How I find the motivation to keep active

When it comes to keeping active, motivation can often be the biggest challenge. What keeps Sam Lefoe going is a combination of stubbornness and the knowledge that exercise helps him live his best life. 

Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle is a constant challenge for those living with CF. Not only is the healthy lifestyle more important for us then for others it is also possibly harder to stick with as well. Finding the motivation and energy to keep physically fit is quite the challenge when our lungs refuse to cooperate. I have always felt like there was an extra barrier I had to breach to stay as fit and healthy as I could. And the truth is, there is.  

We must fight harder to breath normally, and we must dig deeper to find the motivation to push ourselves a little harder. The challenge is there and it’s up to us to rise to it because even though it may be twice as hard, from personal experience, it is also twice as rewarding. 

The thrill of breaking through your limitations and hidden barriers is a reward, but the true victory is how much better you feel from being fitter and healthier. And I’m not talking about running marathons or being the greatest sports person. It’s the little things that count. The most important victories are always the next ones, whether that be one more kilometre on your run, five more laps in the pool or two more sets of stairs to climb. Constantly beating your previous effort and breaking free of those limitations is the most important thing when it comes to staying fit and healthy.  

There are no leaps and bounds when it comes to fitness and a healthy lifestyle for those living with CF. The most important step to take is always the next. 

But it’s not always victories. Setbacks are always looming—hospitalisations, illness, and everything else CF related are always there to challenge you. It’s an unfortunate fact of life we all must deal with. And nothing saps your motivation to stay fit than one of these hurdles. There’s nothing I can say that will help you find what motivates you. It’s something we must figure out for ourselves. But for me, my motivation stems from stubbornness.  

Stubbornness is a funny thing because it hinders me as well as pushes me. If someone tells me I should get out and exercise and do my physio my initial response, out of stubbornness, is “no, I will do it in my own time”. And funnily enough when a CF challenge gets in the way or stops my exercise I stubbornly say “no, I will exercise when I want to and bounce back even better”. This may be a double-edged sword, but when I need it to it gives me the motivation to get back up and take that next step. Because that is what it’s all about, taking the next step. There are no leaps and bounds when it comes to fitness and a healthy lifestyle for those living with CF. The most important step to take is always the next.  

So, let’s talk about those benefits. After all the challenges and the setbacks is it worth it? Hell yes. Not only can you improve your lung function, but you also genuinely feel it inside of you. Extra energy, easier breathing and satisfaction that can only come after a hard set of exercise. It may be a challenge, but we are no strangers to challenge. This lifestyle is not immediate. It takes time to integrate it into a routine and setbacks will come, they always do. But for me, exercise, fitness, and a healthy lifestyle is key to living the best you can with CF. I’m not the fittest, but I endeavour to continue finding those small victories and constantly improve because I know it’s what I need to do, no matter how hard it is.