Don't worry; this isn't another how-to New Year's Resolutions article. This is a challenge, a call to action, and get off your lazy ass! Sitting comfortably on the couch in your pyjamas, rolled up in a blanket may sound tempting and of course it is also nice and easy. Putting in the time for something and really going for it takes a lot of discipline and motivation, but it is more than worth it!
The Reason why You are not Achieving Your Goals
Understandably, you find it difficult to set good fitness goals. It makes sense that you didn't immediately find the perfect schedule that works for you, for example. However, it is important to tackle your goals directly and consistently so that you actually achieve them. Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, build more muscle or whatever. Changing your behavior and setting goals are the foundation of achieving these goals.
Everything you need to achieve your goals is already inside you, it's that simple. But why haven't you achieved your goals yet? This may be because you are sabotaging yourself. You create the obstacles that stand in the way of your own success. Apologies we've all made:
'I would exercise more if I had more time'
This is an excuse that is used (too) often. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Time is not the problem, but you have to learn to prioritize.
'I feel uncomfortable and anxious in the gym and my body hurts after exercise'
All the more reasons to exercise, practice makes perfect! This will also make you feel more comfortable. Your body may hurt because you're not used to it, but you'll get better at it on its own. You just have to persevere, that's all.
'I don't know which exercises to do to achieve my goals'
Okay, this could be an issue. However, don't let this stop you, because during this process you will automatically learn what works for your body and what doesn't. Do research, talk to a (personal) trainer, find out what you want to achieve. That way you automatically get the right sports schedule.
If you think about it carefully, these are actually not real limitations. By 'I don't have enough time' you really mean 'I don't have time because I 'm watching Netflix like a couch potato '. It's time for a reality check . You are your own great obstacle. The sooner you are honest with yourself, the faster you will achieve your goals. You have to become aware of everything that is holding you back.
What are you doing it for?
If you think too much about a goal, you will never start on it. You have to be honest with yourself about your goals. What is really the reason that you want to achieve this? What are you doing it for? Are you doing it for your own happiness or are you doing it for someone else? Without that deep meaning, your goal is completely dependent on personal motivation and willpower, which, for most, are gone by February. Your fitness goals should match the things in your life that you long for, but don't dare to say out loud. Maybe it's your desire to look good to someone else, more importantly, to look good to yourself, you want to look like someone, maybe it's the ability to take care of yourself, and maybe it's for the bath gusto win. You have to focus on the basics.
Allow emotions, use them! They give you that drive to achieve your goals. Have fun! If you think exercise sucks and it will only hurt you, then you are wrong. Go dance, lift those weights, go run, whatever, what you like and what motivates you.
How you are going to love the process and master self-sabotage
Set goals that are realistic
The biggest mistake people make is rushing things. You prefer to achieve something as quickly as possible. You can choose to get results quickly or you can keep good and lasting results, it's your choice . And why the rush? You have chosen goals that are important to you, aren't they worth that time and energy?
Focus on the process, not the outcome
Losing five kilos and burning belly fat is a godsend. Doing a YouTube workout four days a week for three weeks is a goal. The process is the basis of the outcome of your goals. If you are not willing to put time and energy into the process, choose a different goal or stop tormenting yourself with your goals. If it is really that important to you then you can!
Mistakes are not the enemy; lack of commitment is the problem. Mistakes are there to learn from and to grow. Just an example: you are having a drink with your friends until late and you miss your workout the next morning. If you are committed, you will see a correlation between drinking and not exercising and you will not make this mistake again. If you are not committed then you will use this mistake as an excuse. So this is self-sabotage.
Record your progress
It doesn't matter if you write down your results, take pictures of them or put them in an app, you do need them to track your own progress. When you see progress you will see that this gives you even more motivation. How much did I move today? Was it fun? What did I learn? As long as you move forward, enjoy it and learn something from it, any goal is attainable.
Love the process
When you start to love the process, you won't just give up. You keep trying and growing and eventually you will find a way to achieve your goals. You will often encounter this in daily life. You get sick, you lose that motivation for a while or other things get in your way, shit happens. It is important that you pick up everything again and use this to become stronger.
Consider for a moment what you have already achieved
Take a look back at what you have already achieved in the past year, this will help you make this year a success. Ask yourself the following three things:
· What were the five biggest successes in the past year?
· What were the five biggest challenges?
· Is there an important unfinished goal you need to get back to?
Looking back will make you see what you have already achieved and what you can still work on. Did something bad happen in 2016? Let this ensure that you make meaningful intentions and that you will actually achieve and maintain them. If a target really scares you, this is a good sign. Will it be easy to achieve your goals? No. Is it worth it? Sure as hell.