Why do you want to get fit

Read a very interesting article in the guardian about keeping fit...thought of sharing it

Why do you want to get fit?

So you want to get fit. But do you know why? You're likely to have a general idea. Perhaps it's because you want to change the way you look – to lose weight and to look more athletic. Or maybe it's because you want to change the way you feel – to be more energetic and confident. It may be that you've been told that you need to get fit for your health, or that there's an increasing sense of urgency to keep up with those around you. Whatever it is that drives you, motivation matters.

And it matters a lot, because your willingness to engage with exercise will only ever be as strong as that motivation. Interestingly, research has shown that we are far more likely to follow through with our resolutions if they have a so-called intrinsic motivation. This means having goals that are meaningful to ourselves, as opposed to goals that are designed to please or impress others. Writing down the answers to the following questions may just help clarify your motivation.

1 What do you think the results of exercising your body and mind will be?

2 How much do you value these results?

3 How do you feel about doing it (confident, embarrassed, frightened, determined)?

4 What do others think about it, and do they influence you?

5 How easy do you think it will be to regularly train the body and mind for a short time?

6 How much control do you have over your ability to make that happen?