What’s My Motivation, Dude? Part One
Welcome to another installment of Fitness Friday! Grab your bottled water and a juicy piece of fruit…let’s jump right in.
Motivation is key to any successful fitness and nutrition lifestyle. It is the “why” that makes you do the “what” in your life. I think motivation in fitness falls into two main categories:
Initial Motivation–Why make healthy changes to begin with?
and
Continued Motivation–How do I keep going when it gets hard?
Today, let’s focus on Initial Motivation.
I love lists. I wish life were just a series of little lists I could follow and check off. With a cute pen and a legal pad. I love cute pens and legal pads. So nothing would warm my heart more on this Fitness Friday than to give you a fool-proof, one-size-fits-all list of motivators.
But, alas, that isn’t how life works. See, what motivates me, may not resonate with you in the least. We are all so uniquely crafted, this is one area you really need to examine and discover for yourself.
For some of you, it may be the death of a loved one.
For others, it may be a medical scare of your own.
Or perhaps you see a photo of yourself and can’t believe you really look that big.
Or someone calls you “fat”
Maybe you’ve got a closet full of clothes that you love but can’t fit into…again.
Or you get a glimpse of your chart during a physical, and the doctor has the word “obese” on your list of diagnoses
Some of you may, as the saying goes, just be sick and tired of feeling sick and tired
Honestly, I don’t really think I had one moment in time that shifted me from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one. From as far back as I can remember, I’ve cared about my health and my weight.
However, I have had a few major motivators over the years that propelled me into more serious fitness routines and more disciplined eating. Here are the highlights. Maybe you’ll find something in there that also propels you to action:
1. Age 14: My mom has a heart attack at the age of 54…the first of many heart-related ailments that would eventually take her life at age 70.
Result: I realize genetics are not in my favor. I vow to take care of my body so that I will live to enjoy my children and my grandchildren.
2. Age 24–At an annual physical, I discuss my 5-pound weight gain with my doctor. This is the first time I ever pay attention to the words “age” and “metabolism” in the same sentence. I do some quick mathematics in my bride-to-be head, and figure
A. I have only gained less than a half a pound a month this year–that’s not too bad, right?
B. If I continue at that rate, by age 34, I’ll be 50 pounds overweight! By age 44, I’ll be 100 pounds overweight. YIKES!
Result: Get my first gym membership, and add weights to my cardio workouts.
2. Age 31–After 2 c-sections in 18 months, I struggle to get to my pre-pregnancy weight.
Result: Discover Body For LIfe and complete my first 12-Week Challenge
3. Age 36–Watch the movie Supersize Me
Movie Plug: I cannot recommend this movie enough. Not only is it highly entertaining, but it is so full of information…I think I’ve watched it 4 times just to catch all the stats.
Please rent this movie and watch it. You won’t regret it.
Make sure you watch the special features, too.
WARNING: You may never eat a McDonald’s french fry again as long as you live.
Result: Buy and read the books written by the experts interviewed in the special features. Buy and read a whole slew of books on nutrition, natural diets and health. Switch to an almost all-organic and almost all-vegetarian diet, for my entire family.
And vow never to order McDonald’s french fries again. (And I haven’t).
4. Annual trips to Holiday World–a giant water park in very rural Santa Claus, Indiana.
Dude, I’ve never seen so many tattoos on large, hairy bellies in my LIFE! No offense against these people. I’m sure they are all swell folks. But put a shirt on already!
Water slides and family fun aside, it’s like the Midwest Mecca for obese, unhealthy and inappropriately clothed families. I’m not kidding, every single year, I come home and recommit my life to health–and remind my children why we do what we do around here.
Yes, some people renew their wedding vows.
Some recommit to Christ.
But I…I have a weepy annual ceremony, pledging allegiance to my veggies.
5. Any day, every day, reading stats like these all over the news:
Two in every three adults in the U.S. are overweight, that’s 127 million people, not counting the overweight children!
One out of three adult Americans is obese (that’s 60 million!) and nine million are severely obese!
Obesity is responsible for as many as 300,000 deaths annually.
The cost of health-care related to obesity runs at about $100,000,000,000 (that’s $100 billion!) per year
Just writing all of this makes me want to hop on the elliptical and drink a Go LEAN protein shake.
That’s my story…what’s yours?
I agree that motivation is different for each person. Pain is often the greatest motivator. Like you said, seeing yourself in the mirror and not believing it.
For me, I've always been interested in health and fitness. I had open heart surgery at the age of 7. Before that time, I lived a very sedentary life because I was always short of breath from a congenital heart defect. But once I had my surgery, I ran and played like everyone else. But I think I really appreciated it because I knew what it was like before.
I became a cardiac nurse too. I even worked in cardiac rehab for a time and got training at LaCrosse in Wisconsin. I've taught classes to heart patients on making healthier lifestyle choices and I guess that's where my blog Heart Choices comes in. I had that name for more than 12 years.
I don't want to take us so much space here but my hubby and I have even spent three weeks at Pritikin Center. Now that I'm older and not working in nursing but sitting at my computer all day, I've gained some weight and I find it's harder to take off since menopause. Yes, I'm old but don't tell anyone, OK? But that's some of my story.
I agree that motivation is different for each person. Pain is often the greatest motivator. Like you said, seeing yourself in the mirror and not believing it.
