Making Your Work Out Dreams a Reality
Exercise… getting in shape… working out…whatever you want to call it, is something most of us avoid. This includes myself. The reality?
The older I get and the busier I get, the lower exercise becomes on my list of priorities and goals.
However, we really enjoyed watching the Olympics at our house. Seeing the determination of athletes who push their bodies to the limits for the sake of a dream is absolutely fascinating. It never fails to make me think though.
- What makes them different than me?
- Are they athletically superior, or do they just work harder than the average person?
- Could I ever compete in something?
- I know I’m not Olympic material, but what is my body capable of?
For me, and most of you, it boils down to one thing: motivation.
What Motivates You?
To start, the first step in figuring out how to make exercise become a regular part of your life, is asking yourself the question:
What is my core motivator for getting in shape?
Without knowing why you exercise, then you won’t know why you don’t!
- Some people only work out only if their doctor tells them to, usually because their cholesterol is too high or they are at risk for heart disease.
- Others only work out when they need to lose weight. This could be for vanity reasons or for health reasons as well.
- And then there are those who love how working out relieves their stress or reach a goal. They tend to live busy lives and working out is there “me” time.
I have realized that I workout only when I am unsatisfied with my body. Thankfully, I have pretty good genes and eat really healthy. However, if my thighs start to jiggle too much or I get tired of my muffin top, I start working out. Once I get to a point of disgust, then I make the time to exercise. But, once I start working out regularly:
- My motivation changes
- My stress levels decrease
- I have more energy
- I look forward to working out, because without it, the reality is I just don’t feel as good!
I have resigned that I don’t want to wait until that point again and be disgusted with myself before working out. I want to always work out because I know it’s good for me and because I love how it makes me feel! I found there is only one way, at least for myself to do this. Make it fun!
Turning Exercise into an Adventure!
If you’re like me and beginning an exercise program feels like a chore, then I have a challenge for you!
Sit down and dream for a bit.
- What have you always wanted to do, but felt like you didn’t have the physical strength?
- Is there an Olympic sport you’ve always wanted to try, but never had the guts to?
- Maybe it’s as simple as wanting to ride your bike more, or as complicated as learning to surf.
Whatever your dream may be, let it be your motivation! Focusing on a goal is the best motivator. Making it fun is even better!
I used to run track in high school; I was a pretty decent runner, too. Once I graduated, I would run for exercise, but I was always too scared to do any kind of race. You know why? I think I was scared that I wouldn’t do well and be disappointed. But I have decided, NO LONGER!!
Now I am in my 30s, I have realized that I want to race for the enjoyment, not the competition. So, I have set a goal to do an 5K obstacle course! There will be slides, mud, walls to climb and more! Pictures from the website show people laughing and running with smiles, not looks of pain and strife. This is perfect for me!
So, my exercising is now motivated by the REWARD of running a fun obstacle course race in a few months. I want to have the physical strength to “finish” – and to do it with a smile on my face, as well. 🙂
I encourage you to put together your dream list, and then set on a path to making it a reality. You might have to be a bit realistic, but keep it fun! When exercise is fun, it is much easier to find time for it. Then, results that you are looking for come much easier.
If you could participate in any kind of sport or athletic activity, what would it be? What steps do you need to start taking to get to that point?
I used to climb buttes in my twenties when I lived out west. Now I am moving back with my fiance-he always wanted to go rock climbing. This will be a good compromise for us. It will be exciting to tackle one and watch the sun rise from the top. It becomes a routine, this mini adventure of climbing buttes. I feel this sense of accomplishment and the view is spectacular, which makes it a rewarding workout. Like manageable mini mountain climbing. I could easily motivate myself to do a couple of climbs a week. I think that anything that feels like an adventure would be great motivation. GOOD LUCK on that obstacle course!