All day I hear from people about their lack of motivation to exercise, eat right and make healthy choices. “I try to work out but I lose my motivation.” Or “I don’t see results so I lose motivation.” I have SO many thoughts screaming to get out of my head right now on this but I’ll do my best to keep it under 12 pages.

I have a ONE word tip for you on motivation. Yep. One little word.

Why?

Let me ask you this instead. Do you like your job? Then why do you go to work? (and count yourself VERY lucky if you have a job you love). Do you like to pay rent and bills? Why do you continue to do it month after month? Did you like to do your homework after school when you were growing up? But you did it, well, most of the time, right? Why? Because the consequences are more painful than that action of just doing it.

My dad once told me that there are only 2 things you have to do in life. Die and pay taxes. I don’t agree. I think there is one more – suffer the consequences of your actions and choices. You don’t have to go to work. But if you don’t you’ll get fired, you wont get paid and the consequences will be worse than if you roll out of bed and just GO. Same with rent. Same with homework.

Same with eating right and working out.

What is your WHY? This has to be bigger, louder, stronger and maybe even angrier than the desire to not work out. To eat the junk. To sit on the couch. To hit the snooze button. To make your excuses.

When your WHY is bigger, louder, stronger, and angrier than your current situation you don’t need motivation. You Just Do It. You have a choice. You can continue living the life you have or you make a change. You take one step. Then another. Then one more. Keep going. And ask someone to join you to hold you accountable. You toss the junk. You keep a food journal.

So what is YOUR why? Did your doctor tell you that if you don’t lose weight you’ll be on medication for high cholesterol, sleep apnea, acid reflux or other related diseases? That you’ll be at risk for diabetes? Or maybe your why is to be a positive role model in the lives of your children. To be around longer for your children and grandchildren. Maybe it is to have 6 pack abs. Or to never have to say “I can’t run 5k”. Or is it to stop feeling like you are drowning.

I see so much complacency in so many people. We all have so much we can accomplish and succeed at. If you don’t believe me send me an email. I believe it. I’ll support you. I know you can achieve your goals. But you have to be ready to work for them to achieve them. You’ll have to make some changes and probably some sacrifices. Stop coming up with excuses. Working out is hard. I don’t like to sweat. I don’t have time. Eating healthy is too expensive. I don’t like vegetables. I don’t like to cook. Blah blah blah! Fine – if you are happy carrying around that extra weight, the way it makes your body feel, the way it makes YOU feel keep doing what you are doing. Everyone who has already accomplished what you want to achieve has made the changes. Has done the work. Knew their WHY.

What are the consequences of you NOT working out? Maybe nothing today. Maybe nothing next week or next month. But fact is fact, living a consistently unhealthy life will take a toll on your body and soon your body will break down.

What are you going to do if your body breaks down? Where are you going to live? You figure out your WHY, and I’ll gladly help with the rest!