Every year millions of people create a goal of losing weight and getting in shape. Unfortunately the majority of these people fail for one reason or another. Somewhere along the line they lose the motivation, commitment, and accountability to continue the progress towards their ultimate goal. Then a few months later they regain the motivation to yet again attempt to achieve the ever allusive goal of being physically fit.

On the other hand, every year thousands of people set a goal of completing some physical endeavor, whether it’s completing a 5K run/walk for charity or a marathon or something else altogether. Whatever, the reason for attempting the endeavor there is usually a competitive and adventurous drive that pushes people to succeed. Looking back on the event will generate thoughts of accomplishment and pride that can have a lasting effect.

In general, people have a hard time maintaining motivation when trying to lose weight get in shape. Exercise can seem monotonous, boring, and painful, which will definitely lead people away from the activity. Unfortunately there is little else one can do to look and feel the way most people want to without exercise. I suggest setting a goal to complete some fitness endeavor that will not only help you get in shape, but will hopefully reduce the monotony of exercise and give you something to consistently strive for.

The constant pursuit of weight loss can be difficult to maintain. There are many different excuses that can be made. There can be many different uncontrollable circumstances that can impede the progress towards the ultimate goal. The majority of people do not have the consistent motivation on their own to overcome all of these potential problems. I am not condemning anyone to a life of failure. On the contrary I think it is extremely important to master your self-control, thoughts, and actions. Life will be difficult, unforgiving, and unrewarding if you aren’t able to master these ideas.

It is important to realize that the pursuit of personal mastery is an ongoing process that takes a lifetime. The sole focus on weight loss when it comes to exercise can be difficult to maintain, as evident by the number of people who fail and are still overweight or obese. I recommend shifting your focus to an activity that can not only be fun, but physically and psychologically rewarding. By training to complete fitness endeavors you will be shift your focus away from the pressures to lose weight, while exercising to prepare your body for the upcoming feat. Through the training you will not only get in shape but you will most likely lose weight along the way.

If you were to select one group of people in the world who reflected fitness and the ideal body image the majority of people would acknowledge athletes. Athletes, for the most part, don’t overly obsess about their weight. Nor do they have to count calories or resort to some fad diet to maintain their body. Through their everyday training for their competitive endeavor athletes are able to maintain a fit physique.

I recommend adopting the philosophy of an athlete and stopping the constant obsession about weight or body image and set your sights on completing a fitness event. Every year, in every city in the United States various fitness events are held. There are run/walk’s for charities, there are competitive 5K’s, 10K’s, marathons, triathlons, bike races, canoe/ kayak events, and anything else you could imagine. The key is to find something that you would be excited to complete. If the idea of completing a public race doesn’t intrigue you, find a cycling club to join. Find a rock climbing facility that has groups of different abilities that climb together. There are activities for people of every age and fitness level for you to join.

The endeavor you set your sights on can be more adventure based. Maybe you want to spend a vacation skiing in Colorado, or rafting down whitewater rapids. You could want to try mountaineering with a goal of climbing Everest some day. Take your family hiking and camping for a weekend. All of these endeavors will require you to improve your fitness level. It will give you additional motivation and accountability in your workouts if you have paid for a vacation or an entry fee for a competition. The excitement of an upcoming event will push you to work harder and have more fun while exercising. This will lead to improved fitness and weight loss.

The key is to start small. Don’t set your sights on a triathlon if you have never completed any event before. By tackling an event that is way beyond your level of fitness it is easy to get discouraged and quit along the way. That isn’t to say that you can’t someday complete a triathlon. I am suggesting creating a stepping stone of events. Start with a 5K race, then a bike race, and then maybe a triathlon. Select an event that corresponds with your present level of fitness or an event that you can get in shape for in a reasonable amount of time. I wouldn’t suggest starting off by signing up for a marathon that is over a year away. As humans we like a relative quick return on our investments and work. If you are forced to spend an entire year working towards a goal there is a greater possibility that you will lose focus or motivation. Find an event that is two to three months away, which will give you plenty of time to get in shape, while still being close enough that it will be harder to lose focus.

Find others who you can enlist to complete the event with you. That way there will be a group effort, which will increase the fun had while training and reduce the chance of losing focus or motivation. If one member of the group gets discouraged the rest of the group can offer words of encouragement and get the discouraged member back on track. If none of your friends or family are interested, contact the organizer of the event to get a list of clubs that train for the event. Again, don’t get intimidated, there will be groups for every age and fitness level.

The completion of a fitness endeavor can be rewarding on so many different levels. You will have a sense of accomplishment for completing a difficult physical task. You will have a sense of accomplishment for maintaining focus with your training and getting in shape for the event. You will have an improved fitness level. You will have improved your body weight. You will have improved your motivation by consistently pushing yourself to achieve something and ultimately accomplishing your goal. This improved motivation can then be used on your next goal.

Once you have completed one event don’t stop there. Set a goal to complete another event in the coming months. Not only will this help maintain motivation, improve your fitness, but you will look back on a life filled with interesting and rewarding activities, which is the most important accomplishment of all.

Start today by finding an event or an activity that you want to try. You have nothing to lose, but everything in the world to gain. I promise that if you do this one simple thing your view on life can change dramatically. The accomplishment of a seemingly difficult endeavor can create inspiration and drive in your life to do more and expect more. Everyone has the potential to be great; it just takes one small decision followed by consistent actions. You are capable of more than you could ever imagine. Lead a life of never-ending excitement and accomplishment. Good luck.

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