Motivation Monday: Never Settle

I am sad to report that we live in society that settles. In the last two years since I have been in Houston (and even in my return visits back home to Missouri), I have spoken to so many people who seem content in complacency. Raised by my independent, strong-minded mother, settling was never an option. Not in our words or actions.

Obviously, I do not believe that I am alone in the fact that I had parents who encouraged me to live life, push myself, and never settle; but I am more aware that as we get older and leave our childhood behind, we settle deeper and deeper.

Remember when you were a kid and you thought anything in this world was possible, simply because you believed? We had the wildest dreams of being astronauts, doctors, and ballerinas; even a princess seemed like a rational career for some of my girlfriends at the age of 5. Young boys in my class wanted to be superheroes, police officers, or pilots. And when someone shared what they wanted to be, in a unified chorus we would all say, "Cool, I want to do that too!"

When did we stop wanting those things? When did we stop dreaming and start settling? When did we stop living?

Not soon after we are encouraged to be imaginative and dream big, we then learn as we grow up that imagination is not for adults and that dreaming is not productive. Sometimes we even get in trouble for day dreaming or having "foolish and outlandish" ideas. We are told that we need to be rational and realistic. The very same people who told us to dream big dreams, years later tell us to stop. So, we do.

And now I pose a question: Who told you that you had to settle?

Although I am only in my twenties, I have learned quite a bit through my life experiences. One great lesson that I learned was that the minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get less than you settled for. One you drop the standards of what you want in your career, in romance, in your fitness goals, and your success, it is easier to drop the bar a little lower... and a little lower.
You promise yourself that you will not ever go below a certain level, but then you find yourself lowering the bar once again.

As I continue on pursuing my goals for fitness and health, I have had to be conscious not to settle for mediocrity. Sure, it might be easier to eat this quick unhealthy option over preparing healthy meals, but what is the outcome? It may be easier to cut myself short a few reps with the barbell, but what do I gain? It may be easier to finish my cardio a few minutes early, but what is the point? Why not just give it my all? Why not just commit and do it right?

So I asked myself the other day, "Who told me that I could not compete in my first figure competition?" Not Lee. He is 100% in my corner and has even changed a few of his eating habits to support me. Obviously not my trainer Wes, he believes that I can do it, and offers great advice and coaching. Not anyone in the gym. Not anyone in my family.

No one told me that I could not do. Except one person. Myself. Because when I fail to push myself and settle for less than the best, I am the only one telling me that I cannot. Today that changes.

Never settle for less than you deserve. Demand the best and accept nothing less.

In Fitness + Health,
~ Q. Olivia

Motivation Monday: Your Why



Everyone has a why. A reason. A purpose. When we set goals there is always a "because".

If I asked 100 people why they worked out, I would probably get 100 unique answers. They may be similar, but they would be unique to each individual and their life.

Find your why, and make it happen. When you do that, you have no excuse or reason not to achieve what you set your heart and mind to do.

Fill in your blank daily. It may change, but that blank, will be the motivator to get you out of bed and to the gym.

Know Your Why. Apply it.

Today, I work out because... I have a competition in less than 6 months. I know this is going to get me to the gym this week, because I refuse to be the weakest competitor when I take the stage!

Why are you striving for your goals today?

Until Next Time...
~ Q. Olivia

Monday Motivation: Live Once. Live Right.

Wow... this summer has gone by fast. I cannot believe how long it has been since I have blogged a Monday Motivation. The answer is too long, and I do apologize to all my faithful readers who have messaged me asking about the lack of posts.

My life has been a crazy whirlwind, as so often happens, but I do hope everyone has been keeping up with their goals, successful habits, and learning how to motivate themselves!!

I won't bother you with a quick catch-up of my life... I will save that for the next post. I simply want to present a motivation that spoke volumes to me, not just in fitness, but in life. As many of you know, Lee and I have a marketing company and we are are pushing towards some goals for the end of the year (hence, my sudden disappearance) and I have been doing a lot of reading, listening to inspirational and motivational audios, and of course, game planning with our business mentors.

So the message of motivation for you today is simple:

Now, I know Ms Mae West was a controversial actress in her time, but her words cannot be more true. We only get one shot at this life we are living, and if you do it right, that is all you need. Every day that your eyes open you have to realize you have been given another opportunity to make a difference, be a team player, impact another life, or simply enjoy the beauty around you.

Make every moment count. Have no regrets. You must realize that there is no day but today to live. You cannot live out yesterday again, and you are unable to jump ahead and live for tomorrow. You only have one choice... make it count.


Until Next Time (I promise "next time" will not be months away),
~ Q. Olivia

Motivation Monday 14: Joshua Sundquist

I came across this photos months ago, and my jaw dropped. I saved the photo to my computer and open the file every week or so.

This young man is Joshua Sundquist.

His image has been my motivation on days when I want to complain; not just about working out, but about my attitude, my job, my silly problems that I consider "life-changing."

When Josh was nine years old he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and given a fifty percent chance to live. After a year undergoing chemotherapy treatments, his left leg was amputated. At 13, he was declared cured and began his career of ski racing three years later. In 2006 he was named to the US Paralympian Ski Team. He also won the Body For Life fitness challenge in 2006

Josh is an author, speaker, and athlete. He is an inspiration to so many amputees, and an excuse remover for those of us who are not.

For that reason, and many more, he is this week's Monday Motivator. Check out his website: Josh Sundquist; be inspired and motivated to change your life.



In Health,
~ Q. Olivia

Motivation Monday 13: Compete Daily

Today's motivation should make you laugh. At least I chuckled out loud when I saw this photo and read the caption. I am competitive by nature. I hate losing, I hate being in last place, and I hate not giving my best effort.

While I am not encouraging you to compare yourself with others, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone... except the times when injuries may have been sustained by the weaker party :)

I compete against the person next to me on the treadmill. Yes. I try to increase my speed and maybe my incline. I imagine it is the two of us in a race, going head to head, in an effort to see who can cross the finish line first.

I compete against the person on the running trail. If I see them ahead of me, they become my target. I kick it up a gear with the goal to reach that person before they turn a corner or stop running. I desire for my feet to step where their feet are stepping. And then I desire to set the pace for them.

I compete against the person at the weight machines. I desire to lift more, condition harder, and do more reps. I desire to have the perfect form. To execute each movement with fluidity and purpose. I desire to have an excellent lift session, not just a good one.

Most importantly, I compete against myself. Each day I know I can run further, lift heavier, push harder, and execute stronger. No one can beat me, unless I let them. And the only person I allow to beat me, is myself.

Competition is good fuel for the athlete, the artist, the musician, the scholar, and the dreamer. Compete with yourself everyday. You will always win.


In Health,
~ Q. Olivia

Motivation Monday 6: Whatever It Takes (WIT)

In order to reach our fitness goals... or any goals for that matter. We must learn to have a "whatever it takes" mentality or WIT as I like to call it.

WIT mentality pushes us when we think we cannot go further. WIT helps us run faster, perform longer, and give it our all, when we thought we had given everything. WIT keeps us focused and motivated. WIT helps us to see how great we are, when others doubt us. WIT shows us who we are, when no one else is looking.

Challenge: What would our life be like if we had a Whatever It Takes Mentality in every single aspect of our life? We might have healthier relationships, improved financial situations, better health and lifestyle. With a WIT mentality there is no turning back. Once you make a decision to improve your life no matter what it takes, you are focused and feel a greater purpose in sense in every action, thought, and deed.

We all have goals and dreams, but we are not going to reach those aspirations by simply thinking about them. We have to apply what we know to be true to reach those goals, whether fitness related or something of a more personal or private nature. Do not expect things to just be simple. We have to work for what we want; every day.

If you want something you have to truly commit to it. You will be able to separate the fitness posers from the fitness winners in a few weeks; all the gyms across America that have been filled from morning to night will begin to be less congested. People who thought they could reach weight loss and fitness goals in one month are going to give up claiming that a healthy diet and exercise "just doesn't work."

They are going to make some excuse to stop going to the gym. And then by the end of February they will not be going to the gym at all, and will possibly gain back they weight they did lose by the end of March.

WHY? They did not have a WIT attitude. They wanted something, but were not willing to put their heart and soul into their goal. Do not fall into that category. Continue pushing yourself. Continue seeing yourself as you want to be: fit, happy, and healthy. Continue going to the gym even in your workout buddy quits. Continue counting your calories, monitor your snacking and guzzling down your water. If you want it, you have it. Just keep having that WIT attitude.


In Health,
~ Q. Olivia

Motivational Monday 1: Don't Quit

One of my favorite authors Zig Ziglar once wrote, "People often say motivation doesn't last. Well neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily." This makes me smile everytime I hear or read it, because it is simple, but so true.

Any goal that you have set for yourself requires motivation. Motivation is what drives you to get up in the morning and take action. Motivation is what pushes you when others don't believe you can. Motivation is the key component that determines if you succeed or quit.

Every Monday this blog will feature a picture, quote, story, or video that will inspire and motivate you to make Monday your new favorite day of the week -- at least when it comes to fitness :)

TODAY'S FEATURED MOTIVATOR:

I saw this image a few weeks ago and fell in love. The words are basic and so powerful - DON'T QUIT. And then what makes the image speak to me even more is the bold red letters that read: DO IT.
Alone that is a perfect message that you can apply to any aspect in your life, but especially to fitness. Our lives are busy, this is known. There are literally hundreds of reasons that we can use for why we do not have time to workout or why we cannot do a certain exercise. Just do not quit. Do it. Over and over again; and before long... you will be able to do it perfectly and working out will be embedded in your lifestyle.

A perfect example for me is push-ups. I hate push-ups. I do them only because I know they are an excellent workout for your arms and shoulders. I had a 6am workout this morning with my favorite personal trainer, Rivers (my husband).  While doing an upper body workout of push ups, Rivers challenged me to go down lower on my push-up, in frustration I spoke the Forbidden Words: "I can't."

He looked at me and said, "Yes, you can. I don't want to hear can't. Just do it." And so I shut up and did them. For that reason I knew today was the perfect Monday to share the above image. And we definitely do not want to ignore the sentence in smaller print. "Every difficulty is an opportunity in disguise."

Be willing to challenge yourself, and go the extra mile. Go down a little bit lower in your push-ups, run just a bit further, push yourself a little more each day and you will be amazing. And if you cannot challenge yourself, find someone that will. Motivation from others is just as important as self-motivation.

Have a great Monday!!


In Health,
~ Q. Olivia