The moment you feel like giving up...

 
"The moment you feel like giving up is usually the moment when change is about to occur".
~Jeanette Jenkins, The Hollywood Trainer

There have been many times in my life when I have felt like giving up, throwing in the towel, crawling into bed and pulling the covers over my head...I'm sure we have all experienced those feelings at some point in our lives. That's part of our journey, right? The ups and downs, the happy times, and the not so happy times.  Sometimes we sail along and everything seems to be going our way, then all of a sudden, it isn't. In contrast, sometimes it feels as though nothing is going our way and our lives are nothing like we planned...and then there is change. Our lives are constantly in a state of flux. The challenges and resistance we feel can make us stronger if we push through and never give up. Or we can throw our hands up and remain unchanging, never growing.

I have participated in several different athletic events, each challenging not only my body, but also my mind. I have noticed that the mind usually gives up long before the body does. A few years ago, I rode my bike to the summit of three mountains near my home. The ride was about 80 miles long. It was hot and humid in the middle of the summer and the most difficult climb was at the end of the ride. I pedaled up that last mountain, my legs were burning and my chest felt as if it were going to explode. As I came to the steepest part of the climb, I saw other riders simply turn around and start on their descent. Had they kept going, they would have discovered that it was the last steep incline, then it began to level out and the ride wasn't nearly as strenuous. I felt strangely empowered as I stood at the top of that mountain, knowing I didn't give up.
On another occasion, I thought it would be fun to swim around the island of key west. It turned out to be one of the most physically challenging experiences of my life. Towards the end of the race, with 12 and a half miles under my belt and just one mile to go, I turned onto my back and started to cry. I told my husband, who was kayaking next to me, that I was DONE! I simply couldn't take another stroke. I was exhausted, sea sick, and my shoulder hurt so much I could barely lift it out of the water. He looked at me and said, "Babe! You can not quit now, you have come so far. I can see the buoy, you just have one more mile to swim. You CAN go on"! I finished that race, and though it was not even close to being fun, I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I accomplished the goal I had set for myself and I'm glad I didn't give up.

After I had my second daughter, I decided to compete in a figure competition. The challenging part of training was the discipline it took to adhere to such a strict diet and the mental focus it took to train in such a way that it would change my physique.  I took it one day at a time, and soon my body began to transform. Drastically.  I remember when my trainer, Malcolm Marshall, would put me on the leg extension machine. I would knock out repetition after repetition. My legs were burning and I felt as though I could not perform one more rep...That is when he would get down and look me in the eyes and push against me and tell me to resist...RESIST...RESIST...RESIST!!! KEEP HOLDING! It literally took all I had to kick up and not let the plates come crashing down. I had tears streaming down my face and felt broken. It was so hard...I wanted to quit and eat some ice cream. He encouraged me to stay strong and keep focused. He also told me that change I wanted would only occur under resistance and pressure.
Just like a diamond forms from carbon placed under extreme heat and pressure, we can also be changed into something stronger and more beautiful when we resist the physical, mental,and emotional heat and pressure placed on us.
Never give up! Not on your workouts. Not on your health. Not on yourself. Stay strong under the pressure and know that change is about to occur.
Be well!
BHW