When it comes to fitness, there are many ways to find motivation, but they vary from individual to individual. Usually, when you envision the end result, you’re inspired to work harder in order to achieve your goals. Finding motivation is the first step in your health/fitness journey as you work toward creating a lasting habit. So what is it that motivates you?
Taking the First Step: Finding Motivation
Trying to Just Be Healthier
Whether you were told by your doctor or you decided on your own, wanting to get to a healthier point in your life can be a common motivator for many starting a fitness journey. Perhaps you’re trying to beat your genetics, lower your cholesterol, or lose some weight. Whatever the case may be, there’s nothing better than taking it upon yourself to improve your health!
Past Photos of Yourself
Wanting to lose weight is a common fitness goal. But there are plenty of reasons why one would want to lose weight. Sometimes you may stumble across an old photo of yourself and think “I wish I could get my 6-pack back” or “I want my old bikini body.” While it may not be 100% realistic for some folks, it certainly CAN be something to work towards. If you find this helps motivate you, keep that photo handy until you feel accomplished with your progress!
Music
When you’re in the moment of exercising, you might not always have your end goals top of mind. Music can be a great way to pump you up during a workout, distract you from your exertion, and help you with the timing of your cycling or running. Some experts say that it can increase your endurance by as much as 15%! So find some of your favorite music and compile a playlist that fires you up!
Upcoming Race
Finding motivation is a lot easier when you’re training for something like a race. Whether you’re running a local charity race or training for your first triathlon, having a challenging goal forces you to work hard at achieving your desired level of fitness.
Functional Movement
As you get older, functional strength becomes more important. Exercise can certainly help with that! Being able to perform daily functions more easily can be a driving factor for going to the gym or working with a personal trainer. They will work with you and tailor a workout plan specific to what areas you need improvement. For example, you may want to be able to lift objects easier, improve your balance, or become more flexible. Sometimes these things are taken for granted, but still should be a consideration when you’re finding motivation for fitness.
Have any of these ways motivated you before? Perhaps you find motivation through some other means. Feel free to leave a comment below or share your own personal fitness success story!
Share Your Story!