I'd like to share some insights I gave to someone back in August of last year when she asked me to following question about working out and going to the gym: "What are you doing and how do you stay motivated to go?"
I think this is a good follow up post after my last one. August 13, 2013 #1 I hate working out, too. I always have. It is hard. It always has been. I don't like it. Pain never feels good. They say pain is weakness leaving the body...because after all, you are getting stronger each time. What I have come to learn is this...it doesn't matter if I hate it. It is good for me. We don't always have to like what is good for us. #2 I am staying motivated first because of my back. My back went out for the second time right before last Labor Day. I was stuck in a church basement with colleagues. Two of them helped me get out of there, but it took A LONG TIME. I almost thought we were going to need to call the ambulance...no lie. There was no elevator. Every step was painful. Then there was the stairs up...and into the car. Those ladies were miracles that day. One of them took me to Urgent Care where I got muscle relaxants. Thank God they took me, rather than having ER fees (but that's where I probably needed to go). I started seeing a chiropractor once a week regularly (more in the beginning to make it through this initial back injury...from lifting something too heavy for me) for 7 months - very expensive. This spring I decided to do something more proactive than reactive... I HAD TO. I had to start working out regularly and to hire a personal trainer to work on strengthening my core and back. My chiropractor talked about how weak my core was...and essentially my back was...if I couldn't make it a week without an adjustment. I do remember a time when I felt young and without back pain. It was in college and right after college (when I was thin). I don't want to feel like I am 40+ for the rest of my younger life. I don't want to feel this back pain each day, and I surely don't want to have my back go out ever again if I can avoid it by doing what I HAVE TO DO. My body screams at me every morning to take care of it, because my back is sore every morning. This is my cross I carry, because I haven't taken care of my body. BUT...it doesn't have to stay this way....I can change it...and hopeful my body will respond positively! #3 My neurologist says that I need to be working out...having physical activity everyday to prevent migraines. So my back and head feel better when I am active. I may hate every minute of working out, BUT it is good for me. I pay the consequences if I don't do it. Part of growing up and being responsible are doing those things that we must even if we don't like to. Why did we want to grow up when we were kids? It's so much easier being a kid, isn't it? hehe I'll take the sandbox any day please! Do I workout everyday? I am better at this some weeks than others. #4 That sexy woman that is fighting to come out...will come out again. Those sexy ass jeans. Those sexy size 12 clothes hanging in the closet. I lost all that weight to gain all of it back, plus some. That was not suppose to happen. It was hard work. That will never happen again unless some of it comes back on due to pregnancy. It's harder now, because I refuse to count everything. I want it to be more natural. It's harder now, because I am older. I will not date someone that does not support a healthy, active lifestyle. I gained 70 pounds while dating someone for two years. He didn't support this kind of lifestyle. I let too many things go. I lost myself in that relationship. I am fighting for me...for me! Every time I want to give up, the sexy woman comes back for more, BUT...I can promise you this...the other motivators win each time...if it weren't for them...I don't know if I would have shown up for my training sessions each time, because the sessions kick my butt. #5 Progress is motivation...remember when you could fit into smaller clothes sizes!? That's exciting. That is just starting to happen. My muscles are getting stronger. My core and back are starting to get stronger. My trainer would modify moves and after a while, they don't need to be modified. The number on the scale goes down. Losing inches on your waist...and so on... #6 Find what works for you. I know that the gym will work for me. Tapes will not work for me. I will not come home, plug the tape in, and do it each and every day. I know however, that I will pack my bag, go to the gym, and work out. I am paying money for that membership and my motivators help me to get there. I wish I had machines at home for the times I couldn't get to the gym. I would die for an elliptical. I am on a scholarship program with the YMCA. I pay $21 a month. The regular singular membership is $40. I can go anywhere in the country with that membership. That's what I like. I worked out in Menasha the other week! Since I work north of Green Bay, I workout in that area after work, but if I work late...need to get home to eat...I'll do that and then workout later in Kimberly. You can't always do that with some of the gyms. When I was in MN visiting a friend, I almost went to their Y to workout, but I didn't end up having time. #7 Never wait for motivation. I learned that we may never be motivated, so you can't wait for it. To get things done, you just have to do them. You schedule important things into your life. You prioritize them. You plan and prepare well for them. What clothes do you need? What equipment/supplies? Am I all set to go for each time? You are important enough to do this for yourself. It was time for me to get serious. That's what turning 30 was all about for me. It doesn't have to be 30 for you. It could be something else. #8 Surround yourself with motivation. There are great websites and groups on facebook. Share what kind of encouragement you need and ask for it. Set realistic goals. I am in love with Sparkpeople right now on here. Make sure you have positive people in your life. #9 Humble yourself. I have story upon story that you would laugh your butt off with. This chubby girl tucked her shirt into her workout capris. This girl let her 25-year-old male trainer pinch her fat for the pinch test. I've been on all fours climbing all over with my butt in the air. I've done jumping jacks with my shirt going up...and I think my belly peeked out...oh my Lord...have mercy. He's probably seen my boobs in my sports bra if he's seen down my shirt a few times. The list could go on. I am humbled almost every single time. Sometimes I am working out when there are people from church there. Those are moment, too. I tell Tyler (trainer) that laughter helps get though this. I've wanted to quit almost every single time. I've wanted to call him swear words every single time. And the last time I wanted to puke. I walk strong and proud through that gym with my messy, two pig-tailed buns of a hair-do knowing I am headed to where I am going in life, and I am one step closer. If you choose a gym, you can do it alone. It is just a process to get there. You will be taught many things about yourself and life first. If you decide a different route, you will learn many lessons, too. ___________________________ I hope something here inspires and motivates you to action to take better care of yourself, whether it be physical, emotionally, or in another way. Blessings on your journey! Amy
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I started going to the chiropractor for the first time in 2008. I was in my second year of ministry, which was a lot of desk/computer work except for meetings, Faith Formation (Wednesday) nights, and Youth Ministry happenings. However, no one taught me good posture techniques for sitting at a desk and using a phone. I can't remember my back pain, but it was what drove me to the chiropractor for the first time.
