How To Get Motivated

I have clients, customers and sometimes just outsiders coming to me daily asking me where I get my motivation and what they can do to get motivated. There is no simple answer here. My motivation is Intrinsic, meaning that it comes from inside. My motivation is the energy I get after working out, knowing that I am setting myself and my body up for success and setting a positive example for others while showing everyone that it IS possible to live a healthy lifestyle even when our lives are crazy busy!

It wasn’t always that way though. Sports and exercise have always been a part of my life but the reward was the win or the goal that I set out to get (extrinsic motivation). If I didn’t have that then I had NO motivation. So what changed, you ask? I was tired of the roller coaster ride. Watching my weight go UP and DOWN, UP and DOWN. It was frustrating and I always blamed it on” bad genes”, being “big boned”, “busy schedule” as a single mom, etc, etc, etc. I had EVERY excuse in the BOOK!! One day I took a good look hard at myself after my weight had gone up, AGAIN, after my health started to deteriorate and realized that I was becoming a statistic that I didn’t want to be a part of. How was I going to be there for my son if I could not even be there for myself?

So where did the motivation come from this time around? It didn’t! I had to set goals to have that extrinsic motivation, again. Sometimes even that didn’t drive me but then I just had to do it. You know, like the Nike slogan…..JUST DO IT!! Even though my head was saying “NO WAY” I had to just push myself no matter what and once I started it took about 10 minutes before the endorphins set in and I was completely into it and thankful that I pushed myself in the end.

They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. In my experience I can say that it’s true. After that time period, my body was just ready each and every day for a great workout. You don’t always have to love it, in fact….. many days I hated it but the proof is in the pudding and at 36, I am in the best shape of my life. I have more lean muscle then I had in my 20’s and my fitness level is CRAYZEE!!!!! ANYONE can do it….ANYONE! You just have to prepare yourself mentally, push yourself when you don’t want to be pushed and know that it is all worth it. You are important and you need your energy and health in order to provide for your family so understand that it should become priority. It doesn’t have to be for hours each and every day. Set aside 30 minutes each day, 5 days a week. Is that too much? I guarantee you will find that 30 minutes somewhere as there is something that you are doing that does not need to be done. Maybe cut out a TV program, internet searching or some other activity. The point is, you have to find your motivation and sometimes it will not come right away but the bigger question is………are you willing to do what it takes to make the change?