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By Dave DiFabio
If you have a gym membership (I hope you've been using it), you may have noticed that the gym hasn't been as packed as it was a month ago. For many, the new year buzz has worn off. That's actually normal. There's a few things you can do to maintain your focus and dedication...
It's been more than six weeks since the start of the new year and it may be time to assess your initial gains. A fitness assessment can uncover something very important.... RESULTS. It's important because Results = Motivation. I'll break it down for you like this: Results mean you're getting better. The better you get, the more you'll actually enjoy what you're doing. It's natural to enjoy the things you're good at right? And if you enjoy it, you'll do more of it. The more you do it, the better the results. The better the results, the more you'll want......and the beat goes on. That sounds like motivation to me.
If the buzz IS wearing off, it may be time to find a new motive. For many of the college students I train, their main motivation for exercising in Jan was to just simply keep a commitment that they made to themselves. Now their emphasis has shifted to looking good for spring break and that has kept their buzz going. You just need to figure out what floats your boat and focus on it. One of my favorite quotes....."You'll only discover the "How" when the "Why" is big enough".
It's definitely time to tweak your routine a bit. Another one of my favorite quotes....."The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over gain and expecting the same result."
Even after you've implemented these strategies, you may still need some assurance that you're following the correct path. We can all benefit from having a coach.
This time of year, every year, I'll get questions like this:
"Dave, I started a routine in Jan. I feel stronger. I definitely sleep better and have more energy. I like the way exercise makes me feel, but I'm a little bummed out about the lack of weight loss. I'm getting a bit frustrated and my motivation is starting to wain a bit. I'm afraid nothing is ever going to change".
I get this a lot. And I understand the concern. This is basically the crux of why people fail to reach their goals. The buzz wears off and they never get it back. If the paragraph directly above this one describes you, then I can assure you....yes, you're on the right path. The key is to enjoy the process. Enjoy the journey and the rest will take care of itself. If you are actually enjoying the journey then it means you've successfully made Health & Fitness the foundation of your LIFESTYLE. And if that's the case, you WILL get to your destination. Things WILL change. It's just matter of time.
As my Sports Psychology professor, Dr Rob Gilbert, would say, "Action can change your attitude, motion can change your emotions, and movement can change your mood....Action creates energy". It's really very true. What that quote means to me is that you won't actually "feel like doing" what you're doing until you're actually doing it. So just get out of your own way (head) and just do it! Maybe that's where NIKE got their slogan from.
Don't let the buzz wear off.
Check out the rest of my articles and past newsletters at Teamspeedfitness.com
Till next time.... Train Like You Play & Play Like You Train
Dave DiFabio MA, CSCS, USAW
Owner/Strength & Conditioning Coach - Team Speed Fitness LLC
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