Finding the motivation to workout can be hard.

It is hard trying to get started, its hard to keep yourself on track, and its hard to keep your results once you’ve achieved them.

I’ve been at each stage of my fitness journey, and I’ve come up with 10 helpful tips to keep you on track!

Most people know that the biggest battle of working out is: Mind over Body.

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1. Set  a goal

If you just say I want to lose ten pounds. That is just a wish.

A goal is the desired result: I will lose ten pounds

and how you are going to accomplish it: exercise X amount of days, change my diet in the following ways…

A goal is not set in stone either…if you find something isn’t working, change it!

2. Work toward something

 This ties in with the “set a goal” tip.

Sometimes I found that even though I set a goal, it was hard to get started if I wasn’t working toward something.

There has to be an end in sight- whether that be a set timeline you set for yourself or maybe you are working towards a big event like a marathon or something. Or maybe even a summer vacation that you are working toward that bikini bod.

A light at the end of the tunnel to see you through those hard days helps keep you on track!

3. Schedule it in 

The main reason people don’t start working out is because they say they do not have the time.

Fact is…you have to make the time.

Think about it…if at some point during the day you have some spare time and think: “oh, what should i do now?” …the answer will never be workout…lets be real! haha

Instead schedule it in.

If  every day after work or after dinner you work out right away- then it’s done and over with.

When I was really busy at a stressful job…I found after work I didn’t want to do anything. So i changed it up!  Instead I scheduled my workouts first thing in the morning. No one would confuse me for a morning person so this was definitely difficult, but i found that making myself get out of bed to workout was easier then trying to find the last bit of energy after a long day.

Find what works for you!

4. Make yourself accountable 

It’s easier to say “ah well” if the only person that knows you set a goal is yourself.

Instead make yourself accountable to your goals.

I personally use: My man and my social media (hence fitness on my blog) to keep me accountable.

Tell your spouse to keep you accountable to your goal, tell your friends, tell family, tell coworkers.

These people will ask how your progress is going, and this will help keep you on track.

5. Workout Buddy 

If you tell people that your on a fitness journey, it may even help you find a workout buddy.

These people will help make sure you get yourself to the gym because you’ve scheduled a date with them…you scheduled it in!

and they will help with those days when…being sweaty and gross is the last thing on your mind.

I found when I worked-out with my man… it was an external pressure to workout. When you or your partner don’t want to workout, the other is there to give encouragement, to help push a little harder in the gym.

But choose your workout buddy wisely. You don’t want a crutch for a workout buddy.

6. Get Angry

I find this one works for finding the motivation to workout and to keep going. A couple times, I would put my workout clothes on, start working out. And want to quit when I barely got started thinking “yup this is exactly why i didn’t want to do this.”

I found getting angry helps push me through. When I don’t want to go no more, I get angry for giving up, I get angry for being tired. And that rage helps push me through.

It can also help you get started to workout. Have a bad day at work? Get Angry and take it out in the gym…you will feel a hell of a lot better after all those wonderful endorphines release.

7. Think about how far you come

Sometimes thinking about the end can be daunting. I have so far to go until I get the results I want.

And you’ll feel like just throwing in the towel.

Instead think of how far you’ve come. Give yourself a pat on the back for getting this far. Look at the results you have managed to get!

How could you give up now?!

Feeling good about your results will help motivate you for even better results.

8. Rewards

Do not reward yourself with food. That’s just silly. I workouted out, now i get to have some double fudged cake.

Instead, say to yourself something like…”If i workout now, later I could ….”

It may just be something you like to do every night anyway like watch your favourite television program.

But if you set your mind to the fact that you have to earn that privilege, than you are more likely to get that workout in before hand.

Go out there and earn it!

9. Self Pep Talk 

This one is the most personal. You have to find something that speaks to you!

I personally found a quote related to fitness that actually got me off the couch to workout one day and decided to write it in lipstick on my bathroom mirror.

So that every morning I see it and I am reminded about my goal, and why i am doing this.

It isn’t always going to work, but something that comes from yourself is likely to have the greatest impact on your behaviour.

It shows self determination.

It could be anything from a quote, a visual aid such as a photo, or an experience you’ve had.

Something that reminds you why this is important to you.

10. Music 

Everyone knows that music helps pass the time during your workout. You can find endless mixes for working out on youtube.

But i also find music helpful as a pump up to get going!

Sometimes I’ll blast some music, and it will lift my spirits and ill be dancing around my apartment like the big nerd I am.

Before you know if I’ve worked up a sweat, and I’m actually ready and happy to workout!

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What do you use as motivation to workout? Let’s share ideas!

Hope you find mine helpful!