A friend of ours came by tonight to drop off something for Ife. We wondered off into great conversation and at some point he noticed I was in workout clothes with my jacket on .. “So are you just coming back from the gym or are you heading out” I told him I was about to be on my way. He smiled “That’s awesome. You figured out a way to get past the fact that it’s so late and it’s cold outside. You probably get a high from it that keeps you going right?” Halfway shaking my head I responded “Not at all. Honestly, I really don’t feel like it right now but I can tell I need to and that I’ll be glad I did when I’m done”
See, I can tell that people think I have cracked some code and I have figured out a way to just absolutely love working out. Seems like they think I probably wake up from sleep saying “I need the gym or a workout” and when I fantasize, I picture myself on a bench lifting weights. Lol. A little dramatic but you get the point. Truth is it’s kinda far from that. I make the best of every workout session but here is how I explained it to him.
For most people, there is a starting point, you are excited about getting fit. You want to do all it takes to achieve your fitness goals so mentally you are ready. You’ll get up and get it in when you have to. That excitement keeps you going for a while. If you spend this taking the right steps, this equates to great results. Please note I said THE RIGHT STEPS. See, the reason I point that out is that many people waste this excitement doing stuff that just sound right but add little to no value and give no results. At that point they quit and move on but if instead you care for your body like it needs, the results are awesome and worth while.
You start looking in the mirror, see the hard work paying off and this leads to the 2nd phase where your great results motivate you. You now understand that if you invest your efforts correctly, you can continue to get even more results so you keep up the good work and it keeps you going even as the initial excitement begins to fade into the norm. So though you don’t feel like it, you are driven because you want to see more results.
Then the maintenance phase kicks in. Being consistent over a period of time causes you to pay attention to your body and learn it in a way that you probably had not in the past. Suddenly, your drive to do the right things comes from the fact that you can feel the difference. You recognize when you are dragging and know how to get your energy level up. You feel bloated and uncomfortable when you eat a certain way or at a certain time. This new understanding now keeps you in check and gives you control of your fitness
Now remember that through each phase, your mind still plays a huge role. You have to make a conscious decision to stay on track and do what is best for you. You’re rarely just going to wake up and just feel like it. So make a decision, get started and see it through. Your body will be so grateful for you! Got Questions? Just reach out 🙂
