Finding the Motivation

Sunday, November 5, 2023

4:08 PM

Listen… I truly understand where people come from when they say they don't have the motivation to stay consistent in the gym. It can be daunting to walk in the gym for the first time, and it is so easy to feel out of place. People always ask me how I stay motivated and my typical response is "cute gym clothes!" but that is really only half the answer. When I first started my fitness journey, my goal was to simply lose weight. My intent was to lose a set number of pounds, and then go back to living my life the way I had grown accustomed to. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the journey. I was learning to love my body again, despite the fact that I hadn't met my weight loss goal yet. I grew an appreciation for the fact that I could still move my body freely, a privilege that so many of us able-bodied people take for granted. I tracked my workouts and noticed that I was lifting heavier and heavier as the weeks passed; I felt powerful. And yes, my gym clothes fitting the way I wanted them to fueled my determination even more! I felt a sense of pride knowing I built my body myself, without the help of a surgeon or even a personal trainer. By the time I finally reached my goal weight after NINE months of trial and error, working out had become a part of my life.

The truth is, motivation will only take you but so far. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to skip the gym for various reasons - my cycle had started, or it was raining outside, or I had a tough day at work - the excuses were there and valid. What has kept me going is discipline. I knew I never wanted to go back to looking in the mirror and not loving what I saw. I knew that as I grew older, it would be harder and harder to start from square one. And frankly, I didn't want to lose the progress I had already made. I had seen the scientific evidence that as you age, you lose bone density and muscle mass, making you more susceptible to injury. I had experienced the boosts to my mood and confidence that comes from a hard, productive workout. I knew that despite the many valid excuses I had to stay home, my health and my future depends on my ability to remain disciplined.

So ladies, Queens, I understand exactly where you are coming from. It absolutely is hard to stay motivated. But I hope you understand by now that it all starts in the mind. Find the motivation from wherever you can possibly find it, but don't depend on motivation to keep you going.

Until next time, my disciplined friends… be well.

Love,

Danielle