If you’ve ever started a weight loss program or a fitness plan only to find yourself tired and losing motivation quickly, this post was written for you! In this article, I’m sharing simple ways to stay on track, keeping yourself energized and motiva…

Staying Motivated to Workout

Are you struggling with trying to stay excited and pumped to keep up with your workout regimen? I'm sure, in the beginning, you looked forward to hitting your workouts, and you thought there was no way your enthusiasm would fade. But, here you are, struggling to find motivation and focus on sticking with your goals. It's ok. We all experience this, and it's to be expected, as our lives have many different seasons.

Some days you can't stop yourself from getting to the gym, and then there are other days no one could drag you there. So how do people find and keep motivation with them throughout their fitness journey? Motivation is lost and found with everyone. What you need to understand is motivation isn't something that comes naturally. You have to work at being and staying motivated. It takes focus and determination. No one is blessed with more motivation than you; they just know how to dig a little deeper and keep their fire burning.

Yes, burning. Motivation is like a fire and needs to be fueled like one. A fire always needs wood or accelerant to keep the flames roaring or else it just dies off. Motivation is no different. It isn't just going to be in you and always keep reeved up to help you show up for your healthy lifestyle. It will require daily reminders of why you started, how bad you want it, and what you're going to do to get it.

I'm going to show the exact tools you need to, not only find motivation but how to keep it. It will take practice and time. All you need is an open mind, a pen and paper, and a willingness to stick with it, no matter what. Make it fun and challenging, so you're continually working towards moving up another level in your fitness. Think outside the box and believe in yourself. Once you find ways to find and keep your motivation, you'll be unstoppable.

BE REALISTIC

Most people begin dieting and exercising for the sole purpose of losing weight. That's probably the most common goal of anyone you meet at a gym. Not liking what you see in a mirror or on a weight scale can be motivation for anyone. I get that. However, be careful with this goal, if it's your only reason for beginning a healthy lifestyle. Why? Too many people start and end their weight loss efforts before ever seeing results because they set the bar way too high and fade out not long after starting.

If you want to lose fifty pounds and you only lose ten, which is incredible, when you start, you start to doubt your ability to lose weight at all. Fifty pounds will take some time to lose, and a lot of work with serious dedication. As busy adults, we lose focus on the end results because we live in a fast-paced society where we want gratification for our work, like yesterday! We can help it. Technology has spoiled us with having everything we need right at our fingers tips, and this has spilled over into the amount of time and effort we feel we need to put into losing weight.

To keep yourself motivated, break that fifty-pound weight loss goal down into baby goals. Yes, keep the primary aim to lose the fifty pounds, but set yourself daily, weekly, and monthly goals. I like to commit to my daily goal of getting my workout in. My weekly goal is to do two extra cardio sessions, and my monthly goal would be to lose ten pounds. Every day, I'm working towards a goal which keeps me motivated and focused on something that is going to happen now, not several months down the road.

If you're going to set your goal as running a marathon, of course, you need to plan it out months in advance. This would be your primary goal, but to keep you motivated, write out your daily, weekly and monthly goal so that when the times comes to do the actual marathon, you've kept your motivation and did what you needed to be ready to conquer your goal. If you just mark on your calendar you're going to do a marathon in six months; you'll lose sight of the race and slowly fade out before the time comes or you'll convince yourself you have more time than you actually do. As we all know, time really does fly by.

BOOK YOUR WORKOUTS

When we decide we're going to work out, you may think you'll just fit it in where you can, and everything will fall into place. Well, that may happen for some, but we all know, things unexpectedly pop up, and most things are out of our control. Loved ones call you at the last minute, needing you to do something for them or you are rushing through your day, forgetting all about your commitment to your exercises.

Getting fit and living a healthy lifestyle takes work and real commitment. A lean physique doesn't just appear for most ordinary people. You have to find a plan of attack and stick with it, consistently. However, if you don't have an idea for exactly when you're going to do your workouts, you'll most likely fall short. To stay motivated and pumped to workout, you need to have your time booked, and everyone around you informed of when and where you'll be doing your exercises.

Treat your workout times just like you make any other appointments, and this will help you tremendously with staying committed and focused. Seeing those days and times blocked off for you will be a daily reminder to keep that motivation right at the forefront of your everyday life. Motivation won't find you; you must find motivation.

If you’ve started diets and fitness routines only to end up derailed, frustrated, and right back to square one, then you may be struggling with lack of motivation. As a personal trainer and gym owner for over a decade, I’ve taught clients from all d…

WORKOUT PARTNER

I will lightly suggest finding a workout partner, but I will also advise proceeding with caution. There are two sides to this suggestion, and I want you to know it thoroughly before committing to working out with another person. Workout partners can be great or become a total disaster, so remember this going into it or reflecting back on it.

