Fitmark Ambassador Megan Steinmann wants to know how you find motivation and shares how to find activities that channel that energy to keep it alive
Everyone is motivated by something. What makes you work so hard at your job? What makes you take care of your house? What makes you spend quality time with your family? Besides for the pure enjoyment of it, we know that we will reap benefits from these efforts.
So what makes you engage in a fit life?
For me, everything clicked a few years ago. I was at my heaviest weight ever and I decided I needed to do something about it before things got worse. My health was still good, but I wasn’t thrilled with my fitness or the fact that my clothes kept getting larger.
It started with eating better. The scale started moving and then I decided it was time to step up my efforts to keep things rolling. I bought some workout dvd’s, more progress. Next came the purchase of a membership to one of those $20 a month gyms. Slowly, but surely I started seeing the old me again when I looked in the mirror. I had more energy. I was happier. Everything felt better.
A little over a year later, I ran my first half marathon. Each time I logged those miles I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself. I loved checking workouts off my training plan.
I fell off the wagon a bit after that while I was planning my wedding, but a few months after that, I found CrossFit. I entered a contest and won a 3 month membership to the new box that opened just miles from my house.
After my first introductory class, I knew I was hooked. I absolutely 100% enjoy my CrossFit workouts, but what else makes me go back week after week?
I am in the best shape of my life. I have never felt this strong, this confident or this awesome.
At first, I kept CrossFitting because I wanted to feel good and as a newlywed, I wanted to look good. Then I became pregnant a year later. Everyone said “you aren’t going to keep doing that crazy CrossFit stuff are you?”
My question to them was always “Why wouldn’t I?” I wholeheartedly believe that exercise was the best thing I could have done during my pregnancy. Throughout those 9 months, my blood pressure was slowly rising. Once I decided to stop working out so I could rest up and catch up on some things around the house, my blood pressure shot up and 2 weeks later my doctor induced me due to this very reason.
Now that my child is 1 year old, I continue to CrossFit so that I can chase her around the play ground, swim with her in the pool, throw her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and listen to her squeal in delight. I want to be fit so we can have a great life together and I want her to learn how important it is to include fitness in her life as well.
I’ve been through a lot of changes in the past few years, but keeping myself fit and active has helped me immensely. It gives me an outlet to channel stress, clear my mind. It helps my energy levels and makes me sleep better. Honestly, I don’t see a downside to including some sort of exercise in your life.
We will all go through many stages of life. Our motivations may change, but living a healthy and happy life will always be easier when you are active. So find that motivation and then find an activity to channel that energy. You will be amazed at the difference this small step can make.
Stay fit,
Megan Steinmann
Fitmark Ambassador 2014
