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5 Tips To Motivation For Better Health
When most people get into bodybuilding, the first thing they think about is either losing fat and getting ripped or if they are hardgainers packing on pounds of muscle and improving their bench. This isn't a bad thing because it motivates them to get involved with training and eating well so they can meet their goals. The question is whether if this type of motivation is going to benefit them long term or not. Chances are the answer is going to be no.
What will be the motivation after the initial enthusiasm wears off and they have done what they wanted to do at the beginning? Although it may seem obvious that the results would keep them going, a lot of times this isn't the case. This is why bodybuilders, powerlifters, and athletes from every endeavor of fitness needs to make long term health their number one priority to keep them inspired and motivated to work hard day in and day out.
Now I am aware that just doesn't seem as glamorous as being the most jacked up guy on the beach or attracting the other sex at parties or in school, but your long term health should be on your mind more often and with the help of these 5 tips you can be more motivated by your overall health and as a result, be more likely to meet all of your bodybuilding and health goals.
Tip 1: Think About Your Family History
Did you ever have that assignment in school where you had to trace your family history back three or maybe four generations and create your "family tree"? This would be a good idea for you to do now also. I bet if you look back on your grandparents and even your great grandparents, you will see that many different illnesses and ailments run in your family.
Every family has been affected by cancer in one way or another so that one is a given. Chances are your family has a few or possibly many members who were diabetics. Maybe your family has a history of members dying young. Were there many smokers or alcoholics in your family's past?
Now it could very well be the other way around. Perhaps you have a couple of ancestors that lived past 100 years old and were very healthy for many years. Regardless of what your history may or may not be, you need to find out what your family tree can tell you so if there is anything you need to be weary of then you will be prepared and motivated to go against the trend.
Tip 2: Think About Your Family's Future
If you don't already have children, chances are you will eventually. If you don't, then you have relatives who will. Either way, those kids are your future and they look up to you as a role model for them to follow and emulate later in life. What do you want those young people to think about you when they look back at you?
I bet you would like them to think of you as someone who was active, happy, and in great shape. Believe it or not this will help play a part in them living a healthy lifestyle when they get older themselves. Kids are a great example of how you lived your life for others to see and appreciate.
Tip 3: Stay In Touch With Your Doctor
Oh no, the dreaded 'D' word. Regardless of how much you like or dislike it you need to visit your doctor often. Twice a year is okay and every three months is optimal. Having physicals and checkups are great because if there are any signs of anything being wrong your doctor can find it early and treat it faster.
Having your blood checked and ensuring your cholesterol isn't bad should be of the utmost importance for you. If you are a woman then having mammograms to help detect signs of breast cancer should be a priority for you. If you are a man over 40 then you need to make sure prostate cancer isn't in your future.
Now when you go to these appointments you want nothing but good results so that is your motivation to train and eat right. You don't want the doc to come back and ask you questions about how bad you are doing.
Rather, you want him or her to say something like "Wow! What are you doing? All of these tests came back great. You are in awesome shape! Tell me what you are doing so I can tell my other patients how they can do better." So even though it is never fun make sure you go see the doctor and know that you are in great overall health.
Tip 4: Inspire People To Do What You Are Doing
You have seen this one before because it is true and very motivating. There is no better feeling than to know you inspired someone to change his or her life for the better by living a healthier lifestyle and getting in shape.
It can be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or someone you don't even know that saw you in the gym or anywhere else. That is why so many people are proud when someone adds them as a "Member that Inspired Me" on Bodyspace.
That is why many of the most successful people in the bodybuilding and fitness world base their success on how much they have helped others improve themselves. It is a very gratifying feeling and very motivating to keep you going on those tough days you want to skip out on cardio or decide you need an extra cheat day.
Think about that for a minute. YOU have the potential to help change someone's LIFE for the better just by doing what you know you should be doing for yourself anyway. Isn't that amazing?
Tip 5: Challenge Yourself and Share It With Others
Is there something you have always wanted to do but was either afraid to or didn't think you were in good enough shape for? It can be anything from a 10K run to a marathon or maybe you always wanted to put on the trunks and step onstage for the first time.
Regardless of what that venture is, you need to plan to do it so you have that extra incentive to be in great shape and health for it. Doing something like this will both keep you motivated to improve your physical health and break that barrier you had stopping you to improve your mental health.
Something else you should do with this goal is to share it with as many people as possible. Tell your family, friends, and anyone else you can. Get on all of your social networks like Bodyspace and Facebook and pass the news on that way as well. Doing this will let people know you want to do this and they will keep you inspired and motivated to keep going.
They will also not let you quit during those tough times during your preparation and training for the big event. Your chances of finishing what you start will increase greatly when you know there are hundreds or even thousands of people out there watching you and could be inspired by what you are doing. If that isn't enough incentive to stay in excellent health, I don't know what enough could be.
Conclusion
Don't get me wrong. I know how great the feeling is to meet a lifting goal you have been striving to achieve for a long time or to be proud of what you see when you look at the mirror and notice that great definition or new size you have been packing on. It is tremendous to know that you can actually see the fruits of your labor. At the end of the day though, bodybuilding is about long term health and fitness. You should also be proud to know that how you look on the outside is truly a reflection of how you feel on the inside.