“MOTIVATION”…….What is it? Can you REALLY rely on it?
"MOTIVATION"……..We read so many laments about lost motivation for workouts or healthy diet on this site. WHAT IS motivation & how do we maintain it? Well, there are 2 different definitions of motivation. The 1st is really about goals. What is your goal? What "motivates" you to exercise & eat right? To gain muscle? To lose weight? Etc. The 2nd definition is the one most people really mean……..How does one keep up the enthusiasm for hitting the workouts & staying on point with clean eating? This is what I want to comment on. How do we keep the fire going to hit the workouts & diet, day in & day out?
2) DETERMINATION: Rely on determination, NOT “motivation”. Motivation is an emotion, and it goes up & down, just like life. So it can’t be relied on. Motivation often FOLLOWS action, rather than precede it. I try to focus on staying determined, persistent & consistent. That way I don’t sweat it when I have lackluster workouts. I just go to the gym, whether I “feel” like it, or not. Take the Nike approach……JUST DO IT. The desire will return later. If the problem continues, I try some drastic change-ups to get back the ole enthusiasm. Until that happens, just keep plugging along.
3) SLIP-UPS: When I’ve slipped up, I remind myself this is a LIFETIME process. WE ALL slip up. And from a lifetime perspective, slip-ups are just blips on the road. Businesses don’t close down after posting a quarterly loss. They redouble their efforts to get back on track to profits. No one would expect a corporation to shutdown after a 1 quarter loss, or “slip-up”. Likewise, we shouldn’t give up and go on a binge after a diet slip-up. Or give up our workouts when we hit a plateau. Just dust off & press on.
Persistence & determination are key, not “motivation”. Here’s a fav quote of mine from Calvin Coolidge, which helps when I don’t “feel” like doing what I know I should do:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE TODAY WHO FEELS DISCOURAGED.
June 27, 2009 at 9:25 am
Nice post… Feeling a little low but not down and out. It has been a hard 6 months both personally and in the gym/diet arena. I am sure I am like most. I know what I want but not happy about how slow it is going. Thanks again
June 27, 2009 at 9:34 am
:D great post Al! been thinking about this for the last six months, so true and it’s my will to be consistent that keeps me going, that drive to actually accomplish something. motivation is part of it - but you’re right, it goes up and down. i tell myself on those down days, just to do it, i’ll be happier in the end when i do. have a great weekend Al.
great quote by the by.
L
June 27, 2009 at 10:02 am
Great post Al.
W
June 27, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hey AI…great freakin’ post! Thanks for the encouragement and thanks on my blog! You rock bro…keep killin’ it in the gym.
June 27, 2009 at 10:50 am
Excellent post. Just what I needed.
June 27, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Great post….thanks!
June 28, 2009 at 7:09 am
I agree, awesome post! How did the birthday party go by the way? And the grand total of fruits&veggies came to almost $10.. pretty steep for what I got, but still cheaper than some of the other (super unhealthy) options!
June 29, 2009 at 12:36 am
Thank you, Al. I found this post very enlightening.
June 29, 2009 at 6:52 am
Great post A-train! Love the new avi.
June 29, 2009 at 7:27 am
Fantastic and thoughtful. Thank you so much!
June 29, 2009 at 7:33 am
great blog Al! Kinda common sense but it’s good toave it in front of your face. Thanks bro!
June 29, 2009 at 10:15 am
We’re you talking to me? Were YOU talking to ME?
Seems like you were. Great job. Nice avi. You did a BIG THING avoiding a good-looking cake like that. Credit to your little girl for letting you off the hook.
June 29, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Thanks for sharing the tips, I will check try this stuff menthos + coke
snd really cool!
I have got some overweight problem and nothing cold help, its time to try something new.
Regards,
Anie
July 9, 2009 at 2:19 pm
hey thanks! you’re right, it’s determination, not motivation…
July 16, 2009 at 11:54 am
I went back and reread this today. Nice post Al.
July 16, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Thanks man! this helps today!!!
July 21, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Thanks Al, that is definitely eye opening.
September 7, 2009 at 11:46 am
Boy did I need this today. Have hit a wall, and this post really reminded me why I’m on this journey, and why I cannot allow myself to quit.
Thanks…:-)
September 17, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Excellent… that’s exactly IT… ‘just do it’ and don’t wait to feel like it.
Thanks.