Everyone on Instagram makes it look so easy. They’re all effortlessly in shape, and look like they live at the gym. You may even watch a couple videos, get inspired and head to the gym. However, it doesn’t seem to sustain for long enough. Why is it that the rest of us just can’t seem to get motivated to work out? Is there something wrong with us?
Being Realistic
First off, there is nothing wrong with us. In fact, that is actually exactly how we should be feeling. I’ve been lifting for over 15+ years and people assume going to the gym is easy for me. Guess what? It isn’t. I get just as unmotivated as everyone else. The only real difference is, I’ve gone enough times, and seen enough progress, that the desire to want to change is better than wanting to just stay the same.
It starts with being realistic. I didn’t wake up wanting to go 5 days a week. It isn’t some effortless journey. I always tell my clients when adopting new habits, to choose a new habit that you can see yourself doing 9/10 times. Seriously. I’d rather you find it TOO easy to get to the gym twice a week consistently than saying you could push it 4-5 times, and each week it's a different frequency. The reason being while both may net the same total gym sessions, the first version of you will feel way more accomplished having felt you easily hit those goals.
Do What You Like
There is not only this need to compare ourselves to other people, but also feeling the need to do exactly what they are doing. What if you don’t like what they are doing? I had moved out to California wanting to surf for so many years. I never really got into it because some years I felt “it messed with my gains bro” and other years I just kept prioritizing going to the gym because I was overly focused on adding muscle.
Over these past couple years, I finally picked up surfing because I realized my life can’t just be about lifting weights. There are far too many hobbies and things out in the world to explore to just be confined to an iron paradise. Now I surf 3-4 times a week, and sometimes I have to choose surfing over lifting. And that’s OKAY. This is your life.
Experiment with everything. Find forms of exercise that actually make you want to work out. Don’t limit yourself to the gym and hopping on a treadmill or lifting weights. Do some calisthenics outside or go for a hike! There are many other ways to get your heart rate up that will also get you just as fit.
What Gets Measured, Gets Improved
If you do go to the gym, have a plan. Many times, we lose motivation because after a month, we forget why we even went to the gym in the first place. Create or find a workout plan that has you progressing week to week. Stick to a regimen where you can track your reps and progress, so that at the end of 1-3 months you can actually see the change you’ve made. You can even create milestones that you can celebrate as you hit them. These will allow you to focus more on the journey and not the end goal.
A Support System
Sometimes all we need is an accountability buddy. Find someone who wants to go on this journey with you, or will support you as you begin yours. Having that person to check in with will keep you accountable towards making sure you don’t skip days you otherwise normally would. Find a personal trainer, or group class of like minded individuals who can share advice and stories about their journey.
