Focus On Goals Not On Obstacles

Sometimes we are so focused on the obstacles to achieving our goals that there is no room left in our minds to focus on actually achieving those goals.

Think of a really important goal that you would like to achieve. How much of your mind is dedicated to the actual achievement of that goal? How much of your mind is focused on all the obstacles that could prevent you from achieving it. If you are too focused on the obstacles you may never get started on the journey towards achieving what you want most. If you focus on your destination and how great you will feel when you get there, you'll be much more motivated to start and continue the journey.

Try to catch yourself whenever you notice you're thinking negatively about your goal. Be vigilant for the times when your mind tries to seduce you into giving up by making you anxious about how difficult it will be.  At times like this say something to yourself that will make you snap out of that negative train of thought. Tell yourself if I keep going I'll get there. Tell yourself, a 1000-mile journey begins with a single step. Tell yourself, winners never quit, and quitters never win. You're persistent positive and optimistic focus on the achievement of your goal is one of the key ingredients that will help you achieve it.

The poster above is available from the MotiveWeight shop SuccessfuelMedia. You can buy this poster as a printable PDF (without a watermark) that you can print at your local print store or use it for any commercial purpose on your website or in your business.

 

MOTIVEWEIGHT IS NOW ON YOUTUBE

 

This video is the first ever MotiveWeight YouTube video on YouTube. I called the channel MotiveWeight because I want this channel to focus on helping you develop a weight loss and fitness mindset. 

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" -Dr Wayne W. Dyer

A change of mindset is the first key to changing our bodies and our habits. The mind is where all success begins in any area of life. 

To achieve a challenging goal we must first find ways to MAINTAIN FOCUS on the achievement of that goal. It is often difficult to maintain focus because we're usually inundated with many day-to-day tasks and distractions that push our weight loss goals to the bottom of our to-do-lists.

However, taking time out to meditate and change your self-talk through the use of positive affirmations can help you to stay on track during the course of your weight loss and fitness journey.

If you listen to videos like this every day in the morning and evening on a loop, or play them in the background while you do something else, you'll be surprised at how much they help you to stay focused and motivated to create the habits that lead to permanent, healthy weight loss.

I intend to put new videos on MotiveWeight Meditations YouTube channel on a regular basis so visit often and don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up to date with each new video upload.

If It Doesn't Challenge You It Doesn't Change You

If it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you – I’ve always been fascinated by how much harder a person works when they have a tough personal trainer pushing them to do their best. With this in mind, whenever I feel myself slacking during my workout and wanting to take the easy route, I pretend Jillian Michaels is my trainer. I literally imagine her shouting at me, telling me to “Work harder!…Do 5 more reps!…Faster, faster!…Keep going!”. This has the effect of instantly making me work harder. Try this little trick yourself (with a trainer of your choice) the next time you need extra motivation to increase the intensity of your workout…it works!

I Did is Much Stronger Than I Will

I recently found a way to make myself work out every day: First I decided to commit to working out every day by just starting very small. On day 1 I was only motivated to workout for 2 minutes (Yes, I know, sounds too little right?). But EVERY DAY thereafter I decided that my absolute minimum would be 2 minutes. No matter how demotivated I felt, I was determined to do my 2 minutes. This goal was so small that it was almost impossible not to do it. By day 3 or 4 I had doubled it to 4 minutes. One week later I felt very comfortable to do 15 minutes, because it was beginning to feel like a HABIT. If on any day I did not feel like working out I would make myself do my minimum of two minutes. By week 2, I was doing 30-45 minutes EVERY DAY. Now it's over a month since I started this new way of staying motivated and I now workout for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes daily (on my elliptical, spin bike, plus YouTube workout videos).
Working out daily has now become my habit, it would seem as strange to me to not work out as it would to not brush my teeth. If you find yourself saying "I will do my workout" and then find yourself procrastinating, but you really want to say "I DID my workout today" consider starting off with a ridiculously short time of just two minutes, but make sure you do those two minutes EVERY DAY. Within a few weeks to a month you'll find this has become a habit that you'll enjoy and be proud of, which in turn will motivate you to want to exercise for even longer.

You're Only One Workout Away From A Good Mood

Every completed workout, even a short one, has a corresponding good feeling attached to it.

Fight For What You Want

If you don’t fight for what you want, don’t cry for what you lost.

Expand Your Comfort Zone

 We avoid exercise because it’s not comfortable, but if we expand our comfort zone a little at a time, we can make exercise something we’re comfortable with, after a little repetition. -Zen Habits

Just Do A Little...Just Start

Working Out Can Have A Massively Positive Effect On Your Life

As well as helping you lose weight and get fit, working out will give you an instant boost of self-esteem and confidence that can have a massively positive impact on other areas of your life. When you're feeling unmotivated to work out, make a mental list of 10 ways you'd feel better, and how your life would improve, if you did some exercise today. 

Remind Yourself of Your Goals Frequently

Thought I'd put some previous gifs together to form a single picture...feel free to share it on your blog or website.

You Don't Have To Do It Perfectly

Even though you think you'll do really badly in your next workout, do it anyway. An imperfect workout is always better than no workout.

Just Keep Going

Don't expect to achieve all your fitness and weight loss goals overnight. You will take many steps forward and many steps backward, but if you stick with it and never give up, you will gradually get stronger, fitter and slimmer.

Don't Feel Like Working Out? Do It Anyway

When you don't feel like working out....

1. Do it anyway
2. Put on dance music and move!
3. Do it anyway, just not as long.
4. Remind yourself why you started 
5. Put on your workout clothes
6. Look at your before pictures
7. Read some motivational quotes
8. Focus on the rewards
9. Read weight loss/fitness success stories
10. Focus on how good you'll feel once you're done

Sweat Is Magic

Sweat is magic, cover yourself in it daily to grant your weight loss and fitness wishes.

I love these words and have found them to be true in my own life. I don't feel I've had a proper workout until I am drenched in sweat. It's like my measure of how hard I'm working...if I'm not sweating, I work harder until I do.

Get Sweaty and Do It Often

I recently took the decision to work out (on my elliptical) till I sweat for 30 minutes EVERY DAY. I used to try to workout 3-5 days per week but found it hard to get back into it after my days off, and often a whole week or more would pass before I would return to exercise again. Now daily, sweaty exercise, is a NON-NEGOTIABLE deal I've made with myself...and it's beginning to pay off.

You'll Be Rewarded For Your Hard Work

Trust the process...change takes time. You'll be rewarded in the future for all your hard work. 

(Click image to view larger)

Find Exercise You Enjoy

Fitness needs to be perceived as fun and games or we subconsciously avoid it. -Alan Thicke

(Click image to view larger)

Move Your Body

Find an activity you love and do it for the joy of it, not just to lose weight...make it a part of your lifestyle.

Exercise Makes Your Heart Stronger

Exercise makes your heart stronger and a healthy heart helps you exercise for longer.

30 Minutes A Day To Shed The Pounds

Adults who exercise for shorter bursts of time can lose as much weight as those who work out for up to twice as long, a study has suggested. The University of Copenhagen study concluded that sweating for half the time was “enough to turn the tide” for obesity. The research, published in the American Journal of Physiology, found those who ran, rowed, or cycled for 30 minutes a day lost an average 8lb over a three month period. Read more...