FITNESS COLLEGE
So you’ve made the commitment to get into shape. GREAT! But now what? Well, what comes next depends largely on what you’ve committed to. Ah, there’s the rub.
I hear this almost daily, "I am going to get back into shape starting <insert date here>!"
I respond "Great! What are your goals and your motivation behind them?"
I am usually greeted with that uncomfortable silence that occurs on a bad date, only to be broken by "Goals? Motivation? What do you mean? My goal is to get into shape!"
GOALS
Let’s first discuss goals. In all of my experience, I have yet to hear a good explanation of the goal "to get into shape." This is such a subjective term, that it is impossible to quantify because it means something different to every individual. Also, in order to attain a goal, it needs the ability to be measured (quantifiable). Without the ability to be measured, how do you know if you have achieved your goal or how close/far away you are from it. This is reason "to get into shape" is not a realistic goal.
However, to most people’s credit, "to get into shape" IS a beginning, which is more than most people do. All it really needs is a little fine-tuning. Do you consider getting into shape being able to fit into a dress size that is 3 times smaller than your current size? Is it the ability to run 3 miles in less than 20 minutes? Is it being able to squat 3x your bodyweight? Only you can answer this.
MOTIVATION
If there is no time limit placed on the goal, there is no commitment. You only have an open-ended goal. This is where motivation comes into play. Motivation is your drive to meet your goal thus fulfilling your commitment. It is the deterrent to "I can cheat/miss just this one time!"
Even though cheating/missing one time doesn’t hurt, it’s easy to use this excuse as a crutch because you have something else to do. Before you know it, one time turns into two times, which turns into one week, which turns into one month, and the start of the downward spiral begins.
In order to avoid talking yourself into "one time won’t hurt" remind yourself of your motivation and the timetable you set forth for yourself. It will keep you heading down the right path of obtaining your goal.
There are just as many types of motivation as there are possibilities. It can be for health reasons, to fit into that sexy dress for a reunion, or simply to be able to surf for 4 hours straight without getting winded. If you can think of it, it can be used as motivation.
NOW YOU KNOW
Now you have the basic knowledge to be successful. You now know that a commitment is comprised of goals AND motivation. You also know now that setting a timetable to your goal is essential.
So the next time someone asks you what your working towards, be sure to tell them WHAT AND WHY!
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