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Benefits
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Benefits
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Fitness motivation. It’s so hard. For most of us.
We know how beneficial and important exercise is, yet few of us commit to exercise regularly.
Or even if we commit to exercise, we drop out barely 6 months into the program.......
What’s the problem?
The buzz word - motivation.
We don’t have the motivation to exercise. Period.
Why?
Experts say there are 3 types of factors that affect our motivation.
Let’s cruise through them one by one.
This deals with you and your perception about exercise.
Some personal factors that could effect your motivation:
Your past experience with exercise. If it isn’t good, you’ll shun exercise. Bad experience could be a result of an injury or if you become “sick” after exercising. It also depends on the value that the exercise brings to you. If you feel that working out is a waste of time, you will not be able to get yourself off the couch to do it.
Your exercise technique: If you do the correct technique, you will feel good about what you have done. The opposite applies if you‘re clumsy and do it wrong.
Your perception of the exercise you‘re doing: Easy? Hard? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? The way you perceive exercise can either make or break your program.
Your typical barriers to exercise... or should I say excuse? (such as travel, illness, time, inconvenience, no gym... etc.)
Your own personal motivation level - how motivated are you to exercise?
This concerns the exercise itself.
Do you cringe just thinking about the exercise you‘re going to do?
Or do you look forward to doing the exercise?
Is it convenient to do the exercise? You’d be surprised that time of day, number of sessions per week, timed programs, availability of equipments, accessibility to facilities, transport.....and etc can put you on or off, to exercise.
Does the exercise deliver the right level of intensity so that it’s challenging for you?
Do you feel bored doing the exercise because it’s the same old, “week” in “week” out routine?
This is concerned with your external environment, in which the circumstances or situations are sometimes beyond your control.
External/environmental factors such as these could trigger low-levels of motivation:
-Your level of comfort with the location where you‘re supposed to do exercise.
-Your ability to accommodate to weather changes (For example, when bad weather strikes, you can easily switch to exercising indoor instead of outdoor; or at home versus the gym)
-Your support network - family members, friends, and exercise buddies are important to provide the support and “nudge you on“.
If you can single out what bothers you from these 3 factors, to find out what you are and are not comfortable with, then you can narrow down the odds of dropping out and finally get on to the right track to get in shape, and stick to the program.
Cecelia Yap is an avid exerciser and is the owner of the successful exercise and fitness website: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com
Due to her strong passion in exercise and fitness, she has learned how to convert her passion into a money-making venture. Learn how, here.
Interesting article. Seems to me a lot of these could be addressed by hiring a personal trainer for a limited amount of time. Mine did wonders for me.
I hate to exercise. So I did hire a trainer and it is the best thing I have ever done. She motivates me when I need it and she also keeps me on track. My exercise program is designed so I am not doing the same old programs all the time which keeps me from being bored. I really get a lot out of it and would not change it for anything. Thanks for the article it gives a great insight to how people really feel about exercise.
Mara
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Mara,
You are an inspiration! (I’ve been reading your blog for months. Yes, I should leave a comment sometime.)
Keep up updated on your progress, please.
Thank you bettereveryyear I am trying. It is so tuff but I am determined to have a healthier lifestyle and stick to it. Turning 40 really changed my way of thinking for the better. Send me a post I surely do enjoy them and they inspire me daily.
Mara
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I just joined a Beach Boot Camp 3 days a week. Today was my second day. It was brutal but this other girl and I laugh so hard and give each other a hard time so much that we have a blast as well.
I knew I needed people to keep things interesting and to look forward to seeing them in order to get there. I’ll give you an update down the road.
Create lasting relationships
with other like minded women.