As you work on your fitness resolutions in the New Year, what will keep you motivated to reach your goals?

Question

It can be difficult to stay focused on reaching your New Year’s resolutions fitness goals, which is why it’s important now to think about what steps you can take to stay motivated when the going gets tough. My blog has lots of advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying motivated (http://health.yahoo.com/experts/rockertr… ). Joining a support group (like this one on Yahoo! Groups: http://new.groups.yahoo.com/specialkgrou… ) is another great motivation tool. Motivation ultimately has to be personal, though. What works best for you?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

What motivates a person is unique to each individual. Here is a program that will work:

1) Be specific regarding the goal such as:
--improve cardio-vascular fitness
--increase body tone
--lose xxx pounds
--make your goal measurable

2) Be realistic:
Don't set yourself up to fail by setting an unhealthy and/or unrealistic goal such as "lose 30 pounds this month".

3) Create and follow-through on do-able action steps each week that move you toward your goal.

4) Give yourself rewards that you like:
a manicure, a movie, a trip to the golf course???

5) Create accountability:
tell someone you TRUST about your goals. Ask him or her to provide the specific type of support you'd like. Maybe a check-in weekly? If you don't trust your friends or family to provide this, a Wellness Coach can help.

6) Keep your eyes on the prize -- visualize how you want to be. Keep reminders around you -- someplace where you will see them. On the fridge, or on your car dash board.

Good luck!

Source(s):

Advice from a certified aqua aerobics / pilates instructor.

Answer 2

For me it is best to concentrate on the short term rather then the long term. Just today I will eat healthy - then do the same thing tomorrow. My resolution is to get healthy rather then say lose weight. Losing weight can set you up for failure, but saying I am going to be healthy will allow me to make better food choices and lifestyle choices. By getting healthy the weight loss will follow. Happy New Year!!

Answer 3

Hi,

For me, the answer is not Resolutions, but only
Solutions. I'm Self-Motivated.

Answer 4

The mountain I must climb when I choose, how I choose and how consistently I choose... this is the mountain:
1. Age 50 years young
2. Diabetic
3. Asthmatic
4. Gained tons of weight
5. Clinically depressed
6. Work is sparse (work only part-time currently)...but continuing to seek, mold and provide.
7. No family immediate or otherwise (long story, but I do have some friends, here).
8. Not enough funds to move back to my home state, but wish to do that.

This is my Mountain, those are my cliffs....the following is what gives me HOPE...they are my plateaus, which help me to gain my second wind and keep going forward. I can rejuvenate, from this rejuvenation comes motivation in part...the other part of rejuvenation is desire...nurturing the desire. The Plateaus:

1. Meditation (learned formally and then tailored it to me, but learned Kundalini...then tailored it to a more "Christian" perspective on the visuals. An angel helping to release the fear into the Universe. God hugging me. That sort of thing. This is one of the greatest tools for motivation, is relaxation, release of the blockers...fear, grief, frustration (anger levels), the disbelief we have in ourselves at an energetic level. Do it for 20 (or even 15) minutes a day, or even 1x a week but doing it will help, whether on meds or not.

2. Small steps...I don't walk before I can crawl, and crawling might be happening for a while until stronger.
Short periods of time...whether on the cliff or the plateau, switch up to balance out, if things get really tough.

3. Pray...and if you don't believe in God. Verbalize honestly outloud to yourself. It's OK if you answer back. It organizes our internal space more. Express gratitude for one thing (forget the list), just get good and mean it, one thing at a time. It empties the cup, to allow our cup to be refilled half way...appreciate that...no spills, no greed, and beautiful enough to have space half way...see it as room to grow, being cramped can be a pain.

4. Eat half portions...if that's all one can do and afford to do. Good enough! When emotionally eating...realize where the comfort has gone...do the same thing...if all you can do is eat a half portion do that. Forgive the rest and move forward. Challenge oneself to take small steps and eat 3 days a week this way, then 4, then 5.

5. Exercise...my recommendation is stretching, like Yoga, get a CD, Video, put on some soothing music and get a little more limber. This will increase circulation, when the back is stretch out...it will generate energy...the Japanese have a saying that having a healthy back is the sign of good health. After stretching ... moderate your interest or ability level....clean a room, lift a box or two, put on music and go for a walk or dance. Next level pull out the tennis rackets and hit some balls for 15 or 20 min., or go for a hike on a Saturday or Sunday. Gradually build. But build.

6.Desire. Create and nurture desire. How does one do that by remembering to " Dream", yep daydream, just dream. My mother used to say "Always dream, honey, because if you don't have your dreams, you have nothing!" she reflects many philosophers, psychologists and motivational speakers...Einstien, Edison, Lincoln...how many failed inumberable time...Lincoln lost campaign after campaign, many thought he was a BIG LOOSER, but he kept "dreaming", he nurtured his dream by perhaps time and time again releasing his doubts, and just trying "one more time" because you never know. What do I dream...to get off the insulin, I'm type 2 and can do it, to move back to California and be near the ocean, to see a cousin or my aunt again, to have strength and energy pulsing through my system, and above all peace in my soul. This can be done, and is being done in small steps.

We transform from the Ashes to a Phoenix...over time...but consistently, even if the steps are small...great changes come from small, but consistent behavior.

Thank you for letting me share. I hope my sharing will help someone.

Aubrianna

Source(s):

My own experience.

