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Getting Motivated and Ready for Exercise
How can I get Fit Easily? Getting motivated to exercise and lose weight can be hard, very hard. But don't despair, help is at hand. For most of us, the most difficult part is simply getting started!
Many people have good intentions when it comes to getting fit and losing weight. But when it comes to actually doing it, we seem to find an endless list of reasons to put it off.
So, why does exercise seem like such a good idea until we actually have to get off our collective backsides and do it? Could it be that we are unmotivated?
What is Motivation?
Wikipedia defines motivation as "the activation or energization of goal-oriented behavior".
Judging by that definition, we need something to drive and motivate us to exercise, something to energize our desire and get us going. So where does that 'something' come from? For some people, like athletes, it may come from the desire to compete and to win. For others, it may come from a desire to be healthy or live longer for their kids. For most, losing weight is often the goal. But is that enough to motivate us? Judging from our obesity problems, I'd say no.
Getting Excited About Exercise?
Many would argue that the statement above is a contradiction in terms. For many people, getting excited about exercise is a bit like getting excited about going to the dentist.
If that sounds like you, maybe it's time to rethink what's important to you. Deciding to exercise is the first important step, but it's what you do to follow through that really matters.
Redefining Motivation
For different people motivation comes from different places. For example, let's say you're engaged to be married and you want to look your best for the wedding. Would that be enough reason to motivate you? I think yes. Perhaps you are planning a holiday to a tropical beach resort with your girlfriends where you know there will be lots of beach parties and romance. Would you want to look your best in your swim suit?
I think yes.
What I am talking about here is goal setting. Having specific goals can motivate you and make exercising easier.
Many people have good intentions when it comes to getting fit and losing weight. But when it comes to actually doing it, we seem to find an endless list of reasons to put it off.
So, why does exercise seem like such a good idea until we actually have to get off our collective backsides and do it? Could it be that we are unmotivated?
What is Motivation?
Wikipedia defines motivation as "the activation or energization of goal-oriented behavior".
Judging by that definition, we need something to drive and motivate us to exercise, something to energize our desire and get us going. So where does that 'something' come from? For some people, like athletes, it may come from the desire to compete and to win. For others, it may come from a desire to be healthy or live longer for their kids. For most, losing weight is often the goal. But is that enough to motivate us? Judging from our obesity problems, I'd say no.
Getting Excited About Exercise?
Many would argue that the statement above is a contradiction in terms. For many people, getting excited about exercise is a bit like getting excited about going to the dentist.
If that sounds like you, maybe it's time to rethink what's important to you. Deciding to exercise is the first important step, but it's what you do to follow through that really matters.
Redefining Motivation
For different people motivation comes from different places. For example, let's say you're engaged to be married and you want to look your best for the wedding. Would that be enough reason to motivate you? I think yes. Perhaps you are planning a holiday to a tropical beach resort with your girlfriends where you know there will be lots of beach parties and romance. Would you want to look your best in your swim suit?
I think yes.
What I am talking about here is goal setting. Having specific goals can motivate you and make exercising easier.
Start now - make exercise part of your daily routine. At any age, increasing your daily activity, even by a small amount, can make a difference.
Goal Setting
So, the first step in motivating yourself is having something to work for. Here's a little tip that I use when setting my goals. It's called "S.M.A.R.T. Goals" SMART goals are goals that are (S) specific, (M) measurable, (A) achievable, (R) realistic, (T) time framed. Lets take a closer look.
Specific:
Be specific about your goal. In order to succeed, it is not good enough to simply say I will walk more often. Rather, you should say, I will walk every morning before breakfast for 20 minutes.
Measurable: Using the example above, the measurable part is "20 minutes". In other words, you are not just going for a walk before breakfast, you are going to walk for 20 minutes.
Achievable: It is no good setting goals that are unachievable. If you were to say "I will walk every morning before breakfast for two hours" and you don't have two hours to spare or if it is beyond your physical ability then it is not achievable and will result in failure.
Realistic: Can you actually commit to a 20 minute walk every morning? Or would it be more realistic to go for a walk every second morning? Be realistic with your goal setting plan.
Time Framed: Time framing your goals can mean "I will walk everyday before breakfast for 20 minutes for the next three months. Or, I will walk for 20 minutes per morning for the first two week, then 25 minutes for the following 2 weeks, the 30 minutes and so on. Time frame your goals.
...And commit it to paper! Writing it down will help you to succeed!
And you don't have to set only one goal. You can set as many goals as you like, whenever you like. Set daily goals (I'll walk for 20 minutes today), weekly goals (I'll get a minimum of 3 workouts in), or even hourly goals (I'll get up from my desk every 45 minutes and stretch for 5 minutes). Always having something to work for, big or small, is a great way of keeping you motivated and makes ahieving your goals that much easier.
So, the first step in motivating yourself is having something to work for. Here's a little tip that I use when setting my goals. It's called "S.M.A.R.T. Goals" SMART goals are goals that are (S) specific, (M) measurable, (A) achievable, (R) realistic, (T) time framed. Lets take a closer look.
Specific:
Be specific about your goal. In order to succeed, it is not good enough to simply say I will walk more often. Rather, you should say, I will walk every morning before breakfast for 20 minutes.
Measurable: Using the example above, the measurable part is "20 minutes". In other words, you are not just going for a walk before breakfast, you are going to walk for 20 minutes.
Achievable: It is no good setting goals that are unachievable. If you were to say "I will walk every morning before breakfast for two hours" and you don't have two hours to spare or if it is beyond your physical ability then it is not achievable and will result in failure.
Realistic: Can you actually commit to a 20 minute walk every morning? Or would it be more realistic to go for a walk every second morning? Be realistic with your goal setting plan.
Time Framed: Time framing your goals can mean "I will walk everyday before breakfast for 20 minutes for the next three months. Or, I will walk for 20 minutes per morning for the first two week, then 25 minutes for the following 2 weeks, the 30 minutes and so on. Time frame your goals.
...And commit it to paper! Writing it down will help you to succeed!
And you don't have to set only one goal. You can set as many goals as you like, whenever you like. Set daily goals (I'll walk for 20 minutes today), weekly goals (I'll get a minimum of 3 workouts in), or even hourly goals (I'll get up from my desk every 45 minutes and stretch for 5 minutes). Always having something to work for, big or small, is a great way of keeping you motivated and makes ahieving your goals that much easier.
FITNESS
MOTIVATION
Continued...
Next | Previous
HOW CAN I GET FIT EASILY?
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