You Don't Need to Find Your Motivation. You Need to Decide.

I’ll be the first to say it as a trainer and owner of a fitness studio. Motivation goes in waves.

Sometimes I'm on a high and I'm excited to run, excited to work out, eating well, feeling good and really on top of things. Other times I just need someone to keep me accountable.

When I sign up for a group class, when I put my card down for personal training, you bet your ass I’m going to be there.

Because now I've done three things:

1. I've made a promise to myself.

I said I was going to be there. I put it on my calendar. I've made a decision that I'm going to show up.

2. There's someone there waiting for me.

Someone has planned on me showing up. My coach has planned my workout. There's another person who is expecting me to be there.

3. I've made an investment.

I put my money behind the decision.

And all three of those things make a difference for me.

Give me a meal plan and tell me we're going to look at how many times I actually followed it? Best believe I'm doing it. Not because I suddenly have more motivation. Because now someone is going to ask me about it.

Because let’s be 100% honest for a second. You can know exactly what you should be doing and still need accountability to actually do it. That’s pretty human.

You Don't Need More Motivation

We talk about motivation a lot, and I think so often we spend a lot of time looking for motivation.

We wait until we feel motivated to start working out or for when the stars perfectly align in our lives. But total transparency when do our lives ever fully align? They don’t.

I've experienced this myself over and over again. There are times when I'm really into my workouts. I'm excited about running. I'm excited about getting stronger. I'm making good choices with my nutrition and everything feels pretty easy. And then there are times when I don't want to do any of it.

That's normal.

Life gets busy. Work gets stressful. You're tired. Your schedule changes. You have family stuff going on. You travel. You have a bad week.

If you are waiting to feel motivated before you take action, you're probably going to spend a lot of time waiting and looking back feeling frustrated that you “need to make a change” but keep weighing your life against your decision to start making changes.

That's why I don't think the question is, "How do I get more motivated?"

I think the better question is:

"What can I put in place that will help me show up even when I'm not motivated?"

For me, it's accountability.

When You Make a Commitment, Things Change

When I book a group class, I know I'm going. When I book personal training, I know I'm going. I've made the appointment. I've paid for it. Someone is expecting me. It's much harder for the gym to stay a "maybe" when I've actually committed to something.

How many times have you said…

• I”m going to workout this week

• I want to feel better in my clothes

• I want to lose the weight

• I want to feel stronger

• I want to have more energy

• I want to be my best

But then immediately said…

• "Maybe I'll go tomorrow."

• "I'll start next week."

• "I need to figure out my schedule first."

• "I just need to get motivated."

• “I’ll start after xyz….

And months go by.

Nothing changes because nothing has actually changed.

You haven't made the decision yet.

I'm not saying you have to sign up for something expensive or commit to a year of training.

I'm saying there is a difference between wanting to do something and actually creating a commitment around it.

For me, that commitment makes a huge difference.

And Yes, Even Trainers Need Accountability

I think there's sometimes this idea that if you work in fitness, you must have everything figured out.

I don't.

I know how to write a workout that can make you stronger. I know how to structure a training week. I know what I should be eating. I know that consistency matters.

And I still have days where I don't feel like doing any of it.

That's why I don't believe accountability is a sign that you're lacking discipline.

Sometimes having someone else involved is exactly what helps you follow through. It doesn't mean I couldn't do it on my own, I 100% can and have, but it means I've found something that helps me actually do it.

Kobe Bryant had a coach. Ilona Maher has a coach. Most successful people speak to taking care of themselves as one of the things that got them to their success. So if the top athletes, producers, and moguls in the world all have coaches, why should you be left to do things on your own? They ALL know what to do. But they still have a professional whose career is focused on supporting them, helping them reach their potential, and keeping them on track—motivation be damned.

You Don't Have to Feel Ready

I think we also spend a lot of time waiting until we're ready. We kill months of time from having small success by taking forever to “think about what it could look like”. You’re talking yourself out of it working for youbefore you’ve even stepped foot on the reformer.

Now I cannot promise that it will be a quick process. The good things in life never seem to be. That said you don't become consistent because you suddenly wake up one day and feel like a completely different person.

You show up on the day your kid threw up in the car. You start taking the 10 extra minutes at night to pack the protein filled snack because you know your meeting could run. long. You book the 6am class because your husband has drop off and you have pick up. You learn what works for your schedule, you make adjustments and eventually, it becomes something you do.

You don't need to be perfectly motivated.

You need to have enough commitment and accountability to keep going when motivation isn't there.

You Have Four Months Left in 2026

And this is where I want to challenge you.

We have four months left in 2026.

Four months.

In four months, you could

• lose 20 pounds.

• build strength.

• create a workout routine that actually works with your life.

• start building the habits that will carry you through the holidays instead of waiting until January to start over.

• walk into the holidays feeling empowered instead of feeling out of control.

• have four months of consistency behind you before the "New Year, New Me" crowd even gets started.

Think about where you could be in January if you started now.

You probably already know what you need to do.

But what happens if you have someone holding you accountable to actually do it?

Accountability.

So what are you waiting for?

Start at Core (LP)

At Core (LP) Berkley + Rochester Hills, we know that everyone comes in with a different history and different goals.

That's why we start with a free consultation.

You'll sit down with a coach and talk about your history, what's worked, what hasn't, how your body feels today and what you're hoping to accomplish.

From there, we'll help you figure out the best path forward.

That might mean group training, personal training, semi-private training, nutrition or a combination.

Our pilates-inspired strength training group classes are capped at 12 people, so your coach gets to know you and how you move. They'll give you modifications, advancements and form corrections and help you continue progressing.

If you need more individual attention, flex schedule, and accountability, personal training gives you a more individualized plan and a coach who is specifically working with you.

And now, with our Registered Dietitian, you can also get professional nutrition support to help you actually follow through on the habits that support your training, energy, recovery and goals.

You don't have to figure all of this out on your own.

You just have to decide to start.

Book your free consultation.

Put something on the calendar.

Make the commitment.

And see what happens when you have someone expecting you to show up.