How to keep motivated.
I had an email recently from a friend who is working hard to lose weight and improve his fitness. While he has done really well, and made some positive changes to his lifestyle, he was finding the continued motivation difficult to find. His question to me was a great one:
“How do you find the inspiration to keep exercising day after day, you have been doing it for years now?”
It’s not something I often think about, so the question really made me stop and contemplate what my drivers are. The first thing that came to mind is exactly what i said above. I don’t think about getting out and exercising, to quote the famous Nike slogan I “just do it”.
It is very rare that I get out of bed and don’t put my exercise clothes straight on…It’s become a habit. I always look at my diary the day before and plan exactly when I will have time to get my workout in.
The question I ask myself is will I go for a run, walk up the Peak, or go to the gym. I make my decision based on what I have done the day before, and what I’m training for at that particular time.
The danger I have found is when I start thinking too much about what workout I will do. It is so easy to mentally talk yourself out of exercising. All it takes is the little gremlin on your shoulder saying, “come on, you went for a run yesterday, you don’t need to go today”, or “its cold out there, your going to freeze, stay inside where its nice and warm”. As soon as the doubt is in your mind, it breaks down your resistance. So don’t think about it…just get out the door.
What I also find really helps me is having a goal to work towards. If I’m training for a particular race, then I will follow a program which takes all the guess work out of what I have to do each day. I feel fulfilled when I achieve a milestone along the way, and I love knowing that I am training for a purpose.
I have a good level of fitness, and I don’t want to lose that. When I’m exercising I feel strong and healthy. I love the feeling of my body being pushed to the limit, and then going a little bit further. I really believe that our bodies are amazing machines, and are capable of so much more than we realize. I don’t intend to find my limits, but I do want to stay fit and healthy for as long as I can.
The expat lifestyle is a very social one; it is rare that we aren’t out for dinner at least 3 times a week. I love good food, and the occasional glass of wine (or 2 or 3). Exercising means I can still indulge without worrying too much about counting calories.
It probably also helps that I’m not good at sitting still. An hour in front of the computer is torture for me; I would take an hour running on the trails any day. (yes, my hour is almost up).
I have made exercise part of my life; I would go as far as to say my life revolves around health and fitness. I would never go on a trip without taking my exercise gear, it just wouldn’t enter my head.
My advice to you would be, schedule your exercise in each week and don’t question it. Focus on how great it makes you feel when you have done a workout or achieved a goal. Think of exercise as an integral part of your life, something you can’t wait to do each day. JUST DO IT.