January Slack
Let's talk motivation. At the start of the year we're all full of it. We've eaten and drank so much quite frankly we feel like utter shit. I couldn't wait to start my diet this year. I'd increased my calories for a few months, training really hard and heavy to get those all important gains. I was feeling it.
So New Years resolutions are easy. To begin with. We have our plan at the ready, you've decided on all of your nutrition goals. We're good to go.
Then two maybe three weeks into Jan it hits you. It's cold, dark, you're probably hungry too. Working out 4 times per week on top of everything else seems impossible to keep up with. The motivation has gone.
The thing people don't realise is motivation doesn't stick around. Not for anyone. Even the people who love going to the gym, seem to get the results they want and constantly post about; they lose motivation too. (They just might not tell you that).
You will always have days where the sofa is calling you, you'd rather have a biscuit than another fucking banana, but what you do with that feeling is what is going to change you. If you give in to that feeling of sluggishness and decide not to go to the gym, chances are you'll slack off the next time and then the next.
When introducing new habits, it's important to keep your routine because it's too easy for it to slip and then you've quit before you even know it. According to the the successful author of 'Atomic Habits', James Clear states that it takes, on average, 66 days to form a new habit and then to perform it automatically. We are not 66 days into the new year yet so you need to keep on trucking. It may not take this long for you, it may take a little longer but you will get there.
Whether you feel like it or not, I love the quote 'There's no such thing as a bad workout' because - unless you're injured - you will certainly feel amazing afterwards and be so glad that you did it.
Here are some little tips to try if you've lost all motivation...
🏋🏻♂️ Get a gym buddy - having someone to meet you will make you go.
🏋🏻♂️ At the start of the week set times and dates for that workout, plan everything down to childcare to what you will do when you get there, don't wing anything!
🏋🏻♂️ Buy some new gym kit - now I don't want to make you spend money but a new top won't hurt 😂
🏋🏻♂️ Get out walking - walking is massively underrated when it comes to fat loss and the fresh air will help you mentally. You could meet a friend and kill two birds.
🏋🏻♂️ Book a class - again an appointment booked is a great way to make sure go, especially if paid upfront.
🏋🏻♂️ Try a new form of exercise - why not spice things up a bit? Trampoline fit anyone?
Please don't quit, especially if you've already put in so much effort. Watch this space I have a new app coming that might just what you need 😉