What Gets You Pumped and Excited?
Let me tell you a story about a cross country coach by the name of Mike Fohner.
This is the story about one of his not so motivated student-athletes and what her parents did to motivate her : )
“Last year, one of my young cross-country runners was fully content walking up the hills and avoiding physical exertion to the maximum extent possible. I tried all sorts of tactics and motivation techniques…to wits end. Even my “walkers club” (post practice sprints for those that walk during practice) had no effect. One meet, this runner unexpectedly knocked 3 minutes off her best time to which I gave a look of amazement to her parents. They smiled and said, “Well…she didn’t walk…so I guess we owe her ten bucks!!”
I guess money is an effective motivator for almost anyone lol.
Here is a scary stat!
Almost 50% of the people who start an exercise program stop within the first 6 months. The reason they stopped is often because they lack motivation. Simply put, the individuals who stop after 6 months don’t want health and fitness badly enough. Because the simple fact of the matter is, when we, humans, want something bad enough. When we are motivated enough to get what we want. If we want something badly enough, we find a way to get what we want. It’s simple human psychology. We find a way to adapt and overcome to accomplish our big goals and ambitions.
Now, I get it that’s easier said than done. So your challenge is to find out what motivates you. I will steal this term from one of my clients, “What is your currency?” What do you need to get motivated to take fitness and health seriously enough to stick with it?
Reasons to become pumped and excited AKA get MOTIVATED!
Maybe your motivation is money like the cross country runner above. If that’s the case, find a friend slash coworker who you’re willing to lay a wager on. Tell him or her that you want to lose 30, 40, pounds or whatever it is. Then agree on a deadline and tell them if you don’t lose the weight by the deadline agreed upon, you’ll give him or her five hundred bucks.
Sound a little crazy?
That’s because it is, but guess what .I bet you’ll be super motivated to make sure you lose that 30 or 40 pounds so you don’t have to pay $500. Do you think that would work for you? If you said, “Yes.” Do it!
Here are some other reasons to help get you motivated.
First, do it to get stronger. This alone will make your day to day life so much easier. I have clients tell me everyday how much easier their day-to-day life is because they’re stronger, more fit, and less fragile. They look at stairs and no longer dread it, they can carry groceries from their car into their house or up the stairs without getting winded. These are things that some of us just take for granted.
Second, do it for your health. Exercise will help you develop a strong healthy heart and it will reduce the chances of you becoming a diabetic. Not to mention as you age it decreases the chances of you getting dementia.
Third, do it to relieve stress. This is kind of an overused in the fitness industry. Nonetheless, it’s still true and accurate. When you exercise it increases the endorphins and it makes you feel better about yourself. When you do that over a consistent time period it your literary start to feel better about yourself. Exercise becomes a good drug. It makes you stronger, fitter, and feel good about yourself. Who doesn’t want that?
Fourth, in this may seem vein, do it to look better :-). When you look better, you feel better and it increases your self-confidence. Being self-confident helps you, help more people at work and at your home.
Now go be awesome!
KELLEN LAKE – Don’t just read this…ACT on it : ).
PS – What other reasons can you think of?
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