Workout Motivation...Continued
To dictate the life of a motivational rookie, one must immerse themselves completely in such a life; therefore, prompting the return of the gripping series, ‘Journey of a motivational rookie’. This lengthy, crucial and agonising break which was filled with; temptation, failures and success, was solely dedicated to living through the struggles of being and staying motivated and therefore, has allowed me to return with much greater insight than ever before. Looking back, one was faced with a demotivated outlook coupled with many questions and the greatest conflict, to give up or not to give up. Their drive overpowered their fears and doubts resulting in; positivity and the decision not to quit. Therefore, this piece will focus on the challenges of; staying motivated and consistent for a long period of time and its stellar benefits that begin to arise as a result.
After a tragic end to the previous week, a new week sets in, one where the motivational rookie feels invincible once more and begins to follow the routine for each day to the tee. The day begins with: positive mantras kick-starting one’s motivation to attain their goals; then moves on to a healthy breakfast, coupled with supplements and multivitamins; transitioning into a gruelling workout out at the gym, with a freshen up for the endurance of the normal day; ensuring each meal up until dinner time, is one of health and nutrition; ending the exhausting day with a cup of healthy tea and their very needed beauty sleep. This practice stays persistent and strong throughout the rest of the week.
Due to the stresses life presents and its constant buzz of motion, this routine becomes innate to the rookie and adds to their standard robotic actions for each day, allowing this routine to be followed religiously for many months. At this point in time, there is no real thought about how challenging staying motivated really is due to being constantly busy, life hasn’t yet presented challenges that could taint such a routine.
Staying motivated is then looked at as being easy. In addition, idolising fitness experts (Ana Cheri; Greek God Fit, Rachele Brooke Smith amongst others) who make fitness look so effortless, without understanding and being educated on their origin, adds to this this common misconception that; getting motivated is the toughest hurdle; once that is overcome, staying motivated is nothing but easy. As a Rookie this is the most detrimental thought one could have and after being through the mill, the shocking reality that every motivational Rookie will shed light upon is, sadly that misconception is definitely one colossal urban legend. When life slows down and challenges present itself, this one-minute thought will taint that motivational routine and potentially end it.
Keeping in mind with the above mentioned, a few months into this religious routine, one begins to flourish and notice stellar benefits. One’s motivation is at its peak consisting of both; extrinsic (external motivation from external factors) and intrinsic (internal motivation from internal factors) motivation. With regards to extrinsic motivation being at its peak: the body begins to physically change into what is appealing and acceptable to the mass populous; resulting in a lot of positive comments from, family, peers and colleagues. “Wow you look amazing; what is your secret?” is the most common comment, that rolls off of everyone’s tongues when life slows down and they first see you after quite a lengthy period. To the public; your much slender physique and your change in looks, allows them to finally see you as a beautiful person, instead of a ghastly disease. With this new found image comes the fun part; a well-deserved shopping spree to find a new wardrobe, all of which in cohesion, has your social media and your tinder blowing up. All this superficial attention results in, more self-love and some vanity not to mention one interesting and buzzing dating life. The rookie feels invincible and wants to keep motivated as this external positivity, feeds their soul and results in instant gratification. Who needs sex or chocolate, when you derive such pleasure from all that love. A love which could so easily die when that motivation and routine is tainted. With regards to intrinsic motivation being at its peak: a consistent period of positivity and healthy living, results in one feeling; energised, fit, healthy, happy and full of life, leaving one feeling on top of the world. This allows one to feel reborn, like a whole new person and the old version of one’s self starts to become less innate and more of a distant memory. A new persona is formed, one; oozing with confidence, vanity and positivity. This is the point, where everything is picture perfect although sadly what goes up must come down. This new life, plunges the rookie into a more comfortable zone where the room for slacking is tremendous. All this external love and oozing confidence results in a life of; outings, parties and events all coupled with; unhealthy habits, a reduction in gym visits and healthy activities. One’s mind-set begins to change in terms of; healthy eating, positive affirmations and physical activity. This is where life’s challenges truly present itself and now is when the real test begins. It casually starts off with a few fun outings, resulting in a small deviation from healthy eating called, ‘the cheat meal’ this turns into ‘a cheat day’. Eventually with time, these cheat days become a consistent aspect of one’s life. The time spent on all the unnecessary socialising, decreases the amount of time spent; in the gym, on positive affirmations and on meal prepping. All the above leads to a gruesome battle with; convenience, takeout and the worst of all, sugar. This finally becomes the norm and that once healthy lifestyle seems like a faded memory. The new wardrobe, now becomes a useless old one; the sexy physique becomes an unappealing one and that once oozing confidence dwindles, like a burning flame coming to its end. The rookie has once again reached a crucial decision point; to stay off the horse or to get back on it. This battle of fitness versus falling off the wagon and growing comfortable, is one a motivational rookie will always face in the fight to stay motivated. Will this rookie let this new unhealthy lifestyle, consumed with self-loathing envelop them, or will they kick it to the curb, get back on the horse and continue to fight, to reach that vision of a better them? This typewriter leaves that knowledge at to be continued… Related: Journey of a Motivation Rookie
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