Mike Fohner, cross country running coach, tells this story about one of his students:
Last year, one of my young cross-country runners was fully content
walking up the hills and avoiding physical exertion to the maximum
extent possible. I tried all sorts of tactics and motivation techniques…to
wits end. Even my “walkers club” (post practice sprints for those that
walk during practice) had no effect. One meet, this runner unexpectedly
knocked 3 minutes off her best time to which I gave a look of amazement
to her parents. They smiled and said, “Well…she didn’t
walk…so I guess
we owe her ten bucks!!” So it appears that money is an effective motivator for all ages!
The Statistics
Brace yourself. According to Rod K. Dishman, Ph.D., director of the Behavioral
Fitness Laboratory at the University of Georgia, nearly 50 percent of people who
begin an exercise program drop out within the first 6 months. The question is,
“Why?” What is it about sticking with a fitness routine that causes so many people
The answer? Motivation. They don’t
want health and fitness badly enough. It is
a simple fact of human psychology that if we want something badly enough, we’ll
do everything we can to get it.
Your challenge is to find out what motivates you to get serious about fitness and stick with it.
Unlocking your motivation
Mike Fohner’s student found that money was the motivation she needed to push
her out of her comfort zone and into a commitment that she previously hadn’t been
interested in.
Bryan Reece found a different motivation. Told by his doctors that he was minutes
away from a heart attack, Bryan decided to fight back. Even though he had not
been in a gym in 30 years, he turned his life around and eventually became a
finisher in the Arizona Ironman competition. You can read his story in the book,
You Are an Ironman: How Six Weekend Warriors Chased Their Dream of Finishing
the World's Toughest Triathlon by Jacques Steinberg.
You do not have to be part of that 50 percent who quit. You can stay
committed and finish strong. It is all about finding what motivates you personally.
Here are some possible motivators for you:
1. Do it for your health. Consistent exercise and healthy eating are the two very
best things you can do for your health. You will develop a strong, healthy heart,
reduce your chances of many cancers, prevent diabetes, keep a sharp mind and
resist dementia and avoid many of the common ailments that come
with aging. It
is possible to age without decay, and the key to this is exercise and eating well.
2. Do it to look better. Appearance isn’t everything, but most of us care how we
look. A strong and healthy person just looks good. And it isn’t all physical. Your
demeanor will change as you develop the confidence that comes from the discipline
of fitness. You will appear more energetic and confident because you will be more
energetic and confident!
3. Do it to relieve stress. Really! It isn’t a cliché.
Exercising really does cause
physical changes in your brain and nervous system that results in feelings of
calmness and well-being. In fact, you may get so hooked on the mental benefits of
exercise that you will crave it!
4. Do it to be strong. If
you have never done focused weight training, then you
literally have no idea of the total transformation that you will feel after just a few
weeks. There is nothing like bending over to pick something up that normally
results in discomfort, strain and even pain, only to find out that it is a piece of cake!
And by getting strong now, you reduce
your risk of age-related falls and fractures
because you have the core strength and balance to keep yourself stable.
It is worth taking the time to discover the powerful motivators in your life. Don’t
worry about ‘bribing’ yourself: do what it takes to get yourself moving. Find out
what makes sweating worth it.
Find out what you want more than that brownie.
Your health is at stake; in fact, your very life is at stake.
It’s time to transform yourself!
