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Self-motivation for exercise

Disclaimer: The writer is not an expert in the physiotherapy and training exercise. Reader must consult their physician or physiotherapist before starting any new physical exercise.

At the outset let us except that all the motivational images, photos and pictures that are put in public domain to promote adoption of a routine for healthy living are extremely glossy. They, although attract momentarily but fail to motivate in long run.  Even if one gets motivated and begins to exercise, in a few days s/he may revert to old routine. 

This happens mostly because we are not able to associate ourselves with the image of a perfectly shaped model, male or female. They have perfect abs, biceps and butts, which as a common man we aspire but hardly achieve it. This results in disillusion from the newly adopted exercise regimen.

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These images do not show the harsh reality of exercise and present only pleasing and attractive images which are far removed from the day to day rigor of the exercise routine. Therefore, in most cases they do not actually motivate, rather they excite the misplaced and misinformed commitment, leading to failure.

Instead, an image of a new and motivated entrant who does not have as fit body as those models may motivate much better.

Just imagine a picture of an individual who is little overweight. S/He is exercising in the gym or a ground, sweating, almost out of breath but still managing to reach his target. Now imaging a satisfaction of completing her/his routine successfully on his face and the pleasure of doing it one more day, don’t we think this satisfaction will bring her/him back to the gym/ground again tomorrow. I do. This I can say with certainty from my own experience.

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The image of real thing i.e. reality of sweating, tiring, struggling to catch the next breath, exercise-related pains and aches etc. may put us close to what we feel when we start a new exercise routine. And chance of sticking to this new regimen may increase because the motivating image had these elements and when we committed to the new exercise routine, we knew it well that these things are part of it.  

On the contrary, an image of well sculptured body of models worked out with the help of professionals and in guidance of dietitian will bring guaranteed dissatisfaction after few days, leading to disillusion form exercise routine. Not only that, the chance of reverting to exercise also gets a severe blow.

Now let me share some personal experiences which helps me stay motivated as far as sticking to the exercise routing is concerned:

1. Even if it is for only few (say ten) minutes, make it a point to go to the ground or gym and start warm up. I guarantee that by the end of warm up routine you have already entered an active exercise routine and ten minutes will easily become 30 minute or even more.

2. Many a times I, and others too, have felt that once in the active phase of exercise, quitting becomes tough. It’s the same feeling that we have while getting up early morning, we want to get 5 minutes of additional sleep, which sometimes extends to an hour long sojourn. It has both positive and negative consequence.

Positive side of this is that you feel motivated to complete the routing and that gives satisfaction, however sometimes we end up overdoing the routine giving in negative result. We need to be careful and do every routine in a planned and targeted manner.

3. Once you enter the active phase, do not strain yourself and overdo it because that may result in pains and aches which will become excuse for not doing it the next day.

4. Try to develop a habit for going to the gym daily, even on holidays. One day of excuse may extend to another day, to one week and finally breaking of the routine altogether. 

5. While following an exercise routine, our diet should be balanced including appropriate amount of proteins, carbs, fat and minerals. We cannot expect to decrease the weight and find the good shape with either only a glass of juice or an energy rich meal after an active exercise routine, diet must be supplemented with balanced nutrients. Therefore, help of a dietitian or self-learning from many websites available on the internet may be helpful.