Find Your Motivation.....Now!

    There is never an ideal time to start your fitness journey and there is always an excuse that can be made. "I'll start my diet after the holidays." "Next week for sure!" "After New Year's it's gym time!" What you need to do is start NOW! But when I say start, I don't mean going all out crazy mode. All that will do is lead to a very fast burn out and have you back to your old habits right away. Instead, take baby steps. That can almost be taken literally....for instance, if you don't go for daily walks, start now. I don't care if it's as little as 10 minutes. That's 10 minutes you weren't doing before. If you eat 3 unhealthy, high calorie meals a day, replace one of those meals with a lower calorie, healthier version. If you've never worked out with weights before, start lifting 2-3 days a week. Starting small is key and will allow you to start creating healthier habits without being overwhelmed. In fact, you may start to enjoy the changes you are making and begin to crave them. Fitness can be extremely addicting and it all starts with finding aspects of it that you enjoy.





    Do you love to cook? Start thinking of ways to make healthier, low calorie versions of the foods you love. This challenge alone can be very motivational in itself. Do you love to run? Start keeping a log of all of your runs; including your time and distance. Challenge yourself to see if you can beat your log book. The same thing applies to lifting weights; keep a log book that records your weights and reps, and strive to beat that every workout. Find your motivation anyway you can. Do you love nature? Go out for hikes and explore different trails. Are you a sports fanatic? Join recreational sports teams or even pick up games at your local park. Basketball is a killer cardio workout! The possibilities are endless and it all starts with you making the decision to start your fitness journey. What once seems like a daunting task could end up being your new passion. A passion that is not only challenging and fun, but absolutely pivotal to living a long and healthy life.


    Another thing you should never do is compare yourself to others. Don't worry about other people's physiques at the gym, the only physique that matters is yours. We are all different physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Everyone is starting from different places and have their own goals in mind. In more recent times, we are faced with a double edged sword. That sword being fitness influencers. We see them all over our social media accounts. The benefits of having all these influencers are that some of them actually provide very good information. Whether it's about diet or exercise, some of these influencers really know what they are talking about and are also living proof of practicing what they preach. The downside is that people think these absolutely amazing physiques are the "norm" and if you don't look like that there must be something wrong with you. This can not be any further from the truth! These perfect physiques you see on instagram models and such are the elite top 1%. They are genetically gifted and have been training most of their lives. Also, without getting into it too much, more often than not these top physiques are enhanced with illegal pharmacology (PED's). That's not to mention all the filters, perfect lighting, photoshopping, and the fact that these models have purposely peaked for these photos and do not look like that all the time. Leading up to a photo shoot is similar to prepping for a bodybuilding competition. These models dehydrate themselves leading up to the shoot in order to get rid of any water in the muscles so that they get that grainy, hard, ripped appearance. What you need to do is take the good from these influencers; such as their dieting and training advice, but realize you do not have to look like them. If they create engaging and fun content, use that as motivation. What I like to do is watch YouTube videos of some of my favorite fitness influencers while I’m doing my cardio. It is an entertaining way to pass the time and a lot of times I learn something new as well.

    I know going to a public gym for the first time can be very scary. You see all these people around you who seem to know what they are doing and it makes you feel discouraged and nervous. “People are probably laughing at me because I can only lift the bar. I hate this. What am I doing here? I don’t belong here. Lifting weights just isn’t in the cards for me.” Take a deep breath. This negative thinking will absolutely destroy your goals and mess with your mind. First off, if someone is laughing at you in the gym they are in the minority and should be ashamed of themselves. They do not represent the proper gym etiquette and are most likely very insecure themselves. Most gym goers are actually very nice and helpful people. In fact, the big muscle heads are usually some of the sweetest and genuine people you can meet. They remember where they started from and are always willing to lend a hand, offer some advice, and provide encouragement where it is needed. So when going to the gym for the first time, think back to what you were likely taught as a child - Don’t worry about what other people think and be true to yourself. There are countless instructional videos online you can view in order to start learning the proper form for different exercises. There are many beginner programs you can follow too which I highly recommend doing. You do not have to do much when you first start out. Very basic workouts in which you pay very close attention to learning proper form and mechanics are all you need. Like I said in the beginning, baby steps.


    As the days go by you will become more and more comfortable with working out and lifting weights will almost be second nature to you. Before you know it, you may have people complimenting your physique or seeking you out with questions. The number one thing when it comes to fitness is consistency. A fitness journey is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s a lifetime journey. The key is to have fun with it, never stop learning, never stop experimenting with different aspects of fitness, challenge yourself, and most importantly; take pride in your accomplishments and dedication, and reward yourself as necessary.