Motivation. It often feels like something that comes naturally to everyone except ourselves.
The truth is, all of us struggle with motivation at times. Sometimes, feeling like you have no motivation is our default setting. This can make a journey towards a fitness or lifestyle make-over seem especially daunting.
So, how do personal trainers help?
Firstly, you have to understand that you’re not alone. Very few people walk through our doors absolutely desperate to get started. Secondly, you have to realise it’s a one-step-at-a-time journey – and all the motivation you need now is to get in touch and plan a free consultation.
After that, we’ll take over – and help you find motivation you didn’t know you had.
This is how…
Why do people have no motivation to workout?
A lack of motivation for training can be a common issue for those with health and fitness goals. You might think that those who are able to stick to a regular training schedule don’t suffer from a lack of motivation but that’s not the case. Everyone suffers from a lack of motivation sometimes.
There are a number of reasons you might suffer from a lack of motivation. A lack of knowledge or confidence when it comes to training, long term goals that seem unattainable or what seems like a lack of progress, or even just not enjoying your training are common.
What are the best ways to motivate yourself to go to the gym?
If you rely on motivation to get you going you’re not setting yourself up for success. The key is not motivation, the key is discipline and routine. If it seems daunting to get yourself motivated for numerous gym sessions every week from now on, bear in mind that all you really need to do is keep up your motivation for long enough that it becomes routine. Don’t focus on being motivated in the short term, focus on being motivated to establish discipline in the long term.
When it comes to getting motivated for individual sessions, let’s break down some of the issues mentioned above.
Finding the right knowledge brings confidence and results
Knowledge and confidence take time to build. However, you can set yourself on the right path by finding trusted sources. Don’t go in blind and don’t go in without a plan.
Many people suffer from a lack of motivation because they approach their training without direction. If you walk into the gym without a plan of what you’re going to do or what you want to achieve then it’s unlikely to be a productive session.
Follow a program from a reputable source and you won’t have to worry about the knowledge you have or don’t have. When it comes to confidence, remember everyone starts somewhere!
The gym can feel like an intimidating place, but trust us, no one’s paying attention to what you’re doing- they’re likely only concerned with their own training.
Set some realistic, achievable goals
If your motivation is lagging because you feel you’re a long way from your goals, it’s worth paying attention to how you’re setting those goals. It’s great to have a long term goal, but what’s more important is setting the short term milestones to get there.
If your goal is a 100kg bench press and you’re currently stuck at 30kg, aim for 35kg. From there you can aim for 40kg and before you know it you’ll have smashed your long term objective. Apply this milestone tactic to whatever your goal is and you’ll find it much easier to stay motivated.
Measure your progress
Linked to goals is the way you’re measuring your progress.
If it feels like you’re not making progress, but you’re putting in the work, it can be easy to lose motivation. This is where accurate tracking comes in.
It is imperative to track your progress. With any health and fitness goal it’s all about the marginal gains. Tracking the weight you lift, the weight you’ve lost or changes in body composition can’t be subjective. You need objective data to get a full picture of your progress.
When you have accurate data you know exactly where you are and you can change the variables in your training accordingly. Losing 0.5kg a month might be difficult to judge by the eye test which may leave you feeling like you’re not making progress, but if you have the data to rely on you’ll know whether or not you’re on the right track.
Do something you enjoy!
Finally, let’s look at enjoying your training. Arguably the most important factor in motivation and consistency!
The answer to this one is simple, if not straightforward in practice – find an activity or type of training you enjoy.
There are no mandatory exercises. If you hate running you don’t need to force yourself onto the treadmill. The same goes for squats, cycling, skipping or any other exercise you can think of. Our bodies are designed to move in a multitude of ways, there’s no point forcing yourself to move in a way you don’t enjoy.
Find what works for you and you’ll be much more likely to stick to it.
What are the best ways to keep yourself motivated as you workout?
While the tactics above may seem more applicable to keeping yourself motivated to get to the gym, they’ll also work to help keep you motivated in the session.
First, go in with a plan. If you know what you’re trying to accomplish and have a set finishing point to work towards it’ll be easier to get an effective workout than if you go in and just randomly hop around a few different exercises.
It’s also imperative to make sure your plan is linked to your goals. Ensure that you know why you’re doing something. It’s much easier to squeeze out those last few reps if you can visualise them helping you towards your ultimate goal. If you’re working hard but don’t know why, it’s going to be all the more tempting to give up.
To ensure you are staying on track towards your goals, make sure you track the work you put in. If it feels like you’re struggling to get through a workout and worrying about a lack of progress, the ability to look back and see just how far you’ve come can be a huge motivator.
As well as working towards your goals, do what you can to make your workout into something you enjoy! Sure, you might not love every exercise you need to do to get you towards your goals but there are always options to make things more enjoyable.
Remember, while there are fundamental movement patterns that should form part of your strength training, there are no mandatory exercises. If you dread the thought of split squats, swap in a different movement, like lunges, that achieve a similar result. You might not love them either, but its a marginal gain in making your workout more enjoyable.
Outside of exercise selection or training style, you can also take steps towards making your workout more enjoyable by doing things like creating a motivational playlist full of songs you love or treating yourself to some workout gear that makes you feel great!
Can a personal trainer help me find motivation to workout?
Working with a personal trainer makes staying motivated easier. A personal trainer can help keep you motivated in the short term and give you the tools you need to establish discipline and routine in the long term.
If you’re training with an expert trainer, you can rest assured that the issue of knowledge won’t be a limiting factor. A properly designed program takes the guesswork and self doubt out of training. Find a trainer you can trust and you’ll be able to buy into the program they design for you, safe in the knowledge that it can be effective and matches up with your goals.
They can also keep track of your progress, identify stumbling blocks and help you work through plateaus. When you work with a trainer, you’re getting the benefit of their expertise and their experience. Chances are they’ve come across the issues you’re experiencing and have the know-how to get past them.
A personal trainer can also work with you to keep your training fresh, interesting and enjoyable. You might not always love every exercise you need to do to get you towards your goals, but a good trainer will be able to explain to you why you’re doing an exercise and how it relates to your objectives.
Finally, hiring a personal trainer helps establish a routine. Rather than just exercising when you find the time, which allows for life to get in the way, booking a regular slot with a trainer makes you accountable to somebody else.
Remember! You don’t have to motivate yourself hit your goals immediately! You just have to have the motivation you need to contact us and hear more about how we could work together. Then, you can trust the personal trainers here at Fitness Lab to help steer your journey!
