What is your why? Exercsie Motivation Tips to Keep You Going

Most people who know me now, just understand that running and fitness are part of my life. It’s become so intertwined with my joy and my personality that you can’t tell where one ends and another begins…or maybe that’s because I’m always in work out gear, either way.

It made me realize, it’s been a very long time since someone asked me “WHY?”

Why do you workout?

Why do you eat so many veggies?

But the thing is, sometimes we all need to reflect on the WHY of what we do to ensure that we are truly on the right path or to reignite our enthusiasm.
PROGRESSION OF A WHY
I started playing sports at a young age and never really thought about actually “working out” until I went to college and no longer had that outlet for activity.

It also dawned on me I had some weight to lose though at the time I thought maybe 10 pounds and now I’ve maintained a 35lb loss for over 10 years.

After you’ve lost the weight though…you need a new why, otherwise it’s very easy to quit, instead this taps in to your true exercise motivation.

Luckily my why tapped in to some deep seated emotional need to feel good about myself.

Running clears the cobwebs
Do you ever feel like you just need a moment to think? This is my favorite part about taking a long run, I can disconnect from the Internet, the phone and all of my to do lists. I can spend some time thinking through what really matters and I come home feeling more centered.

Running sparks creativity
If I had a dollar for every runner who has told me they’ve come up with game-changing ideas while running, well I’d invest in them and be a millionaire. In fact, when I return home I often find myself dripping sweat all over my keyboard as I try to capture ideas before they dissolve into the business of the day.

Running gives you a community
New runners, long time runners, speedsters and self-proclaimed turtles are all embraced in running circles. We don’t care what your goals are as long as you show up, runners support each other. This is evident in the charities that are supported through races each weekend, but often less recognized in the daily high fives that come from group runs and even virtual friends.

Running makes you strong
There are moments in life that are hard, uncomfortable and downright miserable. Running reminds you that you can face them all by just taking one step at a time and focusing only on the current moment. I can’t run the next mile until I’ve finished this one and I can’t get to the finish line without embracing a little discomfort.
WHY FIND YOUR WHY?
This is actually something that I respect Jillian Michaels for talking about frequently. She reminds people that getting slim for a wedding might be nice, but you’ll put it all back on later if you don’t have a bigger WHY.

“Outline it, define it; it could be your kids, it could be a beach vacation…write it down, visualize it, and emotionally connect to it.”
“There should be a specific, meaningful motivation behind your workouts—and “because I’m supposed to” is not an acceptable answer. Once you know your “why,” constantly remind yourself of it, whether that’s by doodling it on your hand, making it your cell phone background, or getting it printed on a tank.” –Women’s Health

Great so now what…a few tips to find your lasting why:

Get emotional – how do you want to feel?
Get honest – are you doing this for you?
Reflect – what moments in life did you feel the happiest and proudest?
Analyze – what do those moments have in common?
Measure – how can you measure ongoing success?

Tips for finding your fitness WHY to keep you on track all year #motivation Click To Tweet

For me my internal why always comes back to feeling proud of myself and that’s what gets me to push through the extra miles or lately to show up for Pilates even though I know it’s going to HURT! I’m starting to tap in to this why to also eliminate the sugar.