SYDNEY UNI SPORT & FITNESS MAGAZINE SPRING 13

By Susie Burrell Accredited DieticianWhen motivation is lagging, the bestthing you can do is be kind to yourselfand start with small changes. Start withplanning your food in advance and worktowards eating well most of the time.Or if you don’t exercise regularly, startwith just one session a week. Once youhave some basic habits instilled, you cancontinue to build from there.Don’t think about it, just do it!Ruminating over what we ‘should’ and‘should not’ be doing has to be one of thegreatest time wasters of all – if you havea tendency to overthink things it’s time toshift these thought patterns to ‘doing’.When you notice yourself starting toplay mind games – thinking of excusesand options to eat rubbish or to skiptraining – shift your thought process to‘doing’ by asking the question: what can Ido right now that will move me forward?Controlling undermining negativethoughts is a powerful aspect of managingenergy levels and ultimately, motivation.No excusesA common characteristic of people whodo what they set their minds to doingand those who don’t is that those whokeep focused and on track, tend not toresort to excuses.Instead, they are constantly looking forways to achieve things rather than forreasons not to. Once we commit to themantra of ‘no excuses’ on a daily basis,the need for motivation becomes lessand less relevant.WWW.SUSF.COM.AU 9