MOTIVATION IS CYCLICAL.
Sounds like a commercial right? But its not! It’s the cycle called LIFE! Exercise motivation and dedication is cyclical. Don’t be discouraged, you are not alone!
There are a ton of reasons why we go through cycles and most of it is mental. Summertime, vacations, endless parties, lack of motivation, not seeing results, tiredness, injury.
THE GREAT RUT OF 2018
I myself have been in a rut for the majority of 2018. At the end of 2017, I had just come off two power lifting competitions that took a lot of my time and energy. Then came the holidays! Then I had 2 work trips in January, skied in February, traveled for 2 weeks in March, work trips in April, then more travel for 2 weeks in May. Cue the 10# weight gain and just overall lack of motivation to go to the gym.
JUST GET THERE. JUST DO SOMETHING.
Not saying I didn’t go but it was a chore just to get there. I had been traveling and barely working out and got into the habit of just not doing anything besides binge eating and drinking. So when I got back in June my goal was to just get there. Just make it to the gym. And I did for the most part. I would haul my butt to class and go through the motions to get in a workout. To mentally feel better that I did something. But I wasn’t excited to go like I used to be. I used to want to work on my strength and PR (personal record) everything I did. I wanted to beat my own score from the prior week. No, not anymore. I just lost my love for the game.
KEEP TRUCKING. NEVER GIVE UP.
That being said, during all of this time in a rut, I knew that I would be excited again (someday). This has happened to me in the past. So I knew that I would come back around again and want to give it my all. The point here is, if you are currently in a rut or scared to even get started. Don’t be!! You are not alone! Don’t be discouraged if you fall off the wagon. Just keep trucking until you find that passion again. Don’t give up. Even if you go through the motions for a bit, do it! Whether you are at the beginning of your fitness journey and trying to figure out where you fit in OR a fitness guru….know that this is a lifelong journey and not a quick fix. Keep going!
PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION.
Every morning I try to do Yoga (Yoga with Adriene) but it doesn’t always happen. OR I do it but I am also on my phone and writing to do lists for the day. That’s ok. I am doing more stretching than I used to, so that is a win in my book. Sometimes we need to be a little easier on ourselves and celebrate the little wins in life.
REST AND RECOVERY
I used to exercise 7x a week! I am now at the point in my fitness journey that I understand the importance of rest and recovery. I am now down to working out about 4x a week and guess what?? I am fitter and stronger than ever! Program rest days into your life. Missing a day or two not only won’t kill you, it will actually help you! You don’t always have to go balls to the wall, your body needs the recovery time. Remember, this is a fitness journey. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Fitness doesn’t happen overnight and everyday isn’t the same mentally and physically. Sometimes you just have be ok with mediocrity and do whatever you can on that given day. Whether its yoga, a walk around the block, or going balls to the wall, just do the best that you can.
FITNESS JOURNEY. IT’S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT.
Right now my back is currently jacked and I haven’t worked out in almost a week. Years ago that would have derailed me (especially because right now I am up a couple, two three, 10lbs). But I know that if I don’t let it rest it is never going to get better. I now know that missing a workout will not kill me. Hell even a week. When my body feels better I will get back on the workout horse and ride her hard. But until then, I will continue to stretch (eeek I should really practice what I preach and do that now LOL) and do what I can with my body on that day. This has taken me YEARS to get to this point. It’s been a journey that doesn’t stop here. It’s a journey that I will continue on until I die.
CARPE DIEM!!
Moral of the Story: Keep going people! Don’t give up! If you have lost your mojo for today, do what feels right and then get back on that horse! I have never been mad that I went to the gym, but I have always been mad when I skipped. CARPE DIEM!!!
