[Sportsandrec] motivation

[Joe Shaw]

What is my motivation? Dim the lights please.
Working out for me is almost entirely ego driven. I wasted much of my 
twenties over-eating, drinking some, and being lazy. It took me  a while to 
get as out of shape as I had become, it was going to take a while to get it 
back. I am curious, as I do not know the answer, the obesity rate in our 
blind community is probably higher than the sighted community. This bothers 
and pushes me.
I believe that we in the blind community are already set with many 
preconceived notions when a sighted person meets the first blind guy. If 
they meet a physically fit person, that has to leave a better impression. I 
would think that a more in shape blind person would stand a better chance of 
landing a job than an out of shape person. Perception often is reality. I 
believe obvious physical fitness displays dedication, self concern, and 
accomplishment. These are adjectives with which to be associated.
Working out makes me feel younger and more energized. The notion of being 
able to take on the world is one I usually possess, but in shape I know it 
is true. The feeling that I have achieved something before most rise in the 
mornings has no price. Bouncing around like a jet ball and greeting the rest 
of humanity  with enthusiasm is much easier to do with a shot of adrenaline. 
My outlook is more posative when I have been challenged and come out on the 
other side the better for it.
I like to push my limits. On the spin bike, or the vice as I sometimes call 
it, I love to feel that heavy resistance where I can barely stand it and go 
until I can almost endure no more.  In judo or wrestling,  I like to know I 
am against someone whose skills are superior or equal to mine. Knowing that 
there is a real chance for defeat makes me strive harder. The knowledge 
that the pool bests me each time pushes me to go back in and better my 
cardio. Lifting with a partner is great because I cannot bare the thought of 
being outperformed. I have an insane need to win.
In closing, I rue that I have wasted time.  Leaving a good first  impression 
and raising the overall health of our community is very important to me. 
Plain old fashioned  vanity drives  me to daily get up and push longer, 
faster, and harder than they do.
Do I lapse in my routines, fall down on my path sometimes slipping into 
habbits of eating the wrong foods and not exercising enough? Yes. What is 
the answer? Tomorrow is a new day. Greet it, apply the choke, and squeeze 
until it taps.
"It's all about the game" "And how you play it" The Game Motorhead
Be well,
Joe Shaw
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisamaria Martinez, NOMC" <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:47 PM
Subject: [Sportsandrec] motivation


> Hi List,
>
> What do you do when you lack motivation to workout? Any tips, tricks, 
> advice to getting back into shape?
>
> Personally, I'm just past a one year slump of not working out.
>
> All ideas are welcomed.
>
> LM
>
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