I’ve recently come to the conclusion that motivation is the make-or-break factor in a client’s success (or lack thereof). I’m not talking about those initial goals or even making the commitment. Most of us can get there on our own. And for the most part, we all know what to do to achieve our goals. Granted, you might not know why you need to eat more fiber or more vegetables, or why it’s important to strength train as well as run. But you still know you need to do it. And so you set goals for yourself and what you want to accomplish with your body, and you go about achieving them.
Nope, I’m talking about that moment – it could be two weeks into your new fitness plan or two months but either way, it will happen. That moment when you make the choice to stray from your plan and give into temptation. What exactly do I mean? How about those five seconds after your alarm goes off and you decide to press snooze or shut it off rather than get your butt out of bed for a morning run. Or on your way home from work after a long day when you know a workout will help alleviate some of that stress but you still drive past the gym exit anyway. And inevitably that downfall leads to another, then another… and pretty soon you’re off the wagon entirely.
Yes, my friends, we’ve all been there and it won’t be the last time. It’s the nature of the beast, I suppose – some days it’s simply easier to give into those urges, sleep in late, or eat half of the brownies you just baked. The real challenge is motivating yourself beyond it. Don’t let that one slip up affect the rest of your day, your week, or your entire goal. Don’t let those excuses take over in that crucial moment! You know the ones I mean… all the excuses for hitting that snooze button or eating that cake. The irrational, over-the-top reasons your brain has invented to keep you from doing what you’ve set out to do. That logic you listen to even though you know it makes no sense and you will regret it later. So how do you ignore it?
Finding the inner strength to shake off those excuses and just do what it is you’ve set your mind to do isn’t easy – but it is the difference between your current self and the “you” you’ve set out to become by setting those goals in the first place. You set those goals with a purpose in mind, some initial motivation that got you off the couch and into the gym. What was it? An event, a frustration, an outfit, a new diagnosis, a desire to be healthier?
Whatever motivated you to set those goals and demand more of yourself, grab hold of it. Write it down and visualize yourself achieving your goal. As simple as this exercise is, it is an extemely powerful method of motivating yourself. It’s one thing to have a personal trainer to push you through those last few reps or to call you when you start blowing off appointments. But it’s another thing entirely when you tap into that inner desire to be better, stronger, and healthier than you currently are. Motivation like that is unstoppable!
Of course, the right workout plan and a healthy diet are important. But if you’re having trouble reaching your goals, it’s time to haul out that inner cheerleader of yours and put those excuses to shame. Find out what really motivated you in the beginning and tap into that source. Visualize your success and know that one slip-up doesn’t matter. You can still reach those goals as long as you don’t let negative thoughts cause a downhill spiral of excuses. You can do it! Rah, rah, rah!!
