Motivation

[Trish]

What do you ladies do when you just feel a little unmotivated?
This week has been a hard week for me. I have been going to the gym and today am just taking it off.
Don't take me wrong I love this lifestyle and when I get off track I eventually come back becuase I feel worst.
I just find that lately I feel like I should just be happy with who I am and give it up..
My daughter was eating last night kfc and i ended grabbing a piece then I had my boyfriend and kid giving me a lecture on not eating it, cause then I'd feel bad and complain..and be pissed...(yes they have a point) then I go on with, I just want to be normal. LOL but this is normal right?

I just want to know what you ladies do to get those spirits back up..

[Shelly]

dont give up. what seperates competitors from those who WANT to compete is the constant pushin thru those times. we all have them. i cry (not yet this year lol), i rant, i bitch, i moan,i crave, but then i get over it. Hell I wanted the pizza they ate ate work yesterday! I wanted to feel NORMAL...but then i smack myself, and realize WHY i do this...Because deep down I LOVE IT. the CHALLENGE is addictive...and in my crazy head it sure as hell feels better to barely struggle thru a worout and cardio, then it does to eat food. The sense of accomplishment felt after a great workout far outweights any calories i could consume.

but that is just me--- my advice is dig down deep and decide if this is something you REAAALLLLY want!!! and if the answer to that is YES- then smack yourself and snap out of it :p Oh-thats what Nick does to me too- tells me to suck it up and stop whining. :D

[Aletha]

Hey hon,
I discover that when I'm not feeling good about myself and am unmotivated about doing the things I love, like competing, that is is my conscious trying to tell me to recharge. This has been a bad week as well. Even though it is bad, I constantly tell myself that "I want to feel good".

God doesn't have a do or don't, can or can't box. He has an unlimited supply of what you need. So, I tell myself that the negative is from elsewhere and I just focus on wanting to feel good. It may lead me to take a day or two or a year off, but I will continue to have faith in knowing that "this too shall pass." I find myself slowing my thoughts by reading the Bible and then, a chapter from a book that I randomly pick from my library.

Don't beat yourself up for having that chicken. Stop for a second and find a quiet place to just "sit still" and "be quiet" and meditate, even for 5 minutes. Your purpose will eventually reveal what it is that your are missing.

Best of luck.
Cheers.

[Trish]

Thank you ladies...:kiss:

[Badgergrl]

This is a great thread to have.

I'm with you, Trish. I honestly felt like I was having a near death experience this week. LOL I'm tired, hungry, and cranky. I really wanted to throw in the towel and go get some krispy kremes several times this week!

Part of what motivates me is my progress. When I see positive changes in my body, it makes me want more. So, when I think about eating a doughnut, I check out the veins in my abs and ask myself which one I want more.

Another reason why I choose this lifestyle is to show my gratitude for my health and the gifts that God has given me. I've been around a lot of illness in my life, and I know that I can't take my body for granted. I really believe that if you are grateful for the blessings in your life, you will take full advantage of them. You know....if you're grateful for your legs, then take the stairs because you can.
I don't know if I'm making sense, but I say instead of whining about "having to" eat clean and push yourself, say thank you for the opportunity to do so.

[Dawn Melanie]

I look in the mirror. If I do NOT like what I see, maybe I need to "work" harder... pass up the banana split sundae today. If I LIKE... I wanna' push harder.

EVERYDAY I look, I recall the days, weeks, months EACH year when I can NOT train. Can't even WALK. Sometimes not hear. Not drive my own car.

I guess the reflection of SELF is grand and powerful.

Latest motivation - my Next comeback from my showing at the '08 USA show. I had a terrible MS exascerbation ON stage. Struggled walking, turning, even STANDING. Arggghhhh!!!

iF IT WERE EASY, EVERYONE WOULD DO THIS!
My challenge is mine, but we ALL have them...:respect:


What do you ladies do when you just feel a little unmotivated?
This week has been a hard week for me. I have been going to the gym and today am just taking it off.
Don't take me wrong I love this lifestyle and when I get off track I eventually come back becuase I feel worst.
I just find that lately I feel like I should just be happy with who I am and give it up..
My daughter was eating last night kfc and i ended grabbing a piece then I had my boyfriend and kid giving me a lecture on not eating it, cause then I'd feel bad and complain..and be pissed...(yes they have a point) then I go on with, I just want to be normal. LOL but this is normal right?

I just want to know what you ladies do to get those spirits back up..

[SBT]

Everyone has had excellent posts so far, but for me personally on the days when I am really dragging I just try to think "Hmmm I bet the girl that will be next to me on stage is at the gym kicking butt right now" and if I slack where is that gonna get me?!?

And just like Dawn said, I always think about that too about how if this were easy, EVERYONE would be doing it and that alone makes me wanna improve because we are in a class of our own!

If both the above fail, I just think of these darn MI judges telling me "I apparently need to be leaner, because its all about the abs" :p

[ibarramedia]

I hope I can contribute a little bit from a guys's perspective for motivation and goal setting..... At least from my point of view. Here are a few clips.

Hh28-_bF9n4

4BiC3OUNFqE

nJtNsehdT5o

I sincerely and humbly hope you all will like it. No one can stop your dreams.
ps. I thought these guys were huge, now they look small... :) ;)

[Bronwyn]

Good topic....

