Once you have decided to follow a fitness routine and workout, it is easy to lose motivation. It is often the little things that get in our way. Things like a bad day at work or the kids being difficult. You need to focus on the good things about why you workout.
Another great source of motivation is to find a workout partner who motivates you to head out every other day; even a furry companion can do the job of pushing you out of the couch. You can head for a jog with your pooch or an early morning walk around the block can help both you and your dog stay healthy. You just have to make sure you find a way to keep going.
How it makes you feel and why you have decided to workout are often the key motivators to keeping going. Stay positive and find a fun way to workout. The more you enjoy an exercise the more likely you are to keep doing it. Put some variety in your workouts; don’t let it get mundane or boring. Make sure you are having fun and eating right. It is no good working out if you are not eating properly to fuel your workouts.

Eat right
To have enough energy to workout you need to be fuelling your body with healthy food. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables teamed with lean protein. Before a workout have a tasty snack with good carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of good fat. Try a chicken salad sandwich with avocado or if it is after lunch grab a handful of nuts and dried raisins for an energy boost.
If you are feeling tired and lethargic you won’t have much motivation to workout.

Be realistic
Ensure that you set realistic goals. Don’t aim to run a marathon or swim 50 laps of the pool at your first attempt. Aim smaller. Run 500 meters without stopping then increase it to a kilometer. Aim to lose 5 pounds, then another and another. These small goals will keep you going as you are able to see what you are achieving.
With a workout plan that is structured to meet these small goals, you will gradually meet the bigger goal, whether it is weight loss, muscle gain or just overall fitness.
Find a good environment
Find a place to work out that you like being at. Not everyone is a gym fan, from the smell of sweat and grunting noises it can be a little off-putting. Go for a jog in a nearby park or around a lake. Listen to an audiobook while you run and only when you run. This will ensure you go again as you want to know what happens next, so you go for another run. The environment will stimulate you just as much as the exercise. Just use the gym for classes or a bit of weights training. Try yoga or Pilate’s class that is often held in school halls or community halls.
If a gym appeals to you everything is in the spot and ready to be used. Weights, bikes, treadmills, exercise classes it is all here.
You need to feel comfortable and safe in your environment and look forward to each work out session. Start by working out at home if you feel more comfortable there away from the eyes of strangers. Set yourself a workout space that has good natural lighting and good air flow. It’s also important to wear something that makes you feel beautiful. Compression clothes are protecting your body meanwhile can look really good on you especially if you wear some compression clothes with unique prints.
Good feelings
Think back to how good it felt that first time you reached a goal or the first time you accomplished a new exercise or drill. That euphoric feeling can be yours once again. It can be a push to get you motivated. Find that feeling again and you will as it is your body saying I feel great!
Remember why you started exercising in the first place. To be able to wear shorts in public or to enjoy trying on the new fashions each season. Don’t let yourself slip [back to the beginning and have to start all over again. A little motivation can go a long way.
Know the benefits
Look up the benefits of exercising and what it does for your health and well being. From getting to a healthy weight to the lower chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes the benefits can keep you motivated.
- Lower the risk of Diabetes, heart disease, some cancers
- Improved mood, memory, and cognitive function
- Lower levels of stress and anxiety
- Feeling better about yourself
Reward yourself
When you reach a goal give yourself a little treat. It can be anything you like to do. From buying a new dress to seeing a movie. There are many ways to treat yourself that don’t need to be really expensive. Choose a reward that adds to your feelings of well being and feeling better about yourself.
- Get a manicure or pedicure.
- Go for a massage.
- Get a new haircut or new style.
- Buy a new pair of shoes.
- Buy new clothes.
- Have a night out in the city to see a live show.
Not really a treat but can feel like one clear out your wardrobe of all the clothes that are too big for you and donate them to your favorite charity. This will leave you room for new clothes.
Other motivational tips
Doing a group fitness class with a friend can add more fun to your workouts. Instead of signing up for a gym membership pick out some fun classes you can do with a friend. The fact that you are paying per session means you will stay for the full class and only go when you want to have fun not because you feel obliged too.
Place motivational sayings or pictures on your fridge or at your at home workout space. These positive mantras have a way of getting into our psyche and keeping us motivated. Sticky notes are great for these. Stick them on the calendar, your mirror, in the bathroom, in your car, wherever you feel the need for a pick me up.
Add a yoga or Pilates class for a calmer workout that still gets your heart pumping but in a quieter environment. Sometimes all the noise of a gym and exercises classes can get to be too much.