What I can distinctly remember was my neck pain. The right side of my neck hurt so badly every night, I could have cried. I had no idea what this was from. It took careful evaluation of everything that I was doing to finally figure out that I was resting the phone to my shoulder. That simple action of tilting my head to the right to rest the phone on my shoulder over and over again day in and day out caused a lot of damage. Why did I do this? My phone didn't have a speaker option, and I needed to write while I talked. So, I went to the chiropractor, did my exercises that he gave me, and slowly my back started to feel a little better. From that point on, it seemed like I was either seeing a chiropractor or wishing I was when I wasn't. They could help to relieve the pain for a short period of time. Of course it is also so easy to get out of alignment. I can't even imagine how much money I have spent on going to the chiropractor. October 14, 2011 (written) So here’s what happened an hour or so ago. I was about to get in the shower when my back almost went out. It has done this a few times in my life no matter how much I weigh. I sat there for a while and eventually was able to move, stretch slowly, and I made my way to the bed where I continued to stretch. I sat on the edge of the bed continuing to stretch little by little, breathing, listening to my soft music in the background, actually taking time for myself for a change without rushing, and thinking. It wasn’t the first time that I felt like I was 40+ years old. I didn’t like feeling that old. I wondered how many days I had until I turned 30 and how I was going to let my life be like in my thirties. I turned 29 in April. April was a while ago and I was letting these days and months slip by where I can turn my life around and make it better. Could this be my motivation this time…my last time? I slowly made it upstairs to ice my back and here I am. I turn 30 in 171 days. I know that it isn’t all about 30 and that everything all of sudden changes in that one day. That isn’t the point. Will I have a crisis? I don’t know. Am I having one now? Maybe. This whole last year+ has been one heck of a life crisis I could say. So, how could this be called a crisis…lol. Maybe, it’s getting serious. Not too much later than that I looked into gym memberships and choose the YMCA since they have so many locations and a scholarship program. What I started to realize was the days I worked out were the days my back felt good. So, even though I should be working out to reduce my migraines, it helped so much with my back pain. I also started to lose weight. Of course I was watching what I ate as well. August 2012 Right before Labor Day Weekend, my back went out. Looking back now, I should have seen it coming. For five months, I lifted, carried, held, and danced with a four-year-old boy. Of course this activity should be ok for someone my age, but not someone with chronic back pain and then with my additional weight my body had. Even though I lifted a heavy furniture item up a flight of stairs with my dad the night prior (which I shouldn't have been doing either), my back was being worn on and down day in and day out. At least that's what I am reading - a back injury usually just doesn't come on like that. This back "injury" was by far the most painful and scary. I wasn't even sure I was going to get out of a church basement. I could barely move, let alone walk. By the grace of God and two very patient colleagues, I made it up the stairs and to the walk-in clinic. The recovery was very painful, even though they didn't find anything. I went to a new chiropractor the next day, because I couldn't take the pain. It was that or the ER. I could barely walk even with the meds. The chiropractor became what I looked forward to each week. Just short of a year by a few months, I ended up going to my chiropractor's partner in the office. He came out and said that my back and core were extremely weak. He showed me exercises that I needed to start doing. One I couldn't do, because I was so afraid of the pain in my back. (It took months to be able to do the normal plank. I had to start with the modified, and I stayed with it for a very long time.) His message that day was a WAKE UP CALL. I was confused about why his partner never mentioned this to me and didn't show me exercises. BUT IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE MY LIFE AND HABITS! I met with my doctor to talk about going back to the YMCA (I had taken time off, unfortunately, after my back injury) and working with a personal trainer. I told her that I need to be proactive to avoid another back injury rather than reactive, which I felt like a lot of my last year was at the chiropractor. However, I do not believe that all chiropractor care is reactive or unnecessary. I still do go from time-to-time, but it is only a few times a year. If I could tell you what training was like in the beginning, I would describe it like hell on earth. I can't remember all of it anymore. I think partially because time has gone by and partially because I hated it so much. The ONLY motivation that brought me back each time was my back pain. I went in a confident woman. And there were times the scared girl that had to over come her fears came out. Yes, sometimes it was far more