Whats your motivator????? tell me tell me tell me

BFG · 02-26-2006, 02:33 PM

Been thinking about this alot the last few weeks as I embark into the world of fitness and start sorting courses etc. and working with clients.

Whats your motivator?

Just because you have your own personal goals it's easy to assume others have similar goals. Whether it be body shape, amount you can lift or whatever.

Motivation is a difficult beast to master sometimes but there's a concept I use in my current job that helps me:

Primary and secondary motivators.

A primary motivator would be:

I want to lose weight
I want to feel fitter
I want to have bigger muscles

A secondary motivator though is the reason:

I want to attract a partner
I want to secure a job

or quite simply I want to be able to wear a designer shirt (hopefuly not like the on JP was sporting the other day).

So to help me in my learning process I'd like to ask the forum this:

Whats your Motivator????????????????????

Just in case anyones interested on how I use the concept its based on Maslow Hierarchy of needs:

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/co...ys/maslow.html a brilliant tool you can use in many areas of life/employment or even mediation to get to the root of real issues

Kevin Larrabee · 02-26-2006, 02:52 PM

I have one main motivator.

Getting to the beach, taking my shirt off and having a good time. And not be scared of it.

-Kevin

Buk · 02-26-2006, 07:51 PM

I, too, have one main motivator.

Getting to the beach, taking my shirt off and dominating the court. I work to improve my beach volleyball, that is my primary motivation!

Iamjennmedic · 02-26-2006, 07:55 PM

Hmmm my modivators are I want to be strong so I feel good about myself (then I can overlook my many phyiscal flaws and hopefully so can other ppl) and I can do my job without getting hurt.

BjsAust · 02-26-2006, 09:19 PM

Photos. No matter how good I think I'm looking in the mirror, a photograph always reminds me I'm overweight. The day I look at a photo and I think I look good I'll need a new one I guess [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].

BFG · 02-27-2006, 04:39 AM

Ha ha what a vain lot we are and indeed why not. Self image improves self esteem and if you cant do it for yourself why not.

But some great responses there as its helping me to formulate how to inspire around this.

BJ I look at my photos and still see a lardy boy !!!!

Marykaa · 02-27-2006, 01:42 PM

Difficult to answer after your post BFG [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] but here goes..

I work-out cardio/endurance to be able to do my work day/week without being too tired and to have enough energy to have fun on my spare time.

I work-out strenght to be independent as much as possible.. not have to rely on others, not to be a burden, for small things like to put the water bottle on the cooler or even be able to help others with things I can.

I work-out flexability because just feels good to move freely.

I liked Maslow alot when I read him in college [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I guess that I would be on the actualization level for fitness.. but I never really realized that we can be at different levels for deferent sphere's of our life.. I'm certain that in many ways I don't pass the "belongingness and love needs" level. Maybe I should drop the fitness trip I've been on all my life and work on that a little more LOL

BjsAust · 02-27-2006, 05:01 PM

I have a lot of goals. I want to be stronger, fitter, more healthy, jump higher, etc, but I also want to look good and thats a more immediate motivator I find [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img].

DartFrog · 02-27-2006, 05:44 PM

Vain or not my motivator is my core strength. It shows good posture even slight muscle definition and energy, this makes me feel good as well as feel that I look good.

Deserve · 02-27-2006, 09:57 PM

I think everyone is at least party motivated by the desire to look good or at least feel good about thier body image. That's mine.

somewhattossedup · 02-28-2006, 12:13 PM

My main motivator is to prove all of these doctors wrong and not to be a burden on my family. I had a dr tell me one time that I would be in a wheel chair by the age of 50 because all of my back problems. I am determined to prove him wrong. I do not want to become a burden on my family at any time in my life. I also want to be able to keep up with my kid that should be here in 9/06. I will do this and do this to the best of my ability!!

BFG · 02-28-2006, 03:51 PM

way to go tossed and I wish you well with your true grit you are bound to achieve all that :-D

Kevin T. · 02-28-2006, 05:48 PM

From my buddy look up here: My goal: to be the kid everyone fears, knowing that when they're being a lazy bum, I'm out there training, learning, and becoming a better me.

I want to be the best I can. And, when it comes to baseball, I want to be that kid who if somebody makes one mistake, I'm there to capitalize, whether it be an opposing pitcher hanging a curve ball or missing a fastball high or someone i'm fighting with for a spot. I want them to always have in the back of their minds the thought that I'm there. Don't turn around, cause if i'm not ahead of you, i'm right behind you.

somewhattossedup · 03-01-2006, 11:01 AM

Thanks BFG. I wish you well also. I have a long road ahead of me but I am determined to take that road and come out on top!! Keep kicking ass until there is no more ass to kick or you legs can't kick anymore. -- tossedup

Marykaa · 03-02-2006, 07:25 AM

[ QUOTE ]
My main motivator is to prove all of these doctors wrong

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know if you know my story, but it think doctors give predictions according what medicine and physiotherapists can do.. they do not count int the fact that the patient himself can work at healing. With a kic coming in september.. you have the best motivation possible! But I (we) 'll be definately cheering you on as well!

Blackjack · 03-02-2006, 09:42 AM

See my avatar.

Before it was more of an appearance thing...but now it's more trying to "lead by example" for my son. When he's 12, I'll be 43 and I want to be able to keep up with him.

somewhattossedup · 03-02-2006, 02:43 PM

Yea I know what you mean Mary. When the dr told me that it was like he didn't even want to think there could be a different conclusion either wheelchair or nothing. Like it was beond belief that I might be able to run or at least walk at age 50. He told me that about 4 years ago and I became extremely depressed that day but by the next day I turned that depression into motivation and haven't looked back since. Failure is not an option neither is a wheelchair. I tried to tell him that but it fell on death ears. By the way look at my training log when you get a chance and in the injury form at a post title "Bill question about an article you wrote for Men's Fitness" It has the MRI report of the middle of my back if you want to check it out.