Yes, finding someone to join you on your fitness journey seems like a great idea and perfect for staying pumped to workout and it can be. However, you need to think long and hard about who you're going to ask first. Look for someone upbeat and inspirational. Someone reliable and has the same outlook on life as yourself. You want someone who is just as committed and motivated as you are. Be sure they want to be held accountable, just the same as you. They need to be in it for the long haul, not for a few weeks.

Now, on the flip side of that, you don't want to become utterly dependent on that person, no matter how great they are when you begin your fitness regimen. There is nothing worse than starting with a friend on your weight loss journey and a few weeks in; they drop you like a bad habit. You've become used to them showing up for your workouts or calling you and reminding you that you need to get to the gym and then, out of nowhere, you hear nothing but crickets and you instantly start feeling your fire fading out. Here's where the pitfall of asking or needing a workout partner begins.

I tell you this out of experience. I had a workout partner that literally drove me insane with trying to get my exercises in without her distractions of not showing up or showing up an hour late. I allowed her drama to interfere with my goals and my focus on working out daily. I'd wait for her at the gym, wasting time waiting for her to pull in, instead of getting on the gym floor and starting my workout. She'd continuously switch our workout days, and before I knew it, the week would be over, and I only went to the gym twice.

Once I learned that I didn't need her to reach my goals, I began to focus hard on my regimen and nutrition. My body started changing rapidly, and my workouts were more intense and effective. I was motivated more going solo on this journey, and I no longer dreaded the morning call or text with the circus of meeting and exercising.

So you decide which works for you, but don't fear working out alone. If that's what's holding you back from starting, don't waste another minute. Get moving. You don't need someone's permission or help to better yourself. However, if you're lucky enough to have a friend that's always in your corner, grab them and go! You both will be great for finding and keeping your motivation.

KNOW YOUR WHY

Your why should be different from your goals. If losing weight is your goal, think about WHY you want to lose weight. Is it to be able to play with your kids outside without feeling like you're going to die? Is there a family health issue that could be avoided by living a healthy lifestyle, like high blood pressure or diabetes? Do you want to look better on the beach in the summer?

Whatever your why is, know it and know it well. Write it down where you can see it every day. Be sure it's important to you and something you really want. Make it a priority and something you never apologize for wanting. By knowing your why, you will remain motivated and pumped to keep reaching for your goals, no matter what life throws at you.

There will be days that your motivation will fail you. You won't be able to find it no matter how hard you look. This is where your reminder of WHY will snap you back into place, get you back on track and get you up and moving to get your workouts in and over with.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

When you need to stay motivated, results can sometimes be the only thing that keeps you moving forward. You want to see that your efforts are working, verification that you're doing it correctly and you want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how small the light is. It's what keeps you coming back and working even harder.

However, if you don't keep a substantial footprint of where you started, how far you've come, or exactly how your body is improving, you'll lose sight of your goals, quickly. When you first begin, you dread the thought of knowing exactly how much you weigh or what the measurements are. You convince yourself that you will work out for a few weeks, to lose a little bit, so the numbers and pictures won't hurt so bad. Before you know it, a month has gone by, and you did nothing to gauge your starting point.

Keep a journal with all of your measurements, weight, and photos because if you don't, you're going to miss out on so many small victories that you're body is achieving and you'll get discouraged not knowing how much your body has REALLY changed. When you think you've hit a plateau, you may be getting minimal results that would typically keep you focused and motivated. These small stepping stones can be a game-changer when you're teetering on quitting or sticking with your fitness regimen.

You need to know your starting point, not only with weight and measurements but take note of how you feel. Your energy level, your mood, and your sleep patterns are all affected by your general health, so write down in your journal how you're feeling daily. Feeling more energized, happier, and sleeping better are all indicators of progression and will help keep you motivated.

TRY NEW THINGS

If you start feeling bored with your exercise routine or you are beginning to talk yourself out of getting your workout in, be open to trying new things. If your workout routine is feeling stale, it could be a sign that you need to change things up. You don't need to be drastic; you simply need to make a few tweaks. If you've lost total interest in your regimen, then change it up completely.

You could hire a qualified personal trainer who shows you a different way of working out and reaching your goals. Try a yoga class to loosen your body up and give your mind a break. Challenge yourself to attempt something new, like rock climbing, skiing, or swimming. Training your body in a completely different way will not only give your mind a break from the everyday grind, but your body will also respond to your new activity. Don't be afraid to walk away from the weights.

You can change the time you usually workout. If you're currently working out at night, maybe your day is physically and mentally draining you. Try a morning workout for a few days and see if you feel better or reenergized to work out. You could try changing the actual routine. Instead of finishing your weight training session with cardio, start adding cardio in between your weight sets.

You can change up your weight amounts, challenge yourself. You could try changing up your rep range. There are a million ways you can change your exercise plan without changing everything. Boredom will lead to loss of motivation, so keep things fresh so you can avoid falling off the wagon. You don't want to lose focus and fall short on your goals just because your mind needs something different. There is no wrong way to get fit, so be willing to experiment a little bit to keep things fresh and exciting.

