Prior warning, this is going to be a serious one! I’m going to be getting pretty deep here, so if you’re in this post looking for jokey, doesn’t take the world seriously Punshon, he’ll be back after a short interlude. 🙂

A couple of weeks back I had a photo shoot with my family. We went down to the little mini-woods in Goring Gap.

It’s great down there. It’s like a crack in the universe. You just step through a tree branch out of this field into this strip of tiny forest, where through the gaps at each edge you can look out onto wide open field and beach like looking through a portal.

It almost didn’t go to plan either. Our photographer, Sophie, had an old wooden step-ladder as a prop. That very morning, she’d lean’t it up against something while she took some photos of the family she was shooting, turned around, and they’d completely disappeared!

Turned out Beach Patrol had taken them! So she had to go right down to the beach office to get them back.

So when we got there she was running a bit late!

But fast-forward to today, and we were in her studio looking at the photos, trying to narrow it down to 10. as they were laid out in frames for us to choose.

When people ask me how to stay motivated, I always say, the first thing you need to do is find your “Why”.

Exercising’s uncomfortable. Eating right can be hard sometimes. Fighting that snooze button when you have a morning workout to get to is like sparring with an irritated grizzly bear some mornings.

And this is where your “Why” comes in. Your “Why” needs to be greater than your obstacles.

My “Why” was laid out for me on a neat little line today.

I’ve always taken the approach of I want to look the best I can and be in the best state of health I can achieve for my fiance, Nic. It’s quite simply a case of I couldn’t expect her to look after herself if I’m not willing to put the work in myself, and I (obviously) want her to be in the best shape she can be. I want her to live a long, happy life free of illness and restriction.

Then I had a son, and suddenly I was an example. I was a role model.

Suddenly there was someone who looks up to me on a daily basis. Someone who copies me, and emulates me.

So that’s what I try and do.

I never ever press the snooze button. When my alarm goes off at 4.45, I get out of bed. I don’t even think twice about it because, chances are, Max is lying right next to me.

If I need to miss a workout, I’d better have a damn good reason, or another one booked in the diary.

He deserves better than having a dad who can’t run, and climb, and jump around the playground with him. A dad who doesn’t take care of himself, because if I don’t take care of myself, then I can’t take care of him.

So if you want to know the secret to motivation, start with “Why”. Mine’s my family.

What’s yours? Comment below and let me know. 🙂