When You Need a Swift Kick in the You Know What

My last post seemed to be all rainbows and butterflies.  However, the best laid plans of men...or women...aren't always followed through on.  I had a moment of self imposed motivation during that last update and I was ready to face the world.  But life has a very interesting way of knocking you on your behind.

In reality, motivation is really self imposed.  I'm not saying having a workout buddy push you doesn't help but in the end you decide to get out of bed or get off the couch and put in that workout.

I've battled lack of motivation for about a month now.  No.  I'm kidding.  It's been more than that.  But it's been really bad over the course of the previous month.  So much so that I skipped build a booty yesterday morning.  I was so tired and had no energy that I barely drug myself out of bed to the recliner.  I could tell my run buddy (aka build a booty buddy) wasn't really happy with me.  The word "ok" as a reply to my text coupled with nothing else translates to, "Get bed out of bed you lazy bum!  I'm so disappointed in you!"

She may not have literally thought that but "ok" has a certain tone to it.  :)

And then she bombarded me with texts like the picture to the right and words like, "At least get out and run a few miles then.  Run, laugh, cry.  Get it out." and "You should run for that little baby that will never get to run."  I didn't get to run because we had company all afternoon and evening and there's no way I'm going out at Texas noon to die of a heat stroke but I woke up this morning with a bit of a renewed mindset.

I can't say I'm 100% better.  What I'm going through doesn't get better overnight like that.  But each day is a stepping stone to the next.  I decide what my mood will be that day.  I decide my own happiness.  I also choose to take the steps required to get myself back on track.  The only bad workout is a missed workout and no one cares that I got off track except me.

That's not to say that having someone push and encourage you doesn't make a difference.  Because it does.  Friday afternoon I convinced a friend to not give up on a 14 day fast she's doing.  She's cut out all meat and nearly caved in a weak moment that afternoon.  But a text telling her I know how much she wants to complete this challenge and that I'm her biggest fan followed by a phone call pretending I was an irate football coach kept her from giving up.

Bottom line is, if you have a friend who's done so well and who has fitness or health goals, they have to make the decision to keep going but your encouragement and your belief in their strength will make a difference.  Don't give up on them.  You don't know the full extent of their situation but you being there could very well be the different between renewed strength and completely giving up.