Whew. I feel so much better today. As much as I love being busy with fun things over the weekend, I always suffer the first day back to normal routine. The emotional side effects of Sunday night made it all harder too. Thank you all, though, for your support and kind words. Knowing there are people like each of you out there showing me love truly brightens my day. I adore the blogging community. For the friendship it provides, but also for the motivation. More on that in a moment.

Last night I was able to wind down by watching a train wreck in a relationship outside my father’s and mine. That would be Jake & Vienna’s breakup interview that was aired on The Bachelorette.

Highly entertaining. And surprising. I never liked Vienna but I believe her over him after viewing his actions and attitude. Why do I care? I don’t. I just care to have some amusing background noise while I try to finish up my Jodi Picoult book. Book & TV at the same time? I’m a mom of a 20 month old. I am a queen of multi-tasking.

This morning I awoke refreshed and ready to hit up Power for a workout. The class was phenomenal because one of my favorite instructors was there unexpectedly. The instructor totally makes the class, wouldn’t you agree? During the class she also said something that got my wheels turning. She said we are not here to compete with anyone else in that room. That the class is not a competition, even a friendly one. It is to do our best and motivate each other to do so as well.

Have you ever been in competition with someone and claimed that it was a friendly competition? I honestly don’t believe that friendly competition exists. What a huge oxymoron anyways. Webster describes competition as a rivalry between competitors to earn or gain something over the opponent. I’ve had friendships where there is a sense of competition in the relationship. It is a never ending cycle of trying to one-up the other, ending in frustration with the other person instead of support and care. I’ve been a member of fitness forums where everyone is always trying to outdo the other members. It almost got to the point of a “who can be more disordered with their eating issues and exercise habits” game. I’ve been proud and had an attitude over people I crossed paths with because they weren’t as “healthy, fit, dedicated, ________” as me. People who didn’t even recognize I was in competition with them.

After removing myself as much as possible from relationships which I constantly felt the need to prove myself and joining the blogging community, among other things, I realized friendly competition was for the birds. Instead, I adopted a mentality of doing things to be my best, happiest, and most balanced self and helping those I care about achieve the same. It is much more rewarding to be in companionship with another than in competition. How do you do that? Here’s what I think…

1. Recognize and stop competitive behaviors. Comparing yourself to someone else and a) thinking you’re not doing enough or b) pitying the other person for not being as wonderful as you are. Becoming overly proud or incessantly bragging to prove your worth to another person. Pushing yourself to achieve something you are not comfortable with, mentally or physically, for the sake of proving yourself to someone. When situations like these happen, consider how we are all different and have different goals and abilities.

2. Provide encouragement to others when they compliment you, ask how you are successful with something, or show frustration with their lack of progress. Always find a way to build someone up and offer help with their questions. You can even point out a strength of theirs.

3. Accept support and positive statements from others. If you receive a compliment, don’t push it away. Being happy with yourself will help decrease the need to validate yourself in competitions.

4. Use the strengths you admire in other people to motivate you, but not as a yardstick to measure up to. If you read blogs about fabulous athletes running many miles a day or completing intense workouts, you can channel their energy (and advice) for your own workouts. Don’t let the fact you might not be running 5 or more miles at a time right now get you down. Remember we all have to start somewhere. Give yourself time to consistently work hard at your goals and don’t forget that they are YOUR goals. They must suit you. Not what you think they should be based on someone else’s abilities.

5. Have fun! If you make your goals in life fun and fulfilling you don’t have to get caught up in the rat race because you are enjoying the journey. You will want others to feel that same happiness and will share it with them.

There will always be competition in certain situations and in some instances it is a good thing. For example, during a race you will inevitably face competition and you can use it to push you for that run. The difference, in my mind, is the competition we place on ourselves on a regular basis and with those we know personally and even care for. That is when support replacing competition can benefit us all.

• What ways do you multitask? Is it hard or easy for you?
• Do you believe friendly competition is useful or detrimental? What ways are you competitive?

