“Never give up, never surrender!”
This should be my motto for getting fit and healthy. Actions speak louder than words, though, and my actions usually say, “Never give up . . . unless you just don’t feel like trying today. Then it’s okay to give up.” What I need is a way to stay motivated, especially when I don’t feel like giving my all.
I looked for fitness motivation tips online, and I found that a lot of sites all say the same thing. Don’t do it alone. Keep goals realistic. Reward yourself. Have fun. I already knew those answers. I get bored with those answers. Sure, they work, but I need something unique to focus on.
So I asked my friends. They had a couple ideas that I thought were wonderfully unique.
One of my friends started a challenge group. A spin on the “don’t do it alone” concept, a challenge group pits people against each other in a competition to get fit. There’s usually a fee to join, like the ante in poker. At the end of the challenge period, the winner takes home the prize.
There is a big motivating factor here: money. A 2007 article in USA Today reported that people who were motivated by weight loss were at least five times more likely to lose 5 percent of their body weight. The people in the study were motivated by $7 or $14 per pound lost. Imagine how much more motivation $50 or $100 could produce?
Another friend of mine suggested making a collage of pictures, images and phrases that I thought were motivating and keeping it in the kitchen. This way, if I was looking for something to snack on, I could see the collage and choose something healthy. It’s an interesting idea, and I think I might try it. This online article should help me along the way.
I think a good motivator for me will be to think of my family, especially my daughter. She’s got the energy of a rocket, and she loves to explore the great outdoors. If I want to go hiking with her, I need to raise my energy level enough to keep up. I also think the idea of playing tennis again with my husband in the summer will keep me motivated.
When all is said and done, I have to find ways to motivate myself from the inside, not just the outside. Keeping on track with my health depends on it.
Next week: Facing difficulties and challenges