HOW TO REVIVE YOUR MOTIVATION

Everyone at one point or another has struggled for motivation to exercise or to eat the right things. Have you struggled to get out of bed on a cold morning to get to that cycle class? What about not pushing yourself to get those few extra reps out on the leg press? Have you ever stopped your treadmill session halfway through as you couldn’t be bothered? If any of this sounds familiar, you know how hard it is to keep going when you’re not motivated. Here’s a few ideas to help you refocus and stay on track.

• Have specific goals.

I have mentioned this in a previous article but I’m mentioning it again because its so damn important. It’s so much easier to push yourself when you have a goal in mind. It gives you some purpose and direction. You know there is something great that is waiting for you at the end of your journey. If you don’t have a goal, get one!

• Turn the main goal into a “goal journey”

It’s always great to have long term goals such as waiting to lose 20kg of body fat or to squat another 60kg but sometimes these goals are just too distant. The accomplishment of these goals can be months or even years away, so it’s easy to lose motivation .The best thing to do is to break the one big goal into multiple smaller goals which I call a “goal journey”. If your aim is to lose 20kg of body fat, instead make it into 4 goals of 5kg or any other increment. You could have 20 goals of 1kg if need be. Once you reach the first goal, you feel good about yourself as there is the feeling of accomplishment. Chances are you’ll be even more motivated for the next goal as you’ve proven to yourself that its possible when you break it down into baby steps!

• Personal training

If you are really finding it hard to push yourself or struggle for direction when training, a personal trainer can be the perfect injection of motivation. They’ll push you to the limits you didn’t think was possible, all the while making sure you are exercising safely. Having someone there to encourage you to go that little bit heavier, longer or faster can really make the difference between success and failure.

Personal trainers can also help you set realistic goals and help you track them through various methods such as measureing body fat percetage and performance in the gym. It will keep you accountable as you’ve made an appointment you HAVE to go to as no one likes wasting money.

• Have pictures

Did you know that being able to visibly see something can help you to understand and comprehend it 400% better than just writing it down (you do write down your goals?….. don’t you?).  If there is an ideal body type you are looking to achieve, try and find a picture of it and put it somewhere where you will see it constantly. This might be at your desk, on the back of the toilet door or even on fridge door so you see it when feel like snacking!

With picture up, you will constantly be reminded of your goals and it will help you to stay motivated. If you are trying to get back to a body shape you used to have, keep a picture of your old (soon to be new) body to remind you how could you can/will look if you keep at it. You can even take pictures of yourself every month and see the gradual changes. This in itself is like a goal journey.

• Training partner

Having a training partner can be great as you can help to push each other and keep each other accountable. If you agree to meet someone at the gym at a certain time, you will feel guilty if you don’t turn up. You’ll be letting both you and him/her down. Its good to have a training partner who is around the same fitness level as you, but it’s even better if they are slightly fitter and motivated. You always want to surround yourself with people who will pull you up, not drag you down.

• A new program

Training can get stale and stagnant if you keep the same program for too long. As you keep doing the same training program over and over, the progressions you make will start to slow and you may get to the point where you plateau!  This is dangerous for your motivation and attitude towards fitness as you may be disheartened at the lack of results and stop training all together !

• Have a rest week

As I write this I am currently having a rest week. I have one every 8-12 weeks. The last week or so I’ve had sore and aching joints and my energy levels in the gym have not been great. These are signs that its time for a break.  It allows my body to rest and get rid of any niggling injuries. Dont worry about losing all of your gains in your rest week. Sometimes I even come back stronger as my body is fully rested and fresh. By the end of a rest week, I’m itching to get back into it again.

If you would like some more information on how PerFit Health and Wellness can help you with your goals, visit www.perfit.com.au and book in for a free consultation to find out about our training packages.

Yours in good health and wellness,

Julian Gaylor

Owner of PerFit Health and Wellness