Now I'm off for a lady's night with my mom and sister! I'm super excited for it. Any guesses??? 😀

You would think not being able to do anything all day long wouldn’t leave me so exhausted. You would be wrong. I was cooped up in our house without a car again today and apparently having nothing to do but entertain a toddler all by myself drains me like nothing else can. Or it could also be fatigue from a good workout late yesterday afternoon. I couldn’t make it to my usual Power class so I opted for my own full body weights workout that went like this:

Followed up with 20 minutes incline walking on the treadmill. It was kind of weird not just going to a class. Making up my own workout routines and detailed plans is something I thoroughly enjoy doing and this workout made me really miss it. I still think I am going to mainly stick with classes right now and save the creative-workout-plan juices for after the baby. I will do my own things on occasion, but when I’m not trying to make any strength gains or physical progress I prefer to not have to think much about my training. Classes definitely provide that option.

One notable thing about my own workout…I am feeling it today. I am taking a rest day today, but I will be ready to get back in the groove tomorrow. I have my mojo back. Something I was hankering for after a few too many weeks of it missing. Between vacation time, a sick kiddo, battling morning sickness, and other issues I have not been to the gym much at all over the month of June. In fact, Monday was my first workout in about 2.5 weeks! That is a long hiatus for me and I was worried it would be difficult to get back in the swing of things. So I took some time to consider how to get myself back to working out and came up with the following ideas. They are working so far and I hope they can help you when coming back from vacations, illnesses, life getting in the way, etc.

1. Ease back into it. If you have taken close to a week or more off from your regular training, don’t expect to pick up right where you left off. It might take a few days to a couple weeks for your body to get back in the swing of things. Try to schedule in an extra rest day or two the first week back. Lighten up your normal weight load for strength training workouts. Cut back intensity or length on some of the cardio. Wouldn’t you rather take things a little slowly for a week over injuring yourself or blasting your body into soreness oblivion that leaves you sidelined for weeks? Yea, I thought so.

2. Pick a workout you can get excited about. Don’t expect to motivate yourself back into the gym on Monday morning if your regular Monday plan is that long elliptical session that makes you feel like pulling teeth. Choose something you know you love doing, whether it be a run, a spin class, a lifting session, or some yoga. Make it fun. You can even opt for a new workout you have been dying to try, like that Zumba or Kettlebells class your gym just added.

3. Find a workout buddy. If you have accountability from another person that will help you get your butt off the couch quicker than relying on your own self would. Since Peter has to use my car this week, I knew I would not get myself to the gym in the afternoon after he came home unless he went with me. Being able to go workout with him helps me be sure to get in a workout and it makes it fun.

4. Schedule to go at a time you are least likely to skip going. If it is already going to be extremely tough to get back into the early waking habit, it might be better to plan your workouts for after work until you readjust to your normal schedule. If stress is wearing you down, make a point to get things done first thing in the morning so you can feel better. Don’t make fitting in your workout harder than it could be.

5. Don’t delay or start excuses. Upon returning from a vacation or fully overcoming that cold, return to your training routine asap. If you start making excuses for why you can’t go at the beginning, it will just continue to get harder to return to your fitness plan. The first couple of workouts are always the hardest after a break. Get them out of the way quickly so you can feel better and rejuvenated.

6. Remember why you love getting your sweat on. Consider the goals you are striving towards, the race you are training for, that accomplished feeling you love after a workout, or the health you enjoy. Think about what got you to the gym or out pounding that pavement before your break. Use those same things to motivate you now.

And if all else fails, buy a new workout outfit you want to flaunt of take such a long break that you really cannot wait to return to the gym! For the record, there really should be something called sarcasm font. 😉

• What helps you get your motivation back after a workout hiatus?
• Do you prefer morning or afternoon workouts? I am definitely a mid-morning workout person. Going anywhere from 8-10 am is the best time for me. One of the perks of being a stay at home mother!