FOUR TIPS ON HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED ON YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY
When it comes to transforming our bodies or just changing any aspect of our lives, it’s the very act of just getting started that is, by far the most challenging stage of the process.
Finding the motivation to stay on track is something that many people struggle with especially as beginners and novices in this journey of fitness and health. The truth is, it really doesn’t matter how driven you are, there comes a point where we all hit some rough spots and we will need something to look up to that will enable us to stay on course. Here are few tips that have worked for me in the past years that I have been on this journey.
1. Don’t start with an END in mind
The problem with most people is that they usually embark on this fitness and health journey with a certain goal only to stop when they hit a plateau or adversity strikes. This lifestyle is not something to be started with an End in mind. It is a state of mind of continuous progression, setting new goals and staying long enough until you have achieved them. Personally I always advocate for self-betterment as a main goal when starting off on this journey. The idea of forging your body through a workout and choosing to eat more healthier nutritious meals while learning the discipline and determination that is required to make your goals become reality will carry on to different parts of your life.
2. Motivation after adversity
Usually lack of motivation could be as a result of internal and external factors. These hits can come in any form. It might be work related, divorce, the loss of a loved one, injury, illness, stress, among other things. The sad truth is that there is no training system, supplement or miracle that can make you immune to adversity.
Picture this: For the first time in your life all aspects of your life are coming together. You’ve successful managed to change your patterns of actions, and your lifestyle choices is leading you towards your desired goals. You are getting stronger, feeling healthier and of course looking better every week. The stubborn fat is finally melting away and being replaced by some lean muscle mass or ‘getting toned’ as majority of the females would prefer to call it. Then out of nowhere adversity strikes. You are blindsided by a bad hit that brings your progress to a screeching halt. How do you find motivation to get back on track to keep chasing your goals?
It is by setting clear goals and having a clear vision of what the end result will be in the very beginning, that will give to the drive to persevere until you attain your desired results. These goals when set yearly and then broken down into achievable steps of day to day basis is enough to bring out the motivation within yourself. With this I mean the training program, nutrition and rest should be in line with your desired goals because all these three work together if you want to be extremely successful in this journey.
3. Focus solely on you
The key to motivation is not to focus too much on what everyone else is doing but it is to focus solely on you. One of the surefire ways to stay motivated is tracking your progress. Taking baseline measurements like cardiovascular test, body measurements, weight, before pictures, strength, mobility among other things is probably the best way to stay motivated especially on those days that you feel like quitting and need a reminder of how far you have come. Evaluating your success monthly by having your picture taken and body composition measured is very recommendable.
4. Focus on the progress
Last but not least it is important to focus only on progress and not perfection which is an illusion that does not exist. Remember that you will make mistakes along the way and might fall off track. One of my favourite motivational speaker Les Brown said it best “When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up you can get up. Let your reason get you up”. Whatever it takes dust yourself up and KEEP IT MOVING!
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