Time For A Little Motivational Speech...Ahem

Have you ever tried anything Extreme? Let me clarify Extreme. I mean anything that has pushed you into what you would call extreme circumstances in order to achieve whatever it is? Something that has demanded a sacrifice in order to complete?

I think many would say they haven't. Why? What's holding you back? Fear? Lethargy? Lack of drive? Lack of confidence in yourself to achieve? A fear of coming 2nd...or maybe not even finishing at all? Well you're certainly not alone.

You see, if I had one dollar for every time, over the past 8 months, someone has said to me, "ooo - I could never do what you're doing..", I would visit Lorna Jane a whole lot more. I believe the more accurate response should be, "ooo - I choose not to do what you're doing" because it is..a choice. My body is just the same as most of yours. I have two arms, two legs etc etc, and they may have been tuned a little differently but they pretty much work in the same manner.

But here's where we may differ a little. You might say, "I can't!!" Where I will say, "I can!! And I will! And if I don't get it the first time, I'll try again a second and a third until I nail it! And, if I have to, I'll get help from wherever I can - google, youtube, friends, magazines - wherever - but I will do it!!" So maybe our headspace differs, but our body is essentially the same. It'll do as it's told.

Another thing I find strange is the attitude of feeling hard done by when missing out on something. Especially when it comes to food. I have had many responses to my nutrition with comments such as, "I just couldn't do without my ice cream after dinner", or, "I don't believe in missing out. I couldn't cope without my Sunday roast". You know I'm pretty honest so here's my response; I understand that ice-cream is good. Very good. But it was around when I was born, and it'll be around when I'm done, and it'll taste the same for the entire time and I won't miss out on a thing in the long term. I can't comprehend the taste of fat and sugar being something that holds me back from a goal. Same thing for the Sunday roast - it'll be there forever and it'll always taste sort of similar to what it did the first time around. It isn't worth fighting for.

Because in my honest opinion, people work better, play better and live better, when they have a goal. And a physical goal is a great way to get on top of your health & fitness. I mean a goal that will take some working towards like maybe a 5km fun run, or being able to jog the loop non-stop, or maybe even entering your first bodybuilding competition!!

But to achieve a goal, there must be sacrifice. No two ways about it. It'll take up time, it might cost a little money for some kit, it may mean saving money on shit food and re-spending it on fresh stuff, and it may mean facing something you don't particularly like sometimes - like some speed work on the oval, or hitting the gym for the 5th time in a week to conquer those triceps. Whatever it is, it'll hurt some days and feel great others. Some days you'll want to pack it all in and you'll wake up with the excuses rolling off your tongue non-stop - that's normal. What makes it a sacrifice is whether you give in to the very-believable excuses, or turn them off, fill your head with the positive stuff and get out and do it. Sometimes I need some of those corny gym motivation slogans to keep me going, or maybe I work better on those days that I think about compeititors and what they are doing, and sometimes I just give myself a stiff uppercut, pick up my bottom lip and go and do what I have to anyway!! But what goal is worth achieving if it doesn't take some blood, sweat & tears?

To hide away and fail to get out of the starters blocks because of ice cream or roast lamb is really pretty lame. To make one thousand excuses about time, energy and kids is also another way around facing it (sorry to offend - but it's true! There are so many ways to work around kids and time management, and the energy will come from the exertion so that's taken care of).

Another thing. If you are heading towards a goal, for goodness sake stop looking left and right!! There will be people on both sides trying to push you off your track. They'll say and do all sorts of things to undermine what you're doing because it makes them feel so uncomfortable to see you out of your usual box. But eventually they'll accept that you're staying strong and they'll either join you or leave you alone. Remember, I was chunky smoker who got around with a lot of other chunky smokers and we did a lot of smoking and eating back in the day. None of my 'friends' were very impressed when I launched into my first ever exercise campaign. Sadly, none joined me either and I was very much alone for a while there but I wouldn't change a thing. And I imagine a lot of them are still rather chunky, still chugging on the fags, and still think I'm crazy!! They can have their life as long as I get to keep mine!

In saying all of this, I actually do understand the reluctance to commit to something new and hard. This year there have been a few 'firsts' for me; first ever 10km fun run, first ever team challenge when our Just Doin It team completed the Katherine Ultra Challenge yesterday, first foray into group training with my little Bootcamp (now exactly one year old!)...and of course, first time entry into the world of competitive bodybuilding. The fear levels have been huge on some of these things, and I've dared to put myself out there for criticism and comment. But the positivity, friendship, team work and all of the other great things have far far far far far outweighed any of the perceived negatives. I say perceived because generally negative work goes on in the background and you don't really hear about it. You know it's there but if you don't focus on it, it doesn't get under your skin.

The reason I've ranted this week is because I'm heading into an extreme phase of my own training. There is exactly 7 weeks and 5 days until comp day and it's time to do some serious cutting. I can hear you already saying I'm looking lean enough as it is, and in normal circumstances I would agree. But this 'sport' isn't really normal and it's now getting to the extreme end of things. I need this cutting phase in order to let the muscles 'pop' out.

To achieve the leanness required, I now complete two hours of cardio each day. So I start the morning with one hour, then head to the gym for weights, then end the evening with another hour of cardio. I'm on day 2 of this regime with only another 12 to go. Is it hard? Oh crap yes!! It's really hard. My mind is where the battle for the day is won so I'm finding that less thought, more action, is the way to go. If I think too much about it, it dawns on me that my day revolves around training and it's too much to cope with. Along with that, it's mighty hard on the body. For this reason I've said goodbye to my last few treats. No more shop coffees, no more weekly glasses of wine. I'm fully focused on the path ahead and it's full steam until we get there.

Unfortunately Rob is heading off to a three week course this week and it probably couldn't come at a worse time as far as training goes. To combat this we are spending the afternoon pre-cutting and cooking a multitude of meals for both me and the kids so I will spend less time preparing and more time getting this training in. Pre-cut veges last extremely well in containers by the way, as does weighed and sliced meat. So I have three children (one is a pre-schooler) a shift working husband, two bootcamps, a job at the gym, and my own PT business to run, on top of a current 3hr/day training routine. If you want to talk about time management and fitting things in, come and see me!

One of my side-goals has always been to try and inspire people to get up and do it - right now! Don't wait until you're forced to for health or confidence reasons. Strike while the iron's hot and make it happen. Not too many people spend their life regretting getting fit. In fact, I haven't heard of one yet. Many make pompous statements about being "happy and fat" or "funny and round". All power to them if that's really and truly how they feel. But I suspect, deep, deep down, most of us want to be fit, healthy and able to take what life throws at us.

Is all of the hard work worth it in the end? I don't think 'the end' is the only focus. It's very insightful and exciting to see what I can do if I put my mind to it, and it's also amazing to watch the body as it changes. Besides, if I wasn't doing this what would I be doing? Watching tv? Eating ice cream? Carrying on as normal? Nothing wrong with any of that but surely a passage of life deserves some excitement in the form of an extreme goal now and again?

So I dare you to dream a little and then set it in motion. At least just once in your life.