The Difference is WHY...This is my Why. What's yours?

First off that is one of my favorite Lenny K songs.  Look it up if you don't know it...

For a few months this past Spring I lost my enthusiasm for working out.  I still went but it was no longer invigorating and empowering.  It had become boring and it felt like drudgery. It wasn't just the lack of exciting gym members I was really just over it.  

During my time of reflection about my whole fitness journey, I was not hard on myself about missing a day of working out.  I skipped when necessary and left if I just wasn't feeling it.  During that whole reflection time, I came to an important realization about my WHY this past year or so regarding fitness.

It was all because I was afraid to get fat.  

Working out had become some sort of fear based activity when before it was fun and empowering.  It had become this whole exercise in futility to force my body to do things it didn't want to do.  With each workout I found myself getting more and more annoyed because things seemed to be going in the opposite direction and I was sick of it.

That should have been my first clue to step away and get a grip on things but it didn't stop until I actually found myself hurt.  I think I overdid it with one of my low back extensors and was forced back into mobility and rest mode.

I can say that in the last few weeks my mojo has completely returned. I look forward to workouts.  They are fun again.  They aren't about losing weight or because I'm afraid to get fat. My workouts are no longer fear based.  My workouts have become high energy, hard working, and all about having a good time and we didn't even get any new exciting gym members... 

If I am being honest that trip to the Fit Expo and electrifying seminar did solidify my observations on social media and provide me with a new muse so I am good.

These are My Why's

As I rediscovered my passion for working out and exercise, I started asking myself WHY I like to exercise and I thought I would share them.

It makes me feel empowered and that I CAN....

Working out makes you feel powerful.  It makes you feel like you can do what you put your mind to.  So many people run around with an, "I can't" attitude and they don't even try.  I think every time you challenge yourself and don't die, then you grow more confident that you can try something else scary.

It helps me to lie  surprise people when I tell them my age

I usually tell the Junior Mints  that I graduated from High School in the 20th Century and leave it at that, but when I tell people how old I am they are generally surprised and we know from a scientific perspective that a major cause of aging is poor nutrition and inactivity.  You have no energy and body parts sag when you aren't active.  The only time I feel my age is when it comes to music and staying up late.  Other than that I feel stronger and better than I did in my 20's.

Someday I will be a Mother and I won't be in my 20's

I like to look ahead and I am not just focused on the now.  We need to start learning how to live a disciplined life in whatever season we are in because when the next one hits, we need to be somewhat prepared.  Trying to keep up with kids with little energy and poor dietary habits sets a poor example for kids and is exhausting for the parents.  No thank you.  It's important to me to live a life before my kids that I want them to model.  This would include their health.

I still want to be able to move, dance, and work into my 80's and 90's

This is in my blood so I know it can be done.  I want to be enjoying my life well into my 80's and 90's.  I don't want to be one of those people who just sits around and does nothing but watch TV all day.  I want to still be active, vibrant, dancing, and even teaching/training people well into The Golden Years.  Yes I want to carry on the spirit of Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia!  

The Gym can still be fun and invigorating

I just feel so much better when I am done.  I have such a good time with my music.  You get some Michael, Prince, Beyonce, Rihanna , Britney, and old school Hip Hop going and it's a party without all the expensive drinks and having to get dressed up.  I truly have fun when I'm there.

I want to LIVE better

Studies continue to come out proving that exercise is more than just about the physical.  It can lessen the risk of Alzheimer's, Dementia, depression, and so on.  I want to LIVE BETTER.  I don't want to go through life with no energy, no confidence, and not able to do anything because I'm too tired and unhealthy.

What's Your Why?

I would encourage you to re-examine your reasons for working out and if all you can come up with is:  I want to lose weight or I don't want to get fat, then I encourage you to change your perspective. What are the positive reasons you are working out?  Going the fear based route is sure to produce frustration when things don't go the way you'd hope.

Take the focus off of the scale, your weight, and all of that and put it back into improving quality of Life.  I can guarantee things will change then!

Lame Excuses: I can do it on my own! Where are the magic beans?

Update on Barbara

It has been a few weeks since Barbara's initial training sessions.  She has had some remarkable results, but now we've reached the crossroads.  Barbara thinks that she can do all of this on her own. She is also frustrated by her progress.  She's been up late working on a project and all of those informercials at 2am look very promising.  Do this video and sprinkle fairy dust on your food and you lose weight!  Certainly sounds better than planning/preparing/sweating.

Trainer:  So Barbara how are you feeling about everything that's happening?

Barbara:  I'm feeling mostly positive, but there are some things that I still don't understand.  You know I still think that I can use the crunch machine and flatten my abs.  I also don't understand why you have me eating so much.  Before I was eating 1000 calories a day and I lost weight really fast. I think that way works better for my body. Do you understand what I'm saying?  

Trainer:  Barbara let me ask you a question:

If your way worked better for your body, why haven't you gotten the results you're looking for?

Boom!

The truth of the matter is, you have made some wonderful progress in the past few weeks.  You have told me that your back doesn't hurt as much, your clothes are starting to fit again, and you have much more energy than you had before.

When you say that you can do it on your own, who are you accountable to?  Isn't that where things have gone wrong before.  I'm here to support you.  I've told you before you are 95% more likely to achieve a goal if you have a scheduled appointment with your accountability partner.  We all need this.  That's why I have a trainer myself.  I need accountability.

Crunch machines and crunches do not flatten your abs.  You've lost 2 inches off of your waist and we've not done 1 crunch.  Why?  We have focused on overall calorie burn by using all of the muscles in your body during our sessions.  You cannot spot reduce!  We've also focused on using your deep abdominal muscles to support your spine and strengthen the low back.  That's why your back has stopped hurting.

Barbara:  Fair enough, but what about the calories?  I feel like it is too much.

