May 15, 2016

In anticipation of a new Game of Thrones (GoT) episode tonight (9pm, HBO) I decided to tie in the show with workout motivation. In GoT each House has individual words and mottos. It’s these words that identify and solidify the House and each set of words has an identifying moods to it. These words serve as a reminder of what it means to be a part of each house.

I’ve found that having your own set of words to define yourself and push yourself is incredibly useful. It can be a mantra to why you started pursuing your fitness goals in the first place. I urge you to come up with your own words, something that you can think about when it comes down to crunch time in your workout. When you feel like giving up, think of your words and what you want and use them to drive you further. The following are seven examples from GoT of a personal motto:

House Stark – Winter is Coming

Ah yes, classic Stark. They warn us that the freezing cold winter is coming and that we should all be prepared. Flip that around and the phrase becomes “Summer is Coming” also meant to be a weather announcement. Summer is coming, and that means baring some skin and not being able to hide behind seven layers of clothes. Summer is coming, and when that time comes, you should be comfortable enough to enjoy that warm weather

House Baratheon – Ours is the Fury

Ours is the fury. This one always puzzles me, but it sounds pretty badass. I’m taking it to mean our cause is the fury. We will be furiously dedicated, furiously vigorous, and furiously determined to see our goals reached.

House Greyjoy – We Do Not Sow

We do not sow, we only reap. Reap the benefits of exercising, reap the benefits of eating healthy. We will not lie down and be defeated. We will push through victorious and we will not sow.

House Martell – Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

This is my personal favorite. It says a lot to me about staying strong and sticking with your goals and plan of action. “Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken” is unyielding, just as all of you are.

House Targaryen – Fire and Blood

This one is mostly metaphorical about how powerful we can each be. How we can push through the times of trial and come out on top victorious. Through fire and blood we will taste victory.

House Tyrell – Growing Strong

This one has no need for a translation here. Growing strong is something I think that each of us is trying to do everyday. As Lionchasers we understand that fitness is constant and it is something that we will always be working on.

House Lannister – Hear Me Roar! 

Fun Fact: A Lannister Always Pays His Debts is not the official motto of House Lannister. I like to think of this motto in a dietary way. When we eat poorly or we don’t eat healthy the debt is paid by our body. We can feel it, in one way or another when we made the wrong decision about what to fuel us.

As Lionchasers “Hear me roar!” is the perfect motto for us. It’s not just about roaring in victory. It’s about the pride you should feel when you start or start again. It’s the pride you should feel even when you didn’t have the best day or didn’t lift what you thought you could. As Lionchasers, you each have a lot to be proud of and the embodiment of that is the proud roar of a lion.

Some of this might have been a bit of a stretch, but words are important tools and they can be very powerful. Without even expecting myself to, I created my own personal motto that will be able to help me, or focus me when it’s time to put by butt into gear. House Me: Determined, Defiant, Dauntless.