By Radley West
“The things that get you started won’t always be the things that keep you going — and that’s exactly how it should be.”
When I first started working out, I’ll be honest, my why was simple: I wanted to look better. That was it. I wanted a smaller waistline, toned arms, maybe a bit more confidence when I looked in the mirror. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted.
Now, I train for entirely different reasons. I train to feel strong. I train to see if I can lift a little more than I did last week, run a little faster, or move with a little more power. I train to see if I can be better than I was yesterday. I train to compete. My why evolved, and yours will too.
This is something I frequently observe, both as a coach and an athlete. People often start their fitness journey for one reason: maybe it’s to lose weight, get healthier, prepare for an event, or just feel a little more confident. But if they stick with it long enough, that reason changes, which is a good thing.
Because fitness isn’t just about one finish line. It’s about growth.
If your initial motivation was to look a certain way, that’s perfectly fine, but if that’s your only reason, it’s easy to get discouraged when results don’t happen as quickly as you hoped (and they rarely do).
Life happens. Progress takes time. And there will always be ups and downs. That’s why your why has to be able to grow with you.
When you show up long enough, you start to realize that the benefits go far beyond appearances. You sleep better. You have more energy. You move with more confidence. You discover a mental toughness you didn’t know you had.
I tell my clients all the time: The things that get you started won’t always be the things that keep you going.
The truth is, your journey will change you. You might start in pursuit of a smaller number on the scale, but find yourself staying because of the way lifting weights makes you feel strong. You might start because you want to keep up with your kids, but stick with it because you’ve fallen in love with the way your body moves.
The most important thing isn’t why you start, it’s that you start . . . and keep going.
One day, you’ll look back and realize you’ve become someone who doesn’t just work out to change how they look. You work out because you love who you’re becoming. That’s when fitness stops being a chore and starts being part of who you are.
So whatever got you here, hold it loosely. Let it evolve. The real magic of fitness happens when your why grows right along with you.
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West and together they own Anytime Fitness Lake Murray and 33/18 Chiropractic Associates. Radley is a gym owner and personal trainer with more than 20 years of experience helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and her team approach fitness by teaching clients to build better habits and create sustainable, feel-good fitness and nutrition routines—no need for intense six-pack aspirations (unless that’s your thing).
