What's Your Motivation?

Those of us who workout, do so for a reason, even if the reason's because we like to workout.

Some of us have other reasons, such as health and longevity. Some of us want or need to lose some weight. Some of us have sports performance goals we want to work on.

Whatever the reason is, know what it is so you can focus on it while you workout.

Not only that but sometimes we need to dig deep into that motivation to get to a workout, or finish a workout.

We have a motivating factor inside of us, you just have to figure out what it is.

Then remind yourself of it, and see how your training benefits.

Kettlebell Training in Louisville with Holly Rigsy

After Holly and I spent a few hours filming a new DVD for her Fit Yummy Mummys we headed back to Dave Randolph's place for our third workout of the day.

Some tough stuff...

Renegade Rows 5/5
Double Cleans from the Floor 5
Single Arm Jerk 5/5
Sinlge Arm Snatches 3-5/3-5
Double Swings 10
Double Front Squats 5

Acceptance...

In case you haven't gathered I'm still fired up about the Fat Acceptance Movement.

At the bottom of this post you'll find another link, the one that Erica referenced, about the Fat Acceptance Movement.

I still shake my head in disbelief.

I give credit and respect to people who fight for what they believe in, but this is just one of those things, I can't.

With all the research and studies that have been conducted on obesity and the effects of obesity, you would think this movement would create an encouraging environment for people to want to become more healthy without having to face the thoughts of mainstream society.

Yet, this movement has created a belief that it's just fine to be obese, that it's just fine to condemn your body. I've seen quite a few people lose a significant amount of weight in my career. I met them at the beginning, or at their sticking point, I know them now, as they have made a choice and committment to leading a healthy lifestyle and have proof to show the world.

Not a single one of them has told me they prefer they way they used to live their life.

They all have stories, stories of unsupportive friends and family members, stories of success, and stories of how they just feel better.

None of them are willing to trade how they felt before, for how they feel today.

Here's the article that Erica mentioned.

http://bitchmagazine.org/article/big-trouble

What It Takes

After my post on Monday, I feel compelled to talk a little bit about what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle.

As I breifly mentioned...

-It's not about 6 pack abs.
-It's not about being a size 2.
-It's not about starving yourself.
-It's not about working out 3 hours a day.

Being healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle has everything to do with the opposite of the things I just mentioned above.

Eating well: lean proteins, fruits, and veggies, some nuts and grains.

Staying Active: exercising 3 times a week (strength training and interval training work great) and being active 2 or 3 other days during the week.

Perspective: having a realistic perspective on what you're trying to achieve, if you're trying to lose weight, it's going to take some time, it didn't take a month to put the extra pounds on so it's going to take longer than a month to take it off.

Consistency: If you 'Yo-Yo' diet as they put it, you'll rarely be successful. If you hit the gym hard for 3 weeks and then take 4 weeks off, you're not going to see results. Start off by implementing a few things and add changes ever two weeks. Cold turkey commitments are hard to stick to.

It's a Lifestyle: This is the most important thing to remember. Don't look at your nutrition as a diet, look at it as Nutrition, fuel your body with nutrients that are good for it. Look at exercise as an activity, not a chore. Change your mindset and your lifestyle will improve.

My final thought: A healthy lifestlye becomes a way of life, you learn about self discovery and what makes you tick. Your mental game is also much greater. You owe it to yourself to treat yourself right.

I am NOT ok with this.

To what each do with our own bodies is purely up to each and everyone of us.

This movement, The Fat Acceptance Movement, is something that I cannot support.


Watch this video clip on the Fat Acceptance Movement.



Healthy overweight women (excuse me fat women, and that's the term they are using) are creating a movement to tell the world that they are ok with being fat, that they are happier, and healthier than they ever were at lighter weights.

The interview on Good Morning America goes on to tell us that the women they interviewed are working closely with the physicians to make sure they don't have any side effects tradiditionally associated with being overeweight. They even mention that their physicians are ok with their decisions to support the Fat Acceptance Movement.

Here are my thoughts...

1. Being obese (or fat as these women admit) is not healthy. They may not have any health problems now but in 5 or 10 years they most certainly will, reserach proves this.

2. The story mentions that yo-yo diets are harmful to our health as well, which is true, but why not adapt a healthy style of living? Eat fruits and vegetables, very few grains, and lean proteins. Exercise consistently, even if it only starts with walking. Giving in to temptations whenever you want and avoiding physical activity is not healthy.

3. One woman says she's healthier now than when she was 100 lbs lighter, I think she might have felt unhealthy at the lighter weight because she still wasn't eating properly. There's a huge difference to eating well and restricitng what you eat. Deprivation and dieting typically isn't successful. Committing to a healthy lifestyle is.

4. I think too skinny is also not healthy. I think people who are of average weight who don't eat well and don't exercise, but are just blessed with a decent metabolism and good genetics, is also not healthy. Just as I think being obese is not healthy.

5. Curves are good, shape is good, strength is good.

I do not believe these women are as happy as they say they are. I cannot believe their physicians support their position. Obesity is on a rise, it's effecting our youth, it's a leading cause of death, it's becoming an epidemic.

Competitive Spirit

Is competitive spirit a bad thing? Personally, I don't think so. In fact I think having some healthy competition helps us all succeed at things we might not have previously thought about.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that each and every one of you should go out and start competing in Mixed Martial Arts events, but I think a little competition reminds us of what we need to be doing.

I know it helps me out, keeps me training hard, keeps my focus on the business side of things, reminds that I should not expect things to fall into my lap, but that I have to work at them.

We're all structured a little differently, some of us more than others, so it makes sense that not all of us have a competitive spirit, but for those of you that do, I'm curious as to why it drives you, or if you feel it helps or hinders what you decide to do in your life.

36kg Kettlebell Snatches

last week while training this was a spur of the moment attempt and when it went up with ease, we thought we'd film it. The left side was not as strong as I would have liked it to be, but I'll take it. I'll get some higher reps next time.

Erica and Angie also snatched the 24kg tonight, I'll be posting those strong videos soon as well.

Keep it up ladies, you're kicking some major butt!

Kettlebells and Shoes

Not sure how often I'll see this image...