What’s your motivation?

Peek inside someone’s home on a Saturday morning and you will find any number of things going on. Many people are still in bed, sleeping away the effects of a stressful week. Others are watching television, or sipping coffee and reading the paper around the breakfast table. I tend to spend Saturday morning rushing my kids into their clothes, through their breakfast and out the door because I want to be on time to my cycling class.

One recent Saturday, as I sweated my way up a make-believe mountain, I looked around the room and wondered, what motivates us? Why do we choose to spend our time packed into a hot, stuffy room, pedaling nowhere, when the little voice inside our head is urging us to stay in bed?

The dictionary defines motivation as, “an incentive or reason for doing something.” The most likely reason for doing something such as cycling classes are obvious: weight loss, improved health or training for a competition or sport. But every person in my class, in the gym, or running down Hwy. 101, has a unique way of expressing their drive to exercise. And one thing is certain, motivation is something we must find within ourselves, or a long-term commitment to fitness is not sustainable.

“I ran two marathons because of a friend, but I couldn’t keep motivating myself for someone else, so I had to find something else to do,” said 28-year-old Sabra Bodzioney. “And if I’m not seeing the results I want, I start to think, ‘what new activity can I pick up?’ ”

Not everyone has Bodzioney’s enthusiasm for exercise. Often it takes a life-changing event to inspire fitness. For Michele Levy, it was her mother’s death at age 54 that gave her fresh motivation. “When I was approaching my 54th birthday 80 to 90 pounds overweight and not exercising, I thought I was going to die, too. I’ve been working out consistently ever since,” said Levy, who is now 58.

And though Levy has lost the weight, being the perfect size is no longer her main motivation. “The weight is what it is, but I can be healthy,” she said.

In fact, health rather than vanity is an incentive that seems to emerge with time. “At this point in my life, it’s no longer fantasy fitness, it’s function,” said 60-year-old Rebecca Levas. “I exercise to prevent injury – joint problems, feet that hurt, pulled muscles.”

There’s no question consistent exercise is essential to a healthy body, but what about a healthy mind? Numerous studies have proven the positive effects of exercise on mental health. In fact, research shows that doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity, three to five days a week, may significantly improve symptoms of depression. Combating daily tension is a major incentive for exercise enthusiasts such as 41-year-old Kris Beirne. “Exercise is my stress-reliever,” she said. “Some people drink, some people eat. I work out.”

Some people work out so they can eat and drink whatever they want! Give some real thought to your goals and your lifestyle, and use what you learn to your advantage.

Just as you need to mix up your workouts, you also need to keep your motivation fresh. Here are some tips to revive flagging enthusiasm:

Track your progress. Use a card, notebook, or online tool to record your workouts. Seeing the value of all your hard work over the long term is inspiring.

Treat yourself to some new gear. Sometimes a sparkly new pair of running shoes is all you need to get excited about training.

Have fun. Learn a new sport, join a team or try a different class and find the fun in fitness. Get immersed in mastering something you’ve always wanted to try and exercise is no longer a chore.

Make a commitment. Sign up for a race and put together a training program. Even better, find a run/walk for a cause that has special meaning. Committing to an event can give you incentive to stick with your workouts.

You may never love to exercise, but finding the right motivation can help you stick with it.


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What’s your motivation? Peek inside someone’s home on a Saturday morning and you will find any number of things going on. Many people are still in bed, sleeping away the effects of a stressful week. Others are watching television, or sipping coffee and reading the paper around the breakfast table. I tend to spend Saturday morning rushing my kids into their clothes, through their breakfast and out the door because I want to be on time to my cycling class. One recent Saturday, as I sweated my way up a make-believe mountain, I looked around the room and wondered, what motivates us? Why do we choose to spend our time packed into a hot, stuffy room, pedaling nowhere, when the little voice inside our head is urging us to stay in bed? The dictionary defines motivation as, “an incentive or reason for doing something.” The most likely reason for doing something such as cycling classes are obvious: weight loss, improved health or training for a competition or sport. But every person in my class, in the gym, or running down Hwy. 101, has a unique way of expressing their drive to exercise. And one thing is certain, motivation is something we must find within ourselves, or a long-term commitment to fitness is not sustainable. “I ran two marathons because of a friend, but I couldn’t keep motivating myself for someone else, so I had to find something else to do,” said 28-year-old Sabra Bodzioney. “And if I’m not seeing the results I want, I start to think, ‘what new activity can I pick up?’ ” Not everyone has Bodzioney’s enthusiasm for exercise. Often it takes a life-changing event to inspire fitness. For Michele Levy, it was her mother’s death at age 54 that gave her fresh motivation. “When I was approaching my 54th birthday 80 to 90 pounds overweight and not exercising, I thought I was going to die, too. I’ve been working out consistently ever since,” said Levy, who is now 58. And though Levy has lost the weight, being the perfect size is no longer her main motivation. “The weight is what it is, but I can be healthy,” she said. In fact, health rather than vanity is an incentive that seems to emerge with time. “At this point in my life, it’s no longer fantasy fitness, it’s function,” said 60-year-old Rebecca Levas. “I exercise to prevent injury – joint problems, feet that hurt, pulled muscles.” There’s no question consistent exercise is essential to a healthy body, but what about a healthy mind? Numerous studies have proven the positive effects of exercise on mental health. In fact, research shows that doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity, three to five days a week, may significantly improve symptoms of depression. Combating daily tension is a major incentive for exercise enthusiasts such as 41-year-old Kris Beirne. “Exercise is my stress-reliever,” she said. “Some people drink, some people eat. I work out.” Some people work out so they can eat and drink whatever they want! Give some real thought to your goals and your lifestyle, and use what you learn to your advantage. Just as you need to mix up your workouts, you also need to keep your motivation fresh. Here are some tips to revive flagging enthusiasm: Track your progress. Use a card, notebook, or online tool to record your workouts. Seeing the value of all your hard work over the long term is inspiring. Treat yourself to some new gear. Sometimes a sparkly new pair of running shoes is all you need to get excited about training. Have fun. Learn a new sport, join a team or try a different class and find the fun in fitness. Get immersed in mastering something you’ve always wanted to try and exercise is no longer a chore. Make a commitment. Sign up for a race and put together a training program. Even better, find a run/walk for a cause that has special meaning. Committing to an event can give you incentive to stick with your workouts. You may never love to exercise, but finding the right motivation can help you stick with it.