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Author: Pete Siegel Article source: http://www.fitness-experts.org/. Used with author's permission.
Developing solid workout motivation, the kind which keeps you positive,
disciplined and determined, is a result of doing specific internal and external things. Yes, things which keep you hungry for more, and thoroughly fulfilled each workout you perform.
Getting and staying in shape is a life and lifestyle commitment—a commitment
which aligns desire, will, and subconscious tendencies to fuel success producing
actions...generated consistently!
The bottom line here? Muscular and fitness development demands effort.
Effort demands subconscious conviction. Subconscious conviction demands self
programming to establish an instinctive motivational, goal driven mentality. Not
just, "Hey...I want to," but "I have a way to keep a juicy, delicious 'carrot' in front of
me, so I naturally, enthusiastically will!" As such, here now are 4 factors to directly
help you develop this thriving, positive success workout motivation...so you become
the one whose effort produces decided improvements in your fitness level and
physical shape.
TAKING STOCK OF CURRENT TENDENCIES
First, it's important to identify your present level of workout motivation.
Unwavering exercise motivation starts in the mind with an inspiring thought and
energizing feeling -- a "mental/emotional framework" which naturally moves you
into regular positive action toward a chosen objective.
The quality and richness of this framework is affected by factors such as
commitment, enthusiasm, determination, expectation, attitude and the belief that
you're an achiever. So to better understand the extent of these factors in your
present "mental set" regarding exercise, complete the following questionnaire.
Answer each question either: Always Occasionally Infrequently
1. On days you had intended to work out but, for whatever reason, you don't feel
as up as you'd like, do you discipline yourself to vigorously exercise as you had
planned? (As opposed to making excuses and reasons not to exercise such as - it's
too demanding, I'm too tired, my favorite TV show is on, etc.)
2. Do you feel the underlying motive for you going to the gym is entrenched in
the thrill and benefits you'll enjoy from exercising?
3. Does the thought of going to the gym and vigorously exercising have an
accompanying feeling of enthusiasm and positive expectation?
4. If you exercise after work, on the days when you planned to exercise and
undue conflict arises at work, do you resolve the conflict and emotionally stabilize
so you pursue after work activity with a clear conscience? (Not allowing the conflict
to linger and squelch your workout drive?)
5. While you're working out, do you focus on the feeling of exertion, emotional
involvement and mental rapport with the exercises you perform?
6. Is your mind free of undistracting thoughts and unrelated feelings during your
workouts? (As opposed to frequently considering unrelated things such as, for
example, new clothes or new boyfriends.)
7. Are your energy levels - physical and emotional - sufficient as you begin your
exercise sessions?
8. Is exercise something you really want to do? (As opposed to something you
feel you have to do - ex. "I have to lose weight," "I have to reduce my thighs, waist,
hips, etc.")
9. Are you exercising strictly for your personal enjoyment and improvement? (As
opposed to, for example, alleviating guilt, avoiding dealing with other things by
"running off to the gym," or feeling if you don't workout you won't be attractive or
desirable to your husband or lover.)
10 Do you have clearly defined workout goals and a strategic plan to reach
them?
11. Do you pay attention to fitness related concerns such as proper nutrition,
relaxation, sleeping, self image strengthening?
If you scored a majority of "Always" responses to the questionnaire, you're no
doubt enjoying the benefits of looking and feeling great which come from staying
motivated and exercising regularly.
If an abundance of "Occasionally" or "Infrequently" responses were registered,
the following exercise motivation building techniques will help you reverse this
situation so working out regularly and enthusiastically becomes a natural,
spontaneous, enriching part of your life.
MOTIVATION BUILDERS
To reap the full degree of enjoyment and benefits possible from exercise, it
must be related to as part of your lifestyle -- as natural an activity for you as eating,
working, dressing, showering, etc. Not "something I have to do to look good," but
"something I want to, and love to do because it makes me better!"
So as you begin an attitude shift to where exercise becomes accepted as an
enriching lifestyle activity, use the following sections to develop the high level
workout motivation which finds you consistent and enthused; feeling great and
making progress!
A. Incentives: Creating Tailor-Made Inspiring Goals, And Establishing A Purpose
Goals provide a reason to expend energy. The greater the payoff (perceived
value) the goal holds for you, the more you're naturally inclined to act toward
achieving it.
For example, an actress who was promised a part she wanted for so long if
she'd lose 20 pounds would be naturally motivated toward the goal of weight loss.
Her attitude would be, "If this is what I have to do to get what I want, I'll do it gladly
and enthusiastically."
How about you? What are the health and physical appearance goals which
would have an enticing enough lure for you to stay motivated toward achieving
them? In this section you must first establish them, then break them up into short
and long term proportions.
