Motivation

In New Zealand almost one in three adults are obese; and these shocking statistics alone can be enough to motivate people to start getting healthy and fit.

The sad reality is that many of these people will choose to quit within a month.  If you make a change because of an outside influence, or because you feel you should, then you are likely to fail. However if you make a change because internally you really want too, then you are likely to succeed.

There are two different types of Motivation - Extrinsic and Intrinsic.

Extrinsic otherwise known as external motivation drives you to do things for tangible rewards or pressures and not because you enjoy it or believe it is a good thing to do. If you don’t value your health and fitness then the chances are you will only do it (for a short time) if you are pressured into it. Extrinsic motivation often focuses people on the reward and not so much the action or journey itself. Once the reality of having to work hard and make sacrifices hits, it can often lead to failure.

Intrinsic motivation is a stronger and longer lasting form of motivation as it occurs when you are motivated by internal factors. Intrinsic motivation drives you to do something because it is important to you regardless of the reward or outcome. For example; you play backyard soccer with your kids and cannot keep up, this gets you thinking about how happy and good you felt back when you were fit, and how much you admired your own parents for being able to keep up with you, as a kid. Often the things you are intrinsically motivated to do will be aligned with your own values and beliefs. If you value health and fitness, you are more likely to succeed.

Nearly everyone at one time or another has fallen into the trap (myself included) of telling someone that they are overweight or unfit in the hope of motivating them to change. This often goes down like a cup of cold sick, as unsolicited advice is never received well. Motivation to make a change comes down to that person really wanting it. If someone else wants it for them rather than them wanting it for themselves, the chances of success are minimal.  If you are really smart you may be able to get that person to recognise that they need to change for themselves, without you saying it.

Extrinsic motivation can be used where possible to kick-start action. I have clients who send their husbands to my Group Fitness Sessions for the first time. At first they reluctantly turn up because it was their wife’s idea, but once they start training and realise (for themselves) how unfit they have become, intrinsic motivation takes over and as a result, they keep coming back.

Although you may be intrinsically motivated, motivation is not fixed and can fluctuate over time. It is something that needs regular attention and maintenance.  Most people will experience days or even weeks where motivation has declined. This is a time when extrinsic motivation can also work. 

Motivation is specific to a course of action.

Being motivated to do one thing doesn’t mean you are motivated to do everything. A lot of people I train are motivated to begin an exercise programme but are unmotivated to stick to an eating plan.  Because of this you need to build importance for each goal and tackle each goal individually.

In summary, being motivated by external factors can be effective in the short term if motivation has declined or you need a kick-start. But if you are motivated internally you will have a better chance of succeeding in the long term.  If you feel that making a change is IMPORTANT to YOU and YOU really WANT IT, then you will be intrinsically motivated and therefore you will SUCCEED.

Although intrinsic motivation is the key for long-term success, extrinsic motivation is still important. Signing up to my Boot Camp with Kaz Facebook page is one form of extrinsic motivation that could really help to keep you on track, particularly when your motivation is down.