Recently, I found a website that discusses something that I think many people have a problem with. Finding the motivation to exercise and to continue the exercise plan that you set for yourself, is a huge problem for many. Many people are initially motivated after they decide that they are going to exercise, but then after a short time become less motivated to continue, when other things in their lives come up.
The wesite that I found describes this in terms of phases. There are four main phases that many people go through when exercising. The first stage is the "form" phase. People intially get really excited to start working out and do really well for the first few weeks, but overtraining or loss of motivation sometimes occur during this stage, and people either cut back or quit entirely.
The second phase is the "storm" phase. This phase is when after a few weeks or so of working out has gone by, we start making excuses on why we don't need to go on certain days, because we know it's going to be hard. This is one of the toughest phases that people deal with. The site says that commitment, consistency, and seeing positive results will help people overcome this stage.
The third phase is the "norm" phase. This phase is where you adapt to your workout and you make it through even the toughest days when you don't feel like doing your routine.
The fourth phase is the "perform" stage. This phase occurs when your workout becomes a routine for you and a part of your lifestyle. This takes place after repetition and consistency.
The website also gives some suggestions and strategies to overcome the first three stages and ultimately have exercise training become a part of your life, as well as other links to websites that deal with sport psychology and exercise.
If you would like to check it out, here's the website: http://www.topendsports.com/psychology/motivation-steps.htm
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