21 October 2013
Before the diets, workouts, runs and ultimately joining the gym there is one crucial aspect that is needed to drive all this, motivation. The word is very common and even more so in a gym environment. The amount of people that use the lack of motivation as the reason for not joining a gym or doing exercise would far out weigh any other reason…or excuse.
A vast number of outside influences can add to a person’s motivation. We are constantly bombarded with images of perfect bodies and healthy living but the hard work that goes into achieving the healthy lifestyle and slim body can never be shown in one image. It is a gradual process which must begin with your own personal drive. Five tips to help with your motivation
1 .Change your mentality.
The hardest part about joining the gym or making a change to your lifestyle is having the motivation to drag yourself out of bed or away from the TV and give just one hour at a time to exercise.
It is very easy, probably too easy to have the attitude “I’ll join tomorrow” or “I’ll start next week” having the mentality to start now and put the effort in can be difficult, but the emphasis and determination must come from within. No-one is going to drag you off the sofa to go for that run so it must be self determination to make a difference to your lifestyle. Majority of people usually feel excellent after exercise or a gym workout, beyond the aches (and hopefully not pain) there is a feeling of achievement because you are taking an active role in making a difference to your lifestyle.
Overtime, results will come with the right mentality. Loosing body fat, improving fitness or lifting more weights are all very easily achievable by just have a different outlook on your lifestyle, and for the sake of a few hours a week, I am sure you would agree, it is definitely worth it.
2. Set a target
Don’t be the guy or girl who wanders around the gym from machine to machine, without much purpose and does not really know what they are doing in terms of a routine.
Having a target will ensure that your workouts are specific and will give you a clear idea on what your exercise or workout should be. Join the Bristol? or sign up to the famous 'Tough mudder' course. You wont want to enter these events unprepared, so it will give you the determination to train and be in the best possible shape to take part.
Check this out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jU4SfKcJPg&feature=share&list=TLJKc8PCTihE9HjWYx3VTcJLt5bzmgqKs2
The other method of setting a target is to have a fitness instructor set a training programme for yourself. In this scenario, you will have a professional design a programme for yourself and then over a period of time (12 weeks) you can check the progress. What this means is although the target can be quite vague such as improve your fitness or loose some of that excess weight, the training programme will mean that the minute you walk through the gym door, you know exactly what you are doing and when you are doing it. This can make the gym session much more enjoyable as you will be able to see progress week on week and roughly know how long each workout will take.
3. Schedule a regular workout time/day
This is one of the reasons why majority of people loose interest in attending their local gym or taking part in regular exercise, without a scheduled workout time/day it means you are never in the right state of mind to exercise.
Having a planned workout can mean that you are not always searching for that motivation of “shall I go to the gym tonight” or “I may go for a run before work”. For example, knowing that Monday, Wednesday and Friday are your workout days can allow you to relax and enjoy your days off more. It will also be a lot easier to get yourself ready for the workout because your mind and body will be ready to take on the .
Going to the gym straight from work can also help you stick you your routine. We all know that feeling of getting home and then dreading going back out to attend the gym, so don’t give yourself that option of not going. Have your kit in your work bag, car and go straight from work on your elected workout days.
4. Enjoy it!
To have the motivation to keep exercising and working out, you have to enjoy it. For some, the constant self debate of shall I go to the gym tonight means that there is a big element of not enjoying your workout routine., the answer is to try something new and tweak your routine.
Instead of going road running after work, why not find a local beach or local park and mix up your environment. If you are a member of the gym, try a new class, join a spin session and see how much you enjoy mixing up your routine. Try and stick to similar days and times but make small changes to the workout itself.
The enjoyment factor needs to be there for you to carry on your exercise routine. A good way to mix up your routine can be to seek some advice from a gym instructor.. Ask an instructor for some advice on a new workout plan, our trainers will be more than happy to offer advice and support.
5. Find a training partner
It can be quite easy to miss that Wednesday night session if you are going on your own, its not so easy to miss it when you have promised to go with a friend. Having a training partner can also mean that you have someone to motivate you and encourage you when you aren’t to keen to go on that run on a wet Wednesday night.
Joining a class at a gym is one of the best ways to meet a person with similar exercise interests as you. Regularly, members of a class can form a strong bond and the same faces will turn up together. This can make the workout more enjoyable and also an added reason to attend the class.
There are many other ways to build that camaraderie whilst training, find your interest and then seek a local group that takes part in the activity. There are running groups all around the city as well as outdoor pursuits and sports groups. Having a person who you enjoy training with can sometimes make all the difference between exercising and not.
On a final note, be positive, have targets, set a routine, find a training partner and ultimately enjoy exercising. A healthy lifestyle will lead to you having much more energy and a more positive outlook.