Motivation Won't Get You Fit—Here's What Will

Finding the motivation to exercise can seem like one of the most elusive things in the world. The amount of time and effort we put into trying to create, find, and sustain motivation often outweighs the effort put into exercise itself ten-fold.

What if motivation wasn’t necessary? What if you could create a much stronger and more stable desire to keep you going back for more?

But what if someone were to tell you that you're going about it all wrong? What if motivation wasn’t necessary? What if you could create a much stronger and more stable desire to keep you going back for more?

Well, that is the essence of what my guest—supermodel, coach, trainer, and chef Jill de Jong—would tell you if you came to her saying “I just hate working out" or "Exercise is boring!"

You don't need to like working out to enjoy the benefits. Do I like brushing my teeth? Not really. But I do enjoy clean teeth and fresh breath. So, I brush my teeth twice a day. Same counts for working out. Just show up and do the exercises. And it's very likely you'll feel better after your workout than when you started. So, when you're more connected to your body, you also show up differently. You walk more confidently, you speak more confidently. You may have increased energy. Your stress levels may be decreased and you may just feel happier. So when you can add feeling good with working out, you'll keep coming back for more.

Jill De Jong

You may have seen Jill de Jong gracing the covers of Women’s Health and Fitness Magazine. Or perhaps you know her from her book “Models Do Eat.” Or perhaps you use one of her Yoga Block Socks or maybe you listen to her podcast, Life Done Better. Wherever you know Jill from (and if you don’t, you can take my word for it), this Dutch model-turned-podcaster knows a thing or two about fitness. 

Jill joined me on a call to discuss her take on some of my favorite topics, like:

• What she says to her clients who say that they don’t like working out

• What role motivation plays in her fitness life

• How she creates motivation—or does she?

Below is a transcript of the interview. But for the full effect, I encourage you to listen to the audio version (using the player at the top of the page) so you don’t miss any of the subtle messages. 

...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips