Climbing, Daily, FitFluential, Fitness, Health, Photos, Soccer, Videos

How to stay motivated

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My co-workers, friends and even people I know online always ask me how I stay motivated. For me, it’s easy. I love being active. But I know everyone doesn’t.

Have you ever tried indoor rock climbing? It’s super fun, and a huge work out in itself. Don’t know what indoor rock climbing is like? Check out the video of me, doing a boulder problem back home in Newfoundland. Please note the video is quite old — it was in 2003 (!!!) so my digital camera wasn’t the best at shooting film back in the day.


It may take a while, but I say you need to find something you absolutely enjoy doing, and keep at it. If you hate running — don’t do it. Simple as that. Get creative, and find an activity that gets your body moving. Just watching those climbing videos just makes my finger tips sweaty, and want to chalk up and get back on the wall.


And another, for good measure ;)

Set small goals. Tell yourself you’ll work out “X” many times this week/this month. Once you achieve that goal, give yourself a treat — a movie date with your bestie or significant other, a new work out top, or maybe just a new mascara you’ve been eyeing. Be your own #MyBetter.

Speaking of mascara. Have you ever tried Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Lash? Look at those lashes it gives me. No, I’m not wearing falsies.

You’ll shortly find out that working out makes you feel good and will definitely boost your own self esteem and confidence. I think it’s easy to keep up something you’re truly passionate about, and have fun doing it, of course it’s hard work but that’s the fun part – creating these new goals to strive for. Or as Nike says…

Working out can improve the quality and even length of your life, just by taking care of your body. It doesn’t have to cost anything, just put the effort and time into it. Everyone goes through tough times, so being there to support and encourage your friends is essential.

As I post on my blog, you know I like to share my own stories, both failures as well as successes. I want you guys to be able to relate to me, to know that you’re not the only one with challenges. I started running again 3 weeks ago, but this time I have a Coach (Hi Steve!). I’ve never been so excited (and still somewhat anxious, but I’m trying to overcome that) to go our for a run once a week. I won’t lie, it’s still very difficult for me, especially with my breathing. but I’m learning to overcome the breathing issues — it’s mostly anxiousness and punch out some longer (such a relative term… 6km is long for me) distances.

I’m leaving everything open in the comments today. I want you to ask me any kind of questions, fitness related or not. Let it be an FAQ sort of thing, for anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me. Use the hash tag #FAQspiffykerms on twitter for your questions, please!

A great quote I found, then prettied up. I pinn’ed this a few months ago (and I guess no one found it interesting enough to re-pin, lol).

Go ahead and leave me a comment. Ask away. FAQ’s will finally be answered!

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Climbing, CrossFit, Daily, FitFluential, Fitness, Health, Photos

Will I ever give up?

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Will I ever give up, or quit my fitness regime? (Which consists of climbing, CrossFit, Soccer, and now running again!)

I’m not sure to be honest. If I don’t enjoy something any more, sure I’ll consider quitting. Just like I did at soccer for the summer of 2011 because I just had enough after getting injured frequently. (Man, when I injured my ankle I honestly though I had broken it. There were tears in my eyes which never happens (I think I have a high pain toldeance) but I was like OMFG bring me one of those orange boards to lie on … like they have at the spine treatment centers of america!

Then again I re-joined the CrossFit indoor soccer group this year.

I’ve quit going to the gym a number of times. In fact, it was a game “How long could I last?”. It always lasted no longer than half a year. Going to a regular gym doesn’t excite me, and I never really realized that until I started CrossFit.

I always attended group classes at a local gym, got bored of the routines, and started to plateau. CrossFit excites me, because you can go months without doing the same workout. The coaches there are helping you perform properly, and do the movements without injury. The classes are smaller so it feels like you have a personal trainer all the time next to you, pushing you. I felt like just a number at the big gyms. I didn’t know the instructors.

I quit soccer for a year and a half. I had been playing for 15+ years and lost all passion for it in my last summer season, which was summer 2011. I had an ankle injury in 2009 which happened AT soccer and it wasn’t healing. I was getting more afraid of the ball, being less aggressive and I felt I wasn’t bringing anything to the team. I made the difficult decision of leaving the team last year and not playing indoor last winter, nor outdoor this summer.

I think I really needed the break and I wasn’t planning on getting back into soccer again until I was invited by my CrossFit coaches who are putting together an indoor league this winter. I accepted the invite to join their league and we started playing back in September!

Despite not climbing for the past few months, I don’t think I’ll ever give up on climbing. It’s taken a back seat right now since I’m more focused and excited about going to CrossFit.  But I think come this Fall/Winter I’ll pick it up again. I really want to go to the next boulder competition in December, but if I even consider that I should really get my butt in gear and head in.

Here’s a photo of me from last years boulder comp. Neat huh?

I don’t think one should ever stop being active. It’s what keeps you healthy, and what keeps me awake during the days to be honest, ha ha!

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50 day pushup challenge, Climbing, Photos, Soccer

50 Day Push-up Challenge

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Guess what? I have today off work!

Expect two posts from me today. I’m in that kinda mood. The next one will be about a Make Up For Ever Holiday 2012 kit, so stay tuned for that one later on.

Well this is funny. I didn’t go to CrossFit at all this week, so I didn’t call it my CrossFit journal re-cap. However I’m still keeping up with the 50 day push-up challenge.It’s starting to get difficult now.

I’m on day 12 and I don’t know how I’m remembering to do them, but I do remember — I am fully dressed and ready to head into work. I figured I’d better do them then and there, and not when I get home and most likely forget about it. I tell ya, if you’re ever kind of chilly in the mornings — do 10 push-ups. It’ll warm ya right up. Whoo wee.

My CrossFit coach is proud of me ;)

Wednesday is soccer nights, but this past Wednesday was exceptionally busy for me. I went to the climbing gym after work, to put in some volunteer hours to get a free month membership and right after that I drove across the city and somehow managed to get to soccer on time. I forgot how long it takes to get back into the swing of things. The last two games I’ve felt like I’ve played much better. More going after it, than waiting for things to fall to me. Know what I mean? I didn’t get home until 10pm that evening, without supper! It was a long, fun day though.

What are your fitness plans for this week?

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