week 4 down, 13 to go...Either way you will grow

As the physical work continues,  so does the mental work. This past week I prepared myself (mentally) and I felt good, and strong as I headed towards Bo. The session was great, but the feelings of good and strong were replaced with the feelings of weak and worn!  I wasn't mentally weak or worn but physically I was! As I shared this feeling with Bo he just smiled. --making me think its true that personal trainers are sadists in the making.  Of course that isn't true, but it sure  can feel that way.
One of the things I like most about working with Bo is that he has a no nonsense mentality, little tolerance for excuses and a sense of humor.  I dont have much patience for excuses either, I simply believe either you did or you didnt. The reason may be interesting, the excuse may be sensible but neither change the outcome.  Yes, No, try again.--- If you were supposed to do something, but something (insert excuse here) got in your way then you try again. If you can try again hopefully you can learn from the failed attempt and make changes so next time you do it, and there is no excuse.
I have gone to work with Bo off nearly no sleep, when I've been sick  (or caring for sick kids) or when my work schedule is very busy. Yesterday I had a previously scheduled dentist appointment for some major work. I knew I was pushing it having an 8:15a appointment but I thought I would make my session with Bo.  I was feeling a little concerned about the intensity of the training in relation to the numbing and other after effects of the dental work. The thought crossed my mind to reschedule  but hating excuses as much as I do-- I didn't think that reason was good enough.  Then, as if the universe knew better (which it does), moments before the dental work began Bo sent me a mesg needing to reschedule.  And I'm not gonna lie I felt no disappointment!  I was relieved, and the work was much more painful than I had planned on it being. --I was able to recover comfortably while at the same time knowing that Bo's unavailability has nothing to do with my ability to work out. There simply was no excuse for me not to work out. -- How  strenuous of a work out is a different story.

 I feel with Bo if I say something is hard  he pushes for more, I guess the thinking is that it then will become easier? (or he truly is a sadist). Yet if  I say its easy then he pushes for more, until I no longer think its easy.  So, being in this no-win situation, or  win/win really, I try to say nothing, and just do.  Which makes sense, physical training is about doing. There is no need for excuses, just do it.  I did work out yesterday, not as hard as I would have had I been under the direction of Bo, but I did manage to  shed a minute off my mile run time. --But it was far from easy and I will not tell Bo because he will expect even more next week!

This past week I had a new understanding on how difficult it is to be wanting change, wanting to work for that change yet fearing the process of facing said change.  This is a feeling I think many people have, it's one that I took for granted-- I've known it on an intellectual level, but I have never felt it until now. It definitely takes an amazingly strong person to pursue  those changes despite the discomfort. Change is sometimes easy, and sometimes hard but  for sure either way you will grow.