Finding Your Fitness “Why”

Have you heard the statement “find your why” or been asked “what’s your why”? If you are part of ANY direct sales company or trying to start a small business, I am going to bet a thousand to one you have heard "find your why". But did you know this can apply to your fitness journey as well?

I mean let’s all face reality – we are busy. I don’t know if society is busier than it was 20, 30 or 50 years ago or if it just seems that way because we can all know what everyone is doing at any one time. But we are busy people. But then you need (or should or want) to add in your workouts, healthy food and making healthy decisions. It’s one more thing on your forever growing to do list. So how do you make your workouts a priority? How do you make it so that it is one thing you don’t skip? Find your why.

Why do you want to workout? Why are you choosing the workout routines you are? For me and a lot of runners we have to register for races to find our why. Don’t get me wrong, I love to run no matter what. But as it becomes hot in Arizona, or the kids aren’t sleeping well or I have work to do it is easy for me to push off my workout or run. When life gets in the way I will tell myself I can just move around my rest day or that an extra day off won’t hurt because I’ve been working hard. That day can just as easily multiply if I don’t have a focus deep down.

How do you find your “why”? This is a great question. And any self help book, especially the ones targeted towards people in sales or owning a business, will talk about your reason and why. But I feel that it is slightly different for “adult athletes” or for anyone looking for their motivation for to do their workouts. What are your goals with your workouts? This is a key question to start with and be able to answer. Keep in mind this is a question you need to go back and ask yourself every couple of months but at least every six months because the answer will change over time. Is your goal weight loss? Muscle gain? To just feel better? (happy endorphins!). Preparing for some type of competition? You have to know what your goal with your workouts is in order to help you stay focused.

Once you know your short- and long-term goals you need to figure out why you choose this particular exercise routine. Is it because it is directly correlated to your goal? For example - you choose running because you have a goal of running your first marathon this year? Perfect that makes sense and you have an end goal to help you stay motivated and focused. But sometimes people choose an exercise routine because it is what others they know love or it works for others and their fitness goal but it isn’t something you love. If you find yourself dreading your workout every single day is it the right one for you? Is the workout plan tied to your long-term goals? Are you seeing results? I have to admit I have never been a huge fan of strength training and I am most definitely not someone who can head to the gym and lift for a couple of hours. But I do like the results I get from strength training. My runs are stronger and I really like my muscle definition. So, I have to use those reminders to keep myself focused to get that workout in.

If you’re struggling to find your “why” or are trying to decide the right exercise path for you, there are ways to sit down and evaluate.

• First grab a pad of paper, your computer, a journal, notebook (really anywhere to write) and write down your goals. Make them clear, concise and realistic. Want to be healthier? (Please note I said healthier, not lose weight – don’t get focused on negative goals) Write it down as a goal. Want to do a certain number of spin classes this year? Write it down. Want to run your first major race? Write it down!! It is ok if you have multiple goals. Write them all down.

• Next you need to decide why this is your goal. Why do you want to run this race? What is your reason for your goal?

• Third, establish a time for each of these goals. This part is harder. But if you don’t establish a timeline to accomplish your goal, it is easy to not make progress towards that goal. Just make sure your timeline is realistic.

• Fourth, you need to determine how to establish your goal. Do you need a training plan? Find one. And not every plan is the same. Find the one that works for you. Do you need a trainer to keep you on track? Find the one that is the right fit for you.

• Lastly, take ownership of your goals, your why and your plan. Tell your friends and family. Find a training partner. And enjoy your training