Why? Sometimes I find that question terrifying. If I don't know the answer, it feels as if everything I hold to be true can crumble. But I'm finding as life goes on that more often than not the question "why?" is answered with "I don't know." And then the questioning leads to deepening.
A terrible time to ask oneself "why" is at 440am when the alarm is beeping. The appropriate response to such a thing is to hop out of bed, turn off the alarm, turn on the coffee pot, and get moving. Don't ask "why" before 5am. But later in the day... "why?"
Friends rarely (never?) ask me about what drives me. They know that I rise early. They know that I go to Weight Watchers. They know that I exercise three times a week. They don't ask about it. You know who does? People at the gym. And they ask often.
I find myself approached all of the time by people at the gym picking my brain for what motivates me. They want to know what time I wake up. What I eat for breakfast. Do I get up early everyday or just workout days? How do I move up in my weights? How do I stay committed? The questions are varied and constant.
I answer their questions as best I can. I think everyone ultimately has to find what works best for them. I've just found what works for me. For now. I'm happy to share that with people if it will help them to figure out what will work in their lives.
My alarm goes off at 440am on M/W/F and 5 T/TH/Sun at which point I never ask "why?" and if I accidentally do ask the dreaded question then my answer to myself is simple: "because this is who I am." Because this is who I am... that leads to hopping out of bed and walking to the kitchen. All I have to do is plug in the coffee pot because I got it ready to go the night before. I head to the bathroom and put on the workout clothes I left out for myself (or slept in depending on what I'm wearing that day). Then it's back to the kitchen for coffee and a greek yogurt. I leave the house at 5 with my water bottle in hand (that was also made the night before). Always. I do not miss a workout unless I am sick (no, really. migraine or SICK) or out of town. That's the rule. I stick to it.
Then, I make it count. Women are always interested in how I move up in my weights. I am happy to share that advice: I use the wisdom of a dear friend and Nils' godfather, "I just do it."
Oh, need a better explanation than that? Okay, well, I think back to my first weeks in the class. It was hard. Haaarrrddd. Is the class still hard? No? Then put on an extra "baby" weight. At the end of an exercise are your arms shaking and you feel like you are going to drop the weight? No? You could add a baby next time. You don't have to do that for every muscle group. Just pick one or two muscle groups and move up. Women can lift much more than we think. The other thing is this: I didn't move to the front of the class because I got stronger. I moved to the front of the class in order to get stronger. If you stand in the back you can't see yourself in the mirror. You can't watch your form. I stand in the front so that I don't have to pay attention to what I'm doing - I can just hang out and watch that girl in the mirror lift weights. That's a tricky piece of advice though... because spots in the front are limited. Don't take mine. It's funny that people always ask me how to move up in their weights when I'm always trying to move up in mine. I guess weight lifting is the same as anything - there will always be someone richer/poorer, taller/shorter, stronger/weaker than me.
But... why? Yes, why indeed? Last year when my mom and I went to see Jillian Michaels she talked about how everyone has to find their own "why" - their reason for wanting to be healthy, their ultimate motivating factor(s) for eating well, exercising, and taking care of their general well-being. The thing is, you can share yours with people, I can share mine with you (and I will), but you have to find your own. You can borrow other people's for a little while, but I can assure you from experience, when you are covered in sweat and trying to chest press 40lbs for the 100th time in a row (BodyPump!)... someone else's "why" just ain't gonna cut it.
My "whys" - in no particular order other than coming to mind right now:
1. When I was in college I went to class. Pretty much always. For two reasons: 1. If I made a poor grade in a class and I didn't go then I had nothing to blame but that. I didn't go. Done. The same holds true for me with my body. I have to do my best to take care of it. If I am eating well and exercising, then at least the things within my control are at their best. 2. I looked at the people I knew who were skipping class and didn't want to be "one of them." I am a person who goes to class. I feel the same way about exercising and eating well. That is who I am. If a line is drawn on the sand, I am on this side of it.
2. I look at my husband and my children. I love them with all of my heart. And I know that they love me. I have to take care of myself.
3. Thanksgiving. I am truly thankful for what God has given me and thus I take care of it.
Those are my "why." Those are the things that drive me. Those are my driving factors that don't change. There are other "whys" that come and go. Sometimes my bathing suit matters to me, and honestly sometimes it doesn't. I know bathing suit is a legitimate "why" for many - if that's your "why" - awesome! Go for it! Sometimes an upcoming event matters and can motivate me. I have a wedding later this year and I'm sure that will be a number 4 on the list in a few months. But those top three are always there. "Whys" can be as deep or as shallow as they need to be. It doesn't matter what they are. It's just what moves you.
Jillian Michaels told us hers. Jillian Michaels, Jillian Michaels doesn't like to exercise. Nope, truly. She said she is a "clock-watcher" counting down the minutes until a workout is finished. Want to know why she works out? Because she wants to wear bikinis. Believe her? I have a feeling that's just one of many.
It doesn't matter what your why is as long as you find it and it moves you, even if it changes.
My grandfather Ed the Red inspires me. He ate well and exercised and went to the doctor. He was the picture of good health, and here's what I learned from him. The picture of good heath doesn't mean you don't get sick. Really sick. It doesn't mean you don't have health scares or surgeries. It means when you do, they're more likely to be caught early and the chances are higher that your body is healthy and strong and you can bounce back. It means you feel pretty darn good in your day-to-day life because you are taking care of yourself. It means you spend your eighties traveling and painting and cooking and doing things you love. It means you live to an old age and your eldest grandkids, who knew you well because of said old age, raid your fridge after your funeral and drink all of your beer. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Except, you're in luck future grandchildren: I drink bourbon. You're welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment