I was just talking to a fellow mom who has had a tough time getting back into a routine postpartum. She asked me how I was able to commit and make the big lifestyle change I did when I did P90X back in 2011 and after explaining my answer to her, I realized it would make a pretty good blog post! How did I go from someone who struggled with her weight and low self esteem, someone who was constantly starting new diets (always “starting Monday) but always quit them, and someone who was running an 11 minute mile on a good day to the person I am today?
Well, I think there are three big reasons why I was able to make that shift. First, I was inspired by my friend Asia‘s results. She did P90X and seriously looked amazing! She could bust out 5+ pull-ups and over 30 push-ups. She went from someone who I never considered an athlete (sorry Asia!) to one of the fittest (if not fittest) people I knew. I was inspired. It wasn’t an infomercial – it was real life. I wanted her results and I wanted them NOW. And the best part was, all I had to do was follow the exact same plan she did, which was P90X. It was a big commitment – 90 freaking days of workouts. 90 days of clean eating (with some cheats in there, I wasn’t perfect!). I transformed in those 90 days and I was blown away by what I accomplished. I came out of it a whole new person (and with a shiny 5 minute half marathon PR).
After I gained 45 pounds during my pregnancy, I was left with 20+ to lose postpartum and I went back to what I knew – first P90X and then 21 Day Fix (21 Day Fix was much more compatible with mom life!). I again dedicated myself fully to these programs and had results I was proud of.
Aside from some serious inspiration, here are three ways to stay motivated to tackle your big scary goal, whether it’s finally completing a workout program or training for a marathon:
- Accountability. For the first time in my life, I had someone doing a program with me. Mike and I worked out side by side for 90 days. He sometimes had to drag me out of bed at 5:30 but we did it. We completed all of the workouts (most run around 1 hour 15 minutes long!) together, we made our protein shakes together, and we sacrificed together at social events when we really just wanted to eat everything in sight!
- Committing 100% & Setting Smaller Goals Along the Way. There was no half-assing P90X. Although I was also running 3 days a week so I skipped the Kenpo (cardio) workout each week, I completed the remaining 5 workouts plus three Ab Ripper workouts every week along with my runs. I literally NEVER missed one. My Type-A nature really shined here and to me this was all or nothing. In order to get the results that Asia and all those people on the informercials got, I couldn’t make excuses. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to skip that Ab Ripper workout after a tough hour long strength training workout, but I never did. I also made smaller goals through my journey. For example, we made a goal to only have one cheat meal and no alcohol for the entire first month, which meant many sacrifices at social events (we were more lax in months 2 and 3 – life’s too short to never enjoy the party!). I wrote down my weight and reps during every weight training workout and tried to beat my previous week’s weight and/or reps every week. I was dead set on being able to do a pull-up unassisted and I achieved that goal. I made a goal to be able to do Ab Ripper with all the advanced moves without taking a single break and achieved it. I made a goal to be able to hold wheel pose for a full minute during Yoga X and crushed it. Those little goals really helped motivate me along the way when the 90 days seemed super long.
- I Shared My Journey Publicly. I started this blog to document my journey through P90X. Maybe you even started reading back then (THANK YOU for sticking with me if you did!!!). I didn’t have many readers, but between blogging and twitter, my goal was out there and I didn’t want to let my readers down. I actually would “log” my workout in twitter every day and document accomplishments – in retrospect that was super annoying but it was kind of like how I log my workouts in the My Challenge Tracker app during my challenge groups. Knowing that someone might be looking for my tweet or blog post kept me accountable.
Sharing my P90X results scared the absolute SHIT out of me when I first posted them!
What works for me may not work for everyone, but I hope you found this helpful. And I know this may sound intense – but sometimes you have to go a little extreme if you want to achieve an extreme goal. Changing your lifestyle and your habits, dropping 10+ pounds, running your first marathon or qualifying for Boston are all HUGE goals. You won’t achieve them without a big commitment. I’m not saying that you won’t ever miss a workout, eat pizza, get sick or sleep in – but having the attitude of half-assedness (is that a word? I’m making it a word) is not gonna get you there. Obstacles will happen but if you’re committed and staying the course consistently over time, you’ll achieve that goal despite them.
