A Whole New Type of Motivation
Growing up I never really 'worked out' per say. I just played tons of sports. I know, sports and working out are the same thing in most peoples books but not to this girl. Working out is a chore. It is boring and hard and just not fun. Sports, on the other hand, are fun and competitive! From grade school through high school I always played multiple sports- volleyball, softball, basketball, and cheerleading. In high school my main sports were volleyball and softball. Between those two sports I stayed in excellent shape. Yes, there were days that we had to do weight training and running {and never actually saw a volleyball or a softball}, I hated those days. I enjoyed hustling my butt off on the court/field. Running the bases or practicing jump sets or spiking until I couldn't jump any more. I was also that kid that could eat anything and everything and not gain a pound. It was AWESOME! Lucky me, right?! But I was always reminded by my mom that it wouldn't last forever.
So when I went off to college I experienced my first moments of not having practices or organized team sports. It was definitely a shocking transition to no longer play at such a competitive level. Even though I didn't really work out I still lost weight {thanks to a terrible viral infection I ended up going the opposite direction of the dreaded freshman 15}. Yep, I lost 20 lbs (20 lbs that I really didn't need to lose) thanks to that little sickness that landed me in the hospital. After that I pretty much maintained my high school weight through the rest of college with very little physical activity.
Fast forward to the present.
I haven't exactly been confident with my weight lately. I had slimmed down to pre-college weight right before our wedding {thanks to my wisdom teeth extraction which equaled a pudding diet} but after the wedding I enjoyed marital bliss to its fullest. And I mean FULLEST! Parts that used to be muscle and toned became a little soft and mushy. But you know what?!? I didn't really care because I was enjoying marriage, our house, our family and eating whatever I wanted. Well, that carefree attitude quickly diminished. I started to feel guilty about the pounds that I had put on and the parts that had lost that toned look. Finally I caved and admitted to myself that I needed to exercise and eat better.
Finding motivation to work out is almost impossible for me! Seriously, I jump on the bandwagon but fall off almost as fast as I jumped on. But I was given a new form of motivation not too long ago. Call it a blessing in disguise if you will.
I was having a conversation with a person when they implied that I was a MUCH larger size than I actually wore.* I was CRUSHED!!!! I don't even think crushed fully defines how I felt after that conversation. That conversation made me feel low about myself, fat and frustrated {oh and angry too but I got over that}. Truth be told I do not wear anything close to that size but the damage had already been done. I was convinced that I was going to prove this person wrong and feel better about my self.
The fire has been started!!!!
I have been running every single day for a while now. I try to switch things up by going on bike rides, taking walks, golfing on the weekends and running on a elliptical (especially if it is raining) on top of my daily runs. After my cardio I will work on a specific area- gluts, abs, arms, etc. Anytime I don't feel like working out after work I just remember that conversation and I am out the door instantly to start my run.
It is weird how something negative can be such a motivating factor (ie- blessing in disguise). That conversation has really given me a drive to work out. I have already started to see the effects which drives me even more. I crave working out and when I don't get a good work out in I don't necessarily feel guilty but I am not thrilled about it. Okay, maybe I do feel a little guilty.
Since the weather is supposed to be crappy for the second half of the week I figure I will also mix Hubs' P90X tapes and 30 Day Shred tapes into my workout mix. I am also hoping to incorporate a short workout before work in the mornings to get that metabolism moving! Hopefully between working out and eating much healthier I can get back down to my pre-college weight again.
This is one bandwagon that I refuse to fall off of! Oh and just in case I need extra motivation- I will be on vacation in June and wearing a swim suit. *GASP*
* - I don't think this person meant for it to come across that way (at least I hope they didn't)
So when I went off to college I experienced my first moments of not having practices or organized team sports. It was definitely a shocking transition to no longer play at such a competitive level. Even though I didn't really work out I still lost weight {thanks to a terrible viral infection I ended up going the opposite direction of the dreaded freshman 15}. Yep, I lost 20 lbs (20 lbs that I really didn't need to lose) thanks to that little sickness that landed me in the hospital. After that I pretty much maintained my high school weight through the rest of college with very little physical activity.
Fast forward to the present.
I haven't exactly been confident with my weight lately. I had slimmed down to pre-college weight right before our wedding {thanks to my wisdom teeth extraction which equaled a pudding diet} but after the wedding I enjoyed marital bliss to its fullest. And I mean FULLEST! Parts that used to be muscle and toned became a little soft and mushy. But you know what?!? I didn't really care because I was enjoying marriage, our house, our family and eating whatever I wanted. Well, that carefree attitude quickly diminished. I started to feel guilty about the pounds that I had put on and the parts that had lost that toned look. Finally I caved and admitted to myself that I needed to exercise and eat better.
Finding motivation to work out is almost impossible for me! Seriously, I jump on the bandwagon but fall off almost as fast as I jumped on. But I was given a new form of motivation not too long ago. Call it a blessing in disguise if you will.
I was having a conversation with a person when they implied that I was a MUCH larger size than I actually wore.* I was CRUSHED!!!! I don't even think crushed fully defines how I felt after that conversation. That conversation made me feel low about myself, fat and frustrated {oh and angry too but I got over that}. Truth be told I do not wear anything close to that size but the damage had already been done. I was convinced that I was going to prove this person wrong and feel better about my self.
The fire has been started!!!!
I have been running every single day for a while now. I try to switch things up by going on bike rides, taking walks, golfing on the weekends and running on a elliptical (especially if it is raining) on top of my daily runs. After my cardio I will work on a specific area- gluts, abs, arms, etc. Anytime I don't feel like working out after work I just remember that conversation and I am out the door instantly to start my run.
It is weird how something negative can be such a motivating factor (ie- blessing in disguise). That conversation has really given me a drive to work out. I have already started to see the effects which drives me even more. I crave working out and when I don't get a good work out in I don't necessarily feel guilty but I am not thrilled about it. Okay, maybe I do feel a little guilty.
Since the weather is supposed to be crappy for the second half of the week I figure I will also mix Hubs' P90X tapes and 30 Day Shred tapes into my workout mix. I am also hoping to incorporate a short workout before work in the mornings to get that metabolism moving! Hopefully between working out and eating much healthier I can get back down to my pre-college weight again.
This is one bandwagon that I refuse to fall off of! Oh and just in case I need extra motivation- I will be on vacation in June and wearing a swim suit. *GASP*
* - I don't think this person meant for it to come across that way (at least I hope they didn't)
Comments
Anyway - that being said... there is NOTHING wrong with getting back into the swing of things and exercising. I have a free membership to a local good gym and pool for one year and I have been terrible and NOT taken advantage. What is wrong with me?!
Anyway - now that I have totally whined about myself... you need to do what makes YOU happy. I have to say that after having three kids I just can't find the motivation to get back in shape. But i must. So I am going to start working hard at it... perhaps you could help me get motivated!!