Have you ever started an exercise program, been motivated and keen, only to discover a month or two later that you have let it slip? An offer of a coffee with a friend takes precedence over the gym session, or a drink with the boys sure beats that 10km run you were planning! The bad Gremlin on your shoulder is leading you astray. It happens to everyone at some point or another, the question is, what do you do about it?
It sounds really simple, but finding something your passionate about could be the answer. If you love being outside in the fresh air, then doing weights in the gym might not work for you. If you are a great swimmer and feel free and happy in the water, then aerobics might be your worst nightmare. My husband (pictured) doesn’t really like running, however if I say to him I have signed us up for a half marathon in 2 months (which I do regularly), then he will start training seriously because he LOVES to have a goal to work towards. If we don’t have a goal he will go to the gym and be lucky to last for three km’s on the treadmill. Similarly, he loves gadgets, and his Garmin watch is one of his favorite toys. He uploads every run, compares it to the last workout and gets a real buzz as he sees the improvement in time/distance. We all have different motivators, and finding out what yours is could be the difference between making exercise part of your life, and looking at it as a chore.
If you love team sports, and thrive on competition then see what is being offered in your local area. You may find you not only get fitter but also make new friends at the same time. One of the ladies that comes to my boot camp classes readily admits she doesn’t really like boot camp; she just comes for the social side of it. However she comes religiously twice a week because she enjoys the interaction with the other women, which keeps her motivated. Exercise doesn’t have to fit into the mainstream of going to the gym, or running or riding a bike. Think outside the square a bit and see what you can find. I was working with one of my Coaching clients on this very topic. We discovered she loves being part of a group and working towards a task. A few people she knew competed in last years Tough Mudder challenge and had a ball. She really wanted to take part but was worried her lack of fitness would let the team down. She decided to set that as her goal and do her best to stick to it. All of a sudden she had focus for her training and people relying on her. The result was that she kept up her fitness, loved the changes it made to her physically and mentally, and she completed the 21km Tough mudder challenge. She was a strong member of the team, and felt fantastic at what she had achieved.
Ask yourself these questions:
What do I really love doing?
What motivates me?
How can I incorporate exercise into my social activities?
Who can I get to support me?
Look at other areas of your life and see what really works to keep you motivated there, then apply the same principles to your exercise. Write down a list of what you really LOVE to do, and see if you can incorporate any of your passions into exercise. Creating an awareness of yourself will help you understand what has held you back you in the past, and may make you look at health and fitness in a whole new light.
Have a great week ahead. x