Answer 5

to lose the weight prednisone put on me esp. the big round face and to walk good and far again within the next 5 months and to get over my fear of another heart attack its holding me waaaaaay back

Answer 6

as a faith student, i find much willpower work well when I SPEAK IT day in and day out, night in and night out.
for what a man think in his/her heart
the MOUTH SPEAK It...you speak what you BELIEVE. words are like seeds, as well water that seed, the more we say it, the more power of our inner spirit being will be strength with a "CAN DO" attitude
probably have to speak LIFE speak sucess for 21 days like the saying goes, about breaking old habit or creating new habit
our words follow by some action (joy, work out, believe it, ect) WILL help success come forth.
our heart man truly determine our failure or success, so SPEAK LIFE, speak small goals that is reachable, then when signs of success is in motion, expand the vision, the dream, yet what violate our inner being is "anti LOVE" thoughts or speech. rudeness, unforgiveness, pesimisstic, beleving the curse of your family health disease or body shape will be with you forever is a true defeat.
being a christian give us more power, than the average, cause there is a higher power above natural human spirit power.
anyway, WORDS written down and spoken
is a vision and focus. and give thanks for the little victory is VITAL..even giving thanks for the victory not yet SEEN is vital too..as said..it might take 21 days just to see a difference
the thing is, day in ,day out..night in night out..daily speaking life to our soul..mind renewing to goodness of GOD or yourself, yet balance, don't let pride destroy you..humility goes a long way..but balance..self esteem..is vital.
favorite rock music, or disco or country music whatever that give you the rocky theme song, i can do all things that is possible by BELIEF. anyway.
hope that help.
my goal is mixture of this and herbalife product to help give my body a fasting, and spend time in meditation clearing out junk that oppress or bring fear/condemnation/doubt, or hate to others..
will help me return to good health, fron within to mind..to body.
bibical reading does great good, 3 chapter a day twice a days..just lighten the load.spirit to soul to body. starting from new testaments first.

Answer 7

the woman i luv will keep me motivated!! :)

Answer 8

rock hard abs, thunder thighs, pythons for arms and great s*x

Answer 9

the mirror

Answer 10

I schedule several little mini weekend vacations that require me to be in a bikini.. It keeps me on my toes when I know I have to show it all off.

Answer 11

I hope to make moderation a more important issue in my plan.

Answer 12

I go square dancing once a month and I watch a fitness show on t.v. and join in with them as much as I can, I'm disabled so I have limitations but I give it as much effort as I can

Answer 13

Penfolds Grange - lots 'n lots of it!

Answer 14

Resolutions are ridiculous.

There is one good reason for resolutions like this.
You combine your resolution with someone else's resolution.

That makes sense. You motivate WITH someone who is doing similar thing.

The rest is for wimps.
You set priorities, you rearrange them every day to focus on whatever's important.
You don't need false motivation if you pay attention to what you feel is important. You get to what you can when you can. You make more time for things that become more important.

Sharing motivation is fun and helpful. But it is about not doing it alone then. Not motivation.

Most people are motivated just fine. They just have more important things to do at times in their life, and hastey realities of American life to wrestle with.

Answer 15

Oh, this is an easy question. There's so many things coming up and so early in the year, I'll be motivated for a really long time...I'll go in order:

1. Graduation pictures
2. Engagement pictures
3. Prom
4. Graduation
5. Marriage
6. Moving to a new city
7. Bikini season
8. College

Basically, my entire life is changing this year and I want to a new body to go with it! I use healthy celebrities or the occassional waddling time bomb to keep me motivated; Healthy celeb or waddling time bomb? Take your pick!

Answer 16

My mental determination.

Answer 17

Being mad at myself for not doing it sooner.

Answer 18

Having a mirror in front of me 24/7!

Answer 19

people do what they want to do, every time.

when it comes time to become fit, people who truly want to, do so, but some just say they want to but do not change their daily lifestyle.

Becoming fit is easy: eat less, exercise more, but it will only happen once you have decided you want to be fit more than you want to keep your life the way it is.

Answer 20

I focus on how being successful in the past can help me attain new goals in the future. I remember how good that feels and it keeps me going. I see this years fitness and weight loss goals as a continuation of last years success. Being realistic helps too.

Answer 21

My resolution: Stop eating salt. (That is my crack.) So, I banned all salt from the house, except for Mom's cooking. However, odds are 5:1 I don't follow through : ( .......

Answer 22

I use a pair of jeans that I look great in. I wear them at least once a week. If I can't fit into them, then I know that I'm falling off the wagon. Plus, I use pictures of celebs who have great bodies to inspire me!

Answer 23

I am helping my family stay in shape, so I make twice-a-week exercise dates to get together with my family at the local gym. We spend an hour together, then go to the whirlpool spa and relax after a good workout. I enjoy seeing my family getting healthier, and contibuting to their quality of life.

Answer 24

I love to run outdoors, but I have gained some weight making it a little painful on my knees.

In order to enjoy running I am going to have to loose some weight.

Answer 25

looking at pictures of my target. what i want to look like. Also keeping up with the exercise and taking care of my skin and hair, feeling good every morning and to know its because im working for it.

Answer 26

I have to keep in mind that I am doing this for me...to help prevent future diseases such as diabeties from occuring. I know that my dad and mom both have it and it runs in my family...I want to be healthy and I want to be able to hike the mountains and not lose breath 10 min into my hike! I just want a healthy life so I am making a healthy food lifestyle for myself

Answer 27

Exercising.

Answer 28

After countless diets of losing and gaining ....this year in June I will have lapband surgery this will be my main reason for staying motivated I will be able to exercise lose and keep it off ...

Answer 29

Beer, Friends, and Music... 3 most important things in the world. If i have them- I will lose the 3 extra pounds i want to lose by my cicinetta

Answer 30

this year im going to join the soccer team with my friend. she is also overweight so we will keep each other motivated with exercise and with our dietes

Answer 31

Currently, whats keeping me motivated is my gut, and lovehandles. Despite the name I don't love them.
but once they begin to fade, I just have to think back on it or look at and I will be motivated to never get them ever again.
I'm Banishin gut butt and hips. hopefully forever!!!