cool. I can dig rocky in russia. Dolf is so hot as drago.
;)
Today was Movie Day—a day in which I do nothing but watch movies, and I try to have one at least once a month.
You see, I love movies :-)
And today, perhaps to rekindle my inner child, I spent 91 minutes watching a movie that I literally watched every day for an entire summer when I was 12 years old: Rocky IV.
Now, you may not agree with me that Rocky IV is one of the best movies of all time, but if you’re a Rocky fan at all, you’ve GOT to agree that it’s the absolute best out of all the Rockies (and there will be time to debate that later if you don’t :-)
I mean, what a great story, right? Rocky, avenging his best friend Apollo’s death by defeating the highly-favored, monstrous Russian on his own turf in Russia−even for someone who’s seen it 79 times like me, it’s pretty intense stuff.
But apart from that, even if you somehow didn’t care for the movie (and I can’t imagine how), Rocky IV can still teach you something extremely valuable and applicable to you and your own goals.
And that is, the raw power of motivation.
Let’s be honest, if Rocky had gone in to fight the Drago prior to Apollo or at any other time, under any other circumstances, he would have got his butt handed to him. The dude was a monster, and had Rocky outmatched in every possible way.
But because Rocky had something extremely powerful to motivate him (the fact that this guy killed his best friend), he was able to seemingly defeat some crazy odds and emerge victorious.
Let me ask you a question: What’s YOUR motivation? What is it that gets you up in the morning and over to the gym before work when everyone else is sleeping in?
What is it that allows you to regularly pass up the quick and easy (and frankly, delicious) foods that so many others regularly indulge in?
Do you have a REAL source of motivation? If you don’t, it’s highly likely you’re going to get “knocked out” by all the temptation and “easy ways out” that surround us on a daily basis.
Let’s face it, it’s a heck of a lot easier to eat whatever, whenever, and skip the whole workout thing then it is to live a fit, healthy lifestyle.
You absolutely have to have a very powerful source of motivation, because without one, your toast.
So do you have a source of motivation that keeps you going strong toward your goals each and every day? What is it?
Reaffirm it by posting it in the comments section below to start today off with renewed focus (and if you don’t value your “reason” enough to post it below, it’s probably safe to say that you don’t really have one).
Talk to you in the comments section!
Joel
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my motivation comes in a package – he’s about 70cm tall, weighs in at about 9kg, and is about 6 months old! his name is Ezra, and he’s just the most awesome little man on the planet! he totally rocks my world, starting each day with a smile as bright as the sun!
he’s my motivation to stay fit & healthy and get really strong…
RockON….(oh and btw…the 1st Rocky movie is my fave….”adriaaaaaannnnnn”;)
nicky
Rocky IV was good.
But I would have to rate it as number 4 out of the 6 to be honest.
They go in this order:
1. Rocky II
2. Rocky
3. Rocky III
4. Rocky IV
5. Rocky Balboa
6. Rocky V
Just my opinion ;)
Rocky IV goes for only just over an hour, and I’m pretty sure about 45 minutes of it is the training montage.
Still one of the greats however.
Motivation is wanting to live anad enjoy life to the fullest and hellp others to do the same. Couch potatoes can’t do that too well. ;-)
Let face it, everyone that workout wants a kickass body to attract the
opposite sex. There are other additonal reason, but this is the number 1 reason.
‘I will break you’
i have seen that movie and i agree the source of motivation can overcome the extreme odds, my sense of motivation comes from my wife who from the start of the day tells me that i am over weight which i think i am not, and tells me to do some thing about it, well no wonder man cant defeat women in talking, but it inspires me to do some thing about it, and than i go on and hit gym and diet pretty hard
U bet..Rocky4 is without a doubt an all time gr8 movie….i myself get motivated and it gives me an adrenaline rush every time i watch this DVD…
DUDE!!! Rocky IV is the bomb. I too watched it a million times. Now that I’m older I appreciate it in a different way than when I was a kid. As a matter of fact during some of my cardio circuit training workouts I play the ROCKY IV soundtrack on my ipod…that gets me going and motivates the crap out of me…I agree that ROCKY IV is the best of all Rockies and the worst has to be a tie between ROCKY V and BALBOA.
I think what motivates me is the fact that since I grew up in an African upbringing, people value being out of shape and overweight as a prize..they consider it beauty. And to me, I grew up in a society where being out of shape and overweight is not a prize but rather a curse. ANd through research I have found that I am definitely headed for doom if I continue to eat unhealthy. And I always get the criticism from my family about my weight ever since I was about 9 . I wasnt a skinny person by nature but I had a slim curvy physique. But that ended after I was hospitalized for some health conditions. And the medication I was on during those times caused me to gain weight afterward.
And they think that just cause I have stretch marks it means I will gain weight. Just cause I drink a lot of water means I will gain weight. And just cause I have cellulite means I will be fat in future. OF COURSE, my goal is to look my best and live healthier but that desire is not too solid in my opinion as to prove someone wrong .. Anything can happen, And I can be discouraged. But if my motivation is the fact that I want to prove my family wrong by letting them know that even if I have stretchmarks it isnt my ultimate destiny of doom to look out of shape. But by consistently changing my eating habits and working out properly, I can be in the best shape of my life with or without the stretchmarks!!
