Hitch Fit Living Magazine Volume 7 - July/August 2016 | Page 33

If you are reading this, you have probably started or considered starting an exercise routine. First of all, congratulations! Fitness is a vital part of a happy and healthy life. You undoubtedly have the best of intentions and no want to maintain your regular physical activity. Did you know, however, that more than 50% of those who start a new program will drop out within the first 6 months? What can be done to increase adherence to your program? The answer is to look at what motivates you! There are two types of motivation: external and internal. Those who are fueled by external motivation typically pursue physical activity for a reason outside of themselves. This could be making a spouse happy, looking good, pleasing their trainer, lowering numbers on a scale, socializing and so on. Conversely, those who are intrinsically motivated are driven by the simple fact that they genuinely enjoy the experience of exercise. Most people are neither 100% extrinsic or intrinsically motivated, rather somewhere in between. As people begin their journey toward better fitness they often fall on the extrinsic side of the spectrum. They want to look better, “tone up” or drop a few pounds. These are legitimate reasons to embark on an exercise program. Hopefully, as they learn new exercises and become more skilled at basic movements, they begin enjoying exercise for the sake of exercise. To help accomplish this, many seek guidance of professionals who are more knowledgeable than themselves. This may be a fitness book, trusted website or best of all… a personal trainer! The goal is to build up enough self-efficacy to execute a routine with proficiency and confidence. Whether you are new to the fitness scene or an enthusiast who has lost your former passion, I encourage you to examine what it is that keeps you engaged with exercise. Are you doing it for a litany of reasons outside yourself or are you doing it for you? Do you enjoy it and look forward to it? If you can’t answer yes to that last question, consider ways to push yourself harder, vary your routine or incorporate new exercises. There are a variety of resources to learn how to achieve this and I would encourage you to further explore www.hitchfit.com. You may also consider utilizing a certified Hitch Fit personal trainer or asking your current trainer what can be done to mix things up. Find the spark that sets fire to your passion for fitness! James Townsend is a Hitch Fit Transformation at our downtown Kansas City location. Contact him for one on one personal training at [email protected]