For me, I've always been interested in health and fitness. I had open heart surgery at the age of 7. Before that time, I lived a very sedentary life because I was always short of breath from a congenital heart defect. But once I had my surgery, I ran and played like everyone else. But I think I really appreciated it because I knew what it was like before.
I became a cardiac nurse too. I even worked in cardiac rehab for a time and got training at LaCrosse in Wisconsin. I've taught classes to heart patients on making healthier lifestyle choices and I guess that's where my blog Heart Choices comes in. I had that name for more than 12 years.
I don't want to take us so much space here but my hubby and I have even spent three weeks at Pritikin Center. Now that I'm older and not working in nursing but sitting at my computer all day, I've gained some weight and I find it's harder to take off since menopause. Yes, I'm old but don't tell anyone, OK? But that's some of my story.
Yikes! Okay already! What a powerfully motivating post all in its own. I've been reading Body For Life for Women at night and highlighting, but have been doing so haphazardly. I'm gonna kick it up a notch. On a related note, I fixed a healthy meal for my family tonight. It felt GREAT!
Yikes! Okay already! What a powerfully motivating post all in its own. I've been reading Body For Life for Women at night and highlighting, but have been doing so haphazardly. I'm gonna kick it up a notch. On a related note, I fixed a healthy meal for my family tonight. It felt GREAT!
Hey girl 🙂 Motivation is so important for me right now. I have been experiencing sooo much nausea and fatigue with this pregnancy so far. Needless to say, it makes it hard to workout. But, I do have some key motivators:
1)My mother had a heart attack at 42. Yes. Crazy, isn't it? So genetics is not on my side. All kinds of stuff runs on both sides of my family. So I have to watch it.
2) I want to be here to experience life with my kids, grandkids, and greatkids.
3) I like feeling good and having energy.
And lots more.
But it is still hard. So, any encouragement I can get from Fitness Fridays is always appreciated – especially during these next few months 🙂
Have a nice weekend!!
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
Hey girl 🙂 Motivation is so important for me right now. I have been experiencing sooo much nausea and fatigue with this pregnancy so far. Needless to say, it makes it hard to workout. But, I do have some key motivators:
1)My mother had a heart attack at 42. Yes. Crazy, isn't it? So genetics is not on my side. All kinds of stuff runs on both sides of my family. So I have to watch it.
2) I want to be here to experience life with my kids, grandkids, and greatkids.
3) I like feeling good and having energy.
And lots more.
But it is still hard. So, any encouragement I can get from Fitness Fridays is always appreciated – especially during these next few months 🙂
Have a nice weekend!!
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
For those of us who have a hard time getting to the gym (crazy schedule, kiddos, I actually want to SEE my husband during the week, etc) do any of you use any exercise videos you can do at home that you like? I am also a class junkie…I have a hard time working out randomly doing cardio or weights, but can follow a class and stay motivated that way.
For those of us who have a hard time getting to the gym (crazy schedule, kiddos, I actually want to SEE my husband during the week, etc) do any of you use any exercise videos you can do at home that you like? I am also a class junkie…I have a hard time working out randomly doing cardio or weights, but can follow a class and stay motivated that way.
Motivation for me last year was huge… the being tired of being tired all the time. But then I stopped being tired or it stopped bothering me so much, so recently it dawned on me that I need to rely on some other motivation rather than just letting my energy and will to fizzle. I'm so bad at looking long range. I'll wholeheartedly vow to live a healthier lifestyle for my kiddos and to be a more effective witness for Christ and a better wife, etc, then I'll pull into the Taco Bell Drive up and order a large Pepsi and some cheesy dinners for the kids and I.
BTW, the book looked brand new! I've had the best luck with most of my used on-line books but a couple years ago one showed up with water damage and mold. It was terrible.
That was/is sure sweet of you to help us all get motivated and generously giving of yourself and even books to help! Thank you!!!
Motivation for me last year was huge… the being tired of being tired all the time. But then I stopped being tired or it stopped bothering me so much, so recently it dawned on me that I need to rely on some other motivation rather than just letting my energy and will to fizzle. I'm so bad at looking long range. I'll wholeheartedly vow to live a healthier lifestyle for my kiddos and to be a more effective witness for Christ and a better wife, etc, then I'll pull into the Taco Bell Drive up and order a large Pepsi and some cheesy dinners for the kids and I.
BTW, the book looked brand new! I've had the best luck with most of my used on-line books but a couple years ago one showed up with water damage and mold. It was terrible.
That was/is sure sweet of you to help us all get motivated and generously giving of yourself and even books to help! Thank you!!!
What a beautiful perspective! I LOVE your "Fitness Friday" idea which is just FANTASTIC!
Thanks for your sweet post on my blog – I LOVE the how you designed yours so interactive and rich (spiritually and graphically!)
Okay, Supersize Me, is on THE LIST! I love tips, help, motivation, encouragement and facts!
God bless you Sister! THANKS for your encouragement!
steph
What a beautiful perspective! I LOVE your "Fitness Friday" idea which is just FANTASTIC!
Thanks for your sweet post on my blog – I LOVE the how you designed yours so interactive and rich (spiritually and graphically!)
Okay, Supersize Me, is on THE LIST! I love tips, help, motivation, encouragement and facts!
God bless you Sister! THANKS for your encouragement!
steph