A day with a record

Sundays are normally the day to relax, and just enjoy that you've survived another week, recharging for the next. But today, as the headline implies, I broke a record. It is not a huge record or anything, it's just one of those records you have everyday, but usually not stop to think even twice about. But I am now more educated in the art of cognitive psychology, and realise that a tiny thing (like rewarding yourself for just spent another day with yourself, or like now, enjoying a very trivial personal record) can mean a huge difference in the way you feel and perceive yourself. Weird, hard to believe? But it is true.

My record was broken in the stairs machine. After a slow sunday breakfast (around lunch-time; watching the 3-4 am episode of 1st season of '24'!!) I went to the gym to get rid of some built up agitation and stress. I chose my ordinary climbing machine programme 'Fat Burn', 45 minutes, 62 kg. But today, I used a higher level / lower resistance / tougher work-out than normally, level 15 out of maximum 20. I felt a bit optimistic starting off, but at the same time I really wanted to make sure that all stress was relieved at the end of the 45 minutes. And it was. And I was actually quite satisfied breaking all my previous records on the machine; climbing for 10.25 km, 315 flights of stairs, 91 steps / min, mean effect around 210 W, and also with an estimated loss of 560 kcal. In 45 minutes! I have never before climbed over 10 km, and never before more thatn 300 flights in one go (i.e. 45 min). I actually raised my hands high above my head when I broke the two records, feeling very pleased with myself, along with ignoring looks from other work-outers. It made my day, I must admit. And I have lived on it long after the increased endorphin levels declined to normal levels again. Such a minor thing, can make a huge difference in the way you perceive yourself and the way you feel about yourself. Trust me!

And try it! (it does not have to be on a stairs machine)