. . . why do it?
Development: the act or process of devloping; growth; progress
Development, progress, growth, improvement. Call it what you will, you can’t create development without some effort. There’s a saying about marathons, maybe you’ve heard it?
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
All growth depends on activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. — Calvin Coolidge
If development is so difficult, why do it? That’s the $64,000,000 question, isn’t it?
Are you satisfied with how you feel?
The people who have gotten to know me via blogging know me as a relatively fit person who maintains a relatively healthy weight. For much of my life that wasn’t the case. Although I have been relatively fit for many years, most of those years were spend yo-yoing back and forth about 40 pounds.
No matter how fit, if you’re overweight, in some way your life is limited. Maybe you can’t find clothes that feel good and make you feel good about yourself. Maybe you feel invisible. Maybe you can’t walk as far as you want to, or ride the rides with your kiddos, or worry about fitting into an airline seat.
Maybe you’re at a perfectly healthy weight, always have been. Maybe you still don’t have enough energy, have backaches from carrying the kiddos around, can’t easily get up from the floor (or the chair, or the car).
It will be hard, but it will be worth it
Development, progress, growth. Of course it’s hard. It’s not easy to change our habits. Familiar is easy — after all, we know what to expect. Most of us are scared of the unknown:
- Will it be painful?
- Will it be tiring?
- Will it feel hard?
The answers are yes, yes, and yes. You will be so proud, though, when you realize that you can do things you didn’t think you could. You’ll be proud as the same activities no longer feel so hard. You’ll be happy when something that once left you sore no longer does.
Many people avoid exercise because they’re already tired. The secret that regular exercisers know is that it actually gives you more energy, not less. Not at first; it takes time for your development to turn into progress. Stick with it, though, and I promise that one day you will realize you are far more tired when you don’t move your body.
Development is hard, but you will never regret that hard work when you’ve made that progress.
— Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Tell me in the comments:
Can you give me more reasons to work on your development?
What does development bring to mind?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
You done a wonderful job transforming yourself 🙂 The weight loss battle is no joke and you look fabulous!
I have not been developing my muscles like I should for a while now…trying to find motivation again.
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My motivation for getting back to strength training is somewhat vain — not particularly happy with how I look right now, actually, and I know I need that ST.
If only there were more hours in a day — and I’m somewhat blessed with that! It’s still hard!
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Development is so hard but usually worth it. I did not realize all the progress you have made congrats to you!
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Thanks, Deborah. Yes, most of the people who know me now don’t really know my story. Sometimes I wish it were a little easier though; I won’t lie!
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I totally agree with you. Development is a hard thing to do, but it’s always worth it. I always feel so much better about myself and stronger when I tackle a goal and come out on the other side victorious!
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What’s life without a little challenge, eh?
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Hey we picked the same quote.
To me development is improvement. It is also a very individual thing.
I agree that it is hard and that it takes work.
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Great minds think alike. 🙂
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You’ve done a great job sticking with it Judy!
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Thank you! This is the first time I’ve really been able to (knock on wood) maintain my weight loss.
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I love your quote at the end. Development takes time and a lot of hard work – and it’s worth it, every step of the way. Congratulations on your development!
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Thanks, Janelle. It IS worth it!
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I’m working on developing what works for me at this stage!! Being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s w/Hypothyroidism seems to be a crazy balance with food and exercise.
I think you have down well in your development!!
Jodi
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I’ve had friends with hypothyroidism and I know it’s a huge struggle.
Thanks, Jodi!
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Lot of great thoughts and insights here 😉 My development (more of a re-development) these next two months will be interesting….
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Well, as hard as it will seem during, it will pass. Everything does. It just doesn’t seem like it when you’re in the thick of it!
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This is a really wonderful post, Judy. I think everyone can go through a period of development, sometimes many times over. Congrats on your transformation — had no idea!
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Thanks, Rachel. Yeah, unfortunately that’s something I went through over & over & it’s still not easy — but worth it.
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Very well said, great post. Development can go hand-in-hand with serenity. You have done a fabulous job keeping fit. 😊
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And we’ll just see how your development into marathoner goes. 🙂 I know you can do it! You have the drive! Or the taskmaster. 🙂
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Hahahaha, definitely the taskmaster! 😁
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I love your paragraph that starts with “The answers are yes, yes, and yes.” That’s such a powerful statement on the benefits of regular exercise and you are living proof. Congrats on the transformation and hard work on maintaining those hard earned fitness levels!
Thanks for linking up!
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Thanks, Debbie!
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