"Success for me is one percent perspiration and 99 percent motivation"
-Lance Armstrong quoted after winning his third consecutive Tour De France while at the same time battling cancer
Lance Armstrong's quote exemplies what I believe is the most important thing we all need to succeed, no matter what the endeavor. New Year's was only about a month ago and for a few weeks after the number of people that I see in the gym almost triples.....but by March most of them stop coming. Why? Because they lose their motivation for going a few months after making a New Year's promise to lose a few pounds, become more active, etc. I am going on and on about this poing because I truly believe that staying motivated and consistent is the #1 thing you must do in order to transform yourself.
Most people go about a fitness program or diet or whatever by looking at what steps they must do in order to acheive the results they want. For example, if you want to get a 3.8 GPA this semester, you know that you'll have to study more, not skip class, and spend quite a bit more time thinking and being at the library. If you want to get in better shape, you know you must exercise and eat better. If you want to learn how to play the guitar, you must practice daily, and constantly learn harder songs, etc. However, most people are not motivated enough to stick with their great plans, and this lack of motivation leads to frustration and eventually failure. In short, there is a world of difference in knowing what steps to do, and actually doing them.
So where do you get the motivation to workout and eat right, or in that fact succeed in any goal? There is no correct answer, it just has to be something that means a great deal to you. After a heartattack almost killed him, my Grandfather gave up his lifestyle of drinking and smoking heavily because he was afraid of not seeing his Granddaughter Ashley (who was a baby at the time) grow up. For him, that was true motivation, and he has not touched alcohol or cigars in 10 years. Lance Armstrong and other cancer survivors often attribute their survival out of the sheer determination to stay with their family.
The mind is much more powerful than we give credit........and if you truly put your mind to any task, you will succeed. I was able to transform myself because I truly believed that I could. I was going to succeed or die trying, there was not going to be a middle ground. With motivation and realistic goals, people can make gains they normally would never dream of. Getting that motivated and committed is without a doubt the hardest thing to do.....but if you can do it, the rest of what you must do will come easy---because your mind will not let you fail.
achieve that goal. Write down why you want to reach this goal. Read it the first thing after you
wake up, and before you go to sleep. It sounds corny, but many people lose their focus and fail
because they lose sight of their goals and let themselves slip. By constantly reminding yourself why
you are set these goals to begin with, you will not lose your focus.
2.) Plan at least a part of your day around your goals. For example, I almost always write down in
advance what exercises ill be doing on a certain day, how much ill try to lift, and also what ill be
eating in a journal. Having a set plan helps me stay organized, and it motivates me when I see I am
llifting more now than I was a few months ago. This can applied to almost everything you want to
accomplish. If you want better grades, keep track of how much your studying, and when you start
seeing your grades go up, you will be even more motivated to stick with it.
3.) Don't do it alone!!! If you can find a friend or family member to start a similar program, you will
help out each other tremendously. I always lift better when im working out with one of my friends,
they help motivate me, and by seeing them improve, I do not want to fall behind (natural human
competiveness.)
4.) No one is perfect!!! Alot of people lose their motivation shortly after they set their goals because
they do not see immeadiate improvement, or they screw up and therefore give up. If you screw up,
just write it down, and keep with your program. Once you see results, you will not falter.
More tips to come soon (When I have the time)!!
