Motivation

Motivation – having a strong reason to act or accomplish something.

I can’t tell you how many times I have contemplated that word and continue to hear people say that is one of their major obstacles to completing a task.  I sometimes want to break out in a chuckle when I hear that word rolling off the tips of their tongue as they wait for me to reveal the secret!  Ok, here goes… there is no magic pill and I should know because if that were true I would have spent big money on it by now.  The biggest task with tackling motivation is not to think of your goal as a huge task but rather think small. Get started with something really small such as committing to signing up for a gym membership by a given deadline or working out at least once in the upcoming week.  Here are a few things that have worked for me and I continue to rely on some of them.

1. Workouts with a friend.
2. Join a group (running, cycling, swimming etc).
3. Commit to learning a new physical activity.
4. Set a small short-term goal that does not necessarily involve a number for weight loss such as drinking less carbonated drinks, signing up for a challenge i.e. 30 day squat challenge.
5. Sign up for a race and follow a training plan such as Hal Higdon training plans.

Keep in mind that once a goal has been accomplished it isn’t over.  Continue to set new goals for yourself and soon something that seemed so daunting and impossible will be a lifestyle change!