STAYING MOTIVATED…WHERE DOES MY MOTIVATION COME FROM?

MOTIVATION + THE IDEA BEHIND “JUST DO IT”

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People often ask me where my motivation comes from. What is it that makes the difference between the action that allows you to really pursuit your fitness goals and the decision to take the easier, more comfortable way out? Honestly, fitness has become such a habit for me that this question is often hard to answer. I have to go backwards in my own thought process – backwards in time to figure this out, even for myself.

You see, I used to be a “normal” girl. In college, I didn’t really diet. And when I did, it was a “phase” or a “fad” and I would often times find myself striving for a goal for a few days, weeks, sometimes months only to eventually lose interest or find myself back in my old ways. A couple months of hardcore working out and attempting to watch what I ate only to take twice as long off going to the gym and just “not caring”. So what changed me? Today my thought process and lifestyle is a complete 360 of what it used to be. But what was it that made me this way? Some people even say I am “too hardcore” or an “extremist” in the fitness world. Which leaves me asking… how did I go from yo-yo dieting and goal setting to going “HAM” each and everyday?

Over the last three years of competing, I have realized that not only has fitness become my lifestyle, but it has become my habit, routine, my everyday endorphin release and “happy place”. I often ask my clients, “Before you go to bed, what is it that you do every night without thinking?”.  The response is almost always the same, “Brush my teeth, clean my face, etc, etc”. Most people have a routine pre-bed that is done without second thought, without question, without pre-meditation. This is how I view exercise. I don’t wake up everyday and ask myself “should I workout today?”. It is something that is just done. I do not give myself a choice, an option, a thought of the possibility of it not happening. It is just an absolute, concrete in my daily routine.

I believe often times people view exercise as a negative thing. Because, well “It’s hard”. I think what people don’t realize is its not really any “easier” for anybody else. But yes, with time and strength activity will become easier once the body learns to adapt. However, when you are an elite athlete, you are constantly pushing yourself to the level of always feeling like “it’s hard”. So what makes the difference between those who take on that challenge, accept it, love it, and find passion in it, and those who shy away, let excuses and distractions keep them from it, and never reach their physical goals?

Well the answer and solution is – It’s 100% mindset. Once your mindset towards anything in life becomes negative, your subconscious mind will allow ways for you to avoid it. Nobody wants to do whats hard, but the challenge is pursued by those who look at the decision with acceptance. I believe way too many people allow themselves to talk themselves out of a challenge. We often resort to whats easy and comfortable- and for most, that is not exercise. Also, we tend to make goals larger than what may be in sight, and once we get on the path of thinking those goals are unobtainable or too far out of reach, we lose hope and drive towards pursuing them.

Anybody can lose weight, anybody can workout, anybody can have abs. Yes, its true.. ANYBODY. But most wont allow themselves to truthfully believe this as reality. Let me ask you if you have ever thought about going to the gym but felt “too tired” so you debated it while at work that day or whenever. In your head, you probably said things like, “well if I go… I have no energy so my workout is going to be pointless anyways” or you have felt like it will be so hard there is no way you would make it through any workout and then thought of something else that seemed important to occupy your time. It is these thoughts and this type of process that will continue because 1) you have now viewed exercise as “hard” and negatively put that connection in the back of your mind. And 2) allowed yourself to think if you weren’t going to really kill your workout there was no point in going.

But here is the thing… ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. And it doesn’t ALWAYS have to be hard. On top of that, I have to admit some of my most epic and best lifts came on the days I felt I was too tired to go. Once I warmed up and got in my groove, I had MORE energy and was able to get through a killer workout just fine. The underlying factor is, I went anyways and made the initial effort without allowing myself a choice. That is the ONLY difference between what I do and what others tell me they want to do.

So get rid of your negative perceptions of exercise, and like Nike says- Just Do It. Its not easy for anybody but it doesn’t always have to be the hardest thing you have ever done. You don’t have to kill it each and every time you go to the gym- the key is GOING. Once you have this negative connotation associated to the gym or exercise in the back of your mind, it will allow your subconscious to choose the easier alternative- almost always. Recognize it, change it, and accept that it is supposed to be hard. Start looking at it as a challenge, a personal triumph, prove to yourself that you can make it less hard by continuing to do it. Eventually this will become habit, and you also will find yourself addicted to the positives you get out of it. Not only physical changes, but mental and emotion mindset changes. You will experience the endorphins and energy rush that will hopefully make you an addict like me 😉

Regardless of your goals, the life of your dreams has always been closer to you than you realized. The drive and motivation to have everything good in life is inside you and created through your own desire and will to change. So keep your mindset positive and never give up.

XOXO,

ADO

 

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5 thoughts on “STAYING MOTIVATED…WHERE DOES MY MOTIVATION COME FROM?”

  1. Love this and it’s very true!! Most people are quick to judge and say “that’s too much” but if it makes us feel good and the personal challenges make us feel stronger I don’t understand why more people don’t want to try it!!?

  2. ❤️ The blog!! We all are so lucky you take time out of your life to help coach, motivate, inspire and teach all of us!

  3. ❤️ The blog!! We all are so lucky you take time out of your life to help coach, motivate, inspire and teach all of us!

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