Let’s face it, if you’re a normal human then you most likely have started a fitness program at some point in your life or maybe have even recently started a new program with tons of excitement and motivation to get started. Whatever your current situation is, at some point in your life you have decided that taking steps to make yourself healthier and happier is something you were going to do.
The start of the program usually goes smoothly because you’re excitement and motivation is still high. Week one and two are a breeze. Then as week three rolls around, the enthusiasm you once had is slowly dwindling if not already depleted. A number of factors can be the cause of this. From my experiences I’ve been able to determine the reasons why people stop exercising and/or eating better.
I’ve come up with 6 tips for you to stay motivated and excited about taking the steps to change your life.
Tip #1
Train with a PURPOSE
Have a goal or better yet, multiple ones that you want to achieve. Goals help determine why we’re training and can help lay the ground work for a solid program. Your purpose doesn’t have to be a competition as not everyone has a desire to compete. Many just want to be better at life. Both are absolutely acceptable purposes. Whatever your situation may is, be aware of why you want to train. Training with a purpose is just one part of preserving your enthusiasm.
Tip #2
Monitor your training to know if you’re doing TOO MUCH or NOT ENOUGH
Determining the appropriate volume and intensity for someone’s training program can be tough. Therefore, it takes some trial and error and adjusting on our part to cater to their needs as they progress through the program. We find some people that are doing too much exercise. On the opposite side, we find that some people aren’t doing enough and have been this way for a while. Both are not good. Luckily, the use of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is becoming more popular. HRV is a tracking system that uses fluctuations in your heart rate to determine whether you’re doing too much or too little. It means better results for you and gives us information on your readiness to train and your level of fatigue. Using HRV means you’re training smarter so that you can find a balance between too much and too little. Once you find this balance, you’ll be able to better achieve the results you’re seeking.
Tip #3
Live Light AND Lift Heavy
If you “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or browse through our website on a regular basis, you better know by now that we’re big fans of living light and lifting heavy. Crushing it in the gym is what we love most, but lounging back and enjoying time with friends and friends is just as important to all of us . Once again, it’s all about balance. Lifting heavy weights is great for the mind as well as the body in that it will make you mentally and physically stronger. However, if you’re always on the go AND lifting heavy weights regularly, your body might be on overload. Therefore, finding time to relax so that you can train hard and then recover is crucial. Your body needs that down time as well as the go time. For a full article on the importance of this concept go to Stress: The Real Epidemic
Tip #4
Surround yourself with a support TEAM
Surrounding yourself with people who are driven to achieve their goals and who will encourage you to achieve yours is the biggest key to success in training. Without a sense of camaraderie, it’s hard to keep people excited to all work together. Be a member of a team or have an accountable workout buddy. Whether you have 20 people or just 2 people encouraging you camaraderie is key.
Create a culture of progress and motivation within the relationships that you form. When you’re at the gym next don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with those around you. When there’s one day or maybe a week when you’re not motivated to workout your team is there to encourage you. That’s what they are there for!
Tip #5
Pick your training facility WISELY
The facility you choose to exercise in has more of an affect on you than you may realize. Many purchase a membership at a local gym and hope that it will motivate them to workout. However, the accountability, guidance, instruction, and overall morale is often low. Sometimes the facility is downright gloomy, soul crushing, dull, etc. You get the point. Pick a training facility that is filled with knowledgeable coaches that have a passion for changing your life. You can generally get a feel of the atmosphere when you first walk in. Although your training should be focused, having fun while you’re doing it is absolutely necessary. It’s one thing to just go into a gym and hop on an elliptical for 45 minutes and then leave right after, but it’s another thing to have a smart training program that is driven by science. Train in a facility that has coaches that value this science driven training and where they (the coaches) are always looking to improve.
Tip #6 CHANGE the way you view exercise
I’ve mentioned in previous posts the importance of training to make yourself a better person. The vast majority of individuals who begin an exercise program start with the intention to lose weight, increase muscle, decrease body fat, and other physical characteristics. I don’t have a problem with that because that usually means that they want to look better because they realize it will help them feel better too. What I’ve found is that although these physical improvements are the initial motivator, many find a shift in mindset as they progress. It becomes less about what their weekly body fat percentage is and more about how much happier they feel. They realize that a sense of empowerment, strength, and increased confidence are all traits that they begin to notice within themselves. These traits begin to become the primary reason that they stay dedicated to training.
These trainees want to be healthier,happier, and shift away from a desire to train to punish themselves for a cookie or bowl of ice cream they had the night before. Train because you love your body, not because you hate it. For more information on this topic you read about the personal stories myself and 2 other women went through at Stronger Bodies but Even Stronger Minds
So there you have it! I hope you’ve found inspiration in the 6 tips I’ve explained above. These are all tips that I’ve realized I personally have used but also ones that I use with my clients currently. Here’s a recap of the tips:
1) Train with a purpose
2) Monitor your training
3) Live light and lift heavy
4) Surround yourself with a support team
5) Pick your training facility wisely
6) Change how you view exercise
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Live Light and Lift Heavy
Melissa G