We all have those athletic friends who find it easy to stay fit.  No matter what’s going on in their life, rain or shine, chaos or calm, fitness is a priority. Then there are those who get derailed by life’s consistently fluid circumstances… sick children, work demands, relationship dramas… you name it.  So, how do those naturally athletic friends manage all of life’s variables without derailing? Honestly… I have no idea.  I’m not one of them and I truly do not understand how they can stay the course, no matter what,  just for the sake of being fit.   They seem to have an internal self-discipline that may not be so readily available to everyone.

So, how do the rest of us stay committed for the long haul, through good weather and bad?  What are the tools that we need to stay the course when life is in full session?  Here are some of the methods that I have found most helpful:

• To quote my friend Lucy… get a big ol’ hairy audacious goal. Something so huge and inspiring, that it motivates you when all else fails.  Here’s a great one that repeats every year: AIDSRide… 575 mile bicycle ride from SF to LA

• Pick a goal that requires a financial commitment and throw down the money. The AIDSRide required a significant financial investment in equipment and fund raising.  Just the knowledge that if the fund raising isn’t done, you’ll have to pay it, can be enough to keep you riding when your rear end is ready to quit.

• Hire a coach. Spending hard earned money is one of the surest ways to establish the discipline to achieve your goal.  Nothing beats turning your money and trust over to a professional and then following their direction…  There are NO quick fixes or shortcuts to changing deeply ingrained habits, so be patient.

• Find a training partner, join a group or create your own buddy team. It is so much harder to bail when people are expecting you.  This one can be free, super easy to accomplish and is an especially powerful tool in the beginning when the workouts and gym are still intimidating.  One word of caution… pick your people carefully.  If they are not fully committed, they may end up dragging you down with their excuses. 

• Remember to laugh and play.  If you training isn’t necessarily always fun, then make sure your recreation is.  Fitness opens up doors and creates all new possibilities for games and activities.   So lighten up and enjoy your fitness!  

• Never berate yourself, period.    Beating yourself up about performance or eating can easily take one isolated rough day and stretch it into a week or longer.  Once the day is done you can’t change it anyway, so let it go and just start fresh.

• Surround yourself with people who are already living the way you want to live. There is an ugly but honest truth that “we are the sum of the people we hang around.”   If goal achievement is important to you, then it’s vital that you spend the majority of your time with people who are positive, motivated and supportive of your plans even if they don’t subscribe to the exact same daily practices you must to achieve the dream.

These tools may not always stop you from being pulled off track, but they will most definitely help you get you back on board quickly!  So, surround yourself with the tools of success and no matter how many times you stumble, getting back up will be easier.  

If you have other tools that work, please post them in the comments.  You never know who might benefit from your experience, so share it!!