How To Stay Motivated
There are a million and one ways to get prepared for exercise. The one you choose will have a lasting effect on how you approach exercise, or anything for that matter, in the future.
I used to love to get my motivation ramped up before a workout. Take all the pre-workout I could find, listen to some blaring music before I walk out the door in attempts to hit every goal I’ve ever had in one single day at the gym. This may be unrealistic but it’s worth a shot.
For some people watching some speeches on YouTube can motivate them enough, for others taking stimulants may do the trick.
Many times I will see the motivational trainer who will be calling their clients before the workout to motivate them to get to their session. This seems like a lot of work to be honest, but it’s all about that motivation!
How long can you keep that up, calling your clients each and every session to get them motivated enough to drag themselves to see you? How many days in a row will you be able to get as motivated as you were the day or two before? There is a progression with motivation and people are looking for that inspiration they felt that one time where they had the best workout of their life.
THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN
Let’s focus on fitness today although this topic has carryover to many other areas.
WHY MOTIVATION IS THE WRONG PATH
Motivation is not sustainable. You cannot have peak level motivation and performance every single time you go to the gym. I know that would be awesome if we could, but it is just not realistic.
This is something I like to drill into my client’s minds - WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
Realistic with our fitness goals, realistic with our nutrition goals, and realistic with our commitments.
This is not easy to tell someone on a motivational high. I would have someone contact me or come talk to me who has been off and on with their fitness for 3-5 years and is now looking for a trainer. They are feeling motivation at this specific time, so they would like a full meal plan, 5 days a week training, and peak-level results in 5-7 business days.
Yeah, not going to happen.
The truth of the matter is that this person feels so driven at this exact moment that they feel they can accomplish anything. The problem arises in a week where this drive isn’t there anymore. Now what? Do you still go to the gym 5 days a week and follow your nutrition to a tee? No, this person will wait until they feel that motivation again, but until that point they will be disconnected from their fitness goals.
THE RIGHT PATH
There are a few parts to this and we have touched on one of these parts prior.
FIRST STEP: Have the self-belief that you can and you will achieve what you have set out to accomplish.
Having this self-belief will keep your consistency with all aspects of fitness because you have the confidence in yourself. What would you rather rely on confidence or motivation?
This is an easy choice for me due to the fact that confidence is something that is earned, learned, and once found will always be there. Motivation on the other hand is driven through outside stimuli that are inconsistent in everyday life.
SECOND STEP: Be realistic with yourself.
This is the topic we touched on earlier.
When I say, “be realistic” I am not trying to prevent or discourage someone to shoot for the stars I am saying let’s start assembling the rocket before takeoff.
Have big goals on the top of your list but make sure we make and tackle the small goals all along the way.
This is why with all my clients I focus on the little things that are achievable and we both know that they will get done.
We both know this because that person has the self-belief to be able to complete their realistic goals.
Using this instead of motivation is the key to long-term success. It will change your outlook on health and fitness and make the journey something you enjoy and not something that you need outside motivation to get up and do.
I reiterate the idea of focusing on the small goals but we also have to look at the big picture and that is consistency.
Consistency is king when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, you don’t need to be perfect just make sure you are ON more than you are OFF and things will be moving in a positive direction.
- Coach Jeff