Challenge of the day: Push Yourself

I have been thinking a lot about what causes people to push themselves. In training for my marathon I have found that there are a lot of times when I start a run or a workout with the thought…”I don’t really want to do this right now…” I’m sure you all have been there and have felt the same way.

For whatever reason, even when I am less than stoked at the get go, I know deep down inside that I get some strange satisfaction out of finishing a hard workout. It isn’t that I’m loving every minute of it. Some days I do, a lot of days I’m cursing myself for deciding to do so in the first place. I felt this way towards the end of my kettlebell pyramid workout yesterday. However, I know how good it feels to finish something hard. I think this is what gets me to push through on the days that I’m just not feeling it. I love knowing that I have accomplished something.

I know I love the “After” feeling. I also love the after effect. I like the way exercise makes me feel and look. The same goes for sticking to a clean diet. Yes, sometimes it is way hard. However, I know that in pushing myself towards something hard leads to some good progression. I can’t tell you how often I hear people say.

“I could never eat like that. It’s too hard.”
or
“Well, there is no way I could ever give up eating _____ so I couldn’t ever do that.”

Do you want to know what I think is unfortunate about both of these statements? And all other statements just like them for that matter. There is %0 effort being put forth. How do you have any idea what you can and can’t do until you try? Yes, things may be difficult. You may not be able to run up that hill the first time you try it, you might not be able to eat perfectly as you try to change your diet, BUT you have to try. Make baby steps. PUSH YOURSELF to do something that you maybe don’t fully think you can do. When you push yourself you will see growth. You will learn that the limits you are placing on yourself are probably just that, limits that YOU have predetermined. Why not break those limits? Why not do something you think may be too hard?

I think the perfect analogy to go along with this is the way the human body works. If you want to improve muscle strength, you have to push your muscles to the point where they become fatigued. This is the point where it is hard for them. Muscle fibers that are pushed to the point of fatigue will tear, which hurts. This is, in part, where muscle soreness comes from. As muscles heal and repair themselves, they become a little bit stronger, and so the process continues. Muscle strength comes from pushing yourself.

If you want to do increase your ability to do something you have to PUSH YOURSELF. It may be hard. It will probably hurt a little, but you will grow. You will improve. You will become better.

So, my challenge for today. STEP UP! Choose something that you want to improve on and PUSH YOURSELF. Stop finding a million excuses as to why you can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t do something and PUSH YOURSELF. Stop living a life of “wouldn’t that be nice” and “maybe someday..” and do something today. Accomplish something hard. I can guarantee you that you will be surprised with just how capable you are. The bottom line is that you will never know until you TRY.

Don’t forget! Tonight is another free Barre Bootcamp class at The LAB. 7:00 PM!