is motivation really what you need?

"I need more motivation! I need you to motivate me!" She said, clearly frustrated by her struggle.

I would love have loved to respond honestly, but I had an idea of how she was feeling and I never want to come across as one without compassion. I didn't want to be misinterpreted or thought of as nasty. Motivation is frustratingly fleeting, and more people than I have met in my whole life struggle with it. Every single one of us struggles with it, nobody is immune!

If I had responded honestly, I would have asked her:
"Really? Are you sure?"

Let me explain why...

according to google, motivation is defined as:
"a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way."

Most of the time, people don't lose their reason for something. They just forget it. As your Personal Trainer, I do not give you your reason to do something. You do that!

​I know how easy it is to lose motivation and lose drive. Life gets in the way - we get tired, and sleep becomes more attractive than working towards achieving a happier, healthier and more confident life (especially come swimsuit season). I understand this because I know how hard it is to get up at 4am in Winter. It’s hard! As I have explained in previous blogs, when it comes to maintaining motivation you just need to remember your “why,” or your reason. This will help keep you from losing momentum, and will keep your goal fresh in your mind.

I’m going to take an educated guess (because I’ve seen it so much before!), and say that what you actually need is more discipline, not more motivation.

You need to ask yourself some serious questions and be honest with yourself. What’s it going to take to stay on track? What needs to be done?

• Make a vision / goals board, and place it somewhere that you will see it every day?
• Get an accountability partner? (A reliable friend with similar goals for example)
• Do you need to put inspiring quotes around your house?
• Maybe put health test results in a prominent (but private) place to remind you that you’re actually doing this for the benefit of your life!
• Hire someone (a Personal Trainer, Physiotherapist, etc) who has the knowledge and experience to guide you as an individual and will know what to do when progress isn't happening as it needs to?​

mistakes...

I think one important point to make, is that while everyone makes mistakes and slips up from time to time, we are adults. People who ideally are able to take responsibility for their actions and choices, and aren’t flakes? (Sorry, was that a bit cheeky?)

I’m reminded of a fitness quote that I’m not a huge fan of, but it’s true anyway:

“Think of your workouts as important meetings you’ve scheduled with yourself. Bosses don’t cancel.”
(I have no idea who said that originally)

I'd like to rephrase that a little. Change the word "bosses" to "adults". Even then, it's still not right in my mind, because there are always appropriate situations when important things need to be cancelled (e.g. when someone dies or you get taken to hospital). That quote leaves no room for compassion and understanding.

But I'm sure you know what I mean, right? We need more discipline!

discipline can be defined as:
"the controlled behaviour resulting from such training."
(thanks again, google)

I, along with many other fitness professionals, like to think of it this way. Discipline is to adhere to or continue doing an idea or concept, regardless of how you are feeling at the present point of time. Why do you go to work when you'd rather be at the beach with family and friends? Because you know that if you don't work, you don't eat, and you don't have a house to live in. You understand the consequences of you actions.

The same applies to your health and fitness. If you don't put in the time and effort, how are you going to feel confident at the beach in Summer? How are you going to feel when you're struggling with preventable health issues due to lifestyle and think to yourself, "if I had stuck with a good lifestyle, this might have been so different?" How are you going to feel when another year goes by and the goal is still just a dream? Folks, we need discipline! Every single positive or negative choice we make has a consequence or flow-on effect. Please understand this, because your long term health and happiness does actually depend on it.

Discipline can be daunting. Holding yourself accountable is hard and sharing your goals with others is scary. But you know what? You can actually do it! You can reach your goals! You’ve just got to take it one day at a time, and keep going, even when you feel like you’re failing. (Fun fact: the hard times are when you learn and grow the most!)

---