This is a guest post from the author or your happy hearts.com! My name is Angie Christine and I am the author of Your Happy Hearts. I am asked to write about Motivation more than any other subject. It’s hard to help someone find their motivation. “Motivation is unique to each of us.” I have said it in the past and will continue to say it again. You may be working out for a totally different reason than that of the person jogging next to you in the gym.
I have been thinking about this subject a lot myself, as my personal motivation fluctuates from day to day, week to week, and month to month. This is what I came up with and hope it helps motivate you too!
M – Mind: You must first make up your MIND to just “do it already.” Sitting on the couch thinking about it or watching shows like the Biggest Loser are not going to get you up and moving. It’s up to you and no one else. You must have a mind set in which “you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.”
O – Objective: What’s your OBJECTIVE? (Websters: Something worked toward or striven for; a goal.) Don’t go to a gym or purchase a few DVD’s without first making your plan of attack. What do you want in the end, why do you want this change, what’s your time line, and how can you make it happen?
T – Time: Prioritize your TIME. If you don’t make the time to workout within your busy life schedule, you will never fit it in. It must be moved to the top of the list. Other things may have to be set aside for a while. When you reach your goal and are maintaining, then you can pick those thing up again.
I – Invite: INVITE friends/family to workout with you. Having someone with the same excitement for change, helps push you to a new level. Start a support group or fun competition at your work. If your friends/family do not want to workout with you, explain to them how important it is you have their support.
V – Vary: Exercise can get boring fast or become just a routine. So VARY it up and keep things fresh and new. Try different classes at your local gym, take a day to ride your bike, run or walk outside. Purchase different DVD’s with different trainers and styles of workouts and fitness levels.
A – Attitude: Nothing can make or break you as fast as your ATTITUDE. You must walk into the gym with positive attitude. Continue to tell yourself you can do it and you are proud of yourself. It’s OK to pat yourself on the back. As soon as you tell yourself you can’t, your workouts will come to a fast end.
T – Train: The word TRAIN means teaching your body to do something it may not have done before. Don’t get upset if you can’t do something the first few times. With training, your body will adapt and start to change. The average change starts to show in 6-8 weeks. Hang in there and keep pressing forward.
I – Information: If you have never worked out before you must gather INFORMATION. Use resources such as Your Happy Hearts.com and other sites to gather the information you need. Learn about proper food and diet, different exercise routines and proper form and how much rest in between workouts you need. Teach yourself everything you can. The more informed you are the better your results.
O – Obstacles: Remember OBSTACLES will get in your way no matter who you are. Whether it be the family, work, injury/soreness, your time, etc. It’s up to you to push through and come out the other side still fighting. No one said it would be easy. Or there wouldn’t be overweight people in the world today. Easy isn’t something to be proud of. Overcoming obstacles and getting incredible results is.
N – Never: “NEVER say NEVER”. If you think “I will never be able to do this or I will never look like that” You won’t! You have to be confident you can do anything you set your mind to. Think back on something you did in which you weren’t sure about and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of your life. You won’t know until you try!
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