It seems like motivation is one of those things that comes and goes for most people. One minute you’re totally feeling it, and the next minute you’re exhausted and want to veg on the couch. What types of things can you do to keep your fire stoked and stay charged up?
The very first thing I recommend (and I know I sound like a broken record) is to get your Goals straightened out. Figure out what you want, and when you must accomplish it. If you need more details on setting goals, you can check out this post I did a little while ago that contains a few pointers.
The next thing I do is to fill my field of vision with motivating pictures, video, and music. I love to download new music. I really like industrial or hard rock for weight-lifting and techno and club mixes for cardio. (If you have some great playlists please share here!!). So, I’m always on the hunt for upbeat new music. It’s fun to listen to all the new tracks at the gym during your workout, instead of just the same old same old.
Another effective tool that I use is motivating pictures and videos. I surround myself with Oxygen magazine, Fitness RX for Women, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and I peruse their websites often. It’s one of those things where I mostly look at the pictures!! 🙂 The articles get read if I bring the magazine with me on a piece of cardio – that really makes the time fly if you can focus on the article and get your cardio in at the same time.
I also like to look at photos of fitness models before I go to the gym to get psyched up. Filling your mind with the image of what you want to look like is one of the tactics that will help you get there. Visualization is huge. Learn to focus on the body you want and use your imagination to pretend you already have that physique. The more you can imagine yourself with the body of your dreams, the closer you will be to getting it.
So, to sum up… stay motivated by thinking about your goals, looking at motivating pictures and videos, surrounding yourself with all things fitness, getting some great music on your ipod, and imagining yourself lean and fit.
Hey Stef! You look AMAZING!!!!!!! I didn’t think you could possibly look any better after the 98 day challenge!! I was sire wrong! I am still plugging away but am off track at the moment. Slowly getting back on though after several uncontrollable setbacks. I have misplaced my determination but I am determined to get it back!
Glad I saw your article on Scott’s fb. I am going to use you as my model, if you don’t mind 😉 You are more real to me than the models in the magazines since we have briefly conversed on the IC. Like you said in other posts, it helps to have something in front of you to keep it in you mind. Do you know of any place to get posters like I see on different fitness fb pages? I need to put some up of real women so I physically see them on a regular basis.
Looking forward to keeping up with you! I’m planning on being a Cougar Model in the future!!
Hi Brenda!! Yes, you will be a Cougar Model 😉 Just send me your photos when you’re ready!
I really appreciate you using me as a model – I think it’s helpful to find a fitness or figure model that has a body structure similar to yours so you can picture yourself looking like that. I don’t know where people get the fb pix but sometimes you order pix from their sites… I just rip them out of Oxygen Magazine and Muscle & Fitness Hers 😉
Keep up the good work!! You probably just need a break after the winter challenge!!