Motivation: How To Get Motivated When Working Out

Water

Let’s face it – without water we wouldn’t exist. It’s the most important thing in life, and is – without doubt – the most important part of any exercise. Staying hydrated is what helps us in every aspect of our lives. Failure to do so can lead to many problems.

If a straightforward diet, to lose some pounds, is your aim and game, then, yes, water can be found in many ways – in everything we drink. But, as you know, coffees and other drinks can contain weight-gaining nutrients, especially energy drinks. And, while sometimes there is nothing wrong with these drinks, it’s still important to remember that drinks that are certified to not contain any nasties, are the only sensible approach to making those scales show magic.

On the other hand – toning your body and more extensive exercises may require nutrients that a simple bottle of water fails to comply with. Your trainer, or your guidebook, will explain so. But, in no means does this mean that water should be avoided. It is always – always – the most important part of any diet, exercise or fitness plan.

Sweating is often a sign that something is being achieved. And, as the saying goes – sweat is just fat crying. Perhaps so, but sweating to excess causes the body to become dehydrated – and this can be extremely bad, for you and your regime. Exhaustion follows dehydration and you are unable to complete what your dedicated mind asks. Motivation always requires water.

Music

Motivation and inspiration are two things that also work well together. Wherever we go, we see exercise working with music – from joggers with headphones to gyms full of bass.

Music can be inspirational to our exercise in many ways. It can, in some forms, allow us drift off and forget about the current – but, positive – strain our body is being put through.

Exercising without any music, is, of course, also a norm, and everybody has their own opinion on such a matter. But, if you find that you need that extra motivational push, then music could well and truly help.

Lighter Weights

This is an issue that can affect the motivational mindset of even the most enthusiastic of gym goers.

We all know that we start off with lower weights, and as we gain strength and muscle mass we are capable of lifting higher weights. We up the weight a fraction of a time, and – before we know it – we can’t believe that we were ever capable of moving such a quantity.

However, there are occasions when our body just hasn’t woken up in the correct form. There are no reasons for this – it just happens. We go to the gym, we lift a weight and it feels ten times heavier than it did the other day. Why? Because, simply, we haven’t given our body enough time to adjust.

By lifting lighter weights, we give our body time to become accustomed to the movements. This applies to both men and women, and is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.

Motivation levels are often boosted by lifting lighter weights before any more serious exercise, and is something that should be seriously considered if you ever experience that dreaded mental feeling of why can’t I do this today?

Basic Exercises

These exercises are often called warm-up exercises, or stretching exercises. Like above, but without any weights, they help get the body get conditioned and prepared for the more strenuous exercises to come.

They are used for a creative purpose entirely to get your body flexed and ready, but they also have a major role in mental motivation.

When you have an off day, or can’t seem to find that mental push, these simple exercises can get the heart and mind in the right gear.

Company

Motivation via company falls in to two different categories – those that we exercise with, and those whom we know. Both can boost motivation in ways we often fail to recognise.

When we attend exercise classes, or go to the gym to meet friends, or even become friendly with our personal trainers, our motivation levels are accelerated in a way that often goes unmatched. We are working with people who are in the same boat, and striving to achieve the same goals – or, in a personal trainer’s case, encouraging us to better ourselves on a regular basis. This form of mental activity – the knowing – is often a factor that makes us achieve what we wish to achieve in a much shorter space of time.

Likewise, the same can apply to friends and family that have nothing to do with our exercise routine. Just discussing your diet or your dedication in working out can help matters no end. Sometimes, we like to keep these matters secret, but doing so can prove problematic for yourself, your dedication and especially your motivation. Those that are closest to us tend to be the best form of inspiration imaginable.

Exercise And Food

Most exercise routines advise that eating food directly before exercise is a no-go area. They are, in no doubt, correct.

While it’s true that motivation requires the correct nutrients – be it an exercise routine at a gym or a simple step-by-step diet – failure to eat the right thing, at the right times, can lead to a form of mental exhaustion.

Where exercise is concerned, it is important to allow at least an hour for food to settle. With diet plans, the rules vary, but any professional could happily advise the best times and nutrients. Don’t forget, that even diets involve exercise in our everyday lives – a dog walk, the 9-5 job, the work around the house – all of these things burn calories and without the correct intake can lead to mental exhaustion, and, in turn, a serious lack of motivation.