Recently we asked the following question on our blog “What’s your biggest challenge to exercising regularly?”
What was revealed was some pretty interesting, yet expected, results. A whopping 83% of respondents said that a lack of motivation is what kept them from exercising regularly. The rest of the answers were equally split between not having enough time and not knowing what to do.
So with these results in mind it would only make sense to give you some added ways to get motivated to exercise on a regular basis.
1. Know the benefits of exercise.
Isn’t true that you are more motivated to do things that you'll benefit from. The more you benefit, the more motivated you are. For example, if I told you I'd give you 5 dollars to take a 30-minute walk tomorrow morning, would you do it? Maybe, maybe not?
But what if I put $1 million on the table for taking a walk? You bet you would take that walk!
What you need to realize is that the benefits of exercise are even more compelling than a million bucks! What if you were a multi-millionaire but all of a sudden could no longer walk up a flight of stairs of fell ill due to poor lifestyle and lack of exercise?
You see, nothing matters more than your health and vitality – NOTHING!
Exercise keeps you young, strong, capable of performing your day to day tasks with ease, makes you feel more confident and happy, and much more!
So, it’s simple…MOVE YOUR #SS!
2. Realize the consequences of not exercising
The consequences are many.
Lethargy, disappointment in yourself, being fat, being out of breath, unable to walk of stairs easily, sore joints and muscles, lack of flexibility, lack of strength, more susceptible to injury, difficulty shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, or gardening, sour outlook on life because of how you feel about yourself, inability to reach your full human potential, tough time fitting into clothes that make you feel sexy, feeling uncomfortable in social settings, depression, disease, premature death, etc… I could go on forever but I’m sure you get the point!
Maybe you need to take a trip to a nursing home or amputation ward at a hospital to gain some perspective. Believe me; most of these people would do anything to be in your shoes. So lace them up and get moving!
3. Create as many WHY’s as possible
Keep a piece of paper and pen handy for a couple of days. Jot down EVERY reason you can think of that you want to get healthy/get fit/lose weight through consistent exercise.
The reasons WHY you have, the more motivated you will feel. Your reasons WHY give you the energy and juice that will keep you rockin’! Having a goal without knowing WHY you want to achieve it is like spending $30,000 in university tuition without having a clue of what you want to do with your degree besides pay off your student loans!
So make a long, extensive list. This may not seem important, but it is critical to be able to read this list when your motivation to exercise is waning. It's a powerful way to quickly get "re-motivated"!
4. Exercise with a friend
Statistics reveal that people who exercise with a friend are more successful at exercising consistently. Basically, it comes down to having accountability. Most of us need something outside of ourselves to keep us going when you don’t feel like working out.
Having an exercise partner enables you to keep each other accountable. Knowing that someone is waiting for you to exercise with them can be great motivation to show up and get it done!
5. Exercise first thing in the morning, every morning.
There is no better feeling than starting your day knowing that you’ve gotten your exercise out of the way. Plus, you’ll feel much happier and better about yourself. Your metabolism will be revved and you will have a much more fruitful day – guaranteed!
Your body was made to be active on a daily basis, and when you are, all sorts of wonderful things happen. You even get healthy and fit!
People who exercise 6 to 7 days per week first thing in the morning are much more successful at exercising consistently than those who do the 2 or 3 day thing. It doesn't have to be a huge workout everyday. Get out there and take a 30-minute walk, do yoga, take your dog for a stroll, hit the gym, go for a run…just get your body moving in a way that gets your heart rate and muscles working!
Yuri Elkaim is a Certified Kinesiologist, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, former Professional Soccer Player, the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the University of Toronto men’s soccer program, and regarded by many as Canada’s leading Fitness expert. His trademarked Fitter U™ program is the world’s only 12-week body shaping fitness program for iPod/MP3 players, guaranteed to help you lose weight, burn fat, and feel great with only 3 workouts per week. Try it today only at www.myFitterU.com.