Posts Tagged motivational stories
So….Just How Good Is Your Excuse?
Posted by Matt Hoover in General on June 22nd, 2010
Well, as I anticipated last night, my day was much better today. I started the morning with an 8.5 mile hike in which I set a personal record. When I got done I walked back up the trail to meet some of my group and was able to add another 4 miles to my distance. This was before breakfast so I feel like I got off to a pretty good start to the day.
Today I was thinking about some of the struggles I have had with my weight and other personal things. I was thinking about how I was coming up with excuses as to why I was in the situation. The reasons I had given myself seem pretty good at the time but today all they were were excuses.
We are funny beings. Many of us will think of all of our excuses before we ever begin an endeavor. “I’ve tried everything” seems to be a favorite for those of us that struggle with weight. As soon as we face a little difficulty we automatically say to ourselves; “See, I knew this would happen.
What would happen if we stopped making excuses? How amazing could our lives be? What could we accomplish? Unfortunately, many people will never know because they are too comfortable making excuses and blaming others for their position in life.
Let me share a couple of stories I have heard this week and then you ask yourself how good your excuses are. On Monday I ate supper with a lady who has a pacemaker. It keeps her heart beating. She has had several struggles with health in her life, wears a pacemaker that is implanted in her body, and she does marathons. Oh yeah, she also tears it up here during the workouts. How good is your excuse sounding now?
Need some more? I had dinner tonight with a gentleman who has survived two devastating car wrecks. He has lived for months in a halo for a broken neck. He has been paralyzed and had doctors he was going to live on pain narcotics for ever. He is here doing every workout and taking care of himself even after the doctors had pretty much written him off. He may have one of the best excuses I have ever heard, but you know what? He chooses not to make any. He simply does the best he can. His goal is to get healthy so that he can be an example to his grown children.
There are other great stories here, but I’m not going to share anymore. If hearing those two don’t show that we need to stop making excuses as to why we can’t do something and focus on why we can, not much will. I, for one, am going to really think about how I justify any difficult situation I am in before I throw out some lame excuse as to why I am creating my situation from now on.
Next time things are a little tough I want you to ask yourself, “Just how good is my excuse?” I promise I will.
See you tomorrow!
Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge, Inspiration, Matt Hoover, motivational stories
It’s Friday at Fitness Ridge…Day 5
Posted by Matt Hoover in General on June 18th, 2010
What an amazing week! I have grown so much personally and shrunk in waist size. As I look back over this week, I feel incredibly blessed and lucky. Lucky to be here and blessed to meet the people that are here. From the staff to the guests, it has been more than I ever expected.
Perhaps the thing I have enjoyed the most this week is watching other people grow and change right in front of me.
Today my group went on a pretty difficult hike. We had to go 4 miles uphill and then turn around and come down. When I got back down I headed back up because our guide said that they had a spot that they would pull people off if it didn’t look like they would be back in time. I wanted my entire group to finish so I went back to see if I could help encourage anyone that may have needed it.
When I got to the “cut off” point I saw one of the gals in our group was in the van. She had been pulled off. I motioned to her to get out of the van so we could finish the hike together. She did and we did. Our entire group finished the hike!
I tell you about her because she was so willing to get out and give it a go. She did awesome. She was willing to try and finish what she started and then did so. Not because of me, but because she was willing to get out of the van and go one more mile.
I was pumped the rest of the day. When you have the chance to watch someone improve themselves right in front of your eyes it makes you want to improve yourself. Everyday I am surrounded by people who make me want to be better. There stories are amazing and more importantly, they are amazing.
The thing about it, and I have been there too, is that many of them don’t even know just how inspiring they are. My goal when I leave here next week is to implement the things I have learned here and to never forget about the things I have seen from other people.
We are capable of greatness. Getting to see others start their journey towards that has been life changing.
Tomorrow I will do a recap and share a couple of stories about my first week at Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge.
See you tomorrow!
Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge, Matt Hoover, motivational stories
A Letter to Myself….
Posted by Matt Hoover in General on February 19th, 2010
Today after my workout I wrote a letter to myself. I think a lot of us look for encouragement from others when sometimes we need to encourage ourselves. At first I felt kind of cheesy but when it was done and I read it to myself I was pretty fired up. I want to encourage you to try this exercise yourself!
