Not all individuals who are addicted to a routine of healthy living and fitness ever trade the work they do for money or for a product, but still enjoy the benefit of a psychological reward in the form of compliments.
But what happens when you are noticed and approached to represent a brand or to become a brand ambassador? What happens when companies start noticing your efforts and want to invest in your future success, obviously to the benefit of their brand? This is the point where your healthy lifestyle, your effort, your well-cared-for body and your social media profile becomes a “tradable commodity” to product owners and “sustainable responsibility” to yourself.
The honor of being “the ambassador” and the feeling of recognition is something that could only be explained as euphoric. Such a feeling that you lie awake before the singing of the contract and, once signed, the endless discussions with family and friends, most of who want to know if they now qualify for discount or free products. And then the dust settles.
Nothing for Nothing
So, you are doing your part. You have a gruelling daily training schedule. You bleed and sweat while others are still in bed and everything you eat is measured in value as fuel to keep you going. The mental visions and goals are equal to that of an Olympic athlete and there is not a second to waste. You post, you share, photos from the gym, achievements from events, products and services. You feel that you are doing your part and the relationship blossoms between you and your sponsor. And then it happens!
An Injury!
A torn ligament, a broken bone, a car accident or some form of illness. The greatest fear of every professional athlete and even more so once you have become “tradable” The pitty from family and friends are sincere and although they are less worried about how long it will take to recover than the loss of the discount, nobody can understand the demon that has just been released inside you.
I am Megan Jonker, a professional motocross athlete, who knows all too well what it feels like to “fight the fight” When I tore my ACL Ligament, LCL ligament and ruptured both the menisci in April 2018, I was informed by the specialist that it would take 12 months to recover after surgery. How do you take 12 months sick leave from your job? Will you still have a job? When you signed those contracts, it became your job. Suddenly you find yourself in a very difficult position and the internal fight begins:
Round 1 – Disbelief in what the specialist said. “Whatever, I thought, while I was sobbing on the Doctor’s bed. I don’t even have that much pain. And I don’t know if you noticed Doctor, but I am super fit. Just get the surgery done and I will show you”
Round 2 – Find better and quicker solutions. “There was a 2-week period between the consult and the surgery. I think I spent 14 hours per day on the internet trying to find quicker and better solutions for this problem. At the end of the day I settled for an artificial ligament which would cut recovery from 12 months to 4 months”
Round 3 – Surviving the first blow to the ground – “after surgery I woke up and realised that my worst nightmare has now become a reality. I was at the mercy of recovery. No exercise, no fitness routine, I felt stripped to the bone. All that I live for was taken from me and now I couldn’t even go to the toilet on my own”
Round 4 – Realization that you are in the fight and it’s all about survival – “it was about 2 weeks after surgery that I realized it’s time to do something. I have companies who are invested in me as an athlete, and somehow, I need to prove my worth, nothing for nothing. I started finding innovative ways to promote their products, share their content and remain part of the family. The pressure was on!”
Round 5 – Going the distance – “My rehab program was intense, and every day was a struggle trying to find ways to make sure I keep my sponsors happy, pushing my limits with rehab and surviving the psychological battle of not being able to ride or race. After all, that is what defines me”
Round 6 – The Final Round – “the first day back on my bike, 4 months after my injury, and it felt like the fight started all over again. I was lacking confidence, it felt like my leg was going to break again at any moment. It took time but eventually, I could feel that feeling again. A feeling of self-worth and freedom”
Whether you are a professional athlete or an everyday health freak who cares about looking good, injuries can easily become a major stumbling block.
“I think the worst for me was the fact that I could not train. In the back of my mind was this constant reminder that I have sponsors and that I need to recover as quick as possible, but not being able to train exhausted me completely. I need to train. 5 days per week, two hours per day, I need to be on my bike at least 3 days per week. I need to race. There were days that I felt like going mad, fighting these demons inside me and trying to balance a reality between a slow recovery and a desperate need. I know that anyone who has a training and fitness routine fears the moment that they are forced to STOP.”
To all you fitness professionals out there, be safe.
Till next time ;)
