You make it look easy.
That must be easy for you by now.
You did that like it was nothing.
These are all things I hear over and over again when it comes to health and fitness. After working in a large commercial gym, owning a personal training studio and training in some capacity since I was four years old, I only have this to say:
If it looks easy, you’re not looking close enough.
I have to fight myself most days to achieve the results I want from my workouts. I have doubt. I have fear. I have days when I absolutely, positively want to vomit when I look at my workout plan and, in over 10 years of racing, it has not gotten any easier.
This is the month we become resolute. We make promises to ourselves, we think and dream and maybe even act on these intentions. What I want to caution everyone with is, change is not easy, if it were, everyone would achieve their goals and we would hardly need a month of resolutions.
I’m not saying you can’t do it, because I would never say that, but I’m asking you to really think about what achieving this resolution will look like and if you’re ready to take it on.
I have already asked myself the same.
What Is The Real Intention?
I used to ask this of all my personal training clients. I don’t want to hear “I want to lose weight,” but why you want to lose weight. What changes in your life with your weight loss? How do you see your day as a slimmer person? What does it do for you and to you specifically?
On the days you want to quit, you will desperately need the answers to those questions.
It Comes From You
No matter how many plans you make to meet up at the gym or go for a run with friends, the only person you can really count on to reach your goals is you.
It’s so amazing seeing the stream of photos in your Instagram feed with #riserun on an endless loop but, what you’re seeing is the end point. What is not pictured is how many times that morning the runner hit the snooze button, fumbled around in the dark praying to not wake up the kids and then mother-effing, out loud but to herself, in the cold darkness of the morning, since no one else is out there.
But she is.
And you better believe she will achieve her goals.
Will you?
That track isn’t going to run itself, no matter how long you stare at it.
Set Yourself Up To Succeed, Or Don’t
Make a list of every excuse you have and then beat it:
I’m tired – Who isn’t? Next!
I don’t have time – No one does but if you really want to, you make time.
It’s hard – No shit. See above.
I’m not seeing results – Keep going and you will.
I want to quit – Do you want to go back to what was? Remember why you made this resolution in the first place.
Setbacks will happen and are perfectly normal. Simply acknowledge that you skipped a workout and ate a bacon cheeseburger with fries and half a bottle of wine on a Tuesday and just move on and begin fresh on Wednesday.
Embrace the Hard
I’m here to tell you it doesn’t get easier. It gets better because you start to bask in the beauty of your results, but you have to keep at it every day, including the days you really don’t want to. Goals are bastards like that.
So, chose your resolutions wisely, know it will be hard and may not get much easier, and then attack it every day until 2018. That’s how to train for life.
[Tweet “If you set a #NewYear #Resolution, read this! #thehardmakesitgreat #train4life”]
Did you make a resolution, goal or intention for the new year?
Did you achieve your resolution, goal or intention from last year?
Absolutely freakin’ YES!!!! It pains me whenever I hear “I could never do that”. You know why you could never do that? Because you won’t even try or you have already set yourself up to fail by not believing in yourself. All you can do is keep trying. Keep working hard. Once again, #youraisemeup Allie! 🙂
I know you got this one mama and YES, whenever anyone says “I could never do ‘x'” I respond with, well you have to WANT to first.
This is a great post. No New Year resolution is easy. Even though it might seem like it is, everyone has their own battles and struggles. I love this post!
Yes they do. One of my clients put it best “everyone knows their own demons.” Thanks Hollie and happy new year to you!
You’ve been personal training since you were 4? Now I have this image of you, in preschool with your friends all lined up at the monkey bars doing pull ups…
Seriously. I don’t think people appreciate their health enough. Instead of using my new diagnosis as an excuse, I look at it as motivation to move even more than I did before. Of course, I’m a little compulsive!
LOL! Not personal training – just training!! I started gymnastics when I was 4 and attacked it like a small psycho. If I had thought about personal training when I was 4, I probably would have 🙂
And HELL YES to using a new diagnosis as an excuse to do MORE!!! Instead of saying “what can’t I do now?” you’re saying “how can I keep doing what I’m doing and even do more.” That, in a nutshell, is why I love you. #complusionisgood
Fuck. Yes. ::raises hand, punches the sky:: YES YES YES YES YES
Can’ I say yes again? Find your why, embrace the suck, and make it fun because you know you are working towards something greater than ever before!
You SOOOOOOOO get this and me and all of it. #micdrop
I can’t even tell you how much I love this post! There is so much truth in it. Where I currently find myself is people trying to tell me all the things I can’t do because I’ll have a new baby. Like you, I realize it will be hard as hell but the things that are important to me I make happen. Having that reason and underlying drive you mention is so important. Thanks for your honest take on this subject. Can’t wait to see all the ass you keep kicking this year.
Hell yes mama!! And all those haters talking about what you won’t be able to do after the baby? I say “watch her!” I heard all that same BS and I had two. I still did my first ever triathlon three months after they were born because that’s what I do for FUN and it’s who I am. The people who give up exercise after they have a baby never wanted to do it (or didn’t have fun doing it) in the first place. I think you’re going to do MORE, accomplish MORE and be MORE as a mom and I cannot wait to see it!!
