INTRODUCTION

When the alarm goes off or you knock off work what’s the first thought that crosses your mind, there’s normally two, “oh shit I have to Workout now” or “hell yeah I get to workout now” which ever one it is know that it’s not going to change if you don’t change what you do, The Routine of decision making and the feeling that comes along with it in regards to a workout that you’ve planned is going to effect the workout positively or negatively and you’ve set the tone for not only the feeling you get during each workout out but the overall outcome of you training.

Think of it like doing a presentation how much more work are you going to put in if you actually enjoy the subject that your working on, it’s the same principle for working out.  When you find something you enjoy doing the routine becomes easier and eventually the routine becomes a highlight and the pressure to stay in the routine wears off and what takes it place is the PLEASURE of Exercise and all the benefits that come with it.

As a personal trainer I take the pleasure of exercise for granted but from communicating with clients and members I’m staggered to find that so many people go to the gym or workout purely from a routine. Their mindset is “it’s what I should do” not “it’s what I want to do”.  This perspective drives a feeling of another box to tick for the day (responsibility).  These are the people I want to help see the light of connecting with exercise on a different level and changing the game.

STEPS TO MAKE THE TRANSITION

1 – Find something you ENJOY doing – Don’t get stuck on the stationary gym equipment, the body is made to move let it do its thing, the mindlessness of setting a machine for a set time and peddling away only to be snapped back await by the cool down buzzer is doing very little for you physically and even less mentally and endorphins sitting waiting to be let loose will remain mostly dormant, which leads me to my next step.

2 – CHANGE YOUR ENVIROMENT – You don’t have to keep doing what your doing now, if your training doesn’t challenge, inspire and interest you then change it ! Don’t get caught in the rat race of exercises and scroll through social media envious of all the people that seem to love training, If you want to try a boxing class go and do it if you want to try yoga or a pole dancing class book in and show up its that easy, how will you not know what you love doing if you don’t try new things out.

3 – CHALLENGE YOURSELF – Accomplishment is one of the most rewarding feelings you can have and in the gym environment this feeling should be celebrated and then it acts as motivation to peruse more of these accomplishments no matter how small.  But if your workout doesn’t require anything from you but showing up then the rewards will soon dry up and so will the progress.

4 – ENJOY THE JOURNEY NOT THE RESULTS – too many times we get caught up with the results of working out ,”myself included” we know what we want to look like ,feel like ,be like and we think once we obtain that all our problems will be solved but often its not the case , surround your self with a environment (people,places,trainers) that make you feel good and challenge  you each and every session. When this occurs the training and the experience becomes the focus not the end result, Don’t get me wrong setting goals is a priceless tool we use to motivate us and keep us accountable but you have to enjoy the process just as much as the destination.

When you read through each step and you feel that these points resonate with you and your current situation don’t freak out , With the fitness industry being so diverse we are extremely lucky that there are countless opportunities for us to throw ourselves into. Some may be good some may be bad but you’ll eventually find one that are excited to get out of bed for  at 5.30am.

 MAKE EXERCISE A PLEASURE, NOT A CHORE! 

Cheers,

Darren Robertson