WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR LEVEL OF MOTIVATION

Hey guys

After a long week of exams followed by a week of relaxation and some intense surfing I am getting back to the routine on regular life. I really needed that week off to let my brain relax. I felt bad about not getting more work done while I was down there but at the same time kinda happy the internet connection was super slow, so I could enjoy the moment.

Unfortunately I got sick as soon as I got down south, probably from being so run down from the week before. This didn’t keep me out of the surf there but it has made me take it easy with training for this week. I tried to get back to the 10 mile run, which is the distance I was at in my training when I left, but only made it to 3 miles on the indoor track the other day. Muscle recovery is a lot slower when you are sick too (meaning sore muscles). So I think I am going to listen to my body and taking it easy for a few days. I was doing a lot of upper body strength work before I left to prepare for my surf trip and the hard work helped my performance but my body isn’t use to the demands of paddling for an extended number of days. So I am going to give me upper body a break for the week too. That doesn’t mean you won’t see me in the gym just that, I will be 100% on it again next week.

I am going to try to get more involved with the blog and fill you in on more details with my training but not too much cause I don’t want to bore you either. My mind is rested and I feel full of life again and ready to go. To make the situation even better I am going to meet up with a personal trainer (who actually one of my teachers) to help me design a new program. I am excited to get some fresh new ideas and to consult with someone who has a high level of expertise in training and performance. I’ve had a session with a sport psychologist to assist my research, helping me understand how to alter our mind set to succeed and to help me understand best practices to assist you, my audience see results through your participation in this research. I also met some really interesting people on my flight home from LA (a raw food enthusiast, stunt man and a personal trainer) and got some great nutrition and raw food ideas that I am going to incorporate into my life. One was a smoothie you’ve gotta try. It’s a big handful of spinach, a banana and water in a blender. I add in some essential oils, a scoop or protein powder and sometimes some frozen fruit in mine too. I know it sounds soooo gross but it’s actually not at all and gives me lots of energy.

So this is the part you guys come it. Have another look at your goals and for the next 3-5days I would like you to write a list of everything that pumps you up and increases your motivates you to go harder and push it in your training and increases your motivation toward you goals (final outcome) and a everything that lowered you motivation in your training and decreases you motivation to reach your goals. For example this can be things like: a new song you added to your playlist, a comment someone made, another good looking person that was working out next to you (no names needed).... Even if you can only do it for one day I would appreciate it and it will help you to become aware of these things as well. Just to give you a heads up the next step will be adding on to this. I will be doing the same and will post my list in a few days). If you don’t want you feedback posted just let me know and email it me personally.

Have a great next couple days, train hard and make every minute count and I hope to hear from you all soon.


INCREASED                                                                     DECREASED
MOTIVATION                                                                  MOTIVATION
   

INCREASED MOTIVATION

·         Clothing (the way they fit & the way I’d like them to) especially the clothes I train in and what I put on after our train.

·         Performance (wanting to be strong & excel in my sports)

·         Music - is probally one of the biggest

o   This week to pump me up for running – Nick Minaj, Steve Aoki and Drake

o   Feel good music that I am currently loving – Moment for life by Nicki Minaj ft Drake

·         Readings I’ve be doing as research for my Grad Sem paper  = understanding of how to gain psychological control in my training and understanding my strengths and weaknesses

·         Feeling relaxed, fresh and full of life after reading week

·         Having a really good workout the day before, where you sweat like crazy giving you  that cleansed yet pumped up feeling that makes you feel ready for the day and wanting it again

·         Having my workouts/ gym visits in my schedule

·         Having a goals for each workout – before I get to the gym

·         The outcomes I am working toward

·         A scheduled day / conscious decision to meet or break a challenge

·         Having other people around you working out hard

·         Surrounding myself with like minded people

·         Living a holistically healthy lifestyle

·         Training with someone or having to be at the gym at a certain time to meet someone

·         Being positive and happy and being around other energetic people

·         The nice looking bodies around me that make the rests between sets so much more entertainingJ

·         People I know I am going to see at the gym/ location if I go at a certain time

·         Understand the long term health benefits of my efforts

·         Seeing the pay off of my hard work in practical use

·         Working to be a good example for others

·         Knowing everyone who is reading my blog and participating in this blog is training hard

·         Knowing that I am going to have to share my experience and results with everyone reading my blog and that they are all watching my progress as much as I am there’s.

·         Having a spotter, one that uses ques words to keeping you pushing till the end is even better
People I meet and the really cool things they are doing and trying, example: raw food diets and other nutritional and training approaches

DECREASED MOTIVATION

·         When the people standing around you just socializing while you are trying to work out

·         Being disappointment/ let down by friends of family involving my goals

·         Getting sick, not having a lot of energy, strength and poor recovery.  I HATE CHEST COLDS

·         Boredom – my program gets boring at times, which lowers my drive

·         Not being able to get into my running zone

·          Not getting enough sleep = feeling lazy, tired and constantly hungry

·         School work and lots of other things needing to get done

·         Really sore days for days after an activity (ei. 1st day up at Sunpeaks this weekend)

·         Dividing myself to thin in between too many activities

·         Eating 0to much before a workout – feel sick

·         Getting really hungry during a workout – wanna stop and go home

·         Equipment not being available

·         Equipment not working properly or cardio equipment that shuts off while you are using it

·         Working out with or around very negative and angry people