From the Couch to Your Goal

 

Seriously, who needs some Motivation?  If you are like most of us adults running around trying to make ends meet and keep ourselves remotely sane, motivation to work out can be lost amid the turmoil of the day.  I know when I get home from an exhausting day at work the last thing I want to do is work out; and honestly, I can’t manage to drag myself out of bed early to do it either.  All I want to do after work is take my pants off and sit on the couch until I find the energy somewhere to make dinner for the family.

The funny thing is, once we find the time and energy to get off the couch and exercise, even a little bit, a world of change is just around the corner.  To be honest, exercising is similar to a drug; just a natural stimulant.  The more you push your body the better you feel and the more you want to stay off the couch.  I dare you to exercise on a regular basis for a few weeks and then take a day off.  You feel like you never actually woke up that morning.  Everything about your day drags, from the clock to your eyelids.

So here’s the deal, change starts with you.

-First step is get off the couch.  No matter how tired you are at the end or beginning of the day, just pick one and start small.

-Set reachable goals.  Unfortunately, in exercise the adage ‘shoot for the moon and you’ll end up with the stars’ doesn’t really work.  If you shoot for the moon on your first workout there’s a good chance you’ll just give up because you are so far from your goal.  Start small; aim for a goal you know you can achieve.  Everyone is different so this goal may be to get out and walk for 15 minutes or it may be to run a couple miles at an easy pace.  Whatever it is, make sure it fits your abilities.

-Mix up your workout routine.  Make sure you are doing both cardiovascular and weights to ensure a balanced body.  Don’t be one of those people who goes to the gym and just works out their biceps so they can look good.  The goal is to be healthy and in shape.  The looking good will come naturally.

-Eat right.  I always say ‘all things in moderation’ and it seems to have worked for me.  If you are conscious of what you are putting into your body the chances are you will be more careful.  Start a food journal; it helps.  It is a ‘scientific’ fact that ice cream is awesome. (Not proven, I made this up) If you eat in moderation, having ice cream every once in a while will not kill you.  It won’t even destroy your healthy eating as some people believe.  The trick, as in everything else, is to have special things a little bit every once in a while.  Half-gallon every night; BAD.  

-Find an accountability partner.  Having someone to workout with and help push you is awesome.  Just make sure you aren’t out starting to run with someone who just ran a marathon.  You need to be of similar levels, otherwise you will just slow your partner down.  Push each other to do better.

-Set long term goals.  Putting that carrot out in front of you can be just the motivation you need to stick to something.  Tell your accountability partner that you want to run a 10k in six weeks or a half marathon in six months.  Whatever you choose, make it realistic, but still something that you have to push yourself to reach.

Oh well.  I could go on and on, but will leave you with this.  There is only one person in this world that can give you the motivation to get up off the couch and back into life; you.  Take things one step at a time and laugh in six months when you realize how far you have come.