I started watching West Wing again last week. All I can say is it’s a good thing I’m on Week 20 of this 20k One Year Step Challenge.

West Wing ruined TV for me. Every show is now measured against it. And nothing even comes close. I loved the topic, the writing, the characters, and the production. And, even though West Wing ended almost 13 years ago it still feels timeless.

Lately I’ve been feeling the Netflix Void. You know, that space in time where you don’t have a show you’re hooked on.  For me the criteria is simple. The show needs a lot of episodes and has to be as good as West Wing. I looked. I sampled. Nothing. That’s why there’s a void. So, just for kicks I watched West Wing Episode 1. Void filled.

It snowed last week. Then it snowed again. In between it was cold. Here in Maryland we can pretty much count on two solid months of winter weather. We get most of our snow in January and February. This is also when we feel the Polar Vortex with temperatures and wind chills in single digits.

To be clear, it’s not like that every day and it’s also not that snow doesn’t appear in other months, but January and February are the heart of Maryland winter.

Here’s the thing. I love summer. I love the beach. I love cutting the lawn. I love sitting in Camden Yards on a hot evening watching the Orioles lose. I even love the bugs that come with summer. Well, not mosquitos. Or yellow jackets. Or flies. But, the rest of them are pretty fun.

It’s probably no surprise that I struggle with winter. I desperately want to push the fast-forward button on the remote control of life. I’m ready to sit on a beach watching the dolphins jump out of the water and the pelicans fly in formation overhead.

Last week was Week 20 of this 20k One Year Step Challenge. My target is 20,000 steps every day for a year with no breaks. I started on September 1 while it was still summer and long walks were easy.

Gradually the summer turned to autumn and the leaves turned gorgeous. The walks stretched even longer. Fall morphed into December and I was distracted by the approaching holidays as I reached my step goal every day.

But, now it’s January with nothing to distract me from the cold, snowy, relentless winter. I want an escape. Enter West Wing with 156 glorious episodes. I could watch three hours every day and still have bonus episodes when February rolls into March. 

But, I can’t. Oh sure, I’ll watch it, but multiple episodes every day isn’t happening. This is where Week 20 of this challenge factors in.

Have you ever ridden a bike up a hill? For me, it’s nearly impossible to start at the bottom and make it to the top without getting off and walking the rest of the way. But, if I get to start with a big downhill first to build momentum I can make it all the way to the top still on the bike.

Momentum is funny that way. Getting started can be so hard, but once you’re moving it gets easier and easier and easier.

Week 20 has that momentum. West Wing won’t stop me. It can’t.

And, I’m discovering an added bonus. As I collect my 20,000 steps every day I’m finding beauty in this season I’ve long struggled with. Winter can be stunning.

I’m glad life doesn’t come with a remote control.

Are you struggling to build momentum in your fitness journey? Goal: 20,000 Steps can help. This Wednesday you’ll get five tools to help you keep going when you’d rather quit. It’s part four of a plan to help you Win at Fitness. If you click FOLLOW (below if you’re reading on a phone or to the right and above if you’re on a computer) and you’ll get that article the moment it’s posted.

You can also get caught up by reading Part One HERE. It’s all about the importance of starting small. Part Two HERE will help you change your thinking about the finish line. And, Part Three HERE comes with a free tool to help turn the shame of fitness failures into fitness wins.

You can also check out my daily journey HERE to reach 20,000 steps every day since September 1. You can see how that momentum was built.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

If you struggle with making fitness stick you can change that today. The 30 Day Fitness Challenge will help you begin building a fitness habit that creates fitness momentum which eventually leads to fitness transformation.

Walking is fitness hiding in plain sight. The 30 Day Fitness Challenge will help you set the perfect Fitbit goal for you. The Challenge includes a contract you can make with yourself. That might sound cheesy, but having a signed piece of paper is a powerful motivator on those days when you just don’t feel like it.

Every day you reach your Fitbit goal is a win. The 30 Day Fitness Challenge includes a Win Tracker to celebrate your progress every day!

Best of all…The 30 Day Fitness Challenge is free!!

If you don’t have a Fitbit I recommend the Fitbit Inspire HR. This is the Fitbit I use to track my 20,000 steps a day. The Inspire HR also tracks your heart rate and sleep so you get an even wider picture of your fitness progress.

(By the way…if you use the link above to but a Fitbit Inspire HR this blog will receive a small commission. It won’t add anything to what you pay, but letting you know is the right thing to do)

Lastly, this blog is designed to help you embrace walking as a fitness activity. It’s sustainable, flexible, effective, and fun. Every week I post new articles with stories and helpful suggestions to Win at Fitness.

If you click FOLLOW (below on your phone…to the right and above on your computer) you’ll receive an email with a link to each new blog post.