What and Who Inspires You?

I know … you don’t really feel like hearing this rah rah type of thing from a coach… a freak who loves exercise. Hang with me though…this is good and not some lame #fitspo #motivation type of post like you’re thinking it might be.

WHY I Love Moving My Body

Let me guess. You think I don’t get it and I don’t know how hard exercise is for you because you don’t feel good about yourself, you have kids, work is crazy, you’re stressed about money, you’re fighting with your husband or you have a lot of anxiety and stress in your life right now.

Here’s the scoop. You’re right about one thing…

I do LOVE exercise. I love training because:

• Being strong and fit helps me feel mentally and physically one million times better
• When I’m training I focus on training and only that {super hard to say this about much for a serial multi-tasker!}
• My workouts help me to care for others… I truly believe the more time you spend taking care of others, the more time you need to spend taking care of yourself
• I think muscles are sexy #vanity

So while I’m a freak who loves exercise, I promise you I don’t always FEEL like training.

The Struggle is Real Even When You Don’t See It

While I try to share the good and the bad via Instagram, Facebook and this lil ole blog here I do also like to keep it positive. You often get my highlight reel and it’s important for you not to compare your every day to mine or anyone else’s highlight reel.

There are days I feel the pull of my computer and work calling me and frankly there are days I’d much rather lie around or drink wine and drive toddler toys around all day long. I simply don’t choose those things {usually} because I know deep down training will help me feel better and because I’m damn lucky to be able to get strong and move my body.

I talk about the power of habits a lot and, I know for sure my habits absolutely play into how training consistently became a non-negotiable for me.

What I haven’t mentioned before is someone WHO inspired me to start feeling this way on a daily and weekly basis. 

Whether you’re a freak who loves exercise or not I am pretty sure this story will inspire you too. Exercise is a GIFT… not a chore, but rather something I/WE GET to do.

Who Inspired My Overly Positive Perspective on Training

Two years after graduating from college, In 2005, Richard broke his neck in a body surfing accident at the Jersey shore. The accident left him paralyzed with limited movement above his waist. One year after his injury after several surgeries and months and months in rehab he said “One year later I am alive, I am strong. I am motivated. I have a fire burning in my heart … to fully recover.”

How’s that for inspiration?

Katie, his wife, was his college sweetheart and stuck by his side the entire time. It’s been almost 12 years since his injury and Richard and Katie are married, both working and they have 3 kids. You guys, coming from a mom of two, I think having 3 kids alone would be enough of a “feat” without what they have gone through and still live with on a day-to-day basis.

Whenever I think something is hard or I don’t really feel like deadlifting on a rainy Monday…I think of this power couple who are inspiring so many humans on a daily basis.

Rich and Katie, we met when we were all young party animals and I haven’t seen you in a few years outside of Facebook, but I want you to know how much you two inspire me every single day.

If you want to read more about Rich and Katie’s story, check this out.

For more inspiration…here’s a recent post featuring some of our SOS members during our #WHYITRAIN month. We learned that it’s empowering to figure out how to choose the thing you want MOST over the things you want now.

What and who inspires you to be better?