Time and time again, moms especially, start living a healthy lifestyle, going to the gym and making better choices but falling off shortly into their new lifestyle. I really sympathize with this issue because it happens to all of us; even the most intrinsically motivated people do not always feel like working out. Motivation is one of those things that comes and goes to a degree. I have to believe there are some days where you do not FEEL like taking your children to practice or cleaning up after them, but you are a mom, so you do it anyway. Some things have to get done, some things don't, I am just not sure when ourselves or our health became one of those things we no longer need to take care of. Everyone deserves to be a healthy, thriving person - including you!
Developing habit and discipline helps overcome the lack of motivation barrier but, there are a few other things you can do to help you stay motivated and ingrain taking care of your body into your lifestyle. It all starts with a vision. Successful people, at whatever they do, often visualize themselves doing the thing they want to succeed at. This exercise can take as little as 3 minutes but needs to be done with absolute concentration. I suggest doing it first thing in the morning while you are showering. Visualize yourself with the body that you want to have, the energy you want to have throughout your day, the feeling of accomplishment after you met a goal. This may seem cheesy and feel weird at first but, it will be worth much more than the time invested - 3 minutes of visualization a day can change your life!
The night before you go to the gym, pick out your outfit, get your water bottle and protein drink ready or whatever you typically bring. Just by doing this, you've already made a commitment to getting to the gym - physically and emotionally. When it comes time to workout, you can just grab your gym bag and go! Just getting out the door can be a huge obstacle sometimes!
You need a positive environment. Surround yourself with like-minded people, with the same goals as you. The best way to make this happen is to gather up the courage and start a conversation with a friend or family member and commit yourself to the journey. Hold each other accountable and meet your goals together. An encouraging, positive, motivating environment is exactly what we have at Burn Boot Camp. The uniqueness can be felt the moment you walk through our doors.
When you hit goals or milestones, reward yourself with something that will keep you on track. For example, an awesome new pair of workout shoes, those cute workout leggings you've been eyeing up, a day at the spa, or a an outfit you've been wanting. The more investment you make into something over time, the harder it is to let go of. And over time it becomes a part of who you are.
Get Better Every Day,
Eli
Head Trainer
Burn Boot Camp Eau Claire, WI
