Every year a countless number of people start off the New Year motivated to accomplish the goal of finally getting fit once and for all. They start with the best of intentions, new gym memberships in hand, personal training sessions booked and yet by April 1st most are back to their old routines. What the majority of people then find out is that it is relatively easy to get motivated, but what is really hard is staying motivated. How do you stay motivated to stay fit throughout your life hereby thwarting the host of diseases and disorders caused by an unhealthy, sedentary life?
First, you need to identify what you want to accomplish. Is it weight loss? Is it running longer or farther? Is it getting toned and tight? Write your goals down and read them out loud everyday. This reinforces them in your mind so they become a part of you. Then, once you decide what you want to accomplish, you need to put a plan together for accomplishing the goal. For example, a contractor would not go about building a house without the blueprints, would he? It would be silly. It is the same for staying fit. Do you have a plan for when you are going to work out? What are you going to do when you workout? If you put a plan together, making it a habit will help you stay motivated.
Positive self talk is another way to stay motivated. Believing in yourself and seeing yourself at your goal is empowering and being empowered is motivating. Nothing can stop you.
Next, setting realistic goals for you is motivating. For example, if you have to lose 100 pounds, giving yourself only 3 months to do it is not realistic. It will discourage you. If you set a more realistic goal, one you can accomplish in a 3 month period, you can celebrate it and be that much more motivated to reach the long term goal. Lastly, focus on progress, not perfection. Nobody is perfect, so do not expect to be. Instead, use your challenges and obstacles as an opportunity to grow, to learn something about you.