Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Finding Strength

A lot of days : and a lot of runs, hikes, and walks. A few yoga sessions and now gym visits!

I didn't workout today. Normally I don't post unless I've worked out. The reason is because after working out I'm so pumped up that I feel like I have to tell the world! I want them to know that if I can do it than anyone can do it!

Today I'm posting at the request of a close friend [Hi Sarah  :-) ]. After she asked, I texted her sister, also a close friend, [Hi Jackie] and said, "She wants me to post and I totally can, but I feel unmotivated and when I feel unmotivated I feel incapable of motivating others."

It was then that I decided to post about finding strength. Finding strength to keep going, to suit up and tie your shoes, to refuse the rice krispie treat even though you've had a bad day and completely deserve it! Finding the strength to not judge yourself by who or what you see at the gym or on the scale or in the mirror. Finding strength to accept yourself  for who and what you are at this very moment and what you will become.

THIS IS NOT EASY! I repeat... NOT EASY!

I hate cliches, but I am going to say it... if it were easy, everyone would do it.  Seriously though. Everyone would be perfectly fit and perfectly healthy.

I wish I could say that deciding to start is the hardest part or that waking up early to exercise is the hardest part or going after a long day of work or school or chasing your children is the hardest part, but the whole truth and nothing but the truth is that NONE of it is harder than the rest because it is ALL HARD.

The only thing I can say is what I say to my students when they tell me they can't because it's too hard. I say,"But you are strong and because you are strong you can do hard things!"

Taking on a big challenge takes guts and courage! It takes strength and you've got that! It takes a very strong and confident person to walk into a gym knowing that he or she is much flubber-ier (Not a real word? It is now!) than everyone else in there. No I don't feel or think I am confident when I walk into my gym, but my actions are confident. Same with going outside and running. Those cars that pass you might be full of horribly raised teenage boys getting a good laugh at the fatty running, but you have to remember that there are cars that drive by with people like me in them and think "Wow! YOU GO GIRL (or dude!) Keep going, Keep going! You can do it, you just gotta keep going!" You inspire me and you inspire others. You let your strength shine. Be proud of yourself. Be proud of the fact that you are making a healthy choice. You could be sitting on the couch, but your not! You could be eating bowl of fruit loops, but your not!

Staying positive is so hard. (Maybe that's the hardest part...hmm ... nope. It's all hard!) In those moments of negativity and doubt ( and yes, there WILL be more than one), when your positive thoughts fail you and you think all of your motivation is dead and gone and all hope of ever being what you want to be is lost... in those moments.... dig deep. You have it in you, but you have to dig and fight for it!

If you ever find your self in a time when you simply can't find the strength, come back here and reread these things:

  1. Yes it is hard, but you are strong and can do hard things!
  2. You are more than the what the mirror and scale say you are!
  3. YOU ARE STRONG!
  4. YOU CAN DO THIS!
  5. Yes you can!
  6. Dig deep!
  7. You've got this!
  8. YOU GO GIRL/DUDE!