Trainer:  Barbara, what has happened in the past?  You've gone on these starvation diets and lost 20 lbs and then gained 30lbs back.  Since we've been working together you have lost 10lbs and you've never once complained about being hungry.  You've also been able to enjoy your treats and LIVE.  This is a lifestyle commitment, not a 6 week crash diet.  You've also not complained about being hungry and low energy.  

We've been able to increase calories because you are burning calories more efficiently due to the increased lean body mass and workouts.  On those low calorie diets when you go back to eating normally (which you will), your body holds on to every calorie it takes in because it is afraid you will starve it again.  Those low calorie diets also slow your metabolism...maybe even permanently.

Barbara: I guess I really need to throw all of those ideas I had about fitness/health.  

Trainer:  Much of what people think about nutrition/exercise isn't based on science at all, but advertising and marketing campaigns. 

Barbara:  Right because last night I was watching a commercial and they have this stuff you can sprinkle on your food and it helps you lose weight.  

Trainer:  Marketing gimmicks.  Sorry, but magic beans and fairy dust on food does not work.  There are no magic beans.  You're well on your way.

No Excuses folks....Shut up and Just do it

Spring has Sprung

Happy Spring!  

Springtime holds so much promise.  It's the season for awakenings, rebirths, and celebrations of victory and life. 

First Quarter: Game On

Spring marks the end of the first quarter of the year.   During a sporting game, the competition is revealed in the First Quarter. All of the planning and preparations are being executed. The game is on!

It's my blog and I wanted a picture of Tom Brady

The teams  have made plans and are executing those plans out on the field. There will need to be adjustments. because while coaches can be prepared the game isn't going to go exactly as planned.  Coaches can't/won't be prepared for EVERYTHING. There may be an injury, play fake, weather conditions, other team has a new strategy, etc. This is where a good coach separates from a mediocre coach.  A good coach will re-evaluate their game plan and make necessary changes while continuing to motivate his team not to give up.  (They can orchestrate a blackout to reignite the team.  Just kidding!)

 A mediocre/bad coach will see things are going downhill, continue on with the failing game plan, and eventually the players will become discouraged and give up.

The same goes with life. In January we set goals and made plans to accomplish them.  We've prepared and researched and are implementing these new plans into our lives.  If you're doing things right, then I guarantee you've encountered some obstacles and need to do revisions.

If you're simply trying to maintain the status quo then it will be business as usual, and you won't need to change anything.  This also means things in your life won't be changing either.

Commercial Break

Because I felt a need to make significant progress this year, I needed help in forming goals and plans.
 I completed the 30 Day PUSH Challenge with Chalene Johnson which I've mentioned before.  Seriously...If you get a chance check it out.

30 Day PUSH Challenge

Reality Check Time

So January 1, I'M FIRED UP! READY TO GO! Game is on!!!!  This year I have come to understand that the first quarter isn't necessarily about just getting out there and going full force.  The first quarter is   reality check time.  This is where we learn where we ACTUALLY are in terms of progress and this is also the time to ask yourself some serious questions about your game plan.

Typical Questions

Where am I now?  How much further do I have to go?

Do these goals fit with my destination or are they a distraction?

Is this even what I want?

Does it fit with my lifestyle?

Where am I now?  How much further do I have to go?

I set some pretty scary goals for myself this year and during this first quarter, I realized some may take longer than I had anticipated.  I was much further away than I had originally estimated. I was bummed, but I resolved to work all of 2013 to get to my destination in 2014.  I haven't abandoned my goals, I just readjusted the time frame.  Most goals aren't realistic, the timeframe we give ourselves to accomplish them is unrealistic.

Do these goals fit with my destination or are they a distraction?

This year I also began the process of de-cluttering and removing "stuff" that does not fit in with my destination.  This process wasn't only about my closet.  The process included de-cluttering my work life, my schedule, etc.  I began to seriously form my destination.  I know where I want to go, and I began to question whether my activities, business, etc. fit in with this destination.  If it didn't, I let it go.  

Before, I was hesitant to say, "No" to business and/or activities because I didn't want to lose out. Some is better than none right?   I began to realize that I am doing more harm than good by saying "Yes" to everything because everything does not fit my brand/destination. 

Is this what I want?

 Do the goals I have set support what I want or is it just supporting the status quo. Are my activities in accordance for what I really want?  Is what I'm doing NOW preparing me for what I really want? Am I just hanging out wasting time because it's easy?

Using the example of the sports team, their objective is to win.  What does winning look like to you?  Winning looks different to everyone, but our goals should support our efforts to win our own game NOT someone else's. 

In my personal spring awakening, I asked myself "What do I want if fear wasn't an issue?" That simple question turned my goals from being relatively safe to truly being challenging and going totally against the status quo.

Does it fit with my lifestyle?

Your goals should fit with your lifestyles and values.  They should be in line with what you think and believe.  You should already know what's important to you and what your priorities are.  That way when you get the advice that you never asked for you can say "Thankyakindly" and keep it moving.

I learned a long time ago that listening to others' advice about what YOU should do when you have completely different lifestyles and values is a recipe for disaster.  You can always listen, nod, and say, "I see your point"  

 I have a lifestyle that works for me and gives me peace.  Doing things that go against this would just send me back to the wilderness and desert of despair.  No thanks.  Been there, done that, and have the T-shirt.

Celebration Time

Spring is also the time in my faith that we traditionally celebrate LIFE and VICTORY.  I look forward to the celebrations and time of reflection. It inspires me to believe that there is always a chance for a new start  and rebirth.

I hope that whatever your tradition/background is that you take some time to enjoy this wonderful season of new beginnings, awakenings, and celebrations.

Take time this Spring to enjoy the new life all around us

Fiercely Yours,

C. Fierce