Motivation is a funny subject that is given way too much attention, if you ask me. Waiting to feel motivated before you exercise is fraught with danger and gives it more power over your life than it should have. The only one who gets to decide whether you exercise, and how much exercise you do, is you!
What you need to get your mind around is a non-negotiable exercise regimen that you will do no matter what. Make it realistic and make it activities you enjoy – and then do them. No excuses and no down time (except for scheduled days off, which you must have). Because you know that when you do, you will feel good about yourself. And feeling good about yourself is better than just about anything.
Good things come to those who wait but better things come to those who get up and get moving!!
Need a few more tricks to help you through? Try these:
Change your perspective – stop thinking about how hard it is, and start thinking about all the benefits you will reap. This is an investment in you, and you deserve to feel like the best you available. No purchase of L’Oreal products required.
Set a goal. But please, oh please, oh please, don’t make it a weight loss goal. its ok to add it to your list. But don’t justvsay you want to lose weight.. Why do you want to? How are you feeling with being over-weight? Weight goes up; weight goes down. And sometimes you get heavier even when you exercise. That sucks and can dampen your enthusiasm faster than a very damp sponge that has been dumped right on top of your enthusiasm. Really damp. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t getting fitter and more awesome. Make your goal something you can measure – maybe get an exercise program that has 10 minute exercise or 30 minutes a day exercises. Maybe walk for at least 45 minutes, four times this week. My current goal is to get Insanity and CIZED certified, teach fit clubs and classes and possibly learn and teach Zumba and finally join a friend and run a race in the Fall! Then I’ve broken that down into weekly training goals that I can tick off. Another chance to give myself a pat on the back. See a common thread here?
Schedule regular times to work out, and get buy in from whomever you need to support you in that goal. I run monthly online support and accountability groups and we discuss ways on fitting in exercise In your own home, especially when you have little ones, work a full time job or go to school. You can usually fit in 15-30 minutes before the kids get whiny.. But you can also try other ways too! Need your partner to watch the kids while you exercise in the family room? Or your mom to come over and help out while you go for a walk? Fine. Schedule it. Make sure they are on board, and go. My favourite time to exercise is first thing in the morning because then I get to enjoy that smug exerciser feeling for the rest of the day. If I have to workout in the evening, I usually have my hubby watch my son but since he’s 5, he either watches me or better yet, joins in!! You need to do what works for you.
Keep it interesting. Avoid plateauing or getting bored by adding variety. A lot if the fitness programs I’ve done add variety to the schedule. Upper body one day, yoga the next.. Thete is something for everyone!! Add a weekly Zumba class to spice things up. Do a Bootcamp class once a week. My Fit Clum includes various exercises from different programs such as PiYo, T25, Insanity, Hip Hop Abs.. Just make sure you challenge yourself and mix it up. Familiarity breeds all sorts of things, including excuse making and unhappy exercise sessions!!
Surround yourself with supporters – this is where support and accountability partners come in.. They involve people who want to see you happy, and people willing to help you. Anyone that tries to sabotage your efforts needs, at best, a good long talking to about being a friend. And consider peppering your goals with little rewards along the way. In my groups, we have little challenges where we get to earn little Prizes.. We make it fun. Spice it up and always, always are there for each other.. We all have the same goal! Get healthy!! And drop a size or two or three! Our rewards are not food based.. And I would recommend to anyone, once you drop five pounds, don’t run and eat that chocolate cake.. Maybe a slice but if you are truly eating healthy, you can still eat your favorite foods anyway, just in a portion controlled way!!
I hope that some of these tips have helped you a bit.. Please leave me a comment on some other ways you stay motivated while exercising. I would love to hear from you! Also, please fill out the contact form so I can share with you healthy recipes and tips.
Also, please visit my page on Facebook – A Real Good Thing and you can find exercise and nutritional information there as well as healthy recipes!!
How do you stay motivated during your workouts??
A Real Good Thing 