Exercise together for more motivation.
When you're a fitness enthusiast, it can be hard to watch your friends and family engage in sedentary lifestyles. If you want to make a difference, you'll have to give your loved ones the tools they need to feel empowered, motivated and ready to exercise. It's not always easy. After all, you can't run on the treadmill for an unmotivated friend, but you can be there as a cheerleader for a healthier lifestyle.
Instructions
1. Ask your friend what their goals are and work together to set short-term ones that lead to long-term success. For instance, if they want to lose 20 pounds, set short-term fitness goals that contribute to success, like going to the gym every day for a whole week or giving up the car for a walk or bike ride instead. While long-term goals can be overwhelming, short-term goals help your friend feel good and inspired to do more.
2. Find ways to exercise that are enjoyable for the person you're hoping to empower. Perhaps they hate running, but love playing a pickup game of basketball or prefers the elliptical machine. By matching up a friend with a preferred workout, you help them see that fitness doesn't have to be boring or grueling, but satisfying and enjoyable.
3. Make a commitment to exercise with your friend. Ignoring exercise is easy when there's little to no accountability. If your friend knows that you're waiting for them, they're more likely to stick to a fitness plan. Besides the motivation factor, exercising with a buddy is more enjoyable, so there's a higher chance that you'll both be able to stick with the program.
4. Track your friend's fitness progress in a tangible way. Whether you weigh, measure, track on a calendar or keep track of reps and weights, seeing real results can be hugely empowering for someone who lacks motivation. By being able to see the results in the flesh and on paper, your friend will appreciate the fruits of his labor and become excited to keep going.
5. Switch negative statements into positive self talk. A friend who has low self-esteem around body image and performance might say things like "I'll never be able to run that long" or "I'm too out-of-shape for that." Instead, ask that they change those negative statements into something positive like "With some training, I could run longer" or "I'm grateful for things my body can do." These positive statements will inspire taking control and recognizing abilities to exercise and get fit.
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