At the start of any new exercise program, you feel exhilarated and fresh.
No workout is too grueling, and no goals are too big, right? But anyone who sticks with their routine long enough eventually feels the need for a continual supply of motivation.
Never underestimate motivation.
Motivation is good for the mind, and for our bodies.
All great successes in life require inspiration and continual motivation.
Our minds aren't the only physical tissues that grow weary.
Our muscles need new challenges, too.
We want to keep ourselves fresh.
So, we need to rely on others for support, and on our own internal motivators.
Here are 3 ways we can influence ourselves to keep exercising.
1st- Positively Reinforce your environment.
You need to create positive reinforcement all around you that pertains to a healthy lifestyle.
These can include inspirational quotes, songs, and pictures.
They must be specific to exercise and health.
They should perpetuate your good feelings about exercise.
If they do not inspire you, specifically, to exercise, then they are not quite right.
If you choose personal stories, such as those of people who changed their health and their lives through exercise, then keep them uplifting.
It's not enough to just look at 'Before' and 'After' or 'I Lost 5 million pounds on XYZ diet' pictures.
You need to relive the journey with them and feel the deep riches they gained from exercise.
2nd- Keep the focus on Positive.
It's easy to get caught up in 'deficit thinking'.
This means you stay focused on what you can't do, what you can't have, what you can't eat.
Instead, keep your focus on all the things you are gaining from exercise.
Dr.
Barbara Brehm, from Smith College in Massachusetts, gives some examples of positive reasons to exercise: feeling more energized, having fun, getting stronger, and the more indirect effects like improved sleep and feeling more peaceful.
3rd- Set up a Healthy Rewards system.
Regularly reward yourself.
Keep track of the time you exercise (time spent gossiping with your neighbor at the gym does not count!).
Also track the types of workouts and intensity.
Here are some reasons to give yourself rewards: oAfter every 5 hours of cardio oExtra time spent during your work in unplanned exercise (like stretching on your lunch-break at work, or fitting in an extra aerobics class) oWhen you add a new exercise to your strength-training routine oWhen you exercised in spite of excuses! Of course, your rewards can't be based on poor health choices.
Instead of food or treats as rewards, book a massage or spend time in the hot tub with candlelight.
Use these 3 tips to keep you on track, even after you have settled into a consistent exercise routine.