Hey everyone! It’s Simon, Leicester’s premier personal trainer!
Today I’d like to talk about one of the biggest stumbling blocks people hit when trying to make real, lasting change in their health: motivation. Specifically, why it disappears faster than a free doughnut in an office kitchen… and what you can do about it.
If you’ve ever had that moment of inspiration — catching yourself in a mirror, seeing an unflattering photo, or being embarrassingly out of breath after one flight of stairs — then you’ve probably said something like:
“Right. That’s it. Time to sort my life out.”
And for a few days, you smash it. You’re on it. New routine, healthy food, workouts galore. You’re basically unstoppable.
Until… you’re not.
A few days or weeks in, your motivation nosedives. You start skipping workouts. One takeaway becomes two. And before long, you’re back where you started.
Sound familiar?
It’s not just you. And it’s not because you’re lazy.
So let’s unpack what’s really going on and see if we can fix this!
Two Sides of Your Mind: Meet the Gremlin and the Human
There’s a simple way to explain why motivation fizzles out — and it comes down to the two sides of your mind.
I call them the Gremlin and the Human.
(I go deep into this in my book The Three Pillars of Weight Loss, which you can find here: https://lifestyler.coach/the-three-pillars-of-weight-loss/)
These two characters are always at play in your decision-making:
-
The Gremlin is the fast, emotional part of your mind. It’s focused on now. It wants instant gratification, comfort, ease, and pleasure. It doesn’t do logic.
-
The Human is the slower, more rational side. It’s your long-term thinker. It plans. It reflects. It uses logic to try and do the “right thing.”
So here’s how this looks in real life:
Let’s say your Human advises that eating healthy will help you lose weight, feel better, and live longer. Great reasoning. Sound logic.
But then the Gremlin pipes up:
“That’s cool and all… but that burger smells amazing, and we’ve had a hard day, and we can always start again Monday, yeah?”
And because the Gremlin is quick — really quick — it often pushes you to make the decision before the Human even notices there was one to make.
That’s why you often feel guilty after eating the takeaway or skipping the workout. That’s your Human finally catching up, going: “What just happened?!”
Why This Destroys Motivation
At the start of your fitness journey, your motivation peaks. That spark you had? That was your Human taking charge. It was on a roll, full of logic and future-focused thinking.
But here’s the kicker: motivation based on logic doesn’t last.
Because your Gremlin doesn’t care. It’s not motivated by “lower cholesterol” or “increased lifespan” or “discipline and structure.”
It cares about:
-
Pleasure
-
Comfort
-
Emotional relief
-
Instant rewards
And when life gets busy, stressful, or boring, the Gremlin takes the wheel — and drives you right off your carefully planned road.
So… How Do You Win?
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to fight the Gremlin.
You just need to speak its language.
Remember — the Gremlin responds to emotion, not logic. So instead of trying to talk yourself into behaviour change with stats and reasoning, you need to connect emotionally with why this change matters to you.
Take these two statements:
-
“I want to lose weight so I reduce my risk of diabetes.”
-
“I want to lose weight so I can run around with my kids without feeling exhausted or ashamed.”
The first is logical — the Human loves it.
The second is emotional — and the Gremlin actually cares.
See the difference?
So if you want your Gremlin and your Human pulling in the same direction, you need to tie your goals to meaningful emotional reasons:
-
Do you want to live long enough to meet your grandkids?
-
Do you want to feel confident walking into a room again?
-
Do you want to prove to yourself that you can change?
Find those reasons. Feel them. Remember them.
Additional Reading: You can find out more on why “Why?” matters here: But Why? The Key to Lasting Change
What’s the Real Takeaway Here?
Let’s summarise what we’ve learned:
-
You have two mental systems: the Gremlin (emotional, fast, short-term) and the Human (logical, slow, long-term).
-
Motivation often fails because we try to make long-term change using only logic.
-
The Gremlin resists logic — but it can be influenced through emotionally meaningful reasons.
-
You don’t need to silence the Gremlin — just speak its language.
Action Steps: What You Can Do Today
Ready to start making real, lasting change? Here’s what to do next:
-
Identify Your Emotional Why
Ask yourself: Why do I really want this? Not the surface-level stuff. Go deeper. What matters emotionally to you? Write it down. -
Create Emotional Reminders
Use your “why” to create visual or verbal cues. A photo on your fridge. A note on your mirror. A phone wallpaper that reminds you what’s at stake. -
Pre-plan Gremlin Moments
Think about when your Gremlin shows up (e.g., after work, late at night, when stressed). Have healthier options ready in advance — so your Human doesn’t get caught snoozing. -
Give Yourself Grace
Changing your behaviour isn’t about perfection. It’s about understanding yourself better, and working with your mind instead of against it.
You don’t need to wait for the “perfect” time.
You just need to take one emotionally meaningful step today.
You’ve got this 💪
—
Simon
Coach | Trainer | Gremlin Whisperer
And if you’re Leicester or Leicestershire based and are looking for a personal trainer then why not get in touch!
I offer personal training services in both a one-to-one and couples capacity 💪