I am often asked how one stays motivated – to stay healthy, to workout, etc. This is a toughie because I am not one to distract you with flashing lights, fun music, fad classes, etc.

Your motivation to workout and to stay healthy can’t come from a please-distract-me-from-what-I-am-doing strategy….it should come from that base-line, honest level of I-am-doing-this-because-I-know-I-will-feel-better-after.

When you don’t feel like working out, that inner ve has to speak and say, “feeling like working out isn’t part of the game – do it anyway”. Then you just do it because you know you will be happy you did after. This can apply to doing an actual workout – or to sticking to your meal plan – or choosing NOT to eat that extra dessert/serving of healthy food/etc.

Now…with that said if you need motivation in the actual workout area — I always use the cardio interval class or mountain class for when I am not really feeling the workout thing. These workouts begin easy — so you can warm up gradually – and then they get tough. Usually if you give yourself an extended warm-up you will come around to the workout. OR if you can – take a class at the gym that you really like – like hip/hop or spin or body pump or yoga or whatever.

Regardless – your motivation has to be rooted in your belief that living a healthier, more balanced life will result in you being healthier and more balanced. Here is the scrub….you have to really want it. If you don’t really want to be healthier and more balanced…..then you have a completely different issue and will need a different approach.

Hang in there – being balanced takes work….but if you think about it, being unbalanced takes work too.