Motivational Monday: Fitness Quotes

Every Monday I plan on posting some motivational quotes that have to do with a specific theme.  This week's quotes all have to do with fitness.  It seemed like a fitting topic since I am spending so much time and effort on getting in shape and becoming healthier.  

These are some of the quotes that have given me the most inspiration over the last couple of months as I've gone on this journey.  I like the one above because it reminds me that my body is a gift to be cherished.  I need to take care of it in a loving way instead of feeling like I'm working against something that I have hatred towards.  Loving your body the way it is will allow you to love and accept yourself, which I think is the first step towards any journey.

Keep reading and I'll explain below what the rest of the quotes mean to me and how they can hopefully help you as well.

I have heard this quote before but couldn't remember exactly how it went, so I was happy when I found it on Pinterest.  I have found that the path to fitness is a long one and sometimes it can feel like you're not making any progress or seeing any results.  

Personally, when I feel that starting to happen one of my first reactions is to just give up.  I tell myself that if all of my hard work hasn't paid off yet then it never will.  But this quote has reminded me that change doesn't happen overnight.  A few days of eating healthy or a few trips to the gym aren't going to undo all of the junk food and laziness from the past few years, or however long you've been treating your body badly.  

So I like to look at this quote when I'm feeling like changes aren't happening fast enough.  I tell myself that if I can just keep up the good work for two full weeks then I will be able to feel it.  I will have more energy and start to feel like my muscles are getting a little stronger.  I will also have gotten into more of a routine and won't be quite so tempted to hit the snooze button in the morning.  

And then if I can keep up the good work for another two weeks I will finally start to see some results.  Maybe I'll notice that my stomach is a little flatter or that my clothes fit better.  And finally, if I can stay motivated and keep working hard for another four weeks I will start to hear it.  Friends and family will start to comment on how good I look or maybe even ask me if I've lost weight.  I think that question is one of the most satisfying things to hear, don't you?

---

This is a quote that I just found on Pinterest a few days ago.  I was browsing through the Health & Fitness category and this one popped out at me.  At first I was drawn to the woman's physique and pinned it so that I could see what I would like to look like in the future once my fitness journey is complete.  I was also drawn to her workout top, which is one of my favorite colors.  And then I read the words and it hit me how true they are.  

Just like my thoughts for the first photo, this one reminds me that change doesn't happen overnight.  Losing weight is one of the hardest things I've ever done and it is honestly a daily challenge for me.  But it's also rewarding.  When I look back on last week and see that I worked out 6 days despite having a busier than usual schedule, it makes me feel proud of what I've accomplished.  

And yet that could all be wiped out if I started to overthink it and tell myself that I'm not seeing changes fast enough.  So this quote reminds me that I am making progress every day, even if I can't see it or feel it yet.  Every decision is getting me one step closer to my ultimate goals, so I just need to keep up the good work and remind myself how true this quote is.

---

With as much as I have started and stopped my fitness journey, I am honestly right back at the beginning.  I'm walking on the treadmill instead of jogging, I'm using 3-pound weights instead of 5-pound weights, and I get sore after even a light toning routine.  

It can be frustrating at times because I see other people at the gym who can jog for what seems like forever or I have to skip certain moves that are too challenging for me at my current weight (anything plank related is the bane of my existence at the moment, my wrists just aren't strong enough to hold me up for very long).  But this quote ties back to the previous one where I talked about every step is a step in the right direction.  

What I need to remind myself is that it doesn't ever get easier but once I am stronger it won't feel quite as hard.  Down the road I will be able to start jogging and using those 5-pound weights.  Hopefully I will be able to get through an entire toning workout without having to skip certain exercises.  

I don't know when that will be, but the one thing I do know is that I'll never get to that point if I stop now.  The only way to have people ask me if I've lost weight and to feel like I am finally stronger is to keep working hard every day and never give up.  And so that's what I'm going to do, take it one step at a time.  I can do this!

---

Hopefully these quotes have given you some level of motivation, whether they have inspired you to get started on your own fitness journey or if it's motivated you to keep going when you thought you were about to give up.  

If you have any other inspiring quotes related to fitness, please share them in the comments below so that others can see what motivates you.