It is easy to start a workout routine and put in the hard work and sacrifice that it takes for a few weeks but maintaining the motivation to lose weight over the long haul can be very tough. There are so many other factors in your life that can derail you from your fitness goals and sometimes your mind simply says to you why even bother to go to the gym when you could sit here at home? Sticking to an exercise routine is hard work that takes constant planning and tweaking to make it both effective and doable but if you can keep going your motivation will grow stronger each and every day.
Set Specific Goals that Are Realistic
It’s fine to have a goal to lose weight but how much do you want to lose? When times get tough are you going to have a specific target that you can think about and push yourself towards achieving? Set a specific target weight in a certain amount of time but make sure that it is actually something that can be done and not some fantasy. For instance if you have a large layer of fat covering your abdominals it isn’t realistic to try for a six pack within 8 weeks because you will only end up disappointed. You can break down your goals to achieve for each week or even set ones for every workout. Just remember to have something that you want to work towards.
Find Motivation in Books or Movies
Some days you really won’t feel like doing anything and it’s during these times that you have some material that really psyches you up to workout. It could be a self-help book or a movie that truly inspires you to be your best. It seems like a very simple idea but it really does work to help move you out of your seat and into the gym.
Keep a Journal
Keep a journal of all your workouts and what exercises you did and how much weight you used. Keeping track of the increases in reps and weight as you get stronger is a great way to stay motivated. You may not even realize it when you’re working out the progress that you are making but when you compare it to a few weeks earlier and notice strength increases or weight loss it makes you feel like you’re on the right path to success.
Cut Negative Influences
Influences in your life that can keep you from having the motivation to workout can be as simple as the food you keep in your house. Looking constantly at snacks that are unhealthy for you will make you all the more likely to fall back into old habits. Also, the people around you and the lifestyles that they lead can serve as a distraction that will keep you from wanting to workout each day. Set aside time each day to stick to your workout and don’t let other people derail you by asking to see you at that time. Take a hold of your life and try to surround yourself with positive influence. A good idea is to find a friend that also wants to lose weight and is just committed as you are to doing so. That way you can have someone to push you and who you do not want to let down by not showing up for a workout.
Stop Making Excuses
It may be very difficult for you to workout each day or even find the inspiration to do so. However, you must learn to set goals and accomplish them in your life if you are ever going to be successful at anything. Stop telling yourself that you are too tired to go to the gym because you’re going through the afternoon lull at work. You aren’t really too tired it is nothing more than a passing feeling that will disappear once you get your heart rate going. Most excuses for not working out are merely ways for you to lie to yourself in order to skip out on hard work. There is no secret pill or five minute workout routine that is going to have your body in great shape it is simply effort and sticking with the program.
You are never going to feel that extreme sense of motivation each day but you can do some things to make sure that you form the habit of continuing to work. Losing weight isn’t always pleasant but it is necessary for good health and better self-esteem so if you can create a plan to stay motivated than half of your battle is already won.