than just a physical challenge. I was also a fighter and a whinny puppy that just wanted to give up...because it hurt, I didn't know how to do it right; I was scared; and I was exhausted. I trained for three months. I started physical therapy for my back, which taught me stretches to do. My physical therapist also does deep tissue massages, which I live for to loosen up my deep knots or tight muscles in my lower back and gluts. We both agree that my back is less tight and stronger when I am working with the personal trainer. I started back with personal training in February, but this time I am doing it with two other women to save money. I would describe it as "a slow death" most of the time. There are a few occasions where I don't feel like I want to die or where I am dying. lol I only get afraid every once in a while now. I do remember laughing a lot more the first time. I think it was to make it though. Now, I feel as though I am going into war. It is not funny (not that it was before). And it is as if I am saying, "Let's get the torture over with." Training is not a game. It is not fun. Jillian Michaels has a quote about if you aren't puking, fainting, or dying, keep going...or something like that. Yes, there has been a time I could have puked. I've been a little light headed. And I've wanted to die almost every time, but I haven't. So, why do I keep going? Because it's good for me. My back needs it. I need to lose the weight. I am a fighter, and I have goals I need to reach. So, what if I do all this work and I still have back pain? That is a fear of mine, but I am not willing to give up. I am always reading about how to make the back and core stronger. I just stumbled across Foundational training. This is my latest program I am going to try. You can read more about it here or watch their videos. They also have several on YouTube. I'll post results as soon as I have them. The reviews are excellent. It is exciting becoming more fit, although it will always be a battle until the back feels good. Recently I heard something like, "Without hard work, you get soft." So, I thought about about the word "soft" today for a little bit. What did it exactly mean? In our world today, in my world, soft means lazy. When I don't work hard, I get lazy. I could list off areas in my life where I am lazy right now, but I could tell you with passion how I am working harder than I have ever before. I am not soft, nor lazy in those areas. I have drive. I have discipline. I feel the pain. I work day after day on my goals. I was recently talking with a woman about a hard conversation she has to have with someone. The two of them had an argument or fight. Even as adults, it is hard to sit down, talk about what happened, and come to a place of resolve even if both people haven't found peace. Let's say the two decided not to talk to each other about their conflicts; what would happen? Some people avoid such conflict all the time, because they think it is the easier way. BUT is easier always better? Without hard work in this situation, the two could be left hurt and their relationship may be strained, other people around them could be affected, and making the wrong right can't be done. There may never be another chance to go back and make things right. God calls us to be our best selves. He gave us certain talents and gifts to use to serve one another. When we are not working hard, serving God well to glorify and honor Him, we probably are not our best self. Matthew Kelly has talked and written about how we can become the best version of ourselves. http://dynamiccatholic.com/ Without hard work people are:
What would you add? I noticed today was sibling day on Facebook. I didn't want to miss this opportunity to find some of the best snapshots of Jen and me and post them like everyone else was. Of course that gave me an excuse to write a quick post as well. I know that a Jen post could be rather long if I really took the time, because I love her and I am emotional. And well, when you put those two together with writing, it will end up as a long emotional post! Tonight, I am going to keep it shorter and sweeter. We have been there for each other throughout the years for the ups and the downs, but especially the downs. The Koehler sisters know how to stick together, be there, and make it through. We know how to pick ourselves up and each other up and find our way again. Through all this time we've been there for each other to help find our way in life. Whether it be with an ending to a job and the starting of a new one, moving into a new place, an ending to relationships (friendships and romantic) and the beginning of all sorts of relationships, learning who we are and finding ourselves again, and so much more. I cried like a baby at her college graduation knowing that she was going to go out into the world without me not being as near as I had been. I am not quite sure how I'll ever be able to manage even getting words out without sobbing through a speech at her wedding someday. :) I know this is for certain, that I'd die for this woman, and I'd do just about anything for her. I'll have to write more another time... |
So this is me...I am a woman who lives with passion, self-reflection, and a desire to do God's will.
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