Great post! I am working on a New Year’s resolution (or 4) right now and definitely needed to read it. It is hard to make big changes but it’s possible. I wouldn’t say you make it look easy, but it does look like it’s always fun for you – and I think that is why it seems easy to some people. I know it’s not always fun, of course, but you do seem to enjoy what you’re doing for sure!
Oh you know I enjoy it and get so much out of it, otherwise I could never do it, but there are SO many workouts and days that I feel like I’m just fighting…and losing! I know you totally understand.
As for your 4 resolutions, I’m sure you will attempt each with the focus and determination to attack all things! You GO!
You’re right… it’s not easy. I often get the “how do you do it all?” I work my ass off. As far as the “I don’t see any results part”…. I’ve been a little discouraged with that one in the last year…. Sometimes I think that I don’t see the progress I want in my body…. And then I have to look at some older females in my family and my genetics, and remember that just keeping myself healthy is results….. My mom’s side is filled with obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis, hip replacements…. etc…. If I did nothing, that would be me…. So while I may not be getting the “results” that in my head I would like to see, I’ve let go of that…. The result for me is maintaining myself as best as I can and slowing down / delaying the process of becoming what my genetics would otherwise dictate…. Accepting to age gracefully while staying as strong as I can… (sorry, that was an entire blog post on your blog)
YES to just keeping yourself healthy! I have so much obesity (and everything that goes with it) on my mom’s side of the family…not to mention my mother’s fatal ovarian cancer diagnosis at 37…so just being healthy definitely keeps me going. But, if you’re not really seeing the results you want, you know one sure why to start that fire is to try something totally new and different. Your body needs the challenge, now that it’s used to marathon running 🙂
And, you can write as long of a comment as you please my dear…
This is such a great post for anyone who is struggling to keep their commitment to their goal! I’m way too obsessive to struggle with commitment. I did start doing squats (well, I did them once, yesterday) and I woke up this morning barely able to move my legs. But I’m glad I know that being sore means getting stronger, so I’ll keep doing them. RAWR.
Did I leave out the part of me being obsessive? LOL – I think it’s just obvious right?!
And OMG I did the Ironstrength workout for the first time yesterday in over 6 months and I also cannot sit on the toilet without grasping for the wall today. OUCH!!!
I had to Google “RAWR” but yep, that’s it!!
Truth!! This is the month when we all (including myself) do this. You do make it look easy but you’ve been doing it for so long. It is hard, no doubt, but everyone struggles from time to time. I try to remind myself when I leave work and feel too tired to work out that I ALWAYS feel amazing afterwards regardless how difficult it was. That and the results that follow are helping me stay motivated so this resolution becomes a lifestyle again. Great post! Thank you!
That is a great “trick” to remember you always feel good AFTER your workout! Thanks Kris. Keep going out!
Yesssss! I must admit that you DO make it look easy but I know for sure that you bust your ass daily for those kind of results and I’m proud of you! You do al the hard work needed for great success!!loved this so much!!
Thank you so much for saying that Nellie!! I know you understand exactly where I’m coming from 🙂
Allie, one of the best and most realistic posts about New Years Resolutions. I always use New Years Goals and tell my clients to. It is hard, but each day, one step closer to the outcome. This year excited to be able to dedicate deliberately and get new PR’s again. A year ahead of work, but damn, it feels so good to continue and rise up and at ’em! Love you my talented and hard working friend!
Thank you so much Erin!!! You know I love you to pieces and your clients are lucky to have such an enthusiastic, smart, strong mama leading them. I know you and your clients will see nothing but success in 2017. xoxo
YES – I love this post so much because it is just so freaking true. Goals are achieved through those moments when you are just muttering efffffff under your breath. Embrace the hard is just how I approach things – and then just pick straight up from those setbacks.
I know you completely do this, which is why you finally found amazing success with 26.2. You have a great mind and great plans that will continue to bring you tons of success!!
YES. I get a lot of “How do you (get up early, work out, practice yoga, do well in school, cook for yourself, blog, do it all)?” and the answer is that I’m discipline and motivated. I do it because I have chronic health issues and I value taking care of myself, because it makes me feel my best, I want to, and I love it all. But that doesn’t mean it’s not hard many (many!) days. And even though I say that, it doesn’t depict exactly how hard it all is. You don’t always see other people’s “hard”, so it’s easy to forget it exists. This is a wonderful reminder that it does.
Many, many, many days!! But yes, so important for just overall health and, it sounds like you completely get it and push past the hard days. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
I dig the suck. Embracing the suck hasn’t been hard to me , but over coming anxiety and insomnia have been a challenge. I am ok with pain and discomfort, but I like planning it. If that makes sense. I like control. Last year having my baby was my ultimate blessing and release of absolute control. I’m ok with it. Last year my intention was to have a healthy baby. This year I intend to release my fears and anxiety. Training isn’t hard and working out is my idea of fun. But give me a tiny human that is filled with energy and miracles, and I feel like I have 6 thumbs sometimes. Yup. I have stayed awake many nights just watching her sleep. I’m that creeper mom. And then I go for a run and feel free of the worry for at least that time. But my intention is to let go of that shit. Release the fears.i want to run for joy. I’m getting there. Baby steps. It’s only 6 days into 2017!