Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Why Fit_NOT_Skinny?




"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”  I really like this quote from Bernice Johnson Reagon.  I've thought a lot about it since my recent move.  It applies to every aspect in my life because nothing has come easy for me.  I've always had to go above a beyond just to meet the standard and at times, I've found myself easily frustrated.  I become frustrated when I see others around me with gifts, talents, money, attractive qualities, and traits I desire.  The word envious comes to mind.  I'm envious of other because I don't have this or that.  Envious I don't look like that.  Envious I can't do what he or she is doing.  Jealous of what he/she has compared to me.  And I fall into the trap of "I want things, and I want them now" mentality.I think back to a conversation I had with my friend Francisco Flores a couple days ago... He lives in California & trains very similar to myself.  He wanted to know why I chose to get fit.  Why did I stick with it?  What changed or clicked in my head?  I thought about it & embarrassingly, I had to answer that my ultimate goal was to look hot.  I admitted that my first thoughts taken toward fitness was: "I have to lose weight or I'll never get married".  As my fitness levels increased and the weight came off, I admitted to Francisco, I gained a whole new respect for myself.  I didn't just desire to look good for the opposite sex, but to better myself.  This is what I think is important.  Overall health.  Working out isn't just something to do.  Eating clean isn't just a fad to get the results you want and go back to your old eating habits. 
Fitness, health, working out, and eating clean are a change in lifestyle-> not a temporary diet.  It's not always fun and glamorous.  Sometimes you have to sweat.  That is why I love the quote : 
"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.” 

It's true. When I first started working out, I was terrified!  I didn't desire to do group classes because I didn't want to look stupid.  However, I swallowed my pride.  I've had the chance to work with a variety of trainers and experience various training styles.  I continue to try new workouts because I don't want to allow myself to get TOO comfortable.  When I get comfortable in a workout, I tend to slack and lose form.  It's through the "chase-the-burn" workouts like Serg. Eva Shurts & I would power & and laugh through because the burn was so bad.  BUT, It's when the workouts are complete, that you can look back and say- wow! I just did that.
This weeks SUCCESS: I tried yoga.  I'm trying to take my training to another level- it definely challenges me like I've never been challenged before!
Your Challenge: CHALLENGE yourself! Sweat, turn down the sweets, add an extra workout, run the another mile, try a new class-->> whatever you do, the key is to challenge yourself.  Don't tell yourself you can't-->> Know you can!
Food for thought: What if I were to get everything YOU wanted without working for it? What if you had the perfect body and it required no work- would you want it? What if you could achieve the fitness goals by only a supplement?  Would it be worth it?  Would you want it?  Think about the character built every time your sweat hits the floor & chase the burn this next week.#BeBless
-A

5 comments:

  1. Great post, Alison. I know it's hard, but try to focus on what YOU have achieved, not what others have. You're doing great and working really hard.

    Believe it or not, you DO have a gift and a talent and that is coming from your journey. Alison, you never know when you will be someone's role model, their source of motivation and inspiration.

    ShariFitness

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  2. I love it!! Continue to push and work hard at it. Being fit is a lifestyle, and we will continue to live this life not for others but for ourselves. People may look at us weird because we eat different or workout to much but yet they can't seem to do the things we do. That's why we must lead by example and continue to do the right things so that they see how being str8fit has changed our lifes and what it can do for them.

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  3. Wonderful blog! Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Great post. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. YOU LOOK AMAZING!! Your transformation is inspiring. WOW girl. kick ASS! You're so gorgeous too!

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