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It’s that time of the year when most people feel super-motivated to exercise in order to lose some weight for summer. But this enthusiasm can dip occasionally. How do we stay motivated? Here are my 10 tips to reboot your mood and keep the fitness journey on track. You don’t need to apply all the techniques listed below. Just start out with the tips you believe will have the most impact in keeping you motivated.
1. Think of all the benefits of exercise
Exercise not only helps us reach and maintain a healthy body weight, it also has a whole lot of other benefits, both physical and mental benefits. It lowers blood pressure, strengthens bones, helps battle depression, improves energy levels, increases mental focus, elevates mood, increases a sense of control over your life, improves self-esteem, reduces the chances of various diseases and slows down aging.
The more benefits you can identify with the more motivated you are to exercise.
2. Set goals & log it
Set realistic short and long term goals that contribute to long term lifestyle changes. Periodically revisit your goals and revise them to increase your chances of success. Record your activity and monitor your progress in an exercise diary or a log book. Seeing your accomplishments in black and white can boost your motivation.
Be patient and you will get there.
3. Add fun & variety to your workout
Exercise can be fun if it is not a boring mundane routine. While this may sound like a no-brainer, you would be surprised at how many people embark on a particular exercise because they have heard that “it’s the best way to lose weight.” What may work for someone else may not necessarily work for you. The best exercise is the one that you look forward to doing. Are you not looking forward to it? Chances are you won’t be doing it for long.
Perform a variety of exercises and activities that you enjoy, Pick at least 3 different activities you like to do and rotate them throughout the month. When walking, jogging or cycling, vary the exercise routes or trails or the location. You not only keep your workout fresh and exciting, you can achieve your goals in a shorter time.
Exercise is movement in any form. There is bound to be an activity that would click for you. Start looking.
4. Have an exercise buddy
Sometimes we need something outside of ourselves to keep us motivated. Statistics reveal that people who exercise with a friend or who join a group are more successful at exercising consistently. Knowing that someone is waiting for you to exercise with them can be a great motivation to show up.
Get a buddy or join the Dolls fitness challenge.
5. Join a health club
Being surrounded by other people who are motivated is a motivation booster in itself. Choose a place of exercise that is at a convenient location, perhaps close to your home or workplace. If that doesn’t work, knowing that you had to pay to join may get you there regularly. It may be a struggle in the beginning but once you start to look and feel better, you will be more motivated to hit the gym on a regular basis.
When you make the decision to make exercise a major part of your life, it will be harder to find excuses not to do it.
6. Treat yourself
When you reach a goal, reward yourself with a new outfit, a swimsuit, or buy an electronic monitoring gadget like a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, a calorie tracker or a stop watch to track your progress. These gadgets make exercise more fun and you get to see the results of your efforts instantly.
Rewards back-up that feeling of joy for making the effort to exercise.
7. Be psychologically prepared to deal with setbacks
We all get sick from time to time and it is not unusual for our motivation to dip when we are not well. So be mentally prepared for some sidesteps on your fitness journey. It’s okay to miss a day or two or even a week. Do not give it up altogether.
Remember, it is not so important where you are today as it is where you will be tomorrow.
8. Don't think too much
Over-thinking about exercise can sap motivation. If you have scheduled to meet a friend at 6.30 am and you find yourself thinking about it the night before, focus your thoughts on something else. Get up early the next morning and just do it. The more you think about it, the more difficult it gets to get out of bed.
Just do it.
9. Hire a coach or trainer
An exercise professional can monitor your progress. Regular fitness tests can objectively measure the effectiveness of your program. If an exercise program is not showing significant progress, a personal trainer can make immediate changes to your routine to achieve maximum results. It can save you months or even years of hard work.
A trainer can jump start, not only your routine but your motivation as well.
10. Share your goals
Telling people about what you are doing is always a good motivator. When people read about it and when they urge you on or ask about your progress, it can boost your drive to train harder.
Post it on a blog or buzz it.
Do you have A Motivator That Works For You? I derive great motivation from training with a buddy.
What keeps you going on the days that you'd rather sit on the couch than work out? Please feel free to share your thoughts. Perhaps what motivates you will work for someone else too.
"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." Mahatma Gandhi
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Comments
So even though, I only walk going to the park and seeing you girls exercize so much is a good thing! The idea of dancinghttp://shanghaidolls.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:10-ways-to-stay-motivated-to-exercise&catid=22:blog&Itemid=25# in the park was also great. Adding a bit of fun definetively helps!
And I love to see that it gets easier the longer I'm doing it!
Another mortivator is the pants that don't fit. I have "control jeans". If I don't fit those I have to hit the treadmill.
The best motivator for me is to schedule a beach holiday. This works 100%.
Now the hurdle for me is to find people who want to keep exercising through winter, because that is when I need to do it the most and that is when I stop completely...