health, fitness, body, care, motivate, motivation, physical, physique, appearance
When you are young, active, and involved you think your body is indestructible, sure you get some scrapes and bruises, maybe even a few broken bones, but you probably are not thinking about the long term health of your body. And why should you? You look great, feel great, can eat what you want, and do what you want, and you look and feel fine. However, age has a way of catching up with our bodies, and fast. You will reach a point where your joints hurt too much for vigorous exercise, the greasy burgers and fries you ate are hanging around your mid section, and your skin is not elastic as it once was.
So, we all know the things we need to do to take better care of our bodies, but how do you motivate yourself to do them, especially now, before the symptoms of our choices start to manifest themselves?
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The following are some tips for how to motivate yourself to take better care of your body:
1. Do some research: one of the best ways to motivate yourself to take better care of your body is to get rid of the mind set that bad health won't happen to you. If you do your research you will find staggering statistics about poor health, everything from heart disease to diabetes, to cancer. You will see the ravaging affects these diseases have on the body, and this will help motivate you to take better care of your body now. However, if you do not constantly remind yourself, you will lose focus, and slip back into old habits.
2. Look at your own family and friends: We all know people who have suffered from, or are suffering from a degenerative disease. This can be very painful and difficult to deal with. However, being close to someone with such problems can also be very motivating, as it encourages you to take better care of your body now so you do not face those challenges later.
3. Write down your future goals, and how you want to feel health wise when you are 40, 50, 60, 70: Part of being motivated to do anything is to work toward a goal. If you do not have health goals, it is hard to pass on that piece of cheesecake, or limit your intake of oils, sugars, refined foods, etc. So, in order to motivate yourself to take better care of your body, you need to set health and fitness goals for ages of your life. So, say at 50 you want to run a marathon. Get it on paper, if that is a true goal, you will make wiser choices that will help you take steps toward that goal.
4. Set up a plan: In order to take better care of your body you will want to eat better, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. So, set up a plan. Having a short and long term game plan for HOW you will take better care of your body, will help you stay motivated to actually do so.
5. Start small: Your motivation will run out quickly if you jump off a ledge, you will want to slowly climb toward your goals. Start by replacing your mid day snack that is usually sugared and processed with apple slices. Then replace soda with fruit juices, later replace those with water, start by exercising 15 minutes a day, then gradually increase. If you do not get overwhelmed, you will stay motivated longer, and better.
6. Reward yourself: Last but not least, you have to have a more tangible reward for your goals of taking care of your body. Yes, your muscles will get better, people will find you more attractive, you will feel better, be happier, etc. but believe it or not, most of us need more than these rewards. So, give yourself something for milestones that you pass. When you get to the point where you consistently exercise 30 minutes a day (if you aren't already there) then let yourself buy that pair of jeans you have been wanting. When you start choosing salads over burgers, regularly, reward yourself with a day at the golf course.
