3 Motivational Exercise Strategies

Motivation to exercise has to be one of the biggest challenges when trying to get in shape. Without it, you’re doomed before you start. But with so many distractions in this hectic world, how do you find the time, the reason, the purpose, or the motivation?



So many things can take you off track and I hear the reasons why every day. Work, kids, spouse, friends, money, time, or you just plain don’t like to work out.



I understand that not everyone enjoys working out as much as I do. I’ve been doing it so long, that it’s a part of me. I really can’t comprehend a life without lifting heavy weights and pushing my body in the gym. It’s a part of my being like breathing is.



So if you’re not there yet, here are some tips to get you started in that direction. You may not enjoy it, but you and I both know, You Need It.



Tip #1. Open Your Mind



You have to actually want to work out. Open your mind to all the benefits it’ll bring you and not close your mind to all the hassle it is to do it. If your excuse is time, I’ll tell you that you make time for your priorities. If your excuse is kids or spouse, I’ll tell you need to work out to be with them longer and enjoy a more fulfilled life. If your excuse is money, I’ll tell you to workout at home with little to no equipment. If your excuse is friends, I’ll tell you find some friends that enjoy going to the gym.



Your whole mindset will shift when you stop telling yourself “I can’t find the motivation exercise” and you start asking yourself “How can I find the motivation to exercise?”.



By simply asking yourself a different question, your thought pattern shifts and a whole new world opens up.



Tip #2. Set a hard and Fast Deadline



Humans perform amazing tasks when under a deadline. If it’s Monday, and you had a report due by Friday, chances are, you wouldn’t get started until Thursday or Wednesday if you’re really a go-getter. However, if your boss came to you on Tuesday and said we need that report tomorrow, you’d do whatever it took to get it done.



There’s a law called Parkinson’s Law that says “A job will expand to fit the time allotted for it.” So if you want to achieve a large goal, set a short deadline. Your mind will shift into “Emergency Mode” and find a way to get it done in that time.



So usually ask my clients to find an event they can aim to be ready for such as a wedding, reunion, holiday, or special occasion. With this deadline in mind, they have “blood in the game” and they find another gear. If you have the money, I’d suggest booking a tropical vacation to a place you’ve never been or to your favorite getaway. This’ll be a nice treat at the end of your journey and give you something to look forward too.



Otherwise, make up a deadline. I’m competing in a fitness modeling show in a few weeks. I’m using that as an excuse to get into the best shape of my life. Find a destination that will motivate you and drive to it.



Tip #3. Stop Making Excuses



My friends know that I’m a black or white kinda guy. Either it is, or it isn’t - in most cases. So I have a quote that says, “Either you’re getting it done, or you’re making excuses.” My clients know that when they fail to do something, I don’t wanna hear it. They text me or email, “No excuses Mitch.” and they get it done the next time.



I have a firm belief that people who continually make excuses never achieve much in life. So if you want to move to that next level in your physique, you need to take Full responsibility for your success. It’s in NO ONE’S hands but your own.



Here’s a little trick to stop making excuses. Every time you feel an excuse coming on or you speak one, slide your finger across your throat to signify that you’re cutting yourself short. I don’t care what you have going on in your life - There Is Always A Way To Get It Done. That’s a mindset you have to get to if you want to succeed in anything.



So those are three tips to find and keep the motivation to exercise. Ultimately you want to form the habit of working out, which will come with time. For more tips on workout motivation, check out the post that’s highlighted.



Hope your mind is beginning to shift.

Stay Ripped,

Mitch

4 Tips To Motivate You To Exercise

Article #1



I wanted to do a quick post today on workout motivation tips that’ll keep you pumping hard in the gym. Some of these may be a bit out of the box, but that’s the kinda guy I am.



I’ll include a surprise at the end, so make sure you read all the way through.



Tip #1. Choose the right partner



It’s known that you are the sum average of the 5 people you are closest to. Their income, their attitude, their age, and their physical condition. If you stop and think about it, it’s true because we naturally gravitate toward people like ourselves.



With that in mind, if you want to be in the best shape of your life, why drag your friend to the gym that has a gut that sticks out below his t-shirt? My advice is always to find someone that’s a bit further than you, or where you want to be, and they are ALREADY going to the gym. That way, you know they’ll be there whether you are or not, so you’ll feel obligated to show up.