This is my worst failure I think.... Very often I am feeling this way. And I am half to half able to overcome that. Right now I had few days when I was eating like a pig.... :o:o Diet for me is the worst. And I am endomorph type so diet is also more than 90% of all work for me....:(

I was near to quit before the illness. I was qualified to World Championship NAC - and after that I thought I will stay at home and support my fiance. But the illness changed a lot. I found that this sport is very important for me. I have to fight with it. And never give up.

When I am really down now I have to remember that days and those feelings.

[Trish]

Thank you to all who have posted.

The videos are great! thanks again...I think we all need some motivation at one time or the other. We all find it in different ways.

[tkokayde]

A few things that motivate me (and I need it this week!!!)...

If you became paralized tomorrow, what would you wish you had done today? I would be so frustrated at myself if I had to realize I had one more chance and I wasted it on the couch eating a burger.

I thank God for the potential and the capability and the desire He has given me. These gifts were given to me for a reason. Why waste a gift? You wouldn't give a child a bicycle and expect them to place it in the garage and never use it. We're special ladies, with a special drive placed in us that makes us want something most people can never understand. Take advantage of that when everything about the "outside world" has beaten you down.

And on that note, I'm going to eat my own words and try not to think too much about my post-contest bloat and how fat I feel. Haha.

[Alli]

What do you ladies do when you just feel a little unmotivated?
This week has been a hard week for me. I have been going to the gym and today am just taking it off.
Don't take me wrong I love this lifestyle and when I get off track I eventually come back becuase I feel worst.
I just find that lately I feel like I should just be happy with who I am and give it up..
My daughter was eating last night kfc and i ended grabbing a piece then I had my boyfriend and kid giving me a lecture on not eating it, cause then I'd feel bad and complain..and be pissed...(yes they have a point) then I go on with, I just want to be normal. LOL but this is normal right?

I just want to know what you ladies do to get those spirits back up..

Hey fellow LA fitness gal! I watch Jenny Lynn's training DVD..... motivates me EVERY time. (If you ever wanna borrow it lemme know!)

[tkokayde]

Hey fellow LA fitness gal! I watch Jenny Lynn's training DVD..... motivates me EVERY time. (If you ever wanna borrow it lemme know!)


I so agree on watching a video. I got a copy of the 2008 Arnold Women's Finals to get some move ideas for my routines. I was so inspired and fired up after watching it that I decided to watch a routine every morning when I wake up. It really gets me going for the day and helps me remember what I'm doing all of this for!

[Trish]

Hey fellow LA fitness gal! I watch Jenny Lynn's training DVD..... motivates me EVERY time. (If you ever wanna borrow it lemme know!)

Hello Ali,
Thank you. I know, I have to finally say hi when I see you again. I have it and I need to start watching it more.
I am also going to the arnolds again this year so I have to get motivated so when I take pictures with the pro I dont look too bad. :)

[FlyFitGal]

Sometimes I forget that this is a blessing and opportunity and not just sacrifice.
Not too long ago and was draggin ass around my neighborhood trying to get some cardio in. Not in the mood for it and feeling tired. Wouldn't you know this guy comes whizzin down the street by me in a wheelchair. No legs..but head down and cruizing. Let's just say i ran my ass all the way home cuz I realized in that moment that im fortunate to be able to run!
Every now and then i still pass him...I wonder if he knows how inspiring he is out there and how often i think of him when i do cardio these days?

[gymlover]

I soo needed this thread

[anntitone]

I sooooooooo relate to everyone here. Thats why this site is so great, because its nice to chat with other women who can truly say "I understand". Everyday I wake up, I thank God for the opportunity to get out of bed, and be able to be a part of such a great sport and meet such great people.

Not only is my husband a HUGE support tool for me, in the times I am at my lowest I literally get on my knees and pray for God to grant me the strength I need to achieve my goals. I honestly believe, you have to turn your weaknesses over to Him and give him control. Ask and you shall receive.

[ibarramedia]

A winning streak is very good motivation for me. The more you win, the more you love going to practice feeling motivated. As opposed to being anxious and a little stressed out going to practice after losing.

[chicky9914]

When I feel a little unmotivated, I often times go to my DVR and replay the olympics that I recorded...sooo inspirational!

Also before my ipod was stolen at the gym (one week before my first show...grrrrr!!!!) I'd listen to these songs over and over again, especially during those very demanding AM HIIT sprints.

-"Rise Today" by Alter Bridge...lyrics "I want to rise today and change this world"

-"Out Here Grindin" by DJ Khaled**this sort of became my little theme song for my 1st show hehe!
..."I wake up to get my cake up I'm out here grindin!"

-"My Life" by The Game (2nd show theme song) - "And I'm grindin' til I'm tired, they say 'You ain't grindin' til you die"

And during those days when I sooo don't want to practice my routine because I'm sore, tired, feeling negative, or whatever, I just think about getting up onstage and having that awful feeling of "man I wish I would have done more. I could have done more." That feeling of regret is THE WORST feeling ever. I never want to step onstage doubting myself, especially in my routine, so I practice my routine sometimes 5 times through, just so that on show day, no matter what, I can hit it. (thank goodness I adopted this philosophy since this past show I had a fever during both prejudging and finals)