What is your Why?

Big Jon has told me that in order to be a successful trainer I have to dig deeply into my clients lives and help them find their WHY. He says it is never a quick answer as to why people come to see me about weight loss or fitness regimens. It is never because they want to lose weight.
There is always a reason. A big why hiding below a big butterball of other reasons...but those reasons aren't the WHY.
Some clients I have the hardest time finding the WHY. All I really want to do is find that WHY from my business standpoint, so that I can keep them coming back for more, keep them motivated when they don't want to be in the moment.
The why's that I have worked with have come from things like
family obesity
family disease-fear of death
being a role model to family
money in a big pot during a competition
desire to not be embarrassed
the need to feel love from themself

There are more, but I am curious what your WHY is. One of my check in's came back this week positively--naming several things she has done right-- she was honestly ready to take on the world and drop every pound of fat on her. And I have no doubt she will. She expressed concern that she is extremely motivated right now and nothing will stop her, she wants to win this competition so very badly--but the thought crossed her mind about what happens after?

My question isn't to have you focus on three months from now. My question is for you to delve deeply into the RIGHT NOW. Why are you doing this competition? What makes this effort different from the other times you have tried to get rid of extra weight? Why is this the last time you have to make this resolution?

If you work your butt off, figuratively and literally during the next two months and you don't end up the first place winner--will you be mad? Will you think that you have pushed hard since January 1 and feel like a failure that you didn't win? Will you throw in the towel half way through if you aren't in the top 5?

If that is you, I want to know now. I want to know now and I will mail your check back to you.

A monetary reward is not enough.

Your desire to learn a new lifestyle, your desire to get active, your desire to show your children what healthy and fit looks like, your desire to ward off disease, your desire to never be the same person (on the outside, but on the inside too. Are you nice to your reflection in the mirror? Part of losing weight and improving your health is improving your whole spirit as well. One can not work with out the other. You can not hate your body into change. You must love it.) you are today has to be more than what 400$ can buy you.

It has to be more.

On March 1, anyone who drinks more water, exercises for 30 minutes a day, speaks more softly to themselves,  weighs 10 lbs less will be better than they are today. Anyone who cements lifestyle changes into their daily routine will be better off than they are today and that has to be enough. It has to be your goal.

My only reason for these challenges to get my knowledge out to a bigger group of people at a time, it is not to put a ton of money in my own pocket (obviously) it is not to put a ton of money in one person's pocket. It is to show everyone that health is a choice, and one that is not always easy--but one that is worth the effort. It is to show that by small and simple acts big things can be accomplished.

You will wake up one day and not give a crap about your weight. You will wake up one day and rather eat bon bons then exercise, you will go to bed 4 hours late one night because sleep is not a priority, you will step on the scale after you have busted your butt all week and the scale will have gone up. Stuff happens. This is a journey, it is not a destination and it is not a race. Speed bumps will show up when you least expect them and if you aren't mentally prepared for them, if you are not in this for the long haul those speed bumps will wreck you faster than a cow in the middle of the road.

Tell me-- do you know your why yet?