Motivation is an interesting thing. When you've got it, you feel like you can do ANYTHING. And when you don't, it's hard to even try.
A little over a week ago, I posted some progress pictures from my first three weeks of training with Jared. The response was crazy. We had over 200 people check out that post, overall blog traffic spiked, and while we didn't get many comments on the actual blog (why won't you people COMMENT?!), I did have several people come up and congratulate me when I ran into them over the holidays.
I was on top of the world.
But then the next week came and went, and Saturday morning I got up to take my progress pictures for the week. And when I compared them to the week before, I wasn't impressed. I hardly noticed anything different.
In retrospect, it shouldn't have been that big of a deal. It was one week, right? I mean, overall, I was still WAY ahead of where I started. I'm still getting compliments from friends, family, and coworkers. But for some reason, seeing those pictures took the wind out of my sails. My motivation was gone.
In times like that, a decision has to be made. I had to decide between three choices. First, I could quit the training altogether. This would be a little drastic, and I would lose my hundred bucks. Plus Jared would probably hunt me down and kill me, so that was out.
Second, I could keep going in my demotivated state, which makes progress next to impossible.
Or third, I could find a way to get motivated again.
I chose number three. I went back through and looked at my pictures and notes from the first month. Granted, the pictures from week 4 weren't much different from week 3... but they were DRASTICALLY different from week 1. And the progress I've made in terms of numbers has been pretty incredible, too. Before I started training, I don't think I had ever deadlifted in my life. Last week, Jared had me deadlift 300 lbs. And I did it. I've never lifted 300 lbs in my life. In any way.
And two days later, he had me squat 300.
None of this is impressive if you look at the other guys at STRONG, who can all curl about 1000 lbs with each arm. But for a guy like me, it's big time progress.
I gave myself a mental pep talk that day...Not the good kind, either...I gave myself the kind where the coach slaps you in the face and tells you to quit whining and get your head in the game. And the funny thing is, it worked. The next day I took a new set of pictures just because, and they looked a lot better.
Or maybe I was just bloated.
A lot of us have been in the same boat (although most of us with less impressive changes in a longer amount of time) and its motivational for the rest of us to see you step up and do what you need to get what you want out of these twelve weeks. Your doing great man, keep up the hard work!
ReplyDeleteShane,
ReplyDeleteThanks man! It is hard work, but it's worth every ounce of effort. Thanks for the encouragement!
Kyle, I have really enjoyed following your progress! Keep up the hard work it will pay off. This summer Jared set some stuff up for me and its worked just like he said it would. 30lbs gone! Its been hard but worth it. On those days when you feel like you've not made progress, or no one notices, just remember its one step at a time and it will pay off. I think of my end goal and can take one step or maybe two each day toward it. My brother (Jared) always tells me, "It took you more than a few weeks to put on weight." So I want to start making days that turn into weeks of going towards the goal, but its one step at a time, one day at a time. Keep being faithful with each step toward your goals, one at a time and you will make progress even when it doesn't seem like it!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective. I have to constantly remind myself that I didn't gain the weight overnight, and I'm not going to lose it that way either. It's a contentment thing, too. If I can't be happy with the progress I'm making with Jared as a trainer, I'm not gonna be happy with anything. We all need to give ourselves an attitude adjustment from time to time, and that's exactly what this post was all about. Thanks for the encouragement!