Forget the Resolutions; Embrace the Process

This New Year’s, the resolution crowd has a new wrinkle: here in BC at least, the gyms are closed due to our latest Covid public health order.

In a way, though, maybe this gives us an opportunity to look at making lasting improvements to our lifestyle instead of the ill-fated short-term approach that many people take every January.

What if we focused, instead of where we want to be, on how to get there? On acknowledging and even celebrating every small step in the right direction? Seems to me that procrastination wouldn’t have such an easy time flourishing…

And happily, there’s even some science to back this up! And more here too.

Being in the Swing of Things

What should have been a standard recertification four weeks ago gave me an opportunity to put this into practice for myself. For the first time in eight years, I was called on a few points in both my kettlebell cleans and snatches. I revisited the swing first and am currently back into cleans. I’ve been surprised how good it feels to revisit the basics. Exploring something like the swing truly can fall into the paradigm of “an inch wide and a mile deep.”

So lately I’ve updated my personal message board: Consider the alternative… then embrace the ~~grind~~ process.

And I’ve taken off some deadline pressure, which has really helped reduce some of the useless, monkey-mind mental effort and free up energy for more important things. So far I find that I’m able to focus on being in the life I want, rather than focusing on what I must do to get to some mythical far-away fixed point.

The goals haven’t gone away — just the opposite — and now I feel that things are indeed going in the right direction to meet them over time.

Double-bodyweight deadlift, I’m looking at you! 2021 Regionals got me back to the exact same deadlift number and total as I had reached in the 2018 Regionals, with the huge difference that this time I felt great the day after, and I was able to lift my left arm and turn my head to the side.

My 5:00 1K run goal is also getting there. While weather conditions didn’t allow me to time it at a real go-go-go pace this year, I do know that as of two weeks ago, I had taken 0:38 off of my kilometre time compared to a year previously, and this was while running at a relatively comfortable pace.

It’s actually a major relief to reduce the timeline pressure on how soon to achieve these goals. My weekly template is both personally exciting and technically sound to help advance toward them – and please do contact me if you need help in finding something that feels the same for yourself.

And as we move more in whatever directions we are choosing to move, I say: good luck to all of us, and let’s keep doing this together!

I met Meghan O'Connell at a social event whilst I was in Vancouver on holidays. I got talking with her about kettlebells, not knowing that this was an area Meghan specialized in. Her in-depth knowledge of the techniques and theory instantly convinced me to arrange an introductory person session with her the following week.

Meghan worked me through the basics and some more complex moves. She easily adapted to my level of fitness and ability, and provided me with excellent advice on posture, breathing and technique throughout the session. She was spot-on in her approach.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Meghan to anyone who's looking for a personal trainer for either an extended period of time or simply a one-on-one tuneup. Thanks very much again for everything Meghan!

Dan W.

It has been a pleasure working out once weekly with Meghan following a left wrist fracture in July 2018. I was referred to Meghan as a certified Osteofit trainer as I, like many women of my age, have osteopenia, and I have had multiple fractures over the years despite being active with cycling, paddling and skiing.

My goal was to increase my core and overall strength, which would have the added benefit of improving my bone density. However my body overall thanks Meghan! At age 66 years, I had had bothersome neck pain and reduced mobility of my neck for well over a year. Quite miraculously, after a couple of weeks of training I realised that my neck pain had gone and has not recurred! I had worried about becoming stooped in posture with age, like my mother, but Meghan immediately recognized that predisposition and designed a series of exercises and routine to prevent that. My posture is already much improved, and another benefit is clothes and jackets fit and look much better!

Meghan has a calm manner and totally flexible approach to working with her clients. I really can’t imagine any client feeling uncomfortable with Meghan. She creates a personalized program for you and works with you to achieve your goals.

Meghan has an excellent working knowledge of muscular anatomy and the physiology of exercise and breathing. Her focus on the importance of posture and using the breathing muscles properly with engaging the diaphragm is clearly key in enabling her clients to improve their core strength and lift increasing weight safely.

I find that I am using the tips Meghan has taught me in so many day-to-day activities, and lifting increasing weight with absolutely no discomfort.

As both a client and a physician, who has worked with patients with neuromuscular diseases throughout my career, I would highly recommend Meghan as a personal trainer for an exercise enthusiast, but as well for someone who is less fit with an issue with neck, shoulder or low back pain or possibly a recent or remote injury. Meghan has the skills and experience to work with the mechanical issues contributing to the pain, and design an exercise directed program to recovery.

I personally feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Meghan in my recovery from an injury.

Gillian Gibson, MD FRCPC, Neurologist and former Director of the VGH and UBC Neuromuscular Diseases Unit and EMG labs 2001 to 2015, recently retired.

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Forget the Resolutions; Embrace the Process Jan-01-22

Being in the Swing of Things