By Levi Memmer
Intensity Training Systems – Crowley
Have you ever told yourself that this is the year that you’re going to get fit and healthy, only to be frustrated when warm weather rolls around?
It’s easy to hide behind fluffy winter clothes, but when the temperature starts climbing and the clothes get lighter, you can’t hide any more. “Why didn’t I start working out weeks ago?” we ask ourselves. “If only I had started sooner!”
Regret-proof your fitness journey:
Set A Deadline!
The best way to protect yourself from the “I’m wearing jeans and a hoodie to the lake” regret is to set a deadline and start NOW. Deadlines are super powerful motivators. Without a deadline it’s easy to put your workouts and clean eating on the backburner. Nothing is really pushing you without a deadline. We ALL need to be pushed.
Deadlines create a sense of urgency that can’t be imitated. They help to position yourself to succeed because that final date is always staring back at you. It forces you to prioritize and strategize. Otherwise, you will let things slide, you’ll keep putting off the workout, and insisting that tomorrow you will start eating better. Without a deadline, tomorrow never comes. It’s time to shake things up!
If you keep doing what you have always done, you will get the results you have always gotten. Sound familiar? It’s time for something different. Ask yourself this: If I keep doing what I am doing right now, will I achieve what I want to achieve? If you answered no, then it’s time for a change.
Get your calendar out and decide when you want to see your first wave of results. Be realistic. Make sure you give yourself time to really dig in and see changes. But, challenge yourself, too. Make it a little tough in order to take full advantage of the power of urgency.
Get Competitive!
A deadline by itself may not be enough. Why? Because you may be tempted to move it. Deadlines are not meant to be moving targets. The best way to prevent deadline-creep is to get competitive.
Entering a 5k, a tennis tournament or a transformation challenge is a sure way to give you the edge you need to keep yourself on track and finish strong.
There is something very motivating about competing with others. Just knowing that your effort and results are going to be measured alongside others will give you an extra boost in motivation.
This is a time when peer pressure is useful! And you will find that those with whom you are in competition are often times your biggest cheerleaders. They know exactly what you are going through and will be there to encourage you to keep moving.
Deadlines and contests are the perfect combination to guarantee your fitness success. Put them to work for you! Spring is close enough to give you a push, but still far enough away to ensure that you have enough time to get some serious work done. Plan now to greet warmer weather with absolutely no regrets. Good luck!