Dear Matt,
Your workouts have really been improving! I have been impressed by your intensity. Yesterday was a really good one. Keep pushing yourself and know that you are getting leaner and more fit everyday. I am starting to see some definition in your body. I want you to remember that this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep it up!
I want you to really focus on your nutrition. Be aware of what you are putting into your body. I am pretty impressed that you have gone a whole week without any Coke Zero. I know you get hungry at night. That is when you need to be the most disciplined! You don’t need any calories to sleep. Each night you fight that battle and win brings you that much closer to attaining your fit body.
In your session today you learned that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. Just think, 21 days is nothing in the grand scheme of life. At the end of 21 days you will have created several new positive habits that will last a lifetime.
I am really proud of you! Keep it going, you are not only giving yourself a gift but also your family and especially your two little boys. They are learning lessons from you and you are being an excellent example. You are changing not only your own life but theirs as well. Remember, “Close your mouth and move your feet!” You are doing great!
Matt
I hope those of you who read this will be kind to yourself and write an encouraging letter to YOU! I am going to read this to myself everyday so that I can remind myself that I am worth it. So are you!
See you Monday!
Biggest Loser, Goals, Inspiration, Matt Hoover, motivational stories
Breakthrough Workout!
Posted by Matt Hoover in General on February 18th, 2010
I am excited today! I had an awesome workout. The kind of workout where you are pushing yourself to the max and are super tired but feel like you can go forever. I call it a breakthrough workout because I can remember moments from my past when I had a workout like this and everything started flowing in the right direction.
It happened to me on The Biggest Loser, it has happened to me in my wrestling career, and it happened again today. There is an excitement to experiencing these types of moments. It is a moment where you get a glimpse at what you can become.
Many of us who workout tend to get stuck in a rut. We feel like we are doing the same thing workout after workout without seeing any results. In fact, I would venture that many who read this blog gauge the success or failure of a workout based on the scale. If the scale number isn’t dropping, our workouts must not be good.
That’s wrong! We need to base our workouts on how much we are improving. We need to be excited about getting stronger and being able to go longer. We need to get excited about feeling like we could do even more after our workout is over. I have been doing my workouts consistently for three weeks now and exercises that seemed like torture when I first started have gotten significantly easier.
When I was on the show we had to do the same workout that we did on the first day at the ranch. On my first day at the ranch I was cramping up, crying, and vomiting during my first workout. I thought I was going to die. After being at the ranch and doing my workouts for three months, I was able to do the same workout I did on the first day with ease. In fact, that workout was more like what I did for a warm-up after three months.
Strive for that breakthrough. Just because you have never had one, or maybe you have, doesn’t mean that you can’t experience it over and over again. Let’s stop worrying about that number on the scale. It will take care of itself with exercise and good nutrition. Instead, lets focus on the good things that are happening each time we workout.
Today was a great day. I can’t wait to come back tonight and do it again. Focus on the positives!
See you tomorrow!
Biggest Loser, exercise, Matt Hoover, motivational stories
How Good Is Your Excuse?
Posted by Matt Hoover in General on February 17th, 2010
I was sore today. My back hurt and I didn’t feel like working out. I have been working out twice a day everyday and I am a little tired too. As I was getting ready for my workout a guy in a wheelchair came rolling into the locker room. He only had one leg.
I thought maybe he was just going to sit in the sauna and get a good sweat out. I left the locker room and headed out to do cardio before my lifting session. He came rolling out and stopped right near me. He then pulled himself out of his wheel chair and up on to the elliptical machine. He then proceeded to workout on the elliptical with only one leg.
After seeing him do this I realized that the excuses I make for myself are pretty poor. Seeing this guy workout was not only inspirational but humbling. He has a pretty legitimate reason to not use the elliptical machine yet he was up there and getting after it. I could go on, but I think I have said enough.
After what I witnessed today I realized I have come up with some pretty sorry excuses for not doing things in my life. How about you?
See you tomorrow!
Biggest Loser, Matt Hoover, motivational stories
