ACTION CREATES MOTIVATION FROM ARCHIVES : 01 08 07
CURRENT

Everyone wants to look good, yet so few people are satisfied with themselves. Whether it's their weight, their appearance, or their lack of fitness, many seek to change their lives for the better. What better time to do this than the beginning of a New Year?
If you're like many individuals, however, you'll start a diet or exercise routine, only to quit a few weeks into the New Year. While it's easy to start a program, adhering to it is the challenging part.

Change is never easy, yet, if you stay with a routine long enough, you'll enjoy the positive results and benefits and will be more likely to continue. So how can you find the motivation within you to accomplish this? While true motivation must come from within, these tips will help you keep motivated. Set Goals Goal-setting is another great way of staying motivated. Goals focus your workout program and clarify what you are trying to achieve. As you attain each goal, you gain encouragement and further motivation.

Set specific, realistic, and attainable goals--both short-term and long-term. Your weekly goal might be to work out four times, while your long-term goal might be to finish a 5K race. Keep your goals attainable. If you've never run before, don't attempt a marathon in your first couple months. A 5K would be a much better choice. Monitor your progress Keep a journal to see your improvement. Note your feelings about your exercise program, as well as your accomplishments. Progress takes time, but is a great encouragement to keep on.

Make It Fun Another way of assuring that you stay motivated is to make exercise fun. If you perceive your workout as a chore, you more than likely will not stick with it. Find something you enjoy and that will be easy for you to do. If you hate running, than don't start a running program. Try brisk walking instead. Also, consider what is nearby. Maybe you enjoy swimming, but if you don't have access to a pool, that's not a
good choice either. Your best choice is something that you are able to do. Add Variety: If you’re weightlifting is getting tedious and boring, change one of these factors: Vary how often you do an exercise and the number of sets and reps you do. Find an alternate exercise; for example, if you always do the bench press using a barbell, try doing it with dumbbells or on a machine. Change the order of the exercises you do for each muscle group and the muscle groups themselves.

Include Friends and Family: Training with a workout partner not only makes your training session more fun, safe, and intense, but will also increase the likelihood of your showing up at the gym. Consider joining a group (AOW Triathlon and Cycling. Weekend Training will begin early spring 2007!). You'll be more likely to continue with a routine, if you have a support group or someone to hold you accountable

Fight Discouragement: If once in a long while you blow off a workout because you choose to go out with friends, just accept and enjoy your choice--do not feel guilty. Otherwise the sense of failure can make it harder to get yourself back on track. Focus on how much progress you have made so far, not on how far you have to go. Expect and Prepare for Plateaus: If you feel you have reached a plateau and/or are bored, do not give up--this is a natural part of working out. Make sure to vary the exercises, sets, repetitions and order of your workout--continually search for new ways of making your routine fun and exciting.

Schedule your Workout: If you always exercise on the same days at the same time, your routine will become a fixture in your life, not a whim. Not going to the gym will feel unnatural. Including exercise into your busy schedule will be an adjustment, and staying motivated will be equally challenging. Change is difficult for many people. However, if you have the willingness to work through the initial emotional discomfort as you move step by step through a safe and effective program, you will find the confidence, commitment and determination that will ease the way.
Reward yourself for each new goal reached. Buy yourself a new book, article of clothing, or something else that you enjoy. (Don't buy a box of candy, if you're trying to lose weight!). When you begin achieving great results, the excitement and fun you experience will make the change well worth the effort. Action creates motivation! Good luck! I hope you enjoy all the wonderful benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.