A personal story: the last time I missed the gym for more than a week was in 2005 when my friend invited me to his town for a gaming competition. And you know how these gaming competitions are day and night, no food, junking, bad beverages. It just breaks down your bodybuilding efforts from the past year into half. And above it, when you want to return to good ol' gym, your inner self is too much hooked on to the rest and doesn't let you. What to do then? Nothing, sit back and relax and let your body rot into fat. Or you pick your sorry butt up and hit the gym. It is to remember, whatever you do in life, you always have a choice. But mostly we choose badly than good. What could be the possible reason for de-motivation of an individual, stopping the gym or not wanting to go.

Unrealistic goal setting: I understand every guy wants to turn huge, as soon as possible and every girl wants to fit and petite. But Rome wasn't built in a day, or was it? When you start going to the gym you should understand its like learning a new language you just can't master it in 3 months or 6 months. You would require regular practice for a long period before you call yourself a master. You will learn about how your body responds to different types of training.

Solution: Set up a goal for every year, every month, every week and every day. Now when I say this I mean, you should have a long term goal, short term goals, immediate goals and everyday goals. Having a long term goal to gain 20 lbs, a short term goal to decrease your body fat by 3%, immediate goal to increase your squat and an every day goal to workout with full intensity minus the 'chitter-chatter'. Keep a workout log it is so much convenience and the push in the right direction. You know how much you did last week and how much you would want to look at this week. Plan your month's workout in advance. As you write feel how would you feel doing that workout, if you are new to the fitness field tell your trainer to do it for you. Be aware of how you feel in every workout and write it under the 'I feel:' section of your workout log.

Non-visualization: Can you tell me the strongest organ in the human body? No, it's not what you just said, but the brain! Your brain orders whatever you feel in your body. If you can recall, in a dream you can feel everything; pain, pleasure, fear, strength. All is in your head. What most people see is what they are but not what they can become.

Solution: Like you imagine yourself to be an actor, a doctor, an engineer, an artist or a pop idol, similarly, start seeing yourself less fat and more muscular. Let this image run in your head when ever you are preparing your meal, you wouldn't eat junk. Imagine this when you are in the gym, you would lift more with a good form. See this image when your clock hits cardio in that cold morning, you would go if it was snowing. Visualization is a very strong tool, try it today






Vague approach to things: How far have you reached if you are mismanaged and act on the 'spur of the moment'. Well not far I would guess and that too falling flat on your face. Managing yourself, your resources, and your energy outlet always helps. We always organize when it comes to buying grocery, studying, at work but when it comes to the gym "Aahh, I'll do whatever I can"

Solution: If you don't want to lose your interest in the gym and go back home, tidy up yourself! Take a 'before' picture of you today and I mean today! 'Cause tomorrow never comes.' Use the above two solutions and put it together with this one. Make yourself believe that you can achieve your everyday goal and understand that your workout is more important than meeting President Bush. Hit the gym everyday at the same time to make your body clock learn it is a daily commotion.

Change whatever you are doing: They say 'Nothing is permanent except for Change itself.' Well when a workout schedule is being followed for 6 months or year we forget this rule. Personally, I don't follow the same workout which I did last week I keep on changing, mixing and matching. The body stays refreshed, anew and responsive (Principle of Muscle confusion and Instinctive training). Stop being in the rut and change everything. My friend is a Psychologist; I asked him what could be the key to staying happy always. He said 'Change, unexpectedly change things, if you friends expect you to exhibit a certain kind of behavior when they behave in a specific way: Don't! Do something you wouldn't do normally.' I found out that this works in every sphere of life.

Solution: If you have been have been eating clean for months on, stop go and have a deep pan crust pizza or a pound of ice cream. If you have been training consistently for more than a year, take a holiday, have fun. If you have been doing 6 reps everyday switch to 15 for some time, stop the egg whites for some time. The point remains to change, so that your body 'wakes up' from a same steady routine and your body responds better to your efforts now.

Get a Training partner: It is very motivating; make sure he is the same caliber you are in fitness and should have an attitude to push you off the edge! Finish your workout in 45 minutes to 1 hour and get out of there!

Before you sign up for a yearly membership at the neighborhood gym, check on these few things. Make sure they have an A/C to fight the humid, hot environment, or conversely a central heating if you live in a cold environment. The ambience of the gym should be spacious, well lit. You wouldn't want to feel out of place sooner than later. Join a coed gym, believe me, it is motivating for all you single's.

By,
Mandeep 'Musclez' Sodhi