Recently I had the privilege of listening to an interview with a very successful man Paul Taylor. Paul Taylor is a behavioral change expert and the director of the Human Performance Institute where he conducts Biological Age testing. He developed a product called BioAge which was used on the Biggest Loser Competition.
The question was raised, ‘Why is it that some people find it so easy to commit to exercise for the long term? While others, even with the best of intentions will always find an excuse not to exercise or give up quickly?
The key difference is in how you are motivated.
Most people when they start an exercise program are influenced by external sources. The person may have been influenced by a friend, relative, or by their doctor. They maybe dangling a carrot, or giving grief if they are not losing weight or getting results. An advert for a special offer to ‘Get Fit’ may have provided the initial motivation.
This sort of motivation works in the short term but rarely keeps people motivated for the long term.
The key is to cross the threshold and find your own reasons that will benefit. When you can do this you will find the reason and you will achieve your goals faster than you ever thought imaginable.
The Power of Motivation
When Paul Taylor was asked to visit the contestants of the Biggest Loser competition his job was to find out what motivated them to lose the weight. He did this through Clinical Biological Age testing. This proved to be an excellent wake up call for each of them. Let’s face it, as we get older we want to be younger. For the contestants of the Biggest Loser they found their motivation from understanding that their biological age was much older than there birth age. This meant perhaps not living long enough to see their kids grow up or dying at a young age like their parents (you may remember the crying sessions with their trainers well!). Then there was the visual motivation that the show did so well. The size 12 wedding dress behind the glass, the tux, or the football Guernsey they would love to be able to fit into again.
When Paul Taylor was asked to visit the contestants of the Biggest Loser competition his job was to find out what motivated them to lose the weight. He did this through Clinical Biological Age testing. This proved to be an excellent wake up call for each of them. Let’s face it, as we get older we want to be younger. For the contestants of the Biggest Loser they found their motivation from understanding that their biological age was much older than there birth age. This meant perhaps not living long enough to see their kids grow up or dying at a young age like their parents (you may remember the crying sessions with their trainers well!). Then there was the visual motivation that the show did so well. The size 12 wedding dress behind the glass, the tux, or the football Guernsey they would love to be able to fit into again.
The contestants of the biggest loser were able to stay on track with their goals because they all had their own strong motivators behind achieving them.
One of my clients recently taught me the power of motivation. Like many other women with children, she has always struggled to lose weight and keep it off. For the past year she’s tried several diets and exercise programs but none seemed to work. Her goal was simply to lose 15kg. How hard can it be? Eat less calories than you burn, eat a balanced diet, cut down on high fat food, eat more fibre and drink plenty of water. Sounds simple. The problem was she knew her goal was to lose weight but what was the motivation behind it? Why lose the weight? It wasn’t until her husband mentioned that he wanted to take the family away on an oversees holiday in 3mths time that something clicked in her mind. ‘Oh no!’, she said, ‘everyone at the resort will be skinny and gorgeous and they will look at me and say, who is that fat cow in bathers?’. Within the same week she started to track everything she ate in a food diary (weight watches points counting diary to keep her accountable) and since has lost 5kg in 5wks. All it took was that one strong motivating thought. Within a few weeks the habit of recording what she ate was formed because she relied on motivation. Now she is also back exercising more regularly. I am very much looking forward to seeing how happy she will be when she has achieved her goal.
Forming a Habit
In Paul Taylor’s interview he explained what happens in our brains when we form a habit. He said that each time we rely on motivation and do things frequently our brains form new connections until it moves into the part of the brain where we form a habit. Habits play out in our subconscious mind but have to involve emotion as the powerful motivator. This was certainly true in the case above. So, the key to forming the habit of regular exercise is to first find what motivates you. Then rely on that motivation to exercise, even if the first time is shorter (think of the nike ad, 'Just do it!'). Be dedicated and repeat this regularly for 3wks. At the end of the 3wks you will be in the habit, you will feel fantastic and wont want to stop!
How to find your motivator
In Paul Taylor’s interview he explained what happens in our brains when we form a habit. He said that each time we rely on motivation and do things frequently our brains form new connections until it moves into the part of the brain where we form a habit. Habits play out in our subconscious mind but have to involve emotion as the powerful motivator. This was certainly true in the case above. So, the key to forming the habit of regular exercise is to first find what motivates you. Then rely on that motivation to exercise, even if the first time is shorter (think of the nike ad, 'Just do it!'). Be dedicated and repeat this regularly for 3wks. At the end of the 3wks you will be in the habit, you will feel fantastic and wont want to stop!
How to find your motivator
How does one find out what their motivation is to lose weight? Spend some time firstly to ponder the following questions then write down your answers:
- Take your mind 1yr from now and you lose the weight you want, how do you feel? How are your relationships effected?
- Now take yourself one year from now and you go backwards and do not lose the weigh you want, how do you feel?
- Next take yourself again 1yr from now and you over achieve, how do you feel?
Next ask yourself these questions and write down your answers:
- How will your life be different after you have lost the weight?
- How is you life going to be better?
- Why is it so important?
- Give me a number on scale of 1-10 how important it is?
- If you answered in the high numbers, why is it high and not a 3? (Here you will find the why, the reason, the motivation)
- How confident are you that you can do this on your own (1-10)?
- What help would you need to get it up to 9 or 10?
Each of us needs to find the motivating factor behind exercising and losing weight otherwise we will not stick at it. This becomes even more challenging to do during the winter months. It is cold outside, and the nights are getting darker. It is the last thing you feel like doing but we know we will feel much better when we have made the effort. What you need to find is YOUR 'Motivator' over winter. Not someone else telling you that you need to train, otherwise it will be to easy not to do it. Each of us needs to find the motivating factor behind exercising and staying fit. If you can do this you will develop a long-term habit.
Think about the warmer months to come: the bikinis, the pool parties, etc. Wouldn't it be wonderful to not have to shed your winter weight to be in great shape for this? Focusing on the longer term, whether the summer season coming around the corner or your overall long-term health, is a great way to stay motivated to continue with your exercise program.
When you find the reason or what motivates you to achieve your goals then you will find the way.
Jason Kimber
Jason Kimber
At Step into Life Hallett Cove our theme for the month of June is 'Motivation'. The challenge has been set for our members to not miss any training sessions over Winter. Prizes will be awarded at our Step into Life Members dinner. To also keep our group motivated and on track we have 2 competition challenges running over winter. 'The Biggest Loser' Challenge' and 'The 10wk Step Challenge'.
If you have a health and fitness subject or questions that you would like to know more information on, please let us know by leaving a comment after the article.
If you have a health and fitness subject or questions that you would like to know more information on, please let us know by leaving a comment after the article.