Short term goals are easier to reach and provide payoffs of quick self
satisfaction, reinforcement of your intentions, and decided results — and add fuel,
because of successful accomplishment, to your motivation to continue. They can
be, for example, to lose the next pound, to do one more rep or add five more
pounds in the exercises you perform, to push yourself harder during your aerobics
class, to workout for five consecutive days so you can experience the kinesthetic joy
of a regular endorphin high, etc.
Long term goals can be losing 25 total pounds, improving the contour of your
thighs and buttocks, developing greater muscularity and trimness in your waistline,
increasing your energy level and developing a positive self and body image, etc.
Write your goals down on paper; one sheet for short term and another for long
term. The very act of writing them down makes them real and tangible. Be sure
you've chosen realistic, practical, achievable goals which entice, inspire, and
stimulate feelings of excitement within you.
B. Make Your Goals Real, And Act To Fully Achieve Them
Here you build and reinforce the foundation for exercise motivation by
programming mental inducements for action. To stimulate regular, goal directed
action, your mind must be inspired by a payoff which will both stimulate the
imagination, and reinforce desire.
Your motivational payoff is the lean, shapely, radiantly beautiful body which
results from your exercising. So, three times per day (as you arise, before you
workout, and before retiring at night) take 5 or 10 minutes to richly visualize your
goal as an already accomplished fact.
First, sit or lie comfortably, then from your toes upward, go in through each
body part and turn it completely loose. Imagine each part you focus on as loose as
a dangling rubber band. And with each breath you exhale, mentally repeat the word
"c-a-l-m," allowing yourself to grow looser, and more thoroughly at ease with each
consecutive breath.
After 4-5 "c-a-l-m" breaths (sensing you've wholly relaxed), vividly project an
exact mental representation of yourself possessing the body you want. See yourself
in front of a mirror, from head to toe, looking beautifully toned, shapely, healthy
and vibrant. F-e-e-l the wonderful sense of physical attractiveness and radiant
energy surging through you — through every radiant line, curve and contour!
Imagine yourself among friends as this vibrantly shapely you, and hear their
compliments and praise; even their envy at how great you look.
After 5-10 minutes of this body-image success programming, take a deep
breath, open your eyelids, reorient yourself with your surroundings, and engage
your planned activities.
This process literally programs the subconscious action part of your mind, and
helps to establish the basis for generating positive behaviors in line with exercising
regularly and enthusiastically.
C. Self-Talk Conversion: Deleting Negative Thoughts/Projecting Positive Ideals
The next motivation builder comprises "feeding" your mind differently to
stimulate different idea and behavioral responses. Thoughts are to your mind what
food is to your body. And every thought, in some way, has a measurable physical
reaction in the body. You've heard the saying, "Thought precedes action"? Well,
literally thoughts create action!
So regarding exercising, start becoming aware of the thoughts you're
constantly processing and determine if they either promote or deter action taken
toward working out.
If you become aware of negative restrictive thoughts which are antagonistic to
exercising (including excuses, alibies, rationalizations, etc.) - your objective is to
convert them into a positive, motivational equivalent. By converting the context of
your thoughts from negative to exclusively positive, you promote success inciting
action, and use the same emotional energy which held you back, to advance you.
For example:
Negative Thought:
"I've had a tough day at work, maybe I'll skip exercising and just kick back.
It's OK to miss a workout, I'll make up for it next time."
Change to Positive Thought:
"Exercise energizes me. As soon as I start my workout, I start feeling better...and
vitally stronger! Each daily workout brings me closer to my goal, so I eagerly look
forward to and engage in regular vigorous exercise!"
Every time you become aware that you're thinking a negative exercise related
thought, quickly convert it to a positive, action inducing suggestion!
D. Connect With A Motivated Workout Partner
Having someone to push you and someone who you can push and blend your
energy with, someone who will support and encourage you, and whom you can
support and encourage nearly always makes the workout process more exciting,
enjoyable and result producing.
Be sure you connect with someone who shares a vision similar to yours,
someone who truly feels about training the way you do. Healthy competition may
result, developing a very close friendship may result, pushing yourself beyond all
your previous levels may result. And consistent performance, effort, and steady
improvements will result!
Also, knowing you have another waiting for you at the gym naturally moves
you to show up, and to train regularly.
It's up to you now; through applying the factors I've related, you can develop
the high powered workout motivation which leads to you becoming the do-er who's
looking and feeling great!
So ignite, and keep the flames of determination burning, and your heart
compelled toward your goal. Indeed, the striking capacity, and the power to
triumph resides within you now! Author, clinician, and national TV therapist, Pete Siegel is America's foremost peak
performance hypnotherapist. Go ahead now and review his highly acclaimed
confidence building and life changing success programs at
http://www.incrediblechange.com
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