It's summer time in beautiful San Diego and we have reached my favorite month of the year. July is filled with so many exciting events, parties, and experiences it feels like if you blink you've missed an entire weekend. July, for many is a time to show off everything you've got. Pool parties on July 4th weekend beckons bikinis and six-packs of both the aluminum and flesh variety in droves. The MLB All-Star game and Home Run Derby are stopping by Petco Park to play America's past-time in an exhibition game that is basically a chance for the games best to flex the muscles at the enjoyment of the fans. Anyone and everyone will be attending parties and Fan Festivities in hopes of meeting stars from the field and from the Silver Screen of Hollywood just up the road from us. Pride weekend will allow our fantastically enthusiastic LGBT community to celebrate freedom to be who they are, and the party is enjoyed by community members and non-members arm in arm. The "nerds" and "geeks" of the comic, movie, action-hero, video game world will then descend on to the streets of our downtown and enjoy with pretty much everyone and at the envy of the rest of the world Comic Con. No other event has grown like Comic Con over the past few decades. Lastly, and my favorite part of July, my own birthday. A time in which I can pay tribute to everyone who has helped mold me into who I am. Friends, family, and mentors are all just as important as myself on this day because I see myself as a reflection of all that they are.
"Motivation isn't one specific object, idea, or emotion. Motivation takes on many forms"
Like I said earlier, this month is a time to show off. This month is a symbolism of motivation. We can see that every weekend of July there is something happening that has been used a motivational device. Motivation isn't one specific object, idea, or emotion. Motivation takes on many forms. One person may be motivated by a pool party on top the Andaz hotel to lose 10 pounds and get rid of that little pooch in their belly. Another might be a Major League Baseball player like Will Myers playing out of his mind in the month of June so that he can hopefully be voted into the All-Star game to play in front of his hometown crowd. My own motivation, that I want to show my growth every year on my birthday and show my appreciation for those who have helped me to become my best me, because the pride of my family and friends is what drives me most.
Our forefathers were motivated to create this great and wonderful country so that we as their successors could practice the life we each chose for ourselves. Independence and freedom motivated the originators of this nation to take giant risks in leaving the security of Great Britain. These same feelings have fueled the LGBT community to fight for rights to live the life they choose. Their intrinsic motivation bleeds into the community and motivates members of all communities to stand up for what they feel, love, and believe. Comic Con, what was originally thought of as a "nerd" convention has developed into the biggest pop culture event of the year. If anything, Comic Con has brought to the realization of everyone that we are all "nerds" in our own respect; whether that be me nerd-ing out on fantasy football or Lisa getting excited to show me her latest meal plan she wrote for a client, with the same excitement you see out of Star Wars fans dressed head to toe as a storm trooper. Comic Con is a motivational destination for people to be the absolutely true form of themselves.
"Changing a body is easy, but changing a mind can be nearly impossible"
Now how do I relate this all back to fitness, health, and everything this blog is really supposed to be about? I don't know. My motivation for writing this entry wasn't to shed light on my favorite things to do, places to go, or how to run fast. The message I want to send is that not everyone has the same motivation and as personal and performance trainer it can be difficult to find what truly motivates my client. I believe this to be the most difficult part of my job. Some people step through my door and do everything I tell them plus more and get the amazing results we see on infomercials. But the truth is that most people are not motivated and thats the whole reason they come to Lisa and I. They usually hate sweat, breathing heavy, and limiting themselves to chicken and veggies. It becomes my job to determine the quickest and most effective way for my clients to see the value making healthy changes to their lifestyle. Even after I figure out a good strategy to motivate Client X, I must them continue to stimulate them. Eventually that motivation will be gone. Either a goal will be achieved or the long grind of reaching that goal will cause the motivation to wain. Then I must develop another strategy. Changing a body is easy, but changing a mind can be nearly impossible.
During the month of July, remember that we are only half way through the year. Most people made New Year's Resolutions and goals for 2016 back in January. I would like for anyone reading this to come up with a Half-Year Resolution and/or a goal(s) to achieve. Come up with something that truly motivates you and write it in our comments. My Half-Year resolution is to be persistent and timely in reaching out to my clients and followers through social-media and our Eat, Train, Perform Blog. My Half-Year Goals are: to 3 rep max dead lift 300 Lbs. and set a new PR by running a sub 1:35:00 half-marathon.