10 Ways To Stay Motivated

 

1. Subscribe to a fitness magazine. One of the most valuable assets to have when starting a training regimen is a reliable training partner to push you to that next level. If this is not an option, subscribing to a reporable mag is the next best thing to keep you motivated. 

2. Define your reasons for training. When asked why, most people will tell you they train for cosmetic reasons. You may want your butt to be tighter or your waistline to be smaller and that’s great. However, looking for these physical changes may become discouraging if it’s not happening as fast as you would like. This is why so many “give up” instead of making a lifestyle change. Instead, I suggest you train for energy. Cardio and resistance training teaches your body to use fat for energy more efficently!

3. Make an overall change. This time around, make a change not only in your eating and exercise, but also in your everyday life. Walk when you can, use the steps instead of the elevator . Every little bit counts. Remember, the more active you are, the more energy you’ll have!

4. Exercise your self-discipline. This is a very powerful concept to practice. Self-dicipline can be the difference between your success and failure. That goes for fitness goals as well as lifetime goals. Doing what you should be doing rather than doing what you want to do, to reach a greater goal in the future is a practice in itself. Keep in mind that if it were easy to obtain, everyone would have it. Set yourself apart from the pack!

5. Do not weigh yourself daily. Using a scale to record your progress is one of the biggest mistakes most trainees make when starting a weekly routine. Your body weight can fluctuate for a number of reasons. Muscle weighs more than fat so many people find that they gain weight when starting an exercise program. It’s important to feel positive about your new lifestyle change, and you not weighing what you think you should after a week of diet and training can be discouraging. If you’re going to weigh in, do so every 2 - 3 weeks.

6. Find what works for you. Everyone’s body responds differently to resistance training, cardio, and the foods we eat. Maybe you’re a muscular person with alot of extra body fat, so you probably should spend more time doing cardio. If you’re slim with little muscle, resistance training may be more ideal. When it comes to food, personally, I gain weight easily when i’m eating lots of carbs. If I happen to eat foods high in fat but low in carbs (in moderation) my weight and fat percentage doesn’t change much. Experiment, and find what works best for you!

7.Use music. If you do work out alone find some good upbeat music to listen to while working out. This will help make it seem like the time is going by faster.
8. Be forgiving. If you do miss a few workouts forgive yourself and get back to your regular schedule

9. Have Goals. Be sure to set both short and long term goals. A short term goal should range from 3 to 6 weeks while a long term goal should be for a year or more. You need to set realistic goals that are achievable otherwise you will find yourself getting discouraged.
10. Stay educated. Keep your eyes and ears open to info on training and nutrition and share that with others.