Motivation & YOU! +Fx4 Arms
For some, motivation can be fleeting or even non existent. But it's also directly related to consistency. If you're not motivated, you're not consistent, and if your not consistent, you're not motivated. I have the luxury of working in a gym and having clients and I work hard because I wouldn't ask them to do anything I can't do myself. So I'm always pushing to learn and improve for not only my own benefit but for theirs.
But for others who don't have this same pressure, although I choose to look at it as a gift. How do you stay motivated?
I'm going to show you what I go through with my clients when I first meet them.
Firstly I give them homework. Yes, I know it sounds boring BUT this is super important and something I can't do for you or them. I get them to answer these questions
Firstly what do you want?
Then why?
So for example, if it's weightloss that you want. And your reason why is "to look better"
I'd ask you why is it personally important for you to look better?
If your answer is something along the lines of "to feel better" then again, I ask why is that important to you?
These questions may seem redundant but alot of people don't actually realise how much they truly want something until they answer these questions and look back at what they've written down. It's no longer just about losing weight. It's about being a happier, healthier person for the better. Once you realise just how important it is to you. You will be alot more motivated to continue. Keep these somewhere you can read them when you lose direction.
Secondly you have to identify your own excuses.
We ALL have given ourselves excuses from time to time. But what we can learn from this is how to avoid doing it again. That guilty feeling when you realised if you had of worked out when you first thought of it you would of had time. Avoid it next time by getting up and doing it straight away. You will never regret getting up and giving it ago even if you're feeling tired, it may wake you up. Or even if you don't make it through that's okay! We all have our off days, identify the factors that caused you to be so exhausted and work on them for next time. If your excuse is that you don't know what you're doing, then stick to what your confident with and move on when you're ready. Remember we all start as beginners and if someone is putting you down then they don't understand what fitness is truly all about. You may be surprised someone may even offer you a hand. Or if you're really scared get a personal trainer to take you through a program and learn from them what you need to do. That's our job to help you not judge you.
Whatever your excuses are you need to identify them and then counter them. Make a plan
If (insert excuse here) happens
Then I will (come up with solution to make sure your excuse doesn't ruin your motivation)
Its also important to surround yourself with proper motivating energy. Alot of girls have models, or enhanced and photoshopped women as their #goals. Holding ourselves to unrealistic standards is a massive demotivator as we start to feel like "that'll never be me why am I bothering?". Girl they aren't even them so do not beat yourself up. They're are so many girls out there who are real and posting there stories and journeys. Seeing other REAL women going through the same thing can be so helpful. Don't just follow people you want to look like, whilst it can be helpful to have inspiration make sure those people achieved their results from hard work. Follow people who have the same shape as you now so you can see people like you killing it for some confidence. If they post a workout video, try it! Follow people who have achieved amazing things and also started at the bottom. Follow people who do exercises you want to do and work towards them. Don't stop there though, get a group of friends and do a class together! The people you surround yourself with can be your biggest motivators. Both in real life and on social media. If your real life friends are lazy, unfit and unmotivated, chances are you'll be one of those things too. Coming from experience it's very hard to keep motivated when you're in bad company. Sometimes it takes a little perspective to realise that the people around you are holding you back. If you don't have the right motivating energy and support, it takes a lot more effort on your part to keep motivated.
To summarise:
Know what you want.
Work out why it's so important.
Identify your excuses and barriers.
Come up with counter solutions for excuses
Surround yourself with positive and motivating energy
Finally appreciate all the little wins along the way. Don't be so hard on yourself all the time, even if its just getting one more rep, or running an extra minute, managing to eat healthy for a whole day. This doesn't mean go nuts and blow all your hard work, but take a moment to step back and realise how much you're actually accomplishing on your way. Be proud of the little things so you enjoy your progress more because you'll appreciate how far you've come.
With that I leave you with this weeks Fx4 workout video. This week is arms, if you don't have dumbells, you can refer to my previous post about house hold items that double as workout equipment.
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