Why I do what I do

I get questions all the time about why I push so hard, why I like to exercise so much, why I "deprive" myself of living and enjoying life (because eating unhealthy food, and sitting on the couch is "living" and "enjoying" life, I guess), why I have such lofty goals, why those goals are so important to me, what do I really want anyway? The list of questions goes on and on. It's funny really because I am a highly competitive person. This includes being competitive with myself. So to me, the answer should be obvious, right? Well for those who still have questions here's why.

Some of you may have heard of a man named Jack LaLanne. He's an American Icon for health and fitness and an inspiration to me, most people know him as the "juicer guy" but he's so much more than that. He just recently had a birthday on Saturday, September 26. He is now 95 years old and hasn't slowed down a bit:) This blog shares a few of his accomplishments. So why do I mention this man...well here's a little quote on why Jack trains the way he does which expresses almost exactly how I feel about it. "I train like I'm training for the Olympics or for a Mr. America contest, the way I've always trained my whole life. You see, life is a battlefield. Life is survival of the fittest. How many healthy people do you know? How many happy people do you know? Think about it. People work at dying, they don't work at living. My workout is my obligation to life. It's my tranquilizer. It's part of the way I tell the truth--and telling the truth is what's kept me going all these years." I want to reiterate that this man is 95 years old and shows no signs of slowing down.

So why do I do what I do?! To live my best life. It's simple really. I am in competition with myself, and frankly I like to sweat and burn. I like the sweat dripping off my face, and I LOVE feeling my muscles scream for relief. I know it sounds incredibly strange, but I truly love the way I feel after. After a hard workout I always feel...fit. And like most of the women I workout with know, I can come in pretty grumpy and leave completely happy. Exercise makes me happy. Because an angry Lyenna is not a fun person to be with:)

I am not nearly as disciplined as Jack Lalanne, but I'd like to be. I often wonder where people, like Jack, get their will-power because what I've found is it boils down to what goes on in my head. I've gotten a lot better, but it's taken a lot of practice. I don't think practicing ever stops though.

Always be better than you were the day before. Those are the words I live by.