How to Stay Motivated to Work Out
How to Stay Motivated to Work Out
The Secret Isn't More Motivation—It's Finding a Stronger Reason
People ask me all the time, "How do I stay motivated to work out?" To be honest, I'm not sure anyone stays motivated all the time. Life gets busy. Problems show up. Work becomes stressful. The family needs your attention.
Even after more than 25 years of exercising, there are days when I don't feel like working out. So instead of telling you how to stay motivated, I'd rather tell you my story and what I have learned after helping people transform their bodies for more than 15 years.
I Wasn't Interested in Exercise
When I was 18 years old, I was 5'7" and weighed only 130 pounds. I never thought there was anything wrong with my body. Sure, I wasn't perfect, but my appearance wasn't something I worried about. One day, one of my friends invited me to the gym. I went with him. Honestly, nothing about the experience excited me.
I watched people lifting weights. I looked around. Then I went home. Exercise didn't mean anything to me.
Later that year, I remember telling one of my cousins that I wanted to have a six-pack someday. Looking back, it's funny because I was so skinny that abs probably weren't my biggest problem. But even then, I still wasn't motivated enough to start.
Then Everything Changed
Everything changed when I was 19 years old. That was when I met my mentor, Dave.
Dave wasn't just muscular. He stood apart from everyone else. He carried himself differently. People noticed him. I noticed him. At the time, Dave was also my boss.
One day I asked him, "How did you build your body?" He explained the process, and from that moment on, I started exercising.
My Real Motivation
Looking back now, I realize my real motivation wasn't health. It wasn't longevity. It wasn't reducing stress. It wasn't preventing disease. I wanted to become more attractive. I wanted to stand out.
I believed that building my body would increase my chances of dating the women I liked. Whether that belief was completely true or not isn't really the point. The point is that my reason was powerful enough to get me started and continue exercising.
What I've Learned From Coaching Hundreds of People
After helping people transform their bodies for more than 15 years, I've noticed something. The members who succeed usually have a reason that goes much deeper than simply wanting to "lose a few pounds."
Some joined us after a divorce because they wanted to rebuild their confidence. Some wanted to be healthier for their children or grandchildren. Others were told by their doctor that if they didn't change their lifestyle, serious health problems were waiting for them. Some wanted to stop relying on alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy habits. Others simply wanted to feel proud when they looked in the mirror again.
Every story is different. But they all have one thing in common. They have a strong reason.
Motivation Doesn't Last
One thing I've learned is that motivation is temporary. Some days you'll feel excited. Other days you won't. That's completely normal.
If you reason to exercise is not strong enough, your motivation will end as soon as your desire to change. Your emotion (pain or pleasure) must be super strong to stay motivated to work out even when life becomes difficult.
The people who continue exercising aren't necessarily the most motivated. They're the ones whose reason for changing is bigger than their excuse to quit. When life becomes difficult, they remember why they started.
That reason keeps them moving.
Find Your "Why"
When someone tells me they can't stay motivated, I usually don't ask them about exercise. I ask them why they want to change.
Why do you want to lose weight?
Why do you want to get stronger?
Why do you want more energy?
Why is now the right time?
The clearer your answer becomes, the easier it is to stay committed.
Final Thoughts
Don't spend all your time searching for motivation. Search for a reason that's powerful enough to keep you going when motivation disappears. Your reason may be your children. Your health. Your confidence. Your future. Or maybe it's simply wanting to become the person you've always believed you could be.
Whatever your reason is, make sure it's meaningful enough that you're willing to pay the price of discipline. Because once your reason becomes stronger than your excuses, working out stops feeling like something you have to do.
It becomes something you choose to do. And that's when real body transformation begins.
So find your real motivation to work out and if it is not painful or pleasurable enough for you to withstand the pain of discipline, there is nothing else that will give you the motivation you need to transform your body.
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