“Fit” Is Bad for Motivation
Looking at pictures of super-fit men and women can push you into getting in shape, but psychology dictates that relying on “seizures” as motivation can do more harm than help. That’s why.
According to fitness trainer and author Lawrence Judd, who leads Shredded by Science and Elite Fitness Mentoring, there are two types of motivation: intrinsic motivation (for example, “I want to run because I like it and I want to improve”) and extrinsic motivation. (“I’m running because I want to lose 10 pounds.”) According to Lawrence:
Think of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation like flying a jet plane.
Extrinsic motivation is akin to flying a jet plane with afterburners on – you will be flying very fast, it will be very intense, but the effect will be relatively short-lived.
Intrinsic motivation is like turning off the afterburners, turning on autopilot and traveling to your destination with a minimum of fuss – just remember to do pre-flight checks, take off, and climb to cruising altitude. … Intrinsic motivation takes preparation and time to develop.
According to Lawrence, the problem with “seizures” – which confirms much of what I’ve seen in the wild myself – is that, for the most part, it aims to accomplish three things:
- Emphasizes exercise as some form of punishment
- Outer target orientation: ideal physique
- Seeks to cause serious blame
This mentality is diametrically opposed to intrinsic motivation because it equates exercise with punishment and guilt , not improvement and self-efficacy. To be successful in fitness for a long time, exercise must be a source of self-love and happiness. On the other hand, Fitspiration makes exercise one of the many things in life that we should berate ourselves for, which makes exercise less efficient.
Why Fitspiration Is Killing Your Motivation | ShreddedbyScience.com