Discover what MOTIVATES you!

I am frequently asked how I stay motivated to workout/train day in and day out.  This is a complicated answer.  My answer will vary from your answer and it should.  We are not the same people and don't have the same goals.  Most people think 'gym rats' just love to train and always want to go to the gym.  Guess what?  This is not true. It is a myth!

I enjoy training for a variety of reasons which include the obvious benefits to my physical and mental health.  However, I have days when going to the gym is the last thing in the world I want to do.  But I go anyways.  Why you ask?  Because it is what I do.  I have trained my mind to overcome itself.  I have learned from years of being an athlete that sometimes you train because you have to, not because you want to.  It's part of the game. 

There are many days when I feel tired, have a headache, am depressed, am angry or just don't want to train because the couch looks more appealing.  But I have been training long enough and have learned the difference between needing a break and wanting a break.  There is a difference. You will acquire the skill to distinguish between them the longer you train.  You will become familiar with your own body and how it reacts to training, proper rest, proper nutrition and hydration. However, it doesn't happen over night.  Be patient, but be attentive.  

This is why a food log, sleep log, workout journal and water intake log are all important training tools.  Most people don't think of them as training tools but they are an essential part of your regime.  You are able to hold yourself more accountable when it is written down and you can see it in black and white.  You will understand why you're so tired if you sleep log shows you are only getting six hours of sleep a night. Your food log shows if you are not eating enough protein or consuming too much junk.  If you have to write it down, you can't lie to yourself.  Your workout journal illustrates your progress or lack of progress.  If workouts are off day after day, then you can look at your sleep or food log and see if your lacking in those areas. They can have a direct affect on your workouts.  

This may appear to be a lot of work but once you get into the routine of completing the logs, it becomes second nature.  There are many apps for iPod/iPhone, androids, and smart phones which make this task even easier.  I use Loseit!  It can track as much or as little as you prefer.  It also stores previous meals and food which you have saved so you don't have to reinvent the wheel each time.  It is compatible with smart phones and iPod products. It's free or .99.  A very small investment to make your life easier and improve your health.

You may be thinking I strayed away from the subject of motivation, but I have not.  All of these tools help you stay motivated because they track your success and/or your failure.  They are a necessary evil if you will.  They are the 'not-so-glamorous' tools of being fit and healthy.  They will not display how big your biceps are or show your rock hard six-pack, but they will help you achieve those goals and maintain them. 

There are many other factors which keep me motivated.  Guilt is a major one for me. I don't like how I feel if I don't train. I feel lazy and then the mind games begin.  Another motivator for me is competition.  I learned a long time ago that I need that 'nugget' down the road to keep me going on 'bad days'.  If I know I have a race or a competition in the future, I am less likely to slack because I don't train to get second place. I also have the usual motivator of photos that inspire me to push harder and obtain a better physique.  I like motivational quotes, as well, but the photos give me a bit more of a jolt.  Of course, I have also had my own battle with being overweight many years ago and I made a promise to myself that I would never look or feel like that again.  I keep a photo in my office when I was at my heaviest as a reminder of how far I have come.  People look at it and have no idea it is me.  Sad, but true.

These are the things that motivate me.  You need to discover what motivates you.  It may be something I listed or something completely different.  As your goals change, your motivators will more than likely change as well. As your body evolves, so should your training. Keep it interesting and mix it up.  Challenge yourself and reach outside your comfort zone. You may discover new things that you like and never even knew it. How will you find out if you don't at least try?  I tried ballet, I didn't like it so I need to find something to replace it.  I need more grace and flexibility. There is always room for improvement.

If you train the same way every day, you will become bored as will your body.  You will hit plateaus but that is to be expected.  Push through it and stick to your plan. Remember the plan? This doesn't mean the plan stays the same, it means you have plan for each level of fitness you achieve.  Again, the plan evolves as the goals evolve as the body evolves.  It's a chain reaction.  If there is no action, then there is no reaction.

Your motivation should be unique to you.  Don't compare yourself to others.  Compare yourself to you and the improvements you make.  Everyone is different so it only makes sense that your motivators will be different. Take the plunge and dive in. Learn to train, train smarter and train harder or just keep treading water. It's up to you.

Are you a GYM RAT?