23 Jan Find your motivation

Happy New Year!! 2014 has arrived and there is no better time to start something new than right now.

You’re probably ready to settle back into a routine and reevaluate your health and fitness priorities.  I’m certain most of you have resolved to work out more, eat better and be a healthier you.

I speak with many women every week about training, nutrition and overall fitness – and lack of motivation seems to be one of the biggest barriers for a lot of people who would like to start regular exercise and improve their diet.

Motivation is the first hurdle that people have to get over to get themselves to the gym.  People often say things to me like, “I’d like to exercise, but I just can’t get motivated” or, “ I had really good intentions, I just couldn’t get myself to go”, or “I really need to get in shape, but I’m just waiting ’til I get motivated”.  That waiting can go on forever. The problem is, usually motivation doesn’t just happen. You have to find what motivates you. 

How do I get motivated to get to the gym?  What motivates me may not do it for you. We all need to find our own source of motivation.  My main motivation is to be healthy and to maintain my good health for as long as possible.  The list of short and long term benefits of exercise are never far in my mind.  I’m also motivated by the energy I feel from a good work out,  the time devoted to me and, yes, that I feel good in my clothes.  When my jeans get a little tight my motivation level increases a little more.

Even with all these things, I sometimes need to talk myself into getting to the gym.

When that happens I just make a deal with myself (yes I talk to myself 🙂 ) that I’m just going to go and train for 20 minutes and after that time I can just leave.  I’ve never, in my almost 20 years of using this method, left after the twenty minute time frame. The hardest part is usually getting yourself there.

Make your own list of reasons why want to workout, exercise and eat healthy.  Remind yourself of your reasons daily.  Sometimes people need a challenge! Sign up for a race or have friendly competition with a friend.  Set achievable goals for yourself -accomplishing goals is such a great feeling!!  Mix it up: we need change to keep motivated. If you keep doing the same thing over and over again, you will get bored and turned off.  If your motivation is your physical appearance, if you are aiming to achieve the body you once had, hang a picture up of your goal physique and have a look at it – if that will give you the push to do it.  We are the best indicator of what works for us and what doesn’t.

When you are cuddled on the couch on a cold winter night and the last thing you want to do is get up, get changed and drive to the gym to work out, consider this: you don’t have to want to do it, you just have to do it!!  Getting fit, being fit, losing weight, and eating well is not always easy but it is worth it.

If you focus on why exercise is a positive in your life you’ll find the desire and drive to get you there.