Desire Lines

Typical Desire Line

Desire lines, or paths, can be a path created as a consequence of foot or bicycle traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. The width of the path and its erosion are indicators of the amount of use the path receives. Desire paths emerge as shortcuts where constructed ways take a circuitous route, or have gaps, or are lacking entirely.

What on earth does this have to do with fitness?  

Let's see...  As it turns out, your life is constructed of a variety of desire lines.  Is there a go to snack that you have to celebrate achievements or big events?  Do you associate certain foods or beverages with feeling happy and content with yourself or your station in life?  Are there particular places that you go when you're not feeling that great and need a pick me up?  If you answered yes to any of these, you have formed some natural pathways to something you desire, namely happiness.  You could think of this in another, less interesting word, a rut.  

Now it's time to do a little self examination.  Here is a one question test for you: Are you in a rut?  You probably already know if it's the case.  You were going to hit the gym today on the way home, but the force of habit took you home instead.  Or maybe you made it, but you just benched again for the third time this week because, what else do you do at the gym?  Getting stuck in a rut in the fitness world is an express ticket to sitting on the couch in front of a screen eating ice cream.  

I know what you're thinking, "Didn't he just sit us down and remind us to stick with a program?"  Yeah, I did.  Here are some differences between sticking with a program and a rut.  When you're in a rut training is often sporadic and based on whether you feel like it or not.  You go into the gym without a plan, without goals, and without heart and you come out of the gym without accomplishing anything.  When you stick with the program you train with gusto because you're excited to see continued progress in at least this area of your life.  You walk into the gym with a plan that you or others have tested, you record your progress, and you leave with a sense of accomplishment and forward motion.  Stick with a program, don't fall into a rut.

Reprogramming Desire Lines

Good news everyone, desire lines can change.  They change as the object desired changes.  

The first step here is to disrupt the cycle of decision making that is leading you into a rut.  Find a trusted program.  I can even help you write one.  

The second step is to start moving.  Motivation tends to me more of a trailing indicator in fitness.  That means that your motivation to get working is likely to build after you start working, rather than preceding a big change in how you feel.  

The third step is to measure progress.  When you can see objective changes happening in performance, it makes you want to get into the gym.  Then the desire line that used to run from work to terrible fast food to an evening on the couch is reprogrammed to hit the gym, cook a healthy meal, and spend time doing something you love.

The final step is to celebrate positive changes.  As motivation to train grows, objective progress is being noticed, and your all around sense of well being is improving, you need to celebrate it!  Enjoy your life.  You are training to improve quality of life, not so that training is all that exists in your life.  Use your newly won fitness to enjoy travelling, playing new sports, or some other awesome reward for sticking with your goals.

If you need a little boost or some help with deciding on a program to help change your desire lines, get in touch with me through the comments or at disruptivefitness@gmail.com.