Are you struggling with keeping yourself on the path of fitness? It’s hard to find and maintain motivation. In this article, I’ll show you quick and simple ways to keep yourself on track and reaching all of your weight loss goals. Do you need a plan…

GET OUTSIDE

I used to be stuck on working out only on the gym floor. I refused even to attempt an outdoor workout. I needed my dumbbells and treadmill to stay fit, and there was no convincing me otherwise. I had no idea what I was missing out on. After years of doing my workouts indoor, at the same time every day, I was beginning to lose my motivation. I was merely going through the motions and needed something to re-motivate myself.

I started with going for a walk in the evenings, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it felt to get outside and away from the noisy gym scene. I felt relaxed and rejuvenated with my walks. I went from walks to heading to my local university to hit the track and the bleachers. I quickly fell in love with the new challenge and the environment of an empty track with bleachers you can do a million different exercises on. My body also loved it. My hamstrings became stronger, and my body fat quickly diminished. I didn't realize how mundane the gym workout was becoming, and my body had adjusted to my daily regimen.

My muscles had to work differently and harder to keep up with my new routine. I became full of motivation to keep trying new things and seeing where it was going to take me. I then discovered hiking. I have to tell you; I regret not trying hiking years ago. It has become my true passion and has allowed me, as a mom of two, to instill a love of fitness into my children without dragging them to my gym. We love to hike and do it every chance we can. I feel great seeing my kids getting outside and exercising their bodies without even knowing it. I'm confident my kids will carry their love of hiking throughout their adult lives.

So get outside and get that body moving. Inspire your loved ones to join you. It's great for the mind and body. You may just find a passion you never knew existed. Go for a walk, a hike, or a bike ride, even if it's only one day a week. Start small and see where it takes you. You'll be sure to stay motivated by having fun while transforming your body.

REWARD SYSTEM

If you're anything like me, you need something to look forward too. I like to have a reward for my efforts. I want something to work towards, especially something I love. Find something you'd love to have and typically wouldn't have without working for it. Write it down and start working on it.

It could be a massage, a pizza, a trip, or new gear. I like to do a weekly reward, a monthly reward, and a yearly reward. By doing so, I'm motivated to work hard, and while I'm doing the exercises, I continuously remind myself of what I'm getting for doing this. I do food for my weekly, usually a pizza or a brownie. I do a massage for my monthly goal because who doesn't love and need a massage after working out hard for a month and I love to plan a trip for reaching my goals for the year.

It doesn't need to be expensive or extravagant, but placing these small rewards in front of you will make a huge difference in keeping you on track with your workouts. I will caution you with rewarding yourself with food. A pizza on Friday night for working hard all week can quickly turn into a disastrous weekend of bad food choices. If you're one that crumples to eating unhealthy and one lousy food choice triggers another five horrible food choices, don't use food for a reward. Instead, choose a book, a pedicure, or a hot bath. Again, nothing fancy but something that you thoroughly enjoy and don't usually get to have or do.

Print out a blank calendar, mark your weekly and monthly rewards, and begin x-ing the days out so you can see yourself working hard to get your reward. By using this tool, you'll be sure to keep yourself motivated. Everyone wants to look forward to something, especially when you're dieting and exercising.

Be sure to pin this to your Pinterest board for those days you’re lacking in enthusiasm to get that workout in! We all need cheering on at times.

If you’ve ever started a fitness plan only to find yourself lacking the motivation and energy to stick with it, this article is for you. It’s hard to find and keep on track to your weight loss goals. Use these simple tips to guide you through the pr… — If you’ve ever started a fitness plan only to find yourself lacking the motivation and energy to stick with it, this article is for you. It’s hard to find and *keep* on track to your weight loss goals. Use these simple tips to guide you through the process of changing your body, for good! It’s not that you’re not capable of sticking with fitness, you simply need the tools to do so.

It's hard to get the courage to workout, and it's even harder to stay motivated to keep moving forward. You need to be pumped to workout hard and crush all of your goals. Remember, motivation isn't something that will magically appear. You have to work on it, nurture it. Dig deep and find ways to feel inspired and to stay energized to change your body.

Get your notebook out and start utilizing these tools, so you have a plan of attack to conquer your fitness journey. Always recognize and celebrate the victories your body reaches, no matter how small. Reflect on your notebook so you can see where you're changing, physically, and mentally. Allow yourself to be proud and happy about the efforts you're making. Knowing your body is responding to your dedication will keep you pumped to hit all of your workouts, consistently.

If you need some fun, simple ways to keep you on track and inspired, please sign up below to be on the inside loop of tricks and tools too fast track you to all of your goals. I'd love to be a guiding light on your path to greatness.