Last week I was having a phone conversation with a business contact interested in hiring me as a consultant for the fitness section of a website. Towards the end of the conversation I was asked, “What inspired you to go into this field?” The reason rolled off my tongue as if I had said it a thousand times.
My initial inspiration took place when I was 15 years old. After playing football my freshman year in high school, I decided I didn’t want to play any longer. I thought I could keep eating like I was still practicing two hours a day. After several months I knew I had gained some weight, but I didn’t know how much until my parents bought me several pairs of dress pants for Christmas. I vividly remember how I couldn’t even get them past my legs to reach my waist. Ugh, a horrible feeling! My parents said that they’d return the pants and exchange them for a larger size. My response: “No way!” I vowed that I would exercise more, eat less and fit into those pants.
As an incentive, I left the pants out by my bed. I wanted to see them every day. I wanted them to taunt me and I wanted to ultimately fit into them. I played more sports, ate less junk and had a single-minded approach. I tried the pants on every week on the same day of the week and I never weighed myself. Nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goal.
A few months later, I fit into each of the pants perfectly. I immediately dashed over to show my parents, and I said “I did it!”
The one thing I remember more than anything is the emotion I felt when they fit. I had an “aha” moment and realized how closely my emotions were connected to my victory. I’ve never been able to explain it with the justice it deserves, but I knew that I never wanted the feeling to leave me. That magical feeling is my anchor, my inspiration. When I’m dialed into nutrition and workouts, it’s more so I can experience that feeling and keep it alive.
That was my initial inspiration and catalyst for leading me to this industry. So how would I define my reason for wanting to lose weight when I was 15? Pride. It was 100 percent pride. I felt I had let myself go, and I couldn’t bear that thought. I wanted to feel proud of myself, but I never realized how powerful a reason that would be for the rest of my life and how it would evolve into something that motivated me to help others achieve their goals.
How about you? Give me one reason. What’s your outrageously compelling reason to lose fat and get fit? I contend you have to know what that reason is, and it has to be with you all the time. It has to be with you on good days and stressful days. It has to be with you when you’re on plan and when you veer off plan. That reason has to call you back; it has to scream your name, and it has to force you to take notice.
What is inspiring you to lose fat and get fit? What is your real reason? Post it here.
8 Comments to "Weight-Loss Inspiration at 15"
Leslie Janik (Honu) says:
May 29, 2013 at 10:15 am -
I want to be in this body, present each moment, believing it is a holy place, and treating it as such.
Raphael says:
May 29, 2013 at 11:02 am -
Thank you for sharing your compelling reason, Honu 🙂
Rashmi says:
May 29, 2013 at 12:58 pm -
I want to get to my goal weight so I can buy a new wardrobe.
Leslie Janik (Honu) says:
May 29, 2013 at 2:07 pm -
Raphael: My pleasure… I just wonder if there is a pair of dress pants that fit it! Grin.
Raphael says:
May 29, 2013 at 2:39 pm -
Rashmi – Thank you!
Honu – HAH! Yes for sure.
Christina says:
May 29, 2013 at 9:40 pm -
I want to be around a LONG time for my son AND be able to keep up with him!
Raphael says:
May 30, 2013 at 7:45 am -
Christina, a most sensational reason!
Carla says:
December 30, 2013 at 12:42 pm -
I would like to be happy with my body & then happiness within me will be easier!