{"id":6201,"date":"2016-09-12T13:42:58","date_gmt":"2016-09-12T19:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adjustedreality.com\/blog\/?p=6201"},"modified":"2016-09-12T14:12:21","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T20:12:21","slug":"perceptionvsreality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/adjustedreality.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/12\/perceptionvsreality\/","title":{"rendered":"Perception vs Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sept12-1\"<\/p>\n

I’m well aware that this concept exists, and that the way I see the world is not necessarily the whole truth.\u00a0 However, the universe has definitely been trying to hit me with the clue bat the last few days to drive that adage home.<\/p>\n

Cases in point:<\/p>\n

Study #1 – Work<\/p>\n

I worked myself into an absolute TIZZY about my job last week, to the point where it was keeping me up at night, and I think it actually contributed to a minor 24 stomach bug issue (no appetite, upset stomach, chills, etc) mid-week.\u00a0 Then, I had a frank discussion with my boss, who asked me straight out: is this a problem right now or fear for the future?<\/p>\n

And it stopped me in my tracks.\u00a0 I had to take a second and really consider it, but future unknowns were about 80% of the problem.\u00a0 Yes, things are stressful right now, but it’s not abhorrently chaotic.\u00a0 It’s next year I’m absolutely freaking out about.\u00a0 With assurances that I wouldn’t have the same issue in the future, I was able to calm down fairly quickly.<\/p>\n

Perception is that everything is completely out of control.\u00a0 Reality is it’s loosely under control now and if everything goes as planned, it shouldn’t get worse.\u00a0 Next year is next year.\u00a0 There is no use losing sleep over it now.\u00a0 I realized just hearing “yeah, of course you’re stressed and need help and we all know it and the plan is to fix it” was enough to take the uneasiness down to the normal dull roar it’s at during this time of the year.<\/p>\n

\"sept12-2\"<\/p>\n

The session BEFORE my stomach bug really hit.\u00a0 Pro tip: if you’re feeling sick, don’t sit in really cold air conditioning in a soaked-through sleeveless jersey for 15 minutes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Study #2 – Training<\/p>\n

Because I had said stomach bug, I missed my 8 mile long run Thursday morning and a weights session.\u00a0 Skipping this key session, and not being able to make it up, left a window open and the doubt demons flew in.\u00a0 How am I going to race a half ironman with a long run of 6 miles?\u00a0 How am I letting myself be so unprepared for this race?\u00a0 What is wrong with me?<\/p>\n

Part of the issue is this year is SO different I have nothing to compare it to.\u00a0 And when I consider what I AM doing, I’m ahead of the 8 ball in so many ways and things still have plenty of time to come together.<\/p>\n

I think I rode my bike outside four times to get ready for my half in 2015, the rest were endurance class and trainer miles.\u00a0 This year I ride outside 2-3 times a week and I’ve already had 2 long rides that were longer than my longest last year.\u00a0 Last year I think I swam the 1.2 mile distance once in open water before the race.\u00a0 This year, I’ve done it four times already (from 1.2 miles to 2.8 miles), albeit slow as molasses, but that’s the first step.<\/p>\n

Perception is that I should be way further along than I am.\u00a0 Reality is that the timeline has shifted five weeks, and I’m actually doing GREAT.\u00a0 Being that I have pretty decent bike and swim endurance, and I’m halfway there on the run, I’m not doing too badly 7 weeks out.\u00a0 I think reassessing my plans and laying in some key sessions to hit over the next few weeks will help.<\/p>\n

\"sept12-3\"<\/p>\n

#junkinmytrunk #thegoodkind<\/em><\/p>\n

Study #3 – The Scale<\/p>\n

While the progress is still inching the correct way, it’s definitely sloooooooow.\u00a0 And it’s no surprise when I went on vacation and didn’t track, and spent half the week last week not tracking because the sky was falling, apparently.<\/p>\n

I’m also getting to the point where the weight loss has slowed for enough time, that my body shape is not this new exciting thing.\u00a0 So the mirror has gone back from “yay” to “eh… alright”.\u00a0 Every time I step on the scale, I’m like UGH, I must have gained weight.\u00a0 And I haven’t.\u00a0 Body dysmorphia is very very weird.\u00a0 I mean, there are days I think I look alright in my glasses, I’ll change to my contacts, and feel fatter.\u00a0 I *know* it’s bullshit, but it’s what my eyes see.<\/p>\n

Flashback to yesterday, when I met some friends I hadn’t seen in a little while.\u00a0 They were gushing over how tan, glowing, healthy, and muscular I was looking.\u00a0 Another one said I looked 20 years old in a picture.\u00a0 For someone like me, who has so long had my eyes so closely on the details and minutiae of losing fat, maintaining a healthy physique, and absolutely not regressing to my obese, can’t-walk-across-the-street-without-getting-winded self from 10 years agp… sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.<\/p>\n

Perception in the mirror right now is that I still have a long road ahead, especially with how slow I’m losing weight, and the fact that I’ll probably need to pause for at least a season to prepare for and race Ironman.\u00a0 Reality is that I’m comfortably wearing a shirt that I would have busted out of a few months ago, and with patience and persistence, I’ll get there eventually, wherever there ends up being.<\/p>\n

Let’s do that details thing.<\/p>\n

\"sept7-4\"<\/p>\n

Training last week:<\/strong><\/p>\n