So it’s getting to that time of year where the sun is closing in but the anticipation for that hot Indian summer is still at our fingertips. Meanwhile our bank accounts are getting very upset with us spending money on desperate attempts to hold onto summer with a sprinkle of sheer panic about Christmas quickly approaching. But what is really at the forefront of all our minds? “Right body for next Summer is on, this winter I will do it, come on bikini body lets be ‘aving you!!”
However the magic word that is constantly on people’s lips is motivation followed by the ever searching question of “where can I find it?” Whether or not this is to start exercising properly for the first time or building on what you are already doing, we are always striving for more, but do we actually go and get it? Unfortunately this blog is not writing to give you the magic formula as that has to come from you (boo hiss!!) Quickly cancel reading onto the next article; after all there is a magic formula right? …I believe it is probably shelved next to the magic weight loss pill…..oh wait.
Of course there are known methods which help with motivation however all our brains work so differently how can we possibly have that one magic formula?
There are so many different kinds of exercisers and no I’m not going to load you with scientific research (not in this blog anyway) I’m talking the coach potatoes V the optimistic coach potatoes V the runaway swedes.
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Coach Potatoes – Nah your alright. Okay great moving on.
Optimistic coach potato – Sunday night, game is on. Bag is packed; t-shirt, tracksuit and trainers are in the bag ready to go. The clean, freshly packed outfit is sat so proudly next to my work bag ready for Monday morning. This is going to be great, I’ll have my music, I will be great and my bikini body will be on its way! New week, new me.
Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 passes…the bag is still sat “proudly” by the front door ready to go. Day 7 comes and bingo we hit some progression, (hooray) it makes it to the car. Day 8,9,10, 11 it stays in the car. I get it; the poor bastard has got FOMO. The bag literally is crying out for adventures cruising around in the car, I really appreciate your caring nature though babes…
The days continue to pass and we take further steps…”Watched a fitness video today, looked on a gym website, ate some lettuce. I feel GOOD!”
Sidenote: You don’t need to just live on lettuce. SHOCK.
Look, we have all been there, we’ve all turned our alarm off and drastically searched for that excuse to justify in our brains why we don’t need to do it.
“Blimey, it looks so windy outside I’m not running in that”
“Ahh I forgot I really should go into work early and get that work finished”
“Oh no! I haven’t even prepped my lunch yet for today, there is no way I will have time”
“I’m just too tired and its soo cold outside…ice and stuff”
The list goes on and on and will continue to go on. So is it actually about finding motivation whether it is intrinsic/extrinsic or is it about teaching how to discipline ourselves or, both?
We will always find an excuse to block us in the way of what we want to achieve whether it’s because we don’t have the confidence, drive, belief or understanding.
Reality is we tend to set ourselves up for failure because we set ridiculous goals in short spaces of time (not saying these aren’t always achievable) however we are way too inpatient.
You wouldn’t get to be perfectly fluent in 3 new languages in a week or two so why are you expecting to lose 2 stone, gain muscle and healthy eating all sorted in 2 weeks as well?
Whatever your goal, whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, or just fitness improvement, our journeys are not quick and certainly not easy at times.
Your journeys are forever evolving, I know mine certainly is!
Reality is, it’s time to stop looking for those quick fixes that give money to people that have no idea/care about your health, body & goals and build slowly. Take little steps, progressing and becoming the best you possibly can.
You don’t have to run a marathon to say you have achieved, walking up the stairs without getting breathless, getting your form correct for an exercise, getting out of bed to the gym are all movements in the right direction.
Be kind to yourself, don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s and keep the real reason why you are training in the forefront of your mind as that will be your motivation – the rest is discipline and you have ABSOLUTELY GOT THIS!
.“The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable”
GAUTAMA BUDDHA
BYE BABES X