I’ve had plenty of workout partners like that. They would party all night Friday, but because they knew I would be in the gym on Saturday and texting them where they were at, they managed to get their hung over butts in the gym. Do you think they would have without me being there?



Tip #2. Choose the Right Song



If you’re a music person like I am (I always have a song going. Right now, it’s Chris Botti because I like to listen to jazz as I write), then the right song will put you in the right mood to crush it in the gym. I generally go for rap, but techno, house, and metal are good choices. Sample a bunch of music and find what gets you amped.



I’d suggest finding your own music device (I use my phone) because your taste may differ from what they play in the gym, which is usually a mix because they have to appeal to everyone in there.



Get that right playlist blasting in your ear and zone out.



Tip #3. Choose the right Trainer



This is an amplified version of #1. The drawback of a workout partner is that they May Not Know What THEY’RE Doing. The advantage to getting a trainer is that they at least have some knowledge of how the body works and how to get you to your goals. They cost some money, but you can’t put a price on the body of your dreams.



If you’re interested in virtual training, check out my page. Watch the message, send me an email, and we can go from there.



Tip #4. Choose the right Reason



This is a huge one. This really should be number one, but I wanted to save the best for last. The right reason to do something will make the difference in success or failure. The underdog that’s protecting his home usually has the advantage over the conquerer that’s there just to expand his power (you’ve seen 300 and the damage those guys did to the Persians!).



They had the right reason. If I told you to swim the English Channel for $10,000, you might not do it, but if I told you to swim because I would kill your entire that if you didn’t. Chances are that you’d either swim the whole thing or die trying.



I know that’s a bit extreme, but you have to find the right reason, the right value that resonates with you on why you want to workout. Whether that’s for a woman, a man, family, contest money, competitiveness, or whatever, use it to leverage you to success.



Another way to do this is to stack your motivators. If you’re competitive, and you value friendship for example, challenge your friends to a ‘get fit contest’ and put something meaningful on the line. Set a hard goal such as 5% body fat loss in 5 weeks or 10 lbs of muscle in 12 weeks and go for it!


Your next step is to take action. Put these workout motivation tips in place and let’s get ripped.

4 Steps To Ripped Abs

You’ll find that my approach to ab workouts are bit different. I don’t generally subscribe to the marathon sessions of crunches and sit-ups that you find in a lot of magazines or have been doing for years.



Nor do I believe that ab workouts alone will get you a chiseled core of legends. There’s more to it than that, but it’s not very complicated.



In this article, you’ll find my unique way of working the ab muscles that really bring out abs that pop. I’m about to show you all my best stuff for blasting the abs and really getting them to develop.



Ok, the first thing you need to understand is the function of the abdominal muscles. Their main purpose are for trunk stability. You literally use them in just about every move you make in your body. They are the foundation upon which everything else is built from.



Your Rectus Abdominis (see pic below) or your “front abs” as I like to call them, are responsible for pulling your hips up or pulling your chest down to your lap. Your obliques twist your torso and bend it. Finally, your transverse abdominis acts as a lap band and holds your organs in place. This is the muscle that flexes when you laugh.



There are a few key components you need to focus on when training your abs.



1. Focus on exercises that allow you to flex your trunk

2. Focus on exercises that allow enough resistance

3. Short rest periods

4. Train through a full range of motion



I also like to train my abs in a specific order which I’ll tell you about in just a sec.



If you’re doing 50 crunches in a row, it’s time to move on to something harder. That exercise isn’t doing much for you anymore. It’s a great beginner exercise, but it won’t get you great abs.



Here are three ab workouts you can do to get you started. Perform each exercise for 12-15 reps, wait 15 seconds, then do the next exercise. Perform the circuit twice.



Beginner



1. Decline bench hip raise

2. Weighted side bends

3. V Ups

4. Medicine ball twists

Intermediate

1. Seated knee raise

2. Incline side bends (no weight)

3. Cable crunch

4. Medicine ball twists

Advanced

1. Hanging knee raise

2. Incline side bends (with weight)

3. Decline crunch or myotactic crunch

4. Oblique twists on a pulley tower

5. Pike roll out



So, you should have all the ab workouts you need to keep you busy for a while. Once you’re able to perform each of those exercises 15 full reps, move on to the next level up. By the time you reach the advanced section, you should have a very chiseled core (if your body fat is low enough).

This site has videos of the best ab workouts.

Until next time,

Stay Ripped

Mitch