We’ve all been to the point of not wanting to get up to go to the gym, continue a diet, or do something positive. It happens to the best of us and it’s definitely something that has hit me on several occasions. Sometimes we just get unmotivated, and sometimes it gets us on the worst day. We’re all guilty of thinking in the negative, not wanting things. Everything is fine and normal, but there is no action in not wanting something. I’ll give you a rundown of what I did to keep myself motivated to turn my fitness and dietary routines into a lifestyle.
Define a Goal.
That sounds easy enough! Mine was to become more fit. Great goals are never generalized and broad; the best goals are honed into and well thought out. “I want to lose 30 pounds in 4 months.” Now we’re getting somewhere. Make sure your goal is not impossible and you can actually attain it.
Create a Plan.
Don’t haphazardly put together some plan of action – really develop it. For me, it was my diet and my fitness. I would start counting my calories, cut out the “bad” foods in my life, and start a workout routine. Generalized again, sure, but it was more focused than my goal. Once I started, I realized that I was being too broad. I gave myself a number of calories to eat per day – and tracked it, chose a fitness routine to follow – and tracked it.
Based on my body weight I chose to eat 1700 calories a day, and go to the gym 3 times a week. 1700 calories to me sounds like a lot, but when you break it down into consecutive meals it really isn’t so much! Cutting out the junk food, the soda, and the sweets really gave me leeway in my dietary goals.
Spice it up.
If you have a goal that is something you absolutely hate, then don’t do it. With that frame of mind, the moment you can drop it like a bad habit – you will. If it’s something you have a big desire for but don’t enjoy it, think outside the box. Do you dislike running? Go cycling. Do you dislike eating salads? Find a different green to eat. My personal favorite is broccoli and asparagus.
Indulge Yourself in It.
You might say that learning about something will just cut your motivation down, but it doesn’t. Nutrition became a hobby of mine when I started to learn about the benefits, and it turned into a science when I got into the kitchen. I began experimenting with different foods, which really added fun to the whole experience. I was never fond of fitness, but now I lift on a weekly basis and strive to learn more every day.
One thing that always inspires me is reading success stories. You know exactly the ones I am talking about. The ones that remind you of yourself, the ones that feed the fire of desire inside you. Seeing that short term and long term goals are attainable, something that you can do too. They can really help push past your limits and create new doorways for yourself. Don’t underestimate the power of desire.
Chart Your Progress.
We all need tangible evidence to see that we are getting somewhere. If you want to lose weight, then take a “before” picture and compare it week by week. If you’re on a diet to lower your blood sugar, chart your morning counts every week. We need a reminder that we’re on the right track, and that we’re slowly progressing toward our goal. I took a picture of myself in the mirror when I was 225 pounds, and I looked at it every day. It didn’t only motivate me, but it really made me push for the end goal.
Re-evalute Your Goal.
It’s 3, 5, 9, 12 months down the line and you’ve finally hit your goal! Well, first let me say congratulations – but now we need to make new ones. There’s no better way to keep ourselves motivated than having a new goal to achieve. Set personal records for running a mile, deadlifting, weight loss, or blood sugar counts. I was down 30 pounds in 4 months, and I felt great – but I was still hungry for more.
Get Going.
By this point I knew what I was doing. I had the basics of nutrition and fitness in my back pocket, and I wanted to take that all the way.
If you do something for 30 days, it will become a habit.”
My best to each and every one of you who are striving to reach a seemingly impossible goal. Keep at it, write your progress down, and tell me about your success story!
