High-octane motivation advice from an Olympic champion
By Kelan Ern Updated: `01/30/2025
One of the most common questions from my private clients is:
“Do you just love working out?”
They assume that since I'm a personal trainer and fitness coach that I must love everything about fitness. Don't get me wrong: I am deeply passionate about it. And believe in it strongly.
But I don't always love working out.
While there are deeply fulfilling aspects to it - such as breaking personal records... the mindfulness from bringing your awareness to your body... the instant boost in self-confidence.... and the mental clarity for the rest of the day - it's not always sunshine and squirrels.
Some days it's the last thing I want to do.
Even for Olympians there are days where the struggle is real.
When Olympians Lose Their Drive
In Heart of a Champion, Olympic pole vaulter, Bob Richards shares his personal struggle with keeping his enthusiasm during workouts (something he witnessed other elite athletes struggled with as well).
"If a person is going to be the kind of person he wants to be or ought to be, this is a must… Maintaining enthusiasm is the hardest thing in training. Sometimes you go out on the field and are tired, worn-out, you don’t have the zip — and it is so easy to let down, just go through the motions, but not really pour yourself into it and get something out of your workout. I’ve stood at the end of the runway many times and wondered what in the world I was doing out here — I’ve jumped so many times."
What happens when enthusiasm for workouts drops?
It can create a vicious cycle of working less... and less. And if you work less, you get worse results. Which then drops your enthusiasm even more. So then you work even less.
Enthusiasm can be the start and stop to this downward cycle.
Somehow enthusiasm must be nurtured because as it grows, you will work harder and that hard work will start to reap measurable results.
But how do you become enthusiastic - especially when you are discouraged? Or aren't where you want to be?
Once again Bob Richards reveals:
"It isn’t the point where you are that matters, it’s the direction in which you are heading. So long as you are going up, even if it is just a quarter of an inch or a tenth of a second, your enthusiasm need not wane."
It's ALL about direction.
Some movement. Some progress. Some crawl forward.
And the beautiful thing is, you can steer yourself into a better direction with small, powerful steps starting today.
Choose to skip dessert today — that sets you in a direction.
Go for a 1 mile walk today — that sets you in a direction.
Meal prep your lunches for the week — that sets you in a direction.
Throw away the candy in your desk drawer — that sets you in a direction.
All these small choices set you in a direction and breathe a little more enthusiasm into your fitness journey.
Remember:
More enthusiasm brings more action. And with more action brings more enthusiasm.
And that forward momentum will carry you a little closer towards the body, the fitness and the physical transformation that you want.
So the next time you aren't enthusiastic about your workout, remind yourself that it doesn't mean anything is wrong.
It happens to the best (of the best) of us.
And it’s simply a passing tropical storm and a reminder to keep moving the right direction. Onward,
Kelan Ern Fitness Coach
P.S. If you want more tips and insights to go further and faster on your fitness journey - grab a free issue of the Mind-Body Breakthroughs where I do a deep-dive on the mindsets and strategies of some of the fittest athletes of all time.
