Guest Post by Get Fit NH Bootcamp Member Helen Dutton
This morning at boot camp, someone joked with me, “Why are you in this class, anyway?” Good question (on some days, more than others as I struggle through an exercise) and it’s caused me to look again at my fitness goals.
Ask anyone why they are exercising or watching what they eat and chances are the answer is “I want to lose weight” or perhaps “I want to get in shape.” Those are great goals, but what is the reason for wanting to lose weight or to get in shape? Without a reason, we lack the incentive to reach the goal.
Think about it this way: if you decided to take a trip and randomly chose a location, with no reason for randomly choosing a location, how motivated would you be to start driving? For example, the city name that just popped into my head is “Tulsa.” I don’t know anyone there and I don’t know of any historical landmarks or cultural significance. Before you send this off to your cousin in Tulsa who will be outraged, let me say that I’m not saying those things don’t exist, just that I don’t know of any. How motivated am I to pack up, put my New Hampshire life on hold, and drive to Tulsa? Don’t count on seeing my bumper leave our state. If my reason for visiting Tulsa is adventure or to discover new places, this trip would be fun – and it would be fulfilling my underlying goal of adventure or discovery.
So back to why am I, and you, at boot camp? Complete these sentences to find your deep-down reason:
I am at boot camp (or taking Metabolism Makeover) so that…(fill in the blank – answer A);
—And I want (A) so that … (fill in the blank – answer B);
——And I want (B) so that … (fill in the blank – answer C);
———And I want (C) so that … (fill in the blank – answer D).
It might look something like this:
I am at boot camp so that I lose weight;
—And I want to lose weight so that my clothes fit better;
——And I want my clothes to fit better so that I don’t have to worry about what to wear every day;
———And I don’t want to worry about what to wear every day so that my days start out easily;
————And I want my days to start out easily so that I have plenty of mental energy for the day.
So for me, my reason for doing squats, lunges, crossover push-ups (seriously, Dean?) is all about having more energy. Now THAT is motivating to me and keeps me going.
Try this exercise out – you won’t be sore and you will be motivated at a whole new level.
Helen Dutton, A Vision of Your Own LLC, has been coaching business owners since 2000 to achieve business and personal excellence with ease. By clarifying goals and intelligent focus, her clients discover more accomplishment and higher satisfaction in their thriving, energetic business ventures. In her spare time, she discovers more energy at boot camp.
Fantastic Helen. What a great way to look at our motivation, our determination. I am at bootcamp so that I can be a proud wife and momand if I am a proud wife and mom, my family will be happierand if my family is happier my life is easierand if my life is easier I can be at peace knowing I have done all I can for those I loveand if I am at peace I can go to bootcamp work a little harder because life is good!
Nice, Nancy! Feeling proud, having a happy family, and being at peace – now THOSE are motivating reasons to get to boot camp! WWould love to hear some other stories.
Why am I at bootcamp? Didn't really think past the "normal" answers of "I want to lose weight", and "I want to get in better shape". As I look deeper into myself for an answer it comes to me. I am in bootcamp because I wanted to challenge myself to do something outside my normal "box". I used to talk to friends, mostly women and how they went to Aerobics or body pump and never envisioned myself in a class. You know I enjoyed working out but the "manly" way with weights! I have been in bootcamp since October and I have to tell you except for a day here and there, I have been there 4 days a week and it has made me feel like a million bucks. Well now I want to feel like a billion so I will continue to go. Hope to see you all there!!!
I am at bootcamp so that I can get into overall better shapeand if I am in better shape, I will be more flexibleand if I am more flexible, I will have a better golf swingand if I have a better golf swing, my golf scores will get lowerand if my get golf scores lower I can really give my father-in-law a schooling out on the course and rub his face in it.
I am in boot camp so that I can lose weight.If I lose weight then I won't have to worry about how I look.If I don't have to worry about how I look I will be able to focus more on my family.If I focus on my family more I will have a better relationship with them.If I have a better relationship with them then we will all be happier.
