Macon Magazine

June/July 2026| maconmagazine.com 105 Shawn McClendon is an ACE-certified personal trainer and fitness writer who helps men and women over 40 to make their fitness comeback. Follow him on Substack (@shawnb2bfitness) and YouTube (@shawnb2bfitness). confidence, not only because you like the results you see, but also because you can trust yourself to follow through. Here's another motivation booster. Consider how a more fit version of yourself can show up for those you love. At your healthiest, you can play with or work on projects with your children, grandchildren, or even great- grandchildren. Taking care of a sick or elderly relative is easier because your physical capacity to do so is present. Others who look for your leadership, mentorship, or friendship will receive the benefit of a better you as well. Finding a way to reward yourself for exercise consistency is important, as well. You probably recall, as I do, how it was as a child when a parent promised to get you a toy or other desired gift if you cleaned up well or got good grades. Guess what? You can do the same for yourself! Reward yourself with a shopping spree, a vacation, or a new gadget when you've exercised consistently for a month or hit a target weight-loss milestone. Rewards can be powerful motivators, but a word of advice: be careful with making food a reward, as it can be easy to sabotage your health and fitness efforts if you haven't yet built up the discipline to make it a "one-and-done" type of experience. Trust me; I know personally about this. Another motivation boost for many is music. If you find that certain music charges you up and makes you ready to move, use this to your advantage. Upbeat, energetic tunes can be a powerful way to shift focus away from the uncomfortable nature of exercise and in the direction of believing that you can finish the class, lift the weight, or get the extra repetition. I've offered up four tips to show you ways that you can keep yourself motivated to exercise and get your body back, but please understand this: you must be intentional. When I say, "think about how you will feel after you've become fit," you now need to plan to set time aside on a regular basis, perhaps with a journal, and literally think about it. Take time to think of those you love and how you can show up better for them. Plan the rewards for yourself. Make the music playlist. Don't just read this article if you're one who needs sustained motivation; take action! Motivation is a powerful way to get you excited about getting in shape and healthy, but it will die down, just like a fire that's not tended to. Count on that. It's your job to keep your fire going. H ow is that New Year's fitness resolution coming along? If you're still going, that's amazing, because according to an article from Columbia University, while almost half of Americans make resolutions, only 25% of us stay committed to them after 30 days. An even smaller number of us — 10% — actually accomplish our resolutions. Why is this? Why do we get so hyped up at the top of the year? It's because of motivation. The definition of motivation is, in short, the act of giving someone a reason to do something. We are motivated at the top of the year by the concept of a new beginning and a new opportunity to become a healthier, fitter, and altogether newer version of ourselves. We may also be motivated by other things, such as an upcoming class reunion, an outfit we want to fit into, or a beach trip. Obviously, however, motivation simply is not enough to get one in shape. If it were, most of us would stick to our fitness resolutions. Ultimately, then, the question is this: "How do we keep ourselves motivated to exercise?" I'd like to offer a few suggestions that I believe will help you to not just get motivated initially, but to stay motivated so that fitness results are guaranteed. For starters, think about how you will feel after you've become fit. Imagine the energy you will walk around with. Imagine that tasks that you currently find difficult, such as carrying bags, walking up a long flight of stairs, or getting up off the floor, are now so easy that you do them without thinking. Think about looking in the mirror, being pleased with your progress, and experiencing a boost in your "Upbeat, energetic tunes can be a powerful way to shift focus away from the uncomfortable nature of exercise."

• Cover