Sorry, I wrote too much :P
Rocky IV… AWESOME!!! When he goes to Russia and has to resort to old school methods while Dolph uses all that technologically advanced gear and then gets his butt handed to him. Everytime I watch it I get all pumped to go train.
PS Running in snow is a killer…
W/o a doubt Rocky 4 is the best. The song in the movie “No Easy Way Out” by Robert Tepper is awesome and very motivating. I am a former NFL player who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005. My motivation is to not be a handicap! I am an athlete and yes some things have been taken away from me BUT that won’t stop me from being the best physically and spiritually that I can possibly be.
Wow! Ramondo, I loved your comment. For you to turn that around like that is amazing! And a true inspiration :D
I too LOVE Rocky IV, and i love the fact you can get buff without fancy gym equipment. Many people get caught up in the idea that if they can’t make it to the gym, there is NO WAY of getting a good workout in. I SO disagree! Bodyweight workouts can be made very challenging, and it is definitely better then doing nothing at all :D
I get my inspiration, along with MANY other women, for Holly’s ClubFYM. They pull me up, and push me forward on days I jut wish I could stay in bed! Also knowing summer is coming up is a great resource of motivation. Hee hee hee. Being the new mom of a 7 mnth old girl make it SO inspirational to look my best EVER! I can do it! And so can YOU! :D
Just realised i’m not 100% sure what originally motivated me to try and change! Which is probably why i have never got into the shape i wanted ( i always got close), i always knew what i had to do, just never did it for long enough. My motivation is now trying to become a better person than i was, a more dedicated person, an acheiver. That’s what’s spurring me on this time and the results are appearing, slowly..but surely, whether this is enough of motivation to get me to the end i don’t know, but i’ll give it everything. Rocky 4 is my best in the catergory of best training/fight scene!!! I mean if watching i guy shoulder press a cart full of people. isn’t motivating, i don’t know what is :D
Yep, no doubt that “No Easy Way Out” gave me goosebumps and still does every time I hear that song. If that doesnt motivate you (in context) I dont know what would. What inspires me? Well basically wanting to be the best thatI can be and KNOWING through Joels experience that it is possible.
J.C.
I have to agree on Rocky IV being the best of the Rocky films….. but more to the point I agree with the motivation idea. So many times I’ve fallen off the wagon due to lack of motivation.
This time I have the best reason. To improve my health and get back into half my wardrobe! It’s hard getting to the public baths at 7 for a pre work swim, but I am finding it’s getting easier, I’m feeling much better after only a couple of weeks and I can get into those skinny jeans again!!! (I’m sure another week or so and I’ll even be able to move in them LOL).
Keep up the motivation guys!
Great movies all of them and yes great motivation
My short term goal is to lose 9 lbs per month so I can be 108 lbs lighter and healthier this time next year. I want to be a good role model for my grandson. I want him to be excited about be healthy. I do need help in getting him motivated to exercise and eat smaller portions. He’ll be 12 this month and is morbidly obese as I am morbidly obese. I would appreciate your help for him and myself. I have a bad back so some exercises bother it.
PLEASE HELP US TO LIVE LONG HEALTHY LIVES !
GOD’S BLESSINGS
Rocky IV is the best. As for motivation, I’ve found alot of things that help: Seeing 80-90 yr olds who have and havn’t taken care of their bodies, playing with my children, training High schoolers, keeping around a pair of pants that I met my wife in and making sure that they still fit, competing in powerlifting, and one great quote:
“If you don’t find time for fitness, you’ll have to make time for illness.”
Which are the greatest dumbbells that you spoke of?
The best dumbbells are Power Blocks…I hope you were referring to Power Blocks.
Cheers!
Thanks Joel for the email reminding me that it is the things that motivate us that keep us going. I have been struggling to stay motivated for some time now and I can attest that it is much easier to eat the delicious, quick snacks around the house. In all the years, yes years, that I have been up and down with my weight I struggle with the motivational piece. I am not a real girly girl, so I am not interested in rewards such as manicures, etc. I still today am trying to find a true motivation for myself. I don’t know why it eludes me, but the fact is, it does. I truly believe that until this piece comes together for me, I will never find a way to keep motivated to reach my goals and stay there. Sad but true. I also love Rocky IV, only because I too am amazed at what he accomplished and without all the fancy equipment. Someday I hope to find something that will motivate me and stay with me til the end. Thanks for the email reminding me that I need to keep looking so I too can have true success.
Rocky III is the best with Mr T.
my motivation comes from john cena, the most amazing WWE superstar of all time…i wanna be just like him…
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Hey, it’s Joel! So you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I’d be happy to oblige :-)
I guess it all started back in 2001 (my freshman year of college) when I was just a “skinny fat” 19-year old kid. At the time, I was spending close to 2 hours a day in the gym (now my workouts last about 30 minutes), and despite my efforts, you’d probably never guess I worked out a day in my life by looking at me...