BFG · 03-02-2006, 02:47 PM

tossed I know that feeling as I still cant run after a year and Im gutted but I just cant seem to do much to improve it but the squats are helping loosen the ligament a little. At this rate Im gonna save my pennies methinks and go see a private consultant, altho they did say total absolute rest for 6 months would alleviate some of it but there must be an alternative option!!!

BFG · 03-02-2006, 02:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
See my avatar.

Before it was more of an appearance thing...but now it's more trying to "lead by example" for my son. When he's 12, I'll be 43 and I want to be able to keep up with him.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeh good motivator you dont wanna be he slow fat dad at the school sports day, yikes I must try harder or that will be me!

somewhattossedup · 03-02-2006, 03:36 PM

BFG have you got any second, third , fourth opinions about anything you or anybody else can do to speed up the process? I had to go to a couple of different doctors after I saw one for 2 years at least once a month and he got tired of seeing me about my back pain. He said there was nothing that he could do since the xrays were negative. He thought I was trying to get pills out of him which I wasn't. I told him if he couldn't do anything for me I would find another dr that would. I started driving down the street and stopped about a mile down the road at the first dr office I saw. I was not able to stand up straight and the first thing the new dr asked was how many xrays I had in the last year. When I said 25-30 his jaw about hit the floor. He told me I was going to have an MRI asap. I had one the following day and found out most of the above info. It is amazing how much time I wasted in pain because I left my health and quality of life in one persons hand. I didn't even know what an MRI was back then at age 19. I have since educated myself with enough knowledge to make my old dr look bad. (wouldn't be to hard to do) If you don't like what they are telling you question them. I sure wish I would have. Good luck on a fast road to recovery!!

BFG · 03-02-2006, 04:01 PM

Yeh Im thinking of doing that will have to pay privately for it tho as our health system doesnt allow us to change like that. But a small price to pay :-)

somewhattossedup · 03-02-2006, 04:05 PM

You might try to haggle wioth them or see if they can set you up on a payment plan or something like that. Just yesterday I got some $80 TNS pads (electric stimulation) for $40 so do what you can. Have you reseached online and got anybody else that you know that has had the same injury to give you some pointers? Bill H. helped me out tremdously. You can PM him or shoot him an email and he will get back in touch with you when he has a chance.

BjsAust · 03-02-2006, 04:10 PM

Yep. At 18 I had one doctor tell my I'd never play football again. I retired at 28 on advice from another doctor I trust more after a different injury (actually after about 6 different injuries to the same knee [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]).

One thing I've learnt is its well worth dealing with the experts. Every time I've been to a family doctor, or local physiotherapist for a sporting injury they've either got it wrong, written me off, or both. I then go to an expert and they get it right and get me well (for me an expert is someone who deals purely in sports injuries and preferably at an elite level, the clinic I go to these days handles 3 of the AFL teams Australias elite athletes. When you're waiting to see someone and you see the best aussie rules footballer in the world walk out from seeing the same guy you feel reassured).

Deserve · 03-03-2006, 08:40 AM

Tossed,

I went to look for the post you mentioned and could find it. Do you have a link?

Marykaa · 03-04-2006, 09:59 PM

TOSSEDUP "Failure is not an option neither is a wheelchair." I was in a depression for a whole year after paralyzing.. but it did NOT keep my from doing everthing I could to walk before my son. It's just the rest of the things around me that were in a blur.. some people say I had courage.. but for me it was just survival. exactly as you said.. "failure was not an option" .

I haven't found the "Bill question about an article you wrote for Men's Fitness" thread yet.

tossedup · 03-14-2006, 12:27 PM

Here you go Deserve and Mary. http://forums.jpfitness.com/sh owthread.php?t=14222. Sorry it took me so long to reply. I have been stuck in the training log forum. Mary you are damn right a wheelchair is not an option. Neither are crutches. I hate hobbling around on crutches. They really rub my underarms raw. Most doctors call me a medical miracle
because I can still run and lift weights and all. I call it not letting anyone or anything put a hurdle in your way that you can not overcome if you are willing to try. I will go down with a fight when I go. I can promise you that.

Deserve · 03-14-2006, 12:40 PM

Wow! That is not a light read and certainly gets to the root of your motivation. You should come to the summit and meet the man himself. It seems like there is a lot you could get out of it.

tossedup · 03-14-2006, 12:49 PM

I would really really like to come to the summit man but I have a little one on the way and I am the only one working at the moment so I have two jobs to hold down at the time. If our money situation gets a little better then you can count me in. Bill has been extremely helpful with my back problems. I feel like I should mail him a check for all of his help.

Marykaa · 03-14-2006, 01:04 PM

Thanks Tossedup for digging that up.. I understand alot better now.

tossedup · 03-14-2006, 01:16 PM

No problem Mary. I completely understand what you were talking about regarding the depression that injuires bring on. Some days it is hard to get out of bed and it might take me 10 minutes to put on my pants but it is better than the alternative. I summded it up one time when this lady I know was bitching and moaning about how hard her life was. I just look at her and said "at least your funeral is not today". I wasn't trying to be an ass I was just trying to get her to look on the bright side of things. I hope it worked but I am not sure if it got through to her.