Your Weight! Your Health! Your Skin!

If you’ve ever lacked motivation to workout or eat healthier, then you’ll want pay attention to the following 8 tips I’ve got lined up for you.

But first, it’s helpful to understand what motivates us. In general, we move towards pleasure and away from pain.  It’s that simple. I would argue that human beings do more to avoid pain. Think about the fact that most people act retroactively, meaning they first need some type of “pain” (ie. a heart attack, diabetes, being obese) to move them into action.

Masters of motivation skillfully associate pain and pleasure. Whether it’s the words they use, the thoughts they think, the images they visualize, or the actions they take … they stack up pain deliberately to move away from behaviors or habits that they don’t want anymore, and they “build up” pleasure to help move them towards new behaviors that they do want, or to reinforce good habits.

So with that being said, let’s have a look at 8 ways to help get you more motivated to workout and eat healthier.

1. Find Your Reasons Why (and the more reasons the better)

You need to figure out a compelling purpose. For example, if your goal is to lose 25 lbs you need to identify WHY that’s important to you. Is it to feel sexier for your spouse, fit into that old pair jeans, or feel more confident? Once you identify your initial reason, keep asking “why?” to go deeper and finally come up with true reason that will motivate you!

2. Connect to Your Core Values

This is the ultimate secret.  If you can connect the process (ie. working out, eating healthier) to your core values, even in small ways, you can change your game.  For instance, some core values might include freedom, happiness, love, connection, family, or growth. Figure out what matters to you most and work from there.

3. Change Your Mindset

You can instantly find your more enjoyment in working out by shifting your mindset from “having to workout” to “getting to workout”. I have a good friend who always says, “I’ve got to workout, I’ve got to workout!” He feels compelled and thus less empowered. I told him to consider adopting the phrase, “I get to workout”, which would put him in a state of gratitude instead of obligation. Be difference.

4. Anchor the Feeling

Remember how good it feels when you finish you workout or eat a healthy meal. Find a way to anchor that feeling into your body so that anytime the going gets tough you can easily revert back to feeling that way. For instance, after an exhilarating workout you may want to do a fist pump to celebrate. Do this enough times in that state and you’ll anchor the good feeling. In the future, you can do a fist pump at any time of day to get that great feeling once again.

5. Use Reference Points From Past Successes

Sometimes you might feel overwhelmed or unsure about your ability to get in a good workout or prepare a healthy meal. However, if you can think back to similar situations in the past (ie. reference points) where you were successful, then realize that you can do it again. If you were once able to do 50 push in one go, then go back to that experience and reassure yourself that you can do it again – if that’s your goal.

6. Find a Meaningful Metaphor

Find a metaphor that fuels you – a tag line if you will. Maybe you’re the “Little Engine that Could.”  Maybe you’re “in your element.”  Maybe you are “David vs. Goliath (the workout). One of the most powerful things you can do is find a metaphor that connects to your values.  Whatever you choose make sure it resonates with you.

7. Pair Up

This is one of my favorite ways to make something fun and sustainable.  One person’s painful task, is another’s pleasure.  Pair up with somebody who compliments you or who can mentor you and get you over the humps. This is why hiring a trainer can be a great way to get your butt into shape! At the very least, training with a friend can take your workouts to a whole new level.

8. Take Action and Reward Yourself

Here’s a secret that once you know it and apply it, can change your life.  Action often comes before motivation.  You simply start doing an activity and then your motivation kicks in, especially if you reward yourself for taking action. For example, you might not always look forward to your workout, but once you start, I’m sure you find your flow. And once your workout is done reward yourself with something that makes you feel good – and preferably not a piece of chocolate cake!

Need more motivation for your workouts? Need inspiration and proven strategies to make eating healthier easy?

=> Discover how the world’s top fitness experts do it! <——— CLICK HERE.

Hi,

I wasn’t actually planning on sharing this, but I realize that it happens to the very best of us. I have been on lock-down for the past 4 days because of flu, and I haven’t been able to go to the gym. You know what the other implication is? My healthy eating regimen has gone out of the window also.

It is true that I have been in bed for the most part, but I think I used that as an excuse to have my cheat day extended to three days. So guess what I had today? My favorite Tutto pizza. It broke my heart when I dove to buy it, but, I gave myself a million reason why it is not a bad idea.

I decided to share this because I have been beating myself down because of it, which is not really helping me at this time. I have just decided right this moment that feeling guilty about it does not help me or my weight loss goals. Yes I have been sabotaging my weight loss efforts, but the fact of the matter is, it is OK. It is allowed!

All it means is that I need to learn from this, and move forward. It does not mean my healthy eating ways or my exercise regimen is out of the way, it just means I sucuumbed to a moment of weakness, I sucuumbed to the craving of eating my favorite pizza.

I am not totally impressed by it, but it just makes me want to wipe the slate clean. I will start all over tomorrow, and I will keep pressing forward. I am not going to punish myself tomorrow just because of what I did today. This is one of the mindsets we should all have if we want a succesful weight loss journey.

The lesson here is, just because we fall off the wagon now and again does not mean it is all over, or that you have failed. If it happens to you, get up and continue on that journey. Giving up is not an OPTION.

I am sure that I am not the only one that this has happened to. What is your story? Please do share how you blew it in your journey and how you got back to your feet?

To your successful weight loss journey . . .