Change for me is hard unless I plan it out ahead of time or I’m prepared for it.  It makes me go all wonky when it happens unexpectedly.

For example, I will eat the same breakfast lunch and dinner multiple days in a row because I know what they add up to in my macro plans and I can count on it to be the same every day.  I don’t have to guess what the calorie count is and I can focus on other things like my gym plan for the week. I don’t like winging anything including my meal plan for the day since I’m counting everything.  If I don’t plan it out, I don’t control it.  It’s my routine and I am a creature of routine.  That’s another thing that I have trouble switching up is my actual fitness routine.  Workout routines are good because you know what to do on what day.  You have to think of nothing except completing whatever it is that you planned for that day.  Even if you are on a rest day. It’s good to know that you have one and that it’s always in the same place each week and that your body can recoup whatever you’ve put it through during the week.  We make workout routines because it’s good to know which days are cardio days and which days are weight days and that they will always be in the same spot each week.  Outside of rest days and two cardio days, the rest of my week usually is one day: arms/abs and three days legs/abs.  I’m happy when I know what to expect, it’s just how I’m wired.

Now, I know switching up my means to my end is good meaning that I switch up what exercises I’m doing on say leg day.  Some days I use machines and other days I’m squatting with the bar or doing leg swings or other body weight exercises.  I always have the same rotation of exercises in my pool from which I pick and choose to incorporate into my fitness routine.  I  do like to watch some pages on Facebook that demonstrate different exercises that I can add to my arsenal each week. so I don’t get bored or allow my body to acclimate to what I’m doing and not respond the way I want.  What I do is the same but different.  What I don’t like is a change in the process.

Today I got to the gym to find it jam-packed.  People everywhere and almost every treadmill, elliptical and bike had someone occupying it.  There were so many puffy guys occupying the weight area and milling around the machines that it almost looked like an open house. This makes getting my planned workout in difficult.  No space to put down a mat and workout.  So what do I do when this happens?  I do an internal panic because now I’m in unfamiliar territory…MY PLAN IS NOW SHOT AND I’M WINGING IT!!!!  Did I say I hate winging it?  I do!

So, without looking desperate or going home like some wimp, I jump on the first machine I can get to and I begin to formulate a new workout plan.   When my routine is planned out ahead of time it’s normal and predictable and totally ok.  Today was supposed to be leg and ab day but now it’s no.  So now I’m on said machine, which happens to be an elliptical machine, and I start running or trotting whichever you prefer.  As I’m now off my plan and a little miffed as I rearrange my plan.  When this happens it’s almost always over the top or more than I need to do like I’m making it up to myself like some terrible dead beat dad that sees his kid once a month and just buys him or her things to make up for everything else that they aren’t doing to be a good parent.  Ok, maybe that’s a little exaggerated but I begin to justify my actions and the change in plan.  My mind first goes to the fact that I promised myself that I would add another cardio day to my weekly routine.  Ok, that’s good and that alone would make this change in plan a success.  BUT NO!  I must do more and then justify that as well.

As I finish on the elliptical, and I did work harder than just trotting, I think that usually, I’m at the gym for about an hour.  I’ve only spent 32 minutes on the elliptical which would make this a less than average workout at best.  I should at least put in the hour or 50 minutes minimum.  Push harder to meet your standard gym visit but don’t go crazy because tomorrows plan calls for a cardio day.  So we want to do more but not so much as to ruin my legs for tomorrow which holds the stupid stair master, running on the DM and the all mighty rower.

The question that begs to be answered here is “What does the linear person (someone who likes routine and order) do now that routine is off and time is not met?”  Well, I’ll tell you.  We hop on the bike for 20 minutes (not 30 because that would probably ruin said legs for tomorrow [insert eye roll]).  NOW I can feel good about myself and my workout. I am thinking in my head.  NOW I can leave with my head held high in the knowledge that I am the queen of my workout today and although it was off routine, it was acceptable in the end.

Why I think that is beyond me. ..

30 minutes would have been just fine and no one but me cares.  This is what happens with a change in my routine.  It throws me for a crazy overachieving freefall where I feel I have to do extra to feel good about what I’ve done.

I’m my own worst enemy and best motivator all in one!