Are you a naturally motivated person? I’ve been thinking about the motivation to workout and where it comes from. I’m not a person for whom wanting to workout comes easily. Maybe it’s because I grew up in athletics where exercise was built into my life and I just knew I had to go to practice and games. There was no thinking about it or making myself go: I just went.
Now that I’m a grown up I have to find motivation to get myself moving. I know there are people out there who don’t have to force themselves to workout, the motivation is naturally there and the act of going to the gym, lacing up the running shoes, or starting the DVD is effortless. I lived with one of them for a lot of years and I always marveled at how going to the gym was like a treat for her, not something she had to force herself to do.
Let me tell you, I can talk myself out of working out faster than my toddler’s mood can change. And that’s fast. Excuses fly into my brain, sabotaging my efforts. It’s too cold out, my legs are still sore, my food isn’t digested, if I don’t workout today, I can still get enough workouts in this week, I really should do the laundry instead, and on and on and on.
The one thing that helps me the most is to think of the feeling I’m going to have when I’m done. I love the post-workout feeling and if I can force myself to let go of the excuses and focus on that feeling, the workout happens.
I think that’s why consistently working out is a struggle for so many people: it’s delayed gratification. I have to think of a feeling I’m going to get in the future, after the hard work, and keeping the focus on that feeling isn’t easy. One day this week when my brain was trying to talk me out of working out, I decided I needed to discipline myself to focus on the end result more than the moment. My motivation had to come from looking at the future results of working out, and I had to stop thinking so much about how I was feeling that day. Writing down some things that motivate me to exercise was really helpful.
I’m not going to lie. There’s a lot of vain reasons I workout. But it also goes deeper than that. The efforts I put in today are going to make a difference in my quality of life 10, 20, 30, and 40 years down the road. My kids are going to be affected by my efforts. These are the things I need to think about when I’m about to put off a workout. Here’s a motivation list that helps me remember the long-term effects of getting my sweat on. I’d love to hear about your motivation, too.
M-O-T-I-V-A-T-I-O-N
1. I have to wear a bathing suit. In public.
2. I want my skinny jeans to fit.
3. I want to be attractive to my husband.
4. I want to model an active life for my children in hopes that they will want to be active, too.
5. I want to be healthy at 100
. (My great grandmother was living alone and sweeping her own porch daily at 100.)
6. Exercise helps prevent practically every disease and medical condition out there, from heart disease to stroke to high cholesterol.
7. I want to have energy to be a good mom.
8. I want to go on Survivor someday, and let’s face it, you have to be fit to do that.
9. I like wearing shorts in the summer.
10. I want to feel accomplished.
11. I want to enjoy the mental health that comes with being in shape and exercising consistently.
12. I like to compete with myself.
13. I love food.
14. Sometimes I like to eat special treats.
15. I like being strong.
16. I’ll be 78 when we have our 50th wedding anniversary. I would love to have a party and dance with my grandchildren that day.
17. Speaking of grandchildren, I want to be around to see them grow up and be able to play with them, watch them graduate high school, get married, and still be an active, fun grandparent.
18. I want to spend my retirement years being able to travel and be active.
What kinds of things are on your motivation list?
P.S. Thanks for understanding that sometimes, I just have One Of Those Days and Fitness Friday has to show up on Saturday. I love you, most understanding and loyal reader. 🙂
I’m only just now finding this, but I feel like you just took out all the words in my mind and penned them here! I’ve been struggling to put into words what my motivation is. It’s like I know it’s the right thing to do (be active and healthy) but without having any current repercussions (I’m still in my pre-baby clothes, I don’t have any health issues, etc.), I’m not motivated to change! But I need to! And just like you – my mood can ebb and flow so quickly! In the morning I’m ready to take charge of the new day and by 10pm I’m polishing off some sweet in the pantry and wishing I’d made different choices with my day! It’s something I’m approaching step-by-step and I feel so inspired by your post, I share many of your motivations! While I did feel vain admitting them, it was also very healing 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Bianca. I’m glad this helped you. 🙂
Maryea, this is a well put together list! I have a very similar post on my blog, where I shared what keeps my motivation to exercise. In addition to the health benefits, for me it is my “me” time when I get to connect with my inner thoughts/enjoy my favorite music, etc. I think people don’t give themselves enough credit, and don’t think they can maintain workout routine long-term. But it certainly starts in your head, I am convinced!
Oooh that’s a good one! Me time is a huge benefit and I definitely cherish that time to myself to think. I’ve written whole blog posts in my head while running. 🙂
i could not agree more friend! and i really think about 3,4, and the last one. I want to be healthy for my family and to live a LONG life full of adventure!
YES to adventure! 🙂
Oh, I forgot to mention. I had to read the book “Healthy at 100” as part of my training. I loved it. Exercising, keeping a positive attitude, and eating real food (while avoiding processed and refined foods) are the three key factors that keep us healthy. However, in our society we have to work hard at achieving them on a daily basis as they do not come naturally.
I hope you get to dance with your grandchildren at your 50th wedding anniversary!
I love that book, too! So many gems of wisdom in it.
You want to be on Survivor? How does Tim feel about it :)?
Leaving all joke aside, your post made me think deeper about why I want to work out. Like you, staying healthy and looking good 🙂 are the main ones. Motivation does not come easily to me either and I feel guilty when I choose not to work out and do things around the house instead.
Thank you for this motivational post. I am not going to miss my workout today for sure :).
Tim knows it’s one of my longtime dreams to be on Survivor…he supports my crazy dreams! haha Although I’m sure if I was ever actually accepted and had to go away for 40+ days it’d be another story. 🙂
Thanks so much for this post, consistency with working out is something I have always struggled with. I’m going to have to make one for myself, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be much different from yours 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this! Oftentimes I think that other health continence people just love to work out…..but not me! I even walked for 2&1/2 years with my neighbor every AM at 5:45. And everyday I wanted to stay in bed and on the weekends when we didn’t walk, I loved it…..haha! So all of this talk about 21, 30 days, etc……to make a habit……well, it doesn’t work for me when it comes to working out! So, I need to make a list like you did. Many of my things will be the same. Because i do love the feeling I get afterwards and the feeling of being more confident!
When it comes to exercise, I think it’s hard to get into a habit and super easy to fall out of a habit. And it’s the complete opposite when it comes to eating things I want to avoid, like sugar. So not fair!