Overcoming the little voice in your head
In my last blog, I talked about managing anxiety through fitness and the benefits that are associated with incorporating health and wellness into your routine.
This week I want to talk about that little voice in your head. We all have this little voice - it’s the one telling you that you aren’t good enough. Although I am currently in my first week of prep for my first ever figure competition, I want you to know that I wasn’t always able to overcome that little voice to get to this stage. It took many steps to overcome this little voice, but it is that journey that helped to get me to where I am today.
The want to become an athlete came to be in my 20’s, when I would look at pictures of fitness models in magazines and wonder how they rose to that level of physique. I would wonder “is that an attainable goal for me?” and “could I push myself through the physical rigour?” The answer for me was always a no. Despite growing up around my grandfather, who preached the health benefits of fitness for years and years and was a huge influence on my life, it was still a no. This “no“ wasn’t based on my actual physical stamina - it was based on a lack of confidence and the anxiety fairy sitting on my shoulder.
Fast forward to my late 20’s. I was out of shape post baby, depressed, and felt I needed guidance. There I was again, day dreaming about my career as a fitness professional, but unable to see the end result of my thoughts. Some of you may be able to relate to the demands a baby puts on you. Add in a bad marriage and anxiety, and I was overwhelmed. I was only able to focus on the little things, the day to day things, not my future. The dreams I had for myself still seemed light years away.
Here I am now in my 30’s and things are finally looking up. Once I had gotten myself out of a bad marriage and my life was on track, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though I was still living day to day and focusing on the little things, I was attending a gym and amping up a new, healthy me. It was my time to shine; my time to live the life I had been dreaming of for over a decade,
To get started on these dreams, I made the move to contact a studio where I connected with Brenley at Drench Fit who immediately put me at ease. Finally I had found a coach who could guide me through the competition process. We discussed my needs, wants and goals, and put a plan in place to achieve them. It was in this moment that I regretted not coming sooner, but I was here now and that stood for something. The excitement was building and I was finally feeling proud of myself. After 34 years, I was standing tall and feeling confident.
I am now 5 months in on my journey with Drench, and I have far exceeded all my expectations. Not only am I achieving my dreams, I’m building new ones every day.
Now, I can’t lie - competition prep isn’t easy. It’s an incredibly long journey, with a strict meal plan and heavy workout regimen (six days a week). Is it easy every day? No. Does my anxiety want me to quit? Sometimes. One thing that I have learned though is that it’s so important not to listen to the negativity. With perseverance and dedication, I have found that it’s a journey with amazing benefits that far outweigh the negatives. With three months left until my competition, I’m feeling confident and super excited!
No matter what your dreams are - whether it’s a competition or something completely different - don’t let negative self talk ruin it for you. Take the time you need and do your best to push through the negativity. At the end of the day, you will come out the other end a winner.
