What Inspires You?

Inspiration

Where does it come from?

I just finishing watching an episode of the Biggest Loser and I am in awe of the contestants on this show. If you've never watched it before, this show starts with ten duos. The teams of 2 are either best friends, sisters, mother and daughter, husband and wife - connected in some way. The contestants are morbidly obese by definition, and have struggled with their weight most of their lives. They come to the Biggest Loser "ranch" and work with trainers to lose weight, get in shape, but, most importantly gain their "life".


Brutal is the word to describe the workouts that their trainers, Bob and Jillian, put them through each week. This week's episode found the competitors participating in a challenge where basically they were doing burpees in the mud. The first one to 100 won the prize. Have you ever done a burpee? (My junior high cheerleading coach used to call them squat thrusts.) Now imagine being 100 pounds overweight, squatting down, shooting your legs behind you, bringing them back in, then jumping up and hitting a target - IN THE MUD!!! Now repeat this exercise 100 times! Not one contestant quit. Are you inspired yet?



2 days later the contestants competed in a 24 hour bike challenge. They divided themselves into 2 teams of 6 and took turns biking. The team that logged the most miles won. At the 15 hour mark some of the competitors wanted to call a truce and stop the contest, but they all agreed that "quitting" was not an option - that quitting was the reason they were at the ranch to begin with. So they finished - even though they were exhausted, sore and hungry. Inspiring?


Sometimes when I am doing a crazy workout that is pushing me so hard I want to quit, I think of the Biggest Loser contestants and how they do not give up and push themselves through the pain. That, my friend, inspires me to keep going. It might sound silly and simple, but it works for me.

What truly inspires you?

Is it the example set by others?

Is it a picture in your mind of how you see yourself?

Maybe for you it's a quote that really hits home.

The next time you find yourself struggling,

reach for that inspiration, grab it and GO!

Preparation is the Key

If I can offer 2 words to my clients regarding

exercise or diet it would be

PLANNING and PREPARATION

What do I mean by this? Let's look at diet first.



Let's say you have an extremely busy day in front of you - taking kids to school, going to work, meetings during the day, evening activities. It is imperative to look ahead to your meals and not let them happen by "accident". No time for breakfast? Fix a protein shake in the blender and take it in the car with you, or buy pre-mixed shakes to have on hand. That way you can literally "grab and go". Pre-mixed shakes are also great to have on hand at work and in the car. My favorites are Muscle Milk and Myoplex (both available in regular and lite). Just make sure whatever shake you choose has an equal or higher amount of protein than carbohydrates. The protein will help keep you full for a longer period of time.



Overplan I tell all my cleints to keep their desk drawer and refrigerator at work stocked with healthy foods. If you have to run from meeting to meeting then you can always grab a piece of string cheese, a handful of nuts, or a protein bar to get you through. Remember if you go longer than 3-4 hours without eating your blood sugar will drop and your metabolism will slow down. The result: increased fat storage!!!

Planning exercise

Just like planning your food, you need to plan your exercise. What days and times are you going to workout? Again, the less you leave to chance the more likely you will be to follow through. Always keep a set of workout clothes with you in the car or at work. If you happen to get an unexpected break in your day or finish earlier than expected, you won't be able to use the excuse of not having anything to wear.

As with everything else in our hectic lives, planning and preparation are the key to success. Remember:

1. 
   
   Plan your meals and exercise ahead of time


2. 
   
   Have an extra set of workout clothes on hand


3. 
   
   Keep healthy food with you at all times