It can be SUPER scary to put yourself out there and set out toward something, but believe me, as someone who has failed many, many times at one of my biggest goals (aka qualifying for Boston), failing hurts when it happens but you grow so much in the journey. Success requires failure – if you never try because you’re scared to fail, you’ll never succeed.
What is a big scary goal you’re working toward? What have you found is something that motivates you to keep working toward your goals?
I still have a couple spots left for my four week October 16th accountability group. If you’re ready to commit and tackle some big goals, join me! Fill out this form to get more info and sign up.
Committing to smaller goals 100% is a great way to stay motivated. I try to set mini goals each week or day. Looking fabulous my friend!
Thanks! Yes the little goals are so important!
Nicole,
GREAT POST! I needed this one, thanks!! I had a major injury over a year ago playing tennis and had to have surgery on my foot and ankle 10 months ago. I gained some weight due to inactivity and a little bit of depression, being cooped up at home in the middle of winter. I’m still recovering and only able to run 4 miles at a time still (in an orthopedic ankle brace too), and it’s been frustrating. My commitment to my fitness journey has certainly waivered, but this post really inspired me to set smaller goals and really focus. Thanks again!
I actually did P90X several years ago when my husband was deployed for several months (and I actually was laid off during that same time period). I didn’t follow the eating plan and never did the Shakeology, etc. Strictly just the workouts…and my results were great 😉 I’m thinking of doing another round after my half marathon (to get me through some of the winter).
It’s such a great program!!
Great job on making huge strides!
I did something similar with insanity after my first pregnancy and I am planning on doing the same after thia one. But i just did the workouts, didn’t follow an eating plan. You, my friend, are a badass!
This is super awesome–you’ve made amaaaazing progress!! Committing to small goals makes such a huge difference!
I gained 40# with both my pregnancies and it came off with running. Now I’m struggling with post-menopause slowdown and it’s tough! I’m doing more strength training, which seems to be helping.
You look amazing!
Thank you! Yes the strength training helps so much – builds that muscle that is key!!!
Setting smaller goals is a great idea that is often overlooked. And just writing down the goal – publicly or privately – is often so helpful.
I think I have everyone beat. I was already a good 15 pounds overweight when I got pregnant with my first son, and I gained 56, yes 56 pounds with him! I took a 6 month maternity leave and came back to work 15 pounds LIGHTER than I started! It takes commitment and support, for sure! I swore that wouldn’t happen again…then a 51 pound weight gain with my second son, with a c-section to boot!!! Another 6 month maternity leave (I was very fortunate). I started working out 2 weeks after the c-section. Third pregnancy? You guessed it! 48 pound gain, and only 4 months to lose it. But I did it!!! I was determined not to have school-aged children next to me and still call it ‘baby weight’!
How did you manage to workout 2 weeks after a c-section? I barely took my first stroll after 2 weeks and it took me 7 to be cleared for exercise 🙁
Oh wow! That is impressive!
I thinking being flexible and not expecting perfection is key to me persevering and not thinking I’ve “blown it” so I should give up.
Yes! So true.
Awesome tips. I read a “habit” book a while back that I applied to my fitness. Every day I do one pushup. If that’s all I do that day, that’s fine, I met my goal. But one pushup often turns into 10 and starts my warmup routine for my workout that day.
I love that!!!
I 100% agree with breaking up larger, intimidating goals with smaller stepping stone goals. Doing so makes it much easier to keep on track and to keep yourself focused and motivated. I’ve been doing this for years, and will continue to do so.
Aw I love this friend! P90X seems like sooooo long ago. Remember the time when you were actually ON an infomercial? Memories. This post almost makes me want to do it again! … almost. 😉 Your results still are incredible today!
Yes! So crazy. Do it again!!! Hard to imagine having 90 days where you wouldn’t be traveling though!