At 7:05 this morning, I’d just finished up with a group training session. My clients had left, and I was getting ready to clean up, record their workouts and get ready to close the gym for the day. Once I finished my tasks, I thought about how hungry I was and that I didn’t really want to workout. I wanted to go home and eat breakfast, so I stalled a few more minutes and checked my email on my phone.
Then (thankfully), I thought to myself, “Enough! Get moving already and don’t be lazy!” What was it that made me “Just Do It”? I’m not one for endorsing a company, however NIKE got it right. When it comes to exercise, it can be as simple as just doing it. So, I set up my workout, got my timer set, and had a goal to work hard for at least 20:00. My original plan was to do this:
5:00 Slide board, 5:00 Med ball, 5:00 Slide board, 5:00 Heavy rope (:30 on; :30 off)
At the 20:00 mark, I felt good and kept going another 10 minutes for another 5:00 on the slide board and another 5:00 minutes of med ball throws.
Med Balls
So, what were my self-motivation strategies or thoughts going through my head to get my workout started? Here are some of the thoughts that run through my brain before and during a workout. . .
* I want to look good. Yes, it’s superficial, but I do want my body to look good. If I don’t lift and workout, I’ll turn to mush instead of being solid and lean. I like how I look in the mirror. I can wear shorts. I don’t mind wearing a bathing suit. I no longer wear “big girl” jeans.
* I like how lifting heavy things makes me feel. I like being strong. I like that I can take care of myself. I like the confidence it gives me being able to lift heavy things over my head.
* As crazy as this sounds, I want to impress my husband. I want him to think I’m tough and can handle his workouts. I want to (sort of) be able to keep up with him, especially as we age.
* I need to stay fit for my business. How can I motivate and remain believable if I get fat and out of shape again? One of the things that helps me sell my business is the simple fact that I’d been fit, let myself go, got fat-ish, then worked and ate right to lose the body fat. If I can do it, so can my clients. How hard would it be for me to sell my services if I was still a size 16 and an XL?
In the end, it does come down to the 3 simple words, “Just Do It”. You’ve got to suck it up and move. Instead of feeling guilty and sluggish when you skip your workout, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and good about yourself because you did the work.
What are your strategies for motivating yourself to workout? Please share your ideas!
Posted by Barb Macy 
