Five Ways To Stay Motivated And Reach Your Fitness Goals

I fight it all the time: the urge to curl up on the couch with a delectable snack...mmmmm...But wait!  Won’t I feel better, look better, be happier, and be better able to rationalize curling up on the couch if I just do my workout?  Begrudgingly, yes I would.

No matter how it is hard for you (or me) to get moving, the benefits are outstanding and well worth it.  So before you push your workout off to tomorrow, read and remember these five ways to stay motivated:

Determine an attainable goal and plan to reach that goal.  The first thing to ask yourself is what your goals are and why do you want to reach them.  Do you want to lose weight, sleep better, increase your energy, gain strength, add flexibility, or just feel a heightened since of well being?  Once you know your goal, create a realistic workout schedule (like exercising twice on weekdays and once on weekends) that will set you up for success.

Change into your workout clothes. Sometimes, it's just a matter of getting dressed that causes the biggest barrier.

Lose the Excuses.  Erase the concept that if you can't do at least 30 minutes you're wasting your time.  Exercise burns calories, increases energy, and improves your health - even in small doses.  So before you skip your workout, try these ideas to get moving:

● I'll feel good about myself if I finish my workout.

● I'll just warm up and, if I want to stop, I can.

● I'm going to dinner tonight, so I know I need this workout to balance my calories.

● This workout will give me more energy for the rest of my day.

● If I finish this workout, I can spend some time reading, watching TV or playing around on the computer.

Reward yourself.  While hitting your fitness goals are their own reward, rewarding yourself on a weekly or monthly basis can be quite motivating.  Attaching the reward to the amount of times you want to work out in that time period will help you stay on track.  The reward can be a massage, a new workout outfit, new music, or whatever you really want.

Get creative.  If you cannot fit in regular workouts, look for ways to incorporate activity into your day.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go bowling instead of to the movies, dance as you clean your home, walk instead of drive, or find other ways to stay active throughout the day.