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Maintaining Personal Training Motivation: Trainer Jack Claxton Shares His Secrets
After over a decade in the personal training field, even seasoned professionals like Jack Claxton, a master trainer at David Lloyd, can occasionally struggle with maintaining motivation to exercise. Claxton himself admits that last year saw his motivation levels dip, despite his longstanding career in the industry.
Despite dedicating his career to helping others find joy in exercise, Claxton found himself losing that very same passion. Burned out and unsure of his direction, he resolved to implement three small changes that helped him quickly regain his stride. These strategies, he now recommends, can help maintain motivation during good times and bad.
booking workouts
The first move Claxton made was to establish a routine. He began by scheduling a workout in his diary before anything else, thereby making exercise a priority. Booking workouts in advance also minimized the likelihood of life events getting in the way.
"Exercise should be prioritized," says Claxton, acknowledging that there may be aspects of life that necessitate higher importance. "You have to decide where exercise fits into your life."
Claxton found success by setting aside a clear month in his diary and adding recurring bookings for every workout.
"I've setup trainings at specific locations, swimming sessions at the pool, and ensure I have enough time for stretching," says Claxton. "This consistency has delivered the best results."
speaking Goals
Another strategy to maintain accountability and motivation is by speaking fitness goals out loud. Verbalizing or sharing goals with others not only helps keep one on track, but it also fosters a sense of responsibility.
"When you write something down, you're often more likely to do it because you're setting it in stone," explains Claxton. "And if you've been consistently sharing that goal with others, you're more likely to stick to it."
The added layer of accountability can be increased by speaking these intentions out loud as well. "If you tell everyone that you plan to do HYROX training on Saturday and then grab brunch, you've set yourself up for success and made a public commitment," adds Claxton.
making exercise enjoyable
Lastly, Claxton resolved to bring joy back to his training, an essential ingredient for anyone aiming to make exercise a lifelong habit.
"Low motivation often stems from doing workouts that we don't enjoy," says Claxton. "The type of training that you'll keep showing up to because you look forward to it, is far better than doing a dozen workouts that you don't enjoy."
Claxton suggests that trying new activities, such as a Spin class or a Pilates workout on YouTube, can help find the type of training one genuinely enjoys. And for those who prefer guided instruction, speaking with a personal trainer at a gym can help identify the style of training that's most suitable.
The article relies on research that supports specific approaches like planning workouts, using positive reinforcement, and making exercise enjoyable for maintaining motivation and consistency in personal training. While not directly mentioned in the text, this research could be used to both validate Claxton's recommendations and offer additional context to readers.
By implementing these strategies, people can maintain motivation and consistency in their personal training routines, ensuring they can look forward to a long, healthy, and active lifestyle.
- Jack Claxton, a master trainer, recommends scheduling workouts in advance as a strategy to maintain exercise motivation, ensuring exercise is prioritized and minimizing disruptions from life events.
- Claxton also suggests verbalizing or sharing fitness goals with others to foster a sense of responsibility and accountability, leading to a higher likelihood of sticking to them.
- Claxton underlines the importance of making exercise enjoyable, recommending trying new activities like Spin classes or Pilates workout videos to discover what one genuinely enjoys, and speaking with a personal trainer for guided instruction.
- The science of fitness and wellness supports specific approaches such as planning workouts, using positive reinforcement, and making exercise enjoyable for maintaining motivation and consistency in personal training routines.
- Effective strategies like these, as shared by Claxton, can lead to a long, healthy, and active lifestyle, promoting personal growth and wellness in the realm of education and self-development.
