Finding the Motivation to Exercise

Finding the motivation to exercise can be difficult at times. Whether it is going to the gym or simply going for a power walk, some women often feel the lack of support to get started.

In a casual conversation with a close friend, she expressed her frustrations for not frequenting the gym as she did in the past. When asked to go a little deeper to help me have a clearer picture of what she was experiencing, she said that her first concern was the amount of weight that she gained over a period of 3 years. Since gaining weight, she said that she developed feelings that she was being judged by others based on her appearance. She said that now when she looks at photos from a few years ago, she now realizes that she was actually a great size, contrary to what she previously believed. In addition, my dear friend said that she sometimes has thoughts of not “being worthy” which is connected with society’s image of “body beautiful”. Although in the past she led an active lifestyle attending dance classes and the local fitness center with her girlfriends, she said that this also changed when her friends relocated to other cities. She says that these years have not been easy for her.

My beautiful friend has many wonderful qualities in her life which she worked very hard to achieve but in this moment, what is most important is that she is able to find the inner strength to set and follow through on practical goals, i.e. fitness and life.

Fitness Tips

1. If you are having negative thoughts, counter act them by telling yourself that you are worthy and that you are changing/evolving into someone better than who you were before. (Try telling yourself this everyday)

2. If you find that you are not quite up for the gym at this moment, start your fitness “program” by walking through your neighborhood. This will gradually build your confidence to be seen by others because it will take place in an environment that is familiar and possibly non-threatening (your neighborhood).
Also note that walking is an easy calorie burner. By walking, you will shed 210 calories in 30 minutes when walking a 15 minute mile and 420 calories when running a 10 minute mile.

3. Having accountability is very important, especially if you may not feel strong enough at times to follow through with your plan. Here are some suggestions:

1) Create a simple fitness plan which is realistic and applicable to your daily schedule.

2) Find a fitness/workout partner in your city.

3) Use your friends to monitor your fitness progress a few times a week. If your friends are not living in the same city, the phone and e-mail are excellent instruments to stay in touch!!

4) Find an on-line fitness partner. There are numerous fitness forums with women looking for the same support as you.

5) Hire a lifestyle fitness coach. You will pay for their services but you will have various options of communication such as, telephone sessions, IM (instant messaging), Skype, e-mail, and face to face coaching sessions at your disposal.

*Continue to eat meals which are healthy and balanced and drink plenty of water to keep up your physical strength.

Remember, the changes in your life begin with you but with today’s technology, you can find various means of support to help you obtain and maintain your goals.