Who the heck stole my motivation? One day, I was a highly motivated “fitness person”, working out 4 or 5 times per week, consistently. I was in a groove and it felt so good. I liked the way my jeans fit, I liked my increased energy, my confidence. Fast forward a year (or five), a baby or two…And, I am more than a tid bit out of shape. I get winded walking up the stairs carrying laundry, I have ripples of cellulite covering my thighs, I am exhausted at 3:00 pm, only caffeine will help at that point (momentarily). I am not terribly overweight, I am just out of shape and UNMOTIVATED.
So what do I do?? I enlist the help of a handful of professionals at a fitness retreat. I write my husband a letter, explaining “My PLAN”, and what will happen if I don’t pursue it (more depression, fatter thighs, losing my sense of self). I tell him I am joining a fitness resort/fat camp/weight loss camp/boot camp retreat?? I don’t even know what to call it to be honest. I tell him, I am going to a place that will basically kick my ass. Good news is, I’ll come home happier, healthier, a better mom, wife, and most of all, I’ll get my lost motivation back. I’ve been missing it so much. I drive by city parks and along the river bank and see “those people” happily running and biking, and I think…”That used to be me.” What happened?
Unite Fitness Retreat is the place I picked, based on a few important factors. It had to be small, it had to be regimented, it had to be far enough away so I couldn’t come home if it was hard and I wanted to quit, and I had to be able to afford it. I didn’t want to do this on a beach, I was not going to be rocking my bikini till after my boot camp. I liked the idea of mountains (I am from Austin, TX), I love to hike. This was going to be AMAZING!!
2 weeks to focus on myself, away from it all…I trusted my decision and I was all in.
What happened? Everything. I. Needed. I not only got my motivation back (and then some), the toning/fitness/weight loss was all I wanted, but…My experience was so so much more than that. I discovered myself again after forgetting who I was amongst a pile of dirty laundry and diapers. I put myself first for the first time in a long time. It felt amazing. I feel amazing. I am exactly where I need to be. I am excited to keep this going and I know exactly what to do (not only at the gym), but in my day to day to honor myself and allow my journey to unfold. YAY..For this thing we call motivation, it really is something to hold onto.
-Guest Blogger and Past Guest (Anna E.)