The easy answer for me is that I wanted to get in better shape. But if I look a little deeper I realize that I had let myself get to what I refer to as "squishy" because I had lost interest in programs that weren't challenging me. That's a poor excuse to just let things go, because doing something is better than doing nothing. But it is what it is. Bootcamp has certainly thrown down the gauntlet. Sweating actually is a good thing, just difficult at the time. I have increased my flexibility and gotten alot stronger, so I move better and hopefully won't be so vunerable to injury. I have lost almost 25lbs since I started. I still have "giggly" parts but decreasing them is part of the continuing quest. Even though I give Dean and Nancy a hard time (it is in jest), I am greatful to them for the encouragement and support. And that's what bootcamp means to me
I joined Bootcamp to feel better and look better for MYSELF
I am at Bootcamp so that I can continue to progress I want to progress so that I can continue to get stronger I want to get stronger so that I can feel my best I want to feel my best so I can look as strong as I feelI never liked group classes, couldn't stand the idea of indoor exercising, and here I am, 15 months later, loving every day of bootcamp. I don't know what I would do without it now…grateful every day!
The easy part of that question is that I joined bootcamp because I wanted to help maintain the 40lbs I lost in 2006. Yet, I know the answer is more complicated then that. I wanted something different then the same old routine at the gym, something that would challenge me each and everyday, and keep me coming back for more. I want to be healthy and live a much healthier lifestyle then my parents, who I watch struggle with their health, yet won't do anything to change that. That is EXACTLY what this class has done for me. I am not a morning person yet I find myself getting up in the morning, even on my vacation days to attend class. I workout to not only maintain my weight loss, but working out gives me more energy and helps my mood. Both of which make me very happy! I can't thank Kristin enough for telling me about the class and helping me get started, not to mention Dean and Ty and the whole 630am class that helps to challenge me and push me four days a week.
I am at bootcamp to tone, strengthen and stop the expansion of my waist, butt and thighs.If I tone, strengthen and stop the expansion of my waist, butt and thighs, I will feel better about my body.If I feel better about my body, I will stop obsessing about it.If I stop obsessing about my body then I can have fun and enjoy the more important things in life.
I am at bootcamp so that I can lose weight.And if I lose weight my knees won’t hurt so much.If my knees don’t hurt so much & I don’t weigh so much, I will be more willing to try rock climbing & snow-boarding with my kids when they ask next time (please let there be a next time!)If I am willing to try anything my kids ask me to, I will show them to be adventurous & confident.If I show them to be adventurous & confident, they will be ready for anything! I cannot ask for anything more!
I am at bootcamp because A. I need to lose weight. I need to lose weight so that B. I can be healthy. I need to be healthy so that C. I can have more energy. I need to have more energy so that D. I can go beyond what is necessary (like chores) & do fun things (like Boston's walking tour, chin-ups, countless fun projects, etc.)! Judy Swain
My reason for continuing to be at bootcamp is because I feel great and healthy right now and I want to continue feeling that way in my life. I am in the best shape I have ever been and it feels so good!Jamie
I am at bootcamp to get as healthy and as strong as I can be, with as much energy as possible. As guardian over an autistic brother, I need to be healthy to ensure I can properly oversee his care and be there for him for our weekly dinners. I'm also at bootcamp to gain strength and endurance for athletics. Overall, I want to avoid those maladies that tend to creep up on us as we age, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. I'm proud to say I'm not on any medications when I visit the doctor and want to keep it that way! Finally, bootcamp is the only program that has kept me motivated for more than a couple of months.
My husband and I are at bootcamp because we needed to make a healthy change together. I knew that without his support reaching my own goals were going to be very tough. Doing this together we are able to challenge each other and push each other harder and further. I am here to feel better about myself and our marriage knowing that the healthier we are, the better!
My husband and I are at bootcamp because we needed to make a healthy change together. I knew that without his support reaching my own goals were going to be very tough. Doing this together we are able to challenge each other and push each other harder and further. I am here to feel better about myself and our marriage knowing that the healthier we are, the better!