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When it comes to anything fitness motivation is the key to long-term success, regardless of the goal. Some may argue that the exercise program is essential, or the diet and nutrition program, but I would beg to differ. Imagine taking a road trip across the country. Your body is the vehicle and the workout program and diet act as the road map. As prepared as you think you may be, you can’t go anywhere without gas in the tank. The fuel that actually moves you forward is … motivation!
Motivation is “the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors” (click here for more information). It is inevitably what makes us act a certain way, whether it is making a sandwich when we are hungry or searching on the Internet when we seek an answer. Simply put, it is the reason “why” a person does something (and anything). And … without a “why” there really is no reason to act, right?
When it comes to your fitness goals, motivation is what:
- Gets you off your butt and to the gym.
- Inspires focused workouts and more intense exercise.
- Helps you push for an extra repetition or set.
- Gives you the strength to say “no” to the piece of cake or second helping of Chinese food at the buffet table.
- Keeps you on track and moving towards your goal faster and more effectively.
Goal Setting and the “Why”
Most of us are familiar with the process of goal setting (the action of laying out steps to reaching an end result, within a given amount of time). But … have you ever asked yourself “why” you are pursuing a fitness goal? For example, you may have a goal to lose 20 pounds in six months. Given that goal, have you asked yourself “why” you want to lose that specific amount of weight. Is it because you:
- Want to look and feel better.
- Realized none of your clothes fit anymore (and don’t want to buy new ones).
- Want to look amazing for your upcoming wedding.
- Are hoping to impress someone you are interested in at work.
- Just got news from your doctor that you are at risk of diabetes and need to make changes to your lifestyle before it’s too late.
Regardless, there is much more to simply writing down a goal on paper to remind you of your final fitness destination. Unfortunately, having a goal and knowing the “why” is not enough to ensure you continue down the long and challenging journey from start to finish.
Types of Motivation
People want to know how to stay motivated … but until they figure out what types of motivation works best for their personality type they will never find the answer! The first step is to figure out what type of motivation works best for you. Which one you choose will dictate the tactics that will work best to keep you on track.
There are essentially two types of motivation:
- Extrinsic motivation – actions that are driven by the opportunity to earn a reward or avoid punishment; rely on the work of other people or forces outside ourselves
- Intrinsic motivation – actions that are driven by personal reward; performing an activity because you enjoy it and not for an external reward; is independent of other people
Extrinsic motivation depends on the words and actions of other people to keep you focused. For example, a personal trainer or workout partner may be the source of motivation for your workouts. Intrinsic motivation relies strictly on you and how you are able to motivate yourself through your own thoughts. This is where motivational fitness quotes come in really handy!
The Power of Motivational Fitness Quotes
Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram LOVE fitness motivational quotes! These particular quotes combine the written message and powerful images to drive an inspirational thought into the hearts and minds of viewers to create an emotional response. This response is meant to help them get their butts to the gym or help them choose the healthier food option when they have a nasty craving.
Not all workout motivation quotes “speak” to all people. They communicate a thought, feeling, or perspective that helps us to change how we think about exercise and hard work. How we respond is based on our unique likes, dislikes, preferences, and experiences in life that color our judgment. We need to relate to the message for it to have an impact on our thoughts and emotions. Regardless, when we encounter the “right” motivational fitness quote, it ignites a fire inside that gives someone the motivation to lose weight or sign up for the half marathon they have always dreamed about completing.
These simple, yet powerful, messages provide the workout motivation to make it to the gym on a day when every excuse in the book is entering your mind and convincing you that it’s not worth the effort. These messages can provide weight loss inspiration with a single word or image that gets burned in your brain … propelling your every step on the treadmill or each lift of the dumbbell. These words and images are powerful beyond measure … like rocket fuel for your workouts!
Weight Loss and Motivation
If you Google “motivational fitness quotes”, the majority of the images you’ll find focus on weight loss or shedding inches. Because losing weight is a long, drawn out process (where doubts can run rampant and one may not feel confident in their progress along the way) motivation is exactly what the doctor ordered!
Many of the weight loss quotes found on the Internet focus on:
- Not giving up.
- Staying positive.
- Staying focused.
- Being realistic.
Final Thoughts …
You will come across hundreds of motivational fitness quotes, some that will move you and some that will annoy you. Regardless, when you come across an image or quote that “speaks” to you, and instantly changes a negative thought to a positive one, be sure to save it on your computer or mobile device so you can access it whenever you need a boost of encouragement. This will ensure you have the tools you need at any moment to help you avoid getting derailed along the way to reaching your ultimate health and fitness goal. Happy motivational quote collecting!
Written by TodaysFitnessTrainer (trainer@todaysfitnesstrainer.com).
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