scheduler and planner and overanalyzer. I actually get pleasure out of coming up with detailed workout plans that are laid out for any day in the foreseeable future. Wanna know something neurotic? I had 6 months of workout plans lined up and ready to go for after I gave birth to Makenzie and was able to workout again! Dedication or madness? You don't have to answer that! 😉

Part of this is my passion for being creative with my workout setups and seeing what new things I can incorporate to challenge myself. Part of this is also my self-proclaimed exercise ADD where I can't do the same exact workout for months on end...or even two weeks in a row. Part of this is a way to express myself and practice for an interest I hope to pursue as my career one day. All of these parts added up to a good thing; nonetheless, it was a good thing that could and would bite me in the ass with unnecessary and misplaced stress.

Having a plan is a good thing. I still have a workout schedule. I even have it posted here for the world (aka my handful of followers and readers) to see. For me, there are many benefits to having a plan for my workouts.

• schedule in the appropriate workouts for balanced amounts of cardio and lifting or a race/competition plan
• plan and space out workouts optimally for your body's needs
• keep things in order with other tasks - similar to the concept of putting your workout in your appointment book
• able to know and be prepared for your workouts/rest every day

Problems arise, however, when your plan becomes THE plan. The be all end all of your training life. It becomes an issue with any of the following:

• don't spend time with loved ones or focusing on other tasks because you refuse to try to rearrange it
• don't listen to your body because you are focused on what you "have" to do that day in the gym
• it affects your attitude negatively when things don't happen as planned
• participating in negative self-talk because you didn't stick to your training plan and suddenly feeling you aren't "good enough" or will "never" make progress

Do any of those sound familiar to you? I know I have personally experienced each of them. Mostly during competition training, but my thoughts on that process could be another post for another time. Back to the point, which is that the problem in each of the above situations is allowing your schedule to control you. If you made up the schedule, shouldn't you be allowed to change it? Yes! Which is why it is so important to be flexible. Have a schedule and follow it as much as you can, but be prepared to switch things up. Life doesn't always happen as we expect it to, even in the small details of our workout routines. There are even benefits to changing things up:

• to relieve stress
• to try out new workouts or a new rotation in your plan
• to give your body extra opportunities to rest considering many planners like to overschedule themselves
• have more time for other important areas of our lives

Now questions for you. Do you have a workout schedule? How important is it to you to follow it 100%? What do you think the biggest pros and cons are to schedules?  Have you noticed any benefits in being more flexible with schedules and plans? I know I have! Mainly in the stressing less department. 😉

Before you leave, checkout these cool giveaways going on around the blog world 🙂 Em is giving away a yoga mat; Jenny is giving away Almond Milk coupons;  Julie is giving away a Yoplait Goddess Pack.

Today has been a beautiful day! I went to Group Kick class this morning for a great workout; caught up on blogs during Makenzie's nap; enjoyed my (sick) husband's company throughout the day. And us two girls just got inside from a walk in the beautiful outdoors and playing with some sidewalk chalk in the driveway. 🙂

Now, I am writing this post quickly before preparing some material for tutoring this afternoon. How has your day been? I sure hope it has been good to you.

I do have to do a bit of catching up, though. I don't like to leave you all hanging so I have a few things I wanted to clue you in on, just in case you were wondering about it. 😉

First, remember last week when I told you the baby shower I was supposed to throw was cancelled due to the mother having to go on bed rest from suddenly having very high blood pressure? Well, she had been in and out of the hospital since then with contractions and the doctors needing to monitor her blood pressure. Yesterday, they decided to go ahead and deliver her baby. So with a huge PRAISE, they have welcomed their daughter into this world. Both the baby and my friend are doing well. And although the little darling girl is being monitored in NICU right now, she is breathing on her own and there are no foreseeable worries about her health. 😀 Since I asked you all to pray for her I wanted to be sure to give you an update. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts! For privacy purposes I will not be posting a picture of their daughter, but here is a newborn picture of Makenzie to tide you over on the baby love. 😉

Brand New Makenzie - 17 months ago!!!

Second, a few sneak peek shots of Makenzie's Easter photo shoot you voted her into are up on the photographer's blog. You can check them out here. And once again, thank you so much for your support of miss M. You all are the best readers out there. 😀

Third, don't forget to enter my giveaway as one small way to thank you all for being so awesome.

Fourth, I know there has been a lot of talk recently about Jamie Oliver's new show Food Revolution. I can't wait to catch the show! Even though I haven't watched it yet, I am 100% behind the message he is trying to expose to our society. If you feel passionate about it as well, sign his petition. Quick and painless. Something else quick and painless that goes along with this? Sending in an already written letter to your state's representative about the nutrition in our school's food programs. Click here to do that. I promise it is easy! I got these two tips from a couple other awesome blogs. Thanks Kelly & Rachel!

Fifth, I apparently have another child already. This little guy follows us everywhere...

the beloved "Ted-DY"

Does anyone have ANY clue how to get a mangy stuffed animal clean????? If you have tips I will be forever indebted. Or just give you a virtual hug. It's all the same, right? 😉

I'll catch you all later! Happy Wednesday!