April Thrive Challenge

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Comment by Kathy Manizza on April 11, 2012 at 9:29am

I always enter a race and use that goal as motivation to train hard.  If I know that I have a half ironman coming up, I'm not going to skip workouts!  I train with my husband and we motivate each other, even when he's traveling for work.  We set up a google calendar with our workout plan.  We can both access it and aren't going to let each other down by not doing it.  And then of course, there is my wonder dog Maui (in the picture).  He wants to run EVERYDAY... no slacking while he's around.  BTW... Maui has become a vegan dog. 

Comment by Jenee on April 11, 2012 at 7:44am

When I feel the urge to quit, (which usually happens on treadmill runs), I think about something I read once. - Always go farther than you think you can.  It's simple, but it works for me, in life situations as well as my workouts. 

Comment by annik landry on April 11, 2012 at 12:43am

i keep a promise to myself to do a plank everyday no matter what. i aim to hold it for 3mins. when i am at the 2min mark, i start to feel like i want to give up. i start going back and forth in my head "should i stop or keep going". i like to keep that discussion in my head going for a while so that by the time i look at the timer there is only 30 seconds left. i then tell myself that it's like three long breaths (5 secs inhale 5 secs exhale.) so instead of thinking about how long the 30 secs feel, i am focused on taking nice long breaths and then the time is up :D! i try and do the same type of thing while running. if i feel like i can't sprint anymore and just want to lightly jog for the rest, i push myself and just focus on breathing instead of any negative thoughts.

Comment by Brett Mammel on April 10, 2012 at 11:07pm

What pushes me through training is knowing that my future opponents arent just sitting around on their a****, that last bit of endurance that I gain by hanging in there could mean the difference between me winning or losing a fight. Doesnt hurt to have pro fighters to train with everyday as well :P

Comment by Samantha on April 10, 2012 at 6:41pm

I decided to go rock climbing one afternoon after a long haitus. I had almost reached the top on my first go, but I was tired. I looked down and said, "That's good enough." I paused once I heard the words come out of my mouth. Since when had "good enough" become my standard? Never. I gathered my energy and climbed to the top. Now I remind myself of that moment any time I feel like I want to quit. "Good enough" is not an option. I want extraordinary and the only way to get there is to push myself beyond my limits every time.  

Comment by Sarah Kernan on April 10, 2012 at 5:45pm

When training and I feel that mental block coming and excuses to stop or slow down start to flow into my brain I just think of other people who have done so much more. When I am running and begin to think about quitting, I just think about people who have run marathons (I've never run one and think that people that do are so impressive mentally), it pushes me to keep going cause if senior citizens and people with prosthetic limbs can run 26+ miles I can run my 10k. 

Comment by Laurel Cedarblade on April 10, 2012 at 4:46pm

I try to push myself with every workout and every run. It's fun to see what your body is capable of, and I take pride in really challenging myself both physically and mentally!

Comment by Kristina Bangma on April 10, 2012 at 4:40pm

I learned a great technique from my yoga instructor many years ago.  He told me to embrace the pain. If it is the good - you know you are getting stronger - kind of pain, I recognize it as simply a feeling. I recognize it and then let it go.  This works 95% of the time!

Comment by Cristin Elisa on April 10, 2012 at 1:20pm

I enjoy trying out new classes at the gym that will give me a work-out that my body isn't used to!

It's easy to keep doing the same routine, but not as easy to try a new class that leaves my body sore for days, especially if the class is at 6am on a Friday!

Comment by Kelly on April 10, 2012 at 12:58pm

I kind of get mad with myself, and I will vocally say my name out loud to kind of pysche myself into doing it. Your body can do it....it's just talking your mind into believing it!  I also have many pictures of inspirational fitness people people in my home gym that i definitely take a look at to get me through some tough workout sets

Comment by adwilkin on April 10, 2012 at 12:52pm

I see myself at one with all, I know that I am powered by nature, plants and vega and I allow the muscle memory and qi to do the rest ;) 

Comment by Dana Howard on April 10, 2012 at 11:36am

I remind myself of how blessed I am that I'm able to exercise and that my body is fully capable of achieving anything I put my mind to.  I also think about the bikini or cute outfit that I want to look good in and that is motivation as well. :)

Comment by Myra Delzeit on April 10, 2012 at 11:33am

Though I tried Crossfit for a year and loved the concept and the commraderie, my previous injuries kept me from going all out and in the end hurting my healing process rather than helping. But the good news is that I do still workout and have begun to feel so strong again. The way I push myself when it just seems too hard to finish is to breathe; I focus on my breath and slow it down, slow in and slower out. I "see" my breath filling me up and that change of focus from pain to breath does it for me.

Comment by Shay on April 10, 2012 at 11:13am

I say to myself: "You love this, you love that burn, you are getting stronger, right now you are getting fitter, right now you love this" I fully embrace the pain and it become a huge endorphine rush.  It doesn't matter if it is the last 250 meters of a race or the last 5 push-ups, your body loves the challenge you just have to get your mind on board, your body is more powerful and stronger than your mind could ever conceive so let your mind go and embrace the moment and anything is possible.

Comment by junghwa chung on April 10, 2012 at 10:29am

i try to focus on my goals and how I want to feel and look fit. Also, i try to remember the great feeling of accomplishment after working out hard.

Comment by Moriah B. on April 10, 2012 at 10:28am

When I'm running on the treadmill, I give myself goals of reading another couple pages in my textbook.    Also, I might think about what healthy meal that I'm going to make after I finish.  It's motivating to have small goals and a yummy meal after a hard workout.  

Comment by Marianne Berry on April 10, 2012 at 10:12am

I am 61 and work out with a 40 year old.  She is motivating because she is much younger.  When I want to give in I look at her and remind myself to get tough and hang in there.  I also tell our trainer not to give me an easier routine but make me do what she is doing.  Sometimes it is very hard to keep up but I remind myself that thr rewards are too great not to try.

Comment by Roy T Zahn on April 10, 2012 at 10:06am

When it gets tough..I think about the folks going thru chemo....my workout does not seem nearly so hard.  I do a lot of volunteer work with LLS, hence my comment to chemotheraphy.

Comment by Marijcke Toussaint on April 10, 2012 at 10:02am

I have my own mantra, or actually it is not my own because it is what my yoga teacher tells us during the lessons: Keep up, don't give up. I repeat it over and over again!

Comment by Allison Dellandrea on April 10, 2012 at 10:00am

The best inspiration for me is the privilege of physical activity itself.  When I am struggling during a workout, I think about how lucky I am to be able to be out on the road, or in the gym at all - when so many people are faced will illnesses or other challenges that prevent them from exercising at all.  When I think of what these people would give just to take one step, I am inspired to focus on finding the inner strength that I need to finish the race, and hopefully finish it well.  Health is our greatest blessing to be celebrated!

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