Keys to Maintaining Motivation

I get asked all the time by future clients and clients how to maintain motivation. Sure it's easy to get revved up on Sunday night for Monday's new nutrition plan or exercise routine!! But how many Monday's have come and gone and you're continually revving yourself up...you lose momentum?

So..what happens? Where does the motivation go? Life, kids, career, sickness, exhaustion? Where is the motivation when the 5:00am alarm clock goes off after a night of a crying kid.....do you hit snooze or do you get up to beast out a workout? Do you lose motivation because you're waiting for your significant other to support you or your friends to back you?

What really needs to be discussed is determination and grit. If you are determined to lose that 10 lbs, determined to lead a healthier life, determined to be around for your grandkids...chances are you'll show up. Discipline is what happens when its 3 oclock on Sunday afternoon and you're at the grocery store buying the fresh, whole ingredients to meal prep for week. Discipline is getting that run in even after being up all night with a child.

Where does one acquire discipline? From your "why". Why do you want to lead a healthy life? Why do you want to live longer? Why do you want to look good and feel good? A person's why can be both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated. A strong "why" will keep you determined to push forward on hard days to meet those goals. My why is to not only be around for my son but to physically be able to interact with him. I want to stay healthy to see him hit his first home run, graduate college, get married...and I want to physically be able to jump up with joy and dance with him. I don't want to be the tired, overweight mom with no energy because I feed my body junk and don't take care of myself.

So now we need to find your "why".....you probably already have one.

What’s still missing then?

Answer: Belief in yourself and supporting yourself!!

Are you sitting there saying "but Jamie, you don't understand...I have no support. My friends and family won't understand and will say things like 'I'm fine the way I am' or 'it's ok to skip the gym this one time'." Let me scream this at you....You do not need other people to believe in you, You need to believe in yourself first! Other's won't see your vision or won't understand your why. They may be negative because they're scared of the same things you are now challenging. At first you may get negative vibes, but know that the belief in yourself is enough. Once the negative nahsayers see what you're doing, that you're achieving your goals and doing your thing they will want some. They will be asking you what you are doing, how you are achieving your goals, and asking you to show them the path. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will. If you don't believe you can achieve your goals, you won't.

Your "why" will be the reason every day you are choosing things that are in your best interest and not taking the easy way out. Example, why you meal prep and plan your nutrition instead of grabbing fast food because you are tired. That big mac won't be getting you anywhere near your health goals. Your 'why' will be why you make plans and write them down. You map out goals and the ways you will achieve them. It will be the reason why you are disciplined and focused.

Motivation is exciting and fun. It can be a big push to get things started but to keep at your goals you will need discipline. Every morning it is an active effort to make decisions that will meet YOUR goals. Your 'why' needs to be strong enough to push you through the hard times and push you to make the decisions to achieve your goals.

Don't just aspire to live...aspire to live the life you want!!!