Win with mind-games!

When things get bad, set yourself up for a win!

I am a definitely “Glass half full” kind of guy. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that the only challenge is figuring out what opportunity has just been opened up for me. I personally find that I feel better taking control of a bad situation than sitting back and being a victim.

A muscle pull yesterday (Sunday) made me think about this. I pulled my piraformis so bad that I literally could not walk without the aid of a walker. I was SO excited about the upcoming week. I was going to do three bike/hikes, train with my trainer at the gym, and go on a flying trip. I was VERY excited but now even getting to the toilet was a big challenge. When I pulled the muscle, my first thought was:

“I was doing so well regaining muscle mass and losing bodyfat and now I will lose it all because I can’t even friggin walk.”

Then, without skipping a beat I went into my “glass half full mode”. I got injured, it sucks, get over it. How can I benefit from this situation? What could I do with my 20 hours of cardio and lifting time in the next week if I can’t even walk? I’m a true engineer in that I always have a plan and a backup plan. The plan was to hike, bike, lift, and fly. Backup plan is to read “The Kaiju Preservation Society” which is a Hugo nominated science fiction book and do an enhancement on custommealplanner.com. Going to bed Sunday night, I was excited! No matter how I feel when I wake up Monday morning, I win! If I can’t walk without the walker then I get to read a book I have been excited about. If by some miracle my muscle pull is not as bad as it usually is then I get to do the week of fitness I had planned. Win, win! I designed a plan where I literally could not lose.

Well, its Monday. Lifting weights and hiking would be a very bad idea BUT I’m fine for a bike ride!!! I won! I won! If I play my cards right I might be able to exercise AND read my book!

Set up a win-win situation!