Top 5 Ways to Stick To Your Exercise Program  

Congratulations, you have made the decision to become a healthier person. It’s true, nothing will do more for your health than a regular dose of exercise, and you’ve decided you’re going to commit to it. You know what kind of results you want and you have an idea of what it’ll take to achieve them. After the first few workouts it’ll probably hit you, you’ll realize that it’s up to YOU to do it. Yes, you’ve got to make yourself workout if you’re going to make a change, no one else can do it for you. You’re in control of the amount of weight you lose, the number of times you workout each week, and even how you approach your fitness program. No doubt about it, they’ll be times when you would rather do anything but exercise. Don’t worry about having these feelings though, it’s completely normal to feel this way sometimes. The trick is to have a plan so that you don’t feel this way very often and know what to do if you experience these feelings. I’ve written a few of my favorite ways to stay motivated below.  

1. Reward Yourself : This is one of my favorites. Set a short goal like getting five workouts in during the week, 20 in a month, etc. If you get them in reward yourself with something you have been wanting. You can go as big or small as you want, just remember to make it something that you are willing to work for. I’ve found the bigger the prize, the easier it is for me to get the workouts done. 
2. Schedule Your Workouts : Make getting a workout in one of your priorities. Get out your daily planner the night before and figure out where you will fit it in. If your day is already jam packed, get up a little earlier and get it done. I’ve found that on my busiest days I need to get up and get it done first thing, otherwise I’m more tempted to skip it altogether. 
3. Use the 20 Minute Rule : No matter how tired you are, make yourself do something for 20 minutes. Keep it easy and just “go with the flow.” I’ve found that often, even when I’m really tired the 20 minutes is enough to make me feel better and want to do more. If I still don’t feel like it I call it a day, and I still did 20 minutes of something. Which, of course, is better than skipping my workout altogether.  
4. Take Before Photos : Ever seen those before and after photos in a weight loss success story? The idea of taking a photo of yourself may seem funny to you at first. I can assure you that if you are truly unhappy with the way you look nothing will motivate you more than seeing a photo of yourself. Just take one and place it in a place you’ll see everyday. After a few months of working out and taking an occasional photo seeing the changes you’ve made will motivate you to continue. Plus, digital cameras make it a breeze to keep a photographic record of your progress.  
5. Workout with a Friend : Having someone to workout with can do wonders for your motivation. When you know someone else is depending on you you’ll be less likely to skip out. A workout partner can also provide encouragement, feedback and add a bit of laughter to the routine. In fact, some folks will even hire a personal trainer just to keep them accountable. 

There you have it, five easy ways to stay motivated. If you haven’t already developed your own methods feel free to use some of the ones mentioned above.  

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