There are many things you can do to stay motivated and keep up with your fitness workouts. It’s not always easy to stay consistent with an exercise routine, but here are a few things that have kept me going over the years.
- Find a fitness workout you like.
It makes it easier to want to exercise if you like what you’re doing. This could mean having more than one form of exercise that you do. Whether it’s walking, running, hiking, biking, joining a gym or other exercise class, buying a treadmill, or buying DVDs. There are many combinations you can make to help you move forward. Over the years, yes, at one point or another I’ve tried all of the above, but I never completely stopped exercising. I have always found what works for me at different times in my life.
- How do you feel after completing your exercise routine?
I love how I feel after I’ve done some type of exercise during the day, both mentally and physically. Mentally I find that it clears my head and I know that I just did something good for myself and this makes me want to continue with that. I have taken the time to take care of myself and no one else. I call this my time to myself. Physically, I love how my muscles and body feel after completing a physical workout. After a while, I think your body craves the activity and movement you get from a regular exercise routine.
- Are you seeing results from your exercise routine?
It may take some time, but after being consistent with any physical activity, you will start to see results. If you like what you see when you look in the mirror (toned legs, arms, definition in your abs), then that alone is a great motivator to continue whatever fitness training you’re doing. Maybe you start to lose a little weight and your goal is not that far away. Or now you can walk further for longer periods of time. Your stamina is improving so you can challenge yourself and push yourself to set new goals.
- Find yourself an exercise partner.
It makes it hard to say you don’t feel like exercising when someone else depends on you. Whether you walk regularly, go to a gym, or take another exercise class, it’s always more fun when you have a friend. They end up motivating each other.
- Keep a diary or physical activity log.
I’ve done this for years by writing down what activity I’ve done, how long my workout lasted, and how often I exercise. This has come in handy for me when I think it really hasn’t been that long between a workout. Sometimes seeing that you have been inactive motivates you to start doing something again. Again, these are just a few of the many tips you can use to help stay motivated to keep up with your fitness workouts:
- Find something you enjoy or like to do.
- If your exercise routine makes you feel good, do more.
- If you are satisfied with the results you see, continue.
- Find a workout buddy you count on.
- Track your progress.