(Photo courtesy of 'The Sparrows'
on St.Martins - Isles of Scilly!
2005)
IF YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
AND WANT TO GET YOUR
LIFE INTO SHAPE THIS YEAR...
THEN
MAYBE YOU COULD USE SOME...
Having worked as a weight training instructor and fitness assessor for a number of years, I have witnessed
many people embark upon a fitness
programme, full of enthusiasm
and determination, only to find
that a few weeks later their
enthusiasm had dwindled and
they had become ‘bored’ with
their workouts. Their results
failed to match their initial
expectations and so - they give
up!
Disillusioned and disappointed
in themselves, they may then
return to their former unhealthy
eating patterns and lifestyle.
It is my belief, that what they
lacked in these instances was
MOTIVATION. There was no one,
readily available to enthuse,
focus and encourage them towards
their goal – The positive energy
'input'
was missing.
However, in my experience of
one-on-one personal training,
I have noticed that the momentum
and enthusiasm to achieve personal
goals are easily maintained
and results reached a lot sooner
than when clients are left to
persevere alone.
This can apply to all things
we go for in life. A positive,
encouraging outside influence
makes all the difference, whether
a person is going for a job
interview, opening to spiritual
knowledge, taking part in a
pantomime or creating their
dream. Having the motivation
to see it through, is what really
counts.
So what is motivation?
Let's look at the word for a moment...
MOTIVE
- A reason
for doing something
MOTIVATION - A reason
for doing something PLUS the
desire
and the will
to put it into action and achieve
it. - (Well, that's my
interpretation of it!)
How
do we achieve it?
Let's take
losing unwanted fat as an
example.. as this is about
'shaping up' your life!..
But as I have said, this could
equally apply to any area
of your life that you are
not happy with i.e. finances,
job, relationship..etc.
Firstly, ask yourself - "what
is my reason
for wanting to lose weight?"
Is it because you genuinely
think that you are 'overweight'
and would feel so much more
attractive / healthy / physically
capable and active if you
lost a few pounds?
Or...
are you relatively 'at ease'
with your size, but feel 'under
pressure' to lose weight because
of 'outside' influence or
the opinion of another?
In other words, are you doing
it to please yourself,
or someone else?
If the latter is the case,
you are not really being true
to yourself and therefore,
getting motivated enough
to achieve the results, is
likely to be difficult! This
is because, your heart may
not fully be in it!
Next, let's look at DESIRE...
How much do you desire
this change..? And again,
why
do you desire it? - Get clear
on this.
See yourself in your mind's
eye, achieving your goal.
How does it make you feel?
How do you look? - Become
the 'observer'!
Be realistic.
It's going to take commitment.
Imagine the stages that you
will have to go through, as
well as the things that you'll
have to give up in order to
achieve success.
What support will you have
or need? How will these changes
affect your life during
your 'weight loss programme'
- and, just as importantly,
after
you have achieved your goal?
Will you have gained more
self-confidence, a more 'active'
social circle, will life have
become more fulfilling and
fun as a result?
NOW...
Imagine how you might feel
and look, say in a years time,
if you didn't
make these changes!
Do you think you would still
feel relatively 'comfortable'
with yourself, or would you
have continued to feel 'overweight',
'unattractive' and / or 'unhealthy'?
Weigh it up in your mind,
because how you feel about
this,
will give you the answer you
are looking for.
Quite simply, if you keep
doing what you are doing,
and don't make any changes,
in a years time, you'll be
the same as you are now.
In other words, the choices
that you make now,
will become your 'future'
reality.
I hope this website has been
helpful in giving you a few
tips and has inspired you
to follow your passion!
BE HAPPY! - BE THE BEST YOU
CAN BE!
Rowan