Thursday, July 10, 2008
Motivation
What motivates you to do the things you do? And let's be honest. Do you workout so you'll look good for your 20th high school reunion? While there might be worse reasons to workout, this motivation is typically short lived. What happens after the reunion? Back to Bon Bons and soap operas. When you decide to make a healthy lifestyle change, really look closely at why you want to make that change, and that will be a big determining factor in your success. Here's something for you to try. Write down the three top motivating factors for you to choose to be healthy and fit. Make it visible so you tune into it everyday, put it on the fridge or in your car, somewhere where you can make that connection. Let your loved ones know that you are ready to make some changes. I have found that when I verbally tell someone what I'm trying to do, they hold me more accountable and support me. For instance, if I'm trying to stop eating chocolate and I don't tell anyone, no one will say anything if I have some m&ms. On the other hand if I tell folks I really want to run three times a week and I need their support to help me do it, they'll be more inclined to check in and ask how that's going. Hopefully they'll offer to babysit while I run to make it more feasible. Be honest about your motivators, write them down, and talk about them. You'll get there with a lot more success!