I read a blog post on Sarah Wilson's blog the other day.... and one line made me step back and go "Shit that's EXACTLY how I feel right now!" ...
"Have you ever done something that’s terrified you to the core? That you
have to dive into with no map, no instructions, nothing to hold onto?
Instead you must freefall with no guarantee of where – and if – you’re
going to land?"
Recently I've made some pretty life changing decisions. Ones that I've never had to experience before and really make me feel anxious (but happy and excited too) - but firstly anxious (which I always fall back to).
Some of the questions swirling in my head right now are along the lines of, "What if it's the wrong decision?" , "How am I going to get everything organised in time?", "What about my friends?", "What if..."
But I know I just have to stop being that person. The one that asks all the wrong questions - those ones that you just don't know the answer to.
It's a downward spiral that has always sucked me in and basically it comes down to not worrying about the things you can't control. I need to look at the positives (and there are a lot!) and be optimistic and not the pessimist I usually am.
This is an amazing opportunity, and after all, two thousand and eleven has been MY year of opportunity - so I'm going to take opportunity up on it's offer! ;)
Q What changes have you been making lately - or opportunities you've taken up?
When it comes to health and exercise many people jump on a quick fix - a diet, or a quick exercise program, or pump out tons of cardio in hope to shed some quick weight.
On my way to work in the morning, I hear ad after ad for gyms, quick weight-loss plans and shakes etc. I can understand why people fall for the hype. Today we want things NOW - not in a month (or more) time...
In the past:
My history with exercise and health has been pretty good. I was a prem baby so I grew up being thin and underweight and often teased for being skinny. My parents taught me and my brother to eat in moderation, and we exercised by playing outside, playing outdoor sports (netball and tennis for me).
It wasn't until I went to uni, when I ate more carbs, drank more alcohol and stopped exercising all together when I noticed the kilo's creeping up. I joined the uni gym - got a weights/cardio program made and i 'back' to my pre-uni weight within a few months.
Since then I've always been a gym member (of several gyms, Leisurelink in Geelong, and now Fenix), I've played night tennis, indoor soccer and been running intermittently. It wasn't until last year that I started running more frequently with a friend, and ran my first fun run. It had me hooked.
Now...
Now my attitude to health and exercise has improved dramatically. In the last few weeks I've been thinking more and more about my goals, and thinking about my overall health and well-being. I've found a lot of health/fitness blogs, and in particular women's body building blogs. These women are amazing and inspired me to no end!
Knowing I have a beach holiday in December this year is inspiring me even more - and wanting to look my best in a bikini (and better than my Thailand holiday last year) is motivation enough!
After reading a few blogs, websites and personal stories (Naomi's in particular) I've been inspired to really get stuck into 'this'. I've been so wishy washy with my goals in the past wanting to 'tone up', not necessarily lose weight - and haven't stuck to weights programs as much as I should.
After seeing what my latest program has done (10cm lost around my 'muffin top' area) in just a couple of months, I know I can achieve results if I stick to the plan.
So I've devised quite a meal program and workout plan to stick to! As I said to someone on twitter - today is day 1 of achieving my best body!!
Michelle Bridges (PT, Biggest Loser Trainer, 12 Week Transformation went on to talk about motivation being a "crock of shit". SAY WHAT? Yes you read right, with Michelle Bridges even saying that she doesn't want to get up and run/exercise some mornings or enjoy exercising.
My initial thoughts were, how on earth can Michelle Bridges
look like that without any kind of
motivation? Surely she is motivated by something?
Last night as I caved in to my sweet cravings and promptly ate
a Chocolate Yogo (my boyfriend had them in the fridge) and then again this
morning as my alarm went off at 5.40am (to get to a Spin class by 6am) and I promptly
reset it for 7am so I could sleep in and skip class… I realised I have moments of
weakness, moments where I am not motivated to get out of bed, to avoid temptation
in order to achieve my overall goals.
It also made me realise in order to achieve your goals you
have to be determined, motivated and strong willed to get up and go to the gym,
avoid temptation and push yourself.
In terms of goal setting (which I’ve had many a discussion
with my boyfriend about). I tend to be spurred on (motivated) by mini
milestones, positive encouragement and positive results. Whereas my boyfriend
just keeps going until he reaches his goal – his END goal is the one thing in
sight that motivates him
When you think about weight loss/muscle gain programs and
fitness aims – we all have one thing – an end goal. If you’re someone like me,
you also may have mini goals to help you achieve your end goal. Your goal has
to be smart, measurable, achievable and timely.
Right now, I have several goals:
Loose 3kg before Vietnam trip in December (and keep it off).
Targeting mid section, arms and thighs.
Build muscle tone in arms and stomach.
Loose further CMs off my mid section, arms and thighs.
Fit into a particular pair of denim shorts by the Vietnam
trip in December.
Those goals are targeted, definitely achievable and timely
(by December this year). Right now I’m definitely motivated by other people’s
health/fitness blogs I read, by the fact I’ll be in a bikini on the beach in
December (and want to look better
than I did last year when I was in Thailand), and reach a point in my
fitness/health that I have never reached before.
To think that Michelle Bridges thinks that motivation is a
myth and to achieve our goals we just have to “do it” – I think is a little harsh.
I know she may be trying to get women on side, and giving people an excuse that
it’s OK to NOT love exercising.
But 9 times out of 10 I do love exercise while I’m doing it
or after. It’s the motivation part that I struggle with (getting out of bed,
avoiding that chocolate bar), while other times I love going for a weights
session, am inspired by the sun to go for a run. Other times I do feel like I “just
have to do it” – in order to start exercising – but Michelle I think you’re
wrong. We all have a little motivation in us somewhere.
Qu. What motivates you? Do you think Michelle is right?
