Where does the motivation come from to keep pursuing your fitness goals, or to begin fresh on a new workout journey?
At the beginning of every year, people all over the world make resolutions; this can take many forms, such as being more organized, learning new skills, quitting smoking, or becoming more financially secure and stable. However, there is one main resolution that usually tops them all – and that is to exercise more, get in shape, or lose weight. Whether you are a seasoned exercise fanatic or brand new to the workout scene, there’s one thing that everyone needs in order to stay connected to their fitness routine…and that is motivation!
Motivation is essentially what causes you to act in a certain way, and can be from any number of sources. But where does the motivation come from to keep pursuing your fitness goals, or to begin fresh on a new workout journey? And what can you do to continue on your health and wellness path throughout the year?
Let’s look at six tips to help you stay motivated all year long!
Accountability
If you are needing a boost to your motivation, then getting together with a friend for a workout can certainly point your mood in the right direction – after all, you don’t want to leave them hanging for a 6am sweat session! Having a friend to workout with everyday is definitely a positive source of motivation, and can help keep you accountable as well. In fact, having others that know what your goals are, especially within the fitness realm, can be pivotal in helping you work harder and stick to your program, even on days that you don’t feel like working out.
Having a buddy for motivation isn’t only helpful with working out – they’re also beneficial when it comes to diet as well! If you have friends or gym buddies who also have similar goals in regards to fitness and wellness, you might find that you both are beginning to lose weight, get stronger, or improving cardiovascular endurance…. all of which can be a huge boost to your motivation! (5)
Eat Well
Let’s face it – if you don’t eat well, then the last thing you want to do is go workout. Overly processed and refined foods (such as donuts, fries, candy, pasta, etc.) give you a quick boost of energy, but then drop your energy levels just as fast…and drop your motivation to go move as well! After all, who really wants to go exercise after having a big sub with some chips? Likewise, a nutrient dense, well rounded meal (such as a hearty salad with chicken, avocado, chickpeas, etc.) can provide long lasting energy, and will help to power you through your workout.
There is a reason behind why simple carbohydrates give you a quick burst of energy – the more sugar that is in these types of processed foods, the more quickly it’s absorbed into your bloodstream, which can in turn make for quick energy and mood ups and downs. However, eating more complex carbohydrates like nuts, whole grains, sweet potatoes, and seeds helps to keep your blood sugar more level, and doesn’t allow for big energy or mood swings. (1)
Take Care of Your Joints
Exercise is probably the last thing you want to do, if you are feeling any kind of discomfort after a workout. Issues with joints, muscle soreness, and old injuries can creep up at any time during an intense workout, and can be a big hindrance when it comes to sticking with your fitness routine. This is where a supplement like Daily Turmeric can come into play; not only can it aid in promoting healthy joints, but it can also help decrease joint achiness after exercise. This is due to a compound called curcumin. Turmeric, which has been around for hundreds of years, is used widely nowadays, especially in regards to its ability to support joint health. (2)
But why is this important, when discussing your motivation to exercise? Ensuring that your joints stay healthy and mobile is key when you have a workout routine, and injuries can derail your exercise journey. Supplements like Daily Turmeric can help your body more efficiently maintain mobility and fluidity, which is important when you are trying to move effectively and correctly through movements like squats, lunges, deadlifts, pushups, and pullups. No one wants to experience pain during a workout – so supplementing with turmeric is an effective way to decrease discomfort within the joints, and keeps you on track to complete your daily workouts!
Inspire Yourself
With all the advancements in technology, there are a plethora of ways that you can use devices to help motivate and inspire you to keep moving each day. From smartphone apps and pedometers to fancy earbuds and heart rate trackers, there’s something out there for just about anyone if you are looking to get a bit more in depth with your fitness journey. Activity trackers are fabulous for measuring daily steps, heart rate, calories burned, and even sleep statistics – perfect if you want to see just how much you are moving each day! Several trackers also have the ability to give you a buzz every hour, gently reminding you that it’s time to get up and walk around a bit in order to hit daily step counts or just to take a relaxing stretch break for a couple of minutes.
Granted, activity trackers aren’t for everyone – some people find them more motivating than others, and that’s okay! If you know that you are motivated by seeing your stats pop up each day (and maybe have a bit of a competitive streak to break your records from the days prior), then they can be very helpful in staying on track. However, if activity trackers bring you more stress, then there is no shame in ditching the smart watch for a good old-fashioned journal to keep track of your workouts – or a daily sticky note on your mirror to remind you to get moving! (3)
Get Some Zzz’s
We all know just how important sleep is to our overall health and wellness, however, sleep can play a critical role in keeping us motivated on our fitness journey as well! If you aren’t getting enough quality sleep each night, many different aspects of life can be impacted – mood and motivation being one of those areas.
Think of it this way: if you are tired, one of the last things you probably want to do is participate in an intense workout, right? Of course not, because you are worn out and probably lacking the energy to do your workout effectively. This in turn makes it harder to focus on your short and long term goals, and can have a lasting impact on your motivation to reach those goals. (4) Likewise, if you can get a good night of rest, then your mood is lifted and energy levels are increased, and therefore making it easier to work towards your fitness goals.
If you are able to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night, you won’t only be maximizing your workout recovery, but you’ll also improve workout performance and boost your mood – both of which are motivating factors in and of themselves!
If you are having trouble catching your Z’s at night, a natural sleeping aid might be for you. Be sure to look for one that is non-habit forming, and made with completely natural ingredients, such as Natural Sleep. Talk with your healthcare provider to see if this might be a good option for you.
Commit
Fitness starts in your mind. When you commit to something, it means that you are in it for the long haul. It rises above bad days, chaotic schedules and the ever-so-changing emotions that you feel each day. When you decide to commit to fitness, you wake up everyday choosing to live healthfully. Find some small things you can commit to today that will tell your mind that you are serious about your fitness routine.
Taking supplements can be a great way to commit to your health, and help motivate you to choose a healthy lifestyle every morning. Consider adding the BalanceGenics Complete Health Bundle to your diet to help fuel your body for your very own fitness success story!
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many different ways that people find their motivation to stay fit all year round; some might find that one strategy is better than another, and that’s okay! Whatever your reason for staying motivated on your health and wellness journey, make sure that it is specific to you, your goals, and your desires. After all, you’ve only got one body - make sure that you take care of it to the best of your ability, with whatever means motivates you the best.
QUICK DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. Readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither the author(s) nor the publisher of this content take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All readers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
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