How do I stay motivated! Is that even possible?
First of all, you have to let yourself be human and come to terms that it is okay to not feel like working out at times. We all have these days, including myself. Motivational prep talks might wear off after a while and we find many excuses to not workout again. "It rains", "I am tired and do not feel well", "I just had a fight with someone", "I had a stressful day at work" etc. The excuses we make for ourselves are even more of a reason to release some pressure and set endorphins free, don't you think?
It is easy to be fooled by the idea that once you set your goals and you are technically ready to get started, that it will be an easy journey from here on out. Absolutely not! It will challenge you from time to time, you will have days where you don't feel like working out at all and other days where you enjoy every minute of it. The journey will be a rollercoaster. You ready for the ride?
Here are some motivational strategies I personally find very helpful.
1) Goal Setting
Goal setting is very important. If you don't know what your goal is, how do you expect to find out what it takes to get where you want to be and whether you have progressed towards that goal?
(For more information about "goal setting" stay tuned and check out the post about it coming soon:)
It is much easier to not do something that was never on your schedule in the first place. Set yourself a time and day, maybe even a place where you will do your workouts.
Make it become a routine and habit to workout at the same time every day. Set an alarm if that helps you to stay on track and not forget about it. If this doesn't suit your lifestyle and you need more flexibility that's absolutely fine as long as you intentionally schedule some time in for your workouts.
3) Find A Workout BuddyWorking out is so much more fun with a friend and workout buddy. I often workout by myself, but I have noticed, that I push myself way harder with someone by my side, feeling the burn and breaking a sweat with me even if we have completely different goals or workout programs.
4) Track Your Fitness Transformation Visually
In my ShapedFit Guide you will find challenges and reminders to track your improvement from day one on. Shoot transformation pictures every week on the same day at the same time and in the same clothes to visualize your improvements. You can do this no matter whether you work out with my guide or not. It is a great way of tracking your progress rather than just relying on the scale.
5) Start And Hang In There :)
Get over the initial "I don't feel like it" mindset. Get up and do it anyways. Once you started it is very unlikely that you will give up half way through a training session. You will workout until your session is done. I promise you, you will feel amazing afterwards no matter how long or intense your workout was. Simply by taking some time for yourself, you will start feeling more balanced, energized and overall healthy. You won't ever say „I regretted that workout today“ Especially not after a rough day at work or at home. It will release endorphins that will make you feel better regardless of the mood you were in when you started.
6) Find Something That You Enjoy Doing
This one is very important. Let it sink in for a moment. Do something that YOU personally enjoy!!! Don’t go running if you dislike it. Go for a bike ride or swim instead. How about a group fitness class, kickboxing, Crossfit or a dance class? Stay flexible and try it all out until you find the right workout for YOU. Combine your workout with things you like to do and you will see it won't seem like such a punishment anymore, but a reward and most importantly, you time.
7) Wear Comfy Workout Clothes In Which You Feel Great In
Seems kind of odd, but it helps. Do you know the saying: "Clothes make people". This is true for fitness as well. Your workout clothes have a high impact on the way you feel towards fitness and the exercises and how motivated you stay. Stock up your wardrobe if you can, free from distracting buttons, zippers, and other things that will have you fidgeting during your workout rather than staying focused on the exercise.
Let's go and crush the next workout guys.
On that note, as always "Fit is not a destination, it is a way of life"
