This July will make 4 years since I became vegetarian. Wow time flies when you’re stuffing your face with nutritious but tasty food. If you watched my YouTube video “Storytime: Fainting In The Chinese Buffet 7 Times/Why I Became Vegetarian,” you’ll know exactly why I became vegetarian in the first place. Long story short, me and meat are beefing ! (pun intended).
I feel better without it. Since then I learned about the other pros that came along with changing my meat-eating diet to vegetarian. To name a few: a healthier immune system so a lower possibility of developing a major illness or disease and making it easier to lose and maintain my weight (with exercising regularly of course but not as much) thus an overall healthier and longer life. Also, let’s not forget not encouraging the inhumane abuse animals endure in the food industry to keep up with the constant demand of them; which then results in the enormous waste animals contribute to the Earth (more than CO2 emissions!). Wow a mouthful but this lifestyle change has changed my life and has had an impact on the world.
This isn’t the post about that though. This is how working out changed my life. I just had to get that out the way.
After about a year of regularly exercising, I was beginning to see the body I wanted and my confidence grew. That was always the goal but I already changed before that part. The biggest change or advancement was the mindset it took for me to get there. Every single day I worked out my physical body, I worked out and built my mental muscles as well so I could finish each routine.
I’d either have a bad start or don’t feel like working out period or I’m too tired and about to give up in the middle of it. Those days build the most character. Hell, I’ve had bad weeks and even months when I did the bare minimum or didn’t work out at all if we’re being honest.
The key to how I made it through my workouts was to be my own cheerleader and tricking my mind to believe that it wasn’t as bad as it felt. That if I had to do this workout four times and had three more reps to go, “I did one so one more won’t be bad.” Then “I did two so I’m halfway through.” Then “I did three. One more time won’t hurt and I might as well give my all since it’s the last one” and before I knew it, it was over and I was done. Or there would be times where I keep asking myself “You wanna be THAT chick right?” “You want that ab definition right?,” “You want to kill it in any fit right?” and that would be enough to get going.
I’m not gonna lie, I still had/have bad days. I’d either have a bad start or don’t feel like working out period or I’m too tired and about to give up in the middle of it. Those days build the most character. Hell, I’ve had bad weeks and even months when I did the bare minimum or didn’t work out at all if we’re being honest. However, most days when I put in the 100% in my workouts, no matter how tired and sweaty I am or want to give up and skip out on reps, I feel great and proud afterwards knowing I’m one step closer to my goals.
That is a challenge that a lot, if not most people face in their everyday life- conquering their mentality. If they can’t, it ends up holding them back from reaching their full potential because they aren’t pushing themselves enough or they just don’t want it bad enough.
The biggest way I know it’s one of those workout days is when I could be honest with myself and say I gave my all. That moment is so empowering and gives me the momentum I need to be consistent. Then days pass, then weeks and then months and I’ve changed from the inside out because I pushed myself past my mental boundaries. That is a challenge that a lot, if not most people face in their everyday life- conquering their mentality. If they can’t, it ends up holding them back from reaching their full potential because they aren’t pushing themselves enough or they just don’t want it bad enough.
Figure out the source. What is it really in your way?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that it’s easy to take control of your mentality. All I’m saying is that you have to want it bad for yourself. Figure out the source. What is it really in your way? The fear of failing, not knowing where to start, criticism from others, the fear of succeeding, etc. Then find a solution to it by either having a real ass conversation with yourself, writing down your plans out or talking to someone who is where you want to be. There are solutions. You check out this post about my favorite fitness girls to follow for inspiration.
If you read my About Me aka the reason why I started She 3.0, you’ll know that it was partially on a whim but it was also something that was a long time coming. The time finally came when I was fed up of waiting on others to give me a place I know I deserve and can prove myself. I wouldn’t have gotten here if I didn’t shift my mentality to being who I know I have the potential to be and I know this is only the beginning. Whoever you want to be, you can be. You just have to change your perspective of yourself, your life and goals and anything is possible.
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