Before I tell you what does work, I should tell you what doesn't work...
The big stick. Punishment. Fear. Those things might work in the short term to motivate but they don't lead to the right result, which in this case, is to make you healthier mentally and physically. To illustrate this, think of a pet owner. You can easily imagine how using fear, punishment and threats, may motivate a pet in the short term, yet in the long run, will not lead to a good outcome. When it comes to motivating yourself to get healthier - you don't want to end up like a puppy cowering in a corner or on the couch. Internalizing the "big stick", punishment and fear doesn't work when it comes to improving mental and physical fitness or accomplishing your goals.
So here is the quick trick. (This actually works for any type of motivation but our focus is fitness.) Let's say you have a walk planned for your daily exercise, but you just don't feel like exercising today. Other tricks have failed, like finding a friend to go with, so now you REALLY don't feel like going.
To change the outcome of this all too common scenario: sit down for 2 minutes and make a list of all the intrinsic reasons you like walking and being active.
Some examples to get you started: you like the way the sunshine feels on your skin, the rain on your face, the way the wind feels in your hair, or simply the fun cadence of a walk or jog. You get the idea. Don't use reasons like " I'm too fat" or "I want to look like one of the Housewives of Orange County." Those kind of reasons are external and kill motivation over time. Remember to motivate yourself with intrinsic reasons, slowly move away from the fear and you will change your life. -MF
The big stick. Punishment. Fear. Those things might work in the short term to motivate but they don't lead to the right result, which in this case, is to make you healthier mentally and physically. To illustrate this, think of a pet owner. You can easily imagine how using fear, punishment and threats, may motivate a pet in the short term, yet in the long run, will not lead to a good outcome. When it comes to motivating yourself to get healthier - you don't want to end up like a puppy cowering in a corner or on the couch. Internalizing the "big stick", punishment and fear doesn't work when it comes to improving mental and physical fitness or accomplishing your goals.
So here is the quick trick. (This actually works for any type of motivation but our focus is fitness.) Let's say you have a walk planned for your daily exercise, but you just don't feel like exercising today. Other tricks have failed, like finding a friend to go with, so now you REALLY don't feel like going.
To change the outcome of this all too common scenario: sit down for 2 minutes and make a list of all the intrinsic reasons you like walking and being active.
Some examples to get you started: you like the way the sunshine feels on your skin, the rain on your face, the way the wind feels in your hair, or simply the fun cadence of a walk or jog. You get the idea. Don't use reasons like " I'm too fat" or "I want to look like one of the Housewives of Orange County." Those kind of reasons are external and kill motivation over time. Remember to motivate yourself with intrinsic reasons, slowly move away from the fear and you will change your life. -MF
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