Last week’s post was 5 Keys to Success — many of which are 100 percent relevant towards fitness goals, but this week let’s focus on key factors when it comes to following through and achieving your fitness goals in 2022.
Have a compelling reason as to why you want to get in better shape
Like any goal, if your goal is too broad or is not thought out– you will be fine on the days when you’re feeling motivated or you have a workout partner ready to meet, but you will likely fall short of fuel on the days you’re feeling tired. I workout not just to be in shape or build muscle.
Why I workout
I workout, because for me I feel stronger, more confident, I look better, I’m more patient, less stressed, I think better, and it helps me physically and mentally to be a better person for myself and those around me. As long as I keep in mind that it is much more than “because I like being in shape” I’ll never fall off the wagon for too long…
Prioritizing feeling good about your workouts
One of the most common mistakes I see among beginners all the way to advanced athletes when it comes to working out, is that we forget how important it is to enjoy the process. This is important not only so that you stay happier and more motivated throughout the journey, but also so that you’re more likely to follow through for the long run.
I once had a consult where I met with a former varsity soccer player who had lost all motivation to workout and was in the worst shape of her life. She looked at me and said, “I used to workout, I was a high-level athlete, and now working out is the last thing I want to do”. I looked back her and asked her, “what does the term working out and exercising mean to you?”
Her answer was about pushing herself to the max, fighting through pain and injury, and high-level competition and tracking. — no shit as to why she wasn’t motivated. That all sounds dreadful — especially when you are no longer at a competing stage of your life. Before she did one single exercise, I helped her re-frame her outlook on working out so that it meant, getting active, being healthier, coming to a social place to exercise ,and enjoying herself.
When you forget to enjoy certain aspects of life — they tend to be temporary. If you want to make working out and ‘getting healthy’ a lifestyle (not a month-style) — prioritize feeling good and having fun.
Do more of the things you don’t want to do
Somewhat contradictory to my last point, working out (and life in general) are about balance. Do the things you like as a reward, while recognizing that it’s generally the things you don’t like that you need the most in order to progress further. And if you’re searching for motivation, it goes hand in hand with progress and the feeling of accomplishment.
When it comes to fitness goals, chances are, if you love cardio and will run everyday without any accountability, you may need to take more time to learn about and execute strength training and flexibility work. If you love to weight train, you may be strong and toned, but stiff and rigid if you don’t take time to stretch. Or maybe you love hot yoga, but in order to hold a handstand better, or avoid injury, strength training may really be what you need more of…
Work with a Coach
Most of the time when we fail in pursuit of a goal, it’s because we have not been utilizing the proper strategy for success, we do not have an effective system in place for accountability, or the goal we set in the first place was skewed (not meaningful, not realistic, not specific, or maybe a combination of all three). Hiring a coach is a way to protect yourself against all three of the previous obstacles, giving you a much higher chance to succeed.
Be patient — think long term
I’m all for the mindset of diving head first into a goal, immersing yourself and figuring it out along the way until it’s accomplished, but everything takes time. Any goal accomplished is the result of consistent ongoing pursuit, much more than it is about starting with a bang. So before you decide to wake up at 5am for a ninety minute workout before work six days a week — ask yourself? how long can I realistically do this? and what can I do for the next 10 years rather than 10 weeks…
Closing thoughts:
When it comes to achieving any type of goal, remember the following: the more you can match success to your current lifestyle, the easier success will be. Always, make success as easy, convenient — and rewarding, as possible…