I often have a lot of people asking me how I manage to keep myself motivated and keep up with the gym - especially with the stresses of year 12. I always find it hard to answer this question because I don't really know myself - although I had a think about it and here are a couple of things that motivate me :)
1. My Dad - my dad is my gym buddy. As a former personal trainer, personal trainer for body builders and
body builder himself he's obviously extremely knowledgeable about health and fitness, teaching me almost everything I know, especially the muscle/weights part of it. He motivates me as if I'm being lazy and not going to the gym he'll unintentionally make me feel guilty (in a positive way) so I'll get off my ass and go. Also if he sees me slacking off between reps at the gym, all it takes is a look and I'm straight back into it. I'm so lucky and it's extremely helpful to have a role model who knows exactly what they're talking about who is always there to assist you. All I have to do is say what I want to achieve or improve, and he tells me exactly what I have to do and how I have to do it. I motivate him too though, as I try to influence him to do more cardio and make him feel guilty if he polishes off a whole tub of ice cream without me, so it works both ways!
*Photo - How many dads do you know that look like that?!
2. Family - having a supportive family who are also passionate about health, fitness and have similar interests
is also motivating. This includes my aunties, brother, cousins and uncles!
3. Compliments - As if people noticing your progress isn't kind enough, having them go out of their way to make you feel better about yourself is incredibly lovely. The other day a lovely lass at school came up to me and told me after reading my blog she was inspired/motivated, got up and went for a run - this was one of the best compliments to receive. Being seen as a role model, motivator or simply helping others is definitely motivating in itself, just as the compliments of others are. Kindness is powerful!
4. Hate - or better yet, I'd like to label it as 'constructive criticism'. Instead of letting the criticisms from others affect you in a negative way or being upset about them, use them to your advantage. Strangely enough, I find nasty comments extremely motivating because success is usually the best revenge. Negative comments can make you work harder, not to prove anything to the person who said them, but to prove to yourself that they are wrong in what they say, that you are beautiful and that you are strong!
5. Progress - Over these past couple of months progress has definitely been a significant factor in keeping motivated at the gym. Although it may take months for you to notice any changes (and a couple of months
after that for anyone else to notice), when you do realise your progress it is so so worth it. Looking back on photos and seeing how far I've come just motivates me to not only maintain my changes but to improve them further. My advice is, don't use your progress as a cue to give up because you've achieved what you wanted, because chances are you'll fall back into your old ways. Keep going, keep trying to maintain what you worked so hard for.
*Photo - Me around September 2011
