Motivating Yourself in the Gym

by | Apr 23, 2012 | Health Habits, Nutrition Support, Uncategorized

If you want to get into shape then it is highly important that you know how to motivate yourself. In fact it is easy to argue that motivation is the key ingredient that will help you to be successful, and the most important part of a good training regime. If you give two people the exact same workout to work from, then they aren’t going to get into the exact same shape. In most cases one person will see themselves quickly grow in muscle and cut down their fat, while the other person will give up and stay the same. Genetic differences are minor, and unless one of the individuals is injured they are both just as capable of getting into shape. So the only difference is their ability to stay committed and to put in the right amount of work.

So if it has gotten to the evening when you normally would want to work out, and you find yourself putting it off and just lying on the couch watching TV. If you find yourself thinking ‘just five more minutes’, how can you break this cycle and get yourself up and out the door and to the gym? There are various methods, but here we will look at a few of the most potent.

No Excuses

The first thing to do is to learn how your own brain works – to recognize when you are making excuses and trying to back out of it. If you said you were going to work out tonight at 5 and you find yourself still putting it off at 5.30 then recognize what you are doing. The excuses you are coming up with are not valid, and the only way you are going to get into shape is to stop thinking that way. You need to be able to be strict with yourself and you need to understand that there is no such thing as a ‘good excuse’. Be strict with yourself and just get up.

Find Inspiration

Something is propelling you to want to go to the gym, and something is making you want to get into shape. Your goal now is to find out what that is and to bring it to the forefront of your mind so that you remember.

Perhaps you want to get into shape like Arnie? Well then put on one of his films or watch him training on YouTube and feel your blood pump (try this whoever you are, it’s very likely to work). Alternatively , perhaps you are trying to get into shape so that you can get the girl you want – well then think about her and then go to the gym.

Likewise you should think about what it is that you are working away from. Grab a piece of flab from your stomach in your hand and wiggle it around right now. Feel like lying down eating cake now? The age old question is: what’s better, carrot or stick? Well the answer is quite simple: both.

Wake Up

Often we are simply too tired and lethargic to feel like going to the gym. The irony is though, that by lying on the couch not doing anything we will only be making ourselves actually more lethargic. What’s important then is that you motivate yourself up and out of your seat and get the blood pumping. One way to do this is to simply try breathing in deeply, smiling broadly, then getting up and jumping up and down a bit. Suddenly you should feel you have a little more vigour and energy.

Another thing to do is to try listening to some up tempo music, which is often a good way to get your blood pumping.