subject: 5 Ways To Get Motivated To Exercise [print this page] More often than not, when you talk to women about their fitness goals, they"ll say they really want to get in shape and shed body fat or just get healthier overall. However, when you ask them what they are doing to achieve those goals, many will respond with an excuse (or two) as to why they haven"t started working towards their goals yet or that they started something but just couldn"t stick with it.
Motivation is a tricky thing because you can"t force someone to get motivated and if you aren"t truly motivated, you can even trick yourself into it. Creating a consistent workout schedule is difficult enough to do even if you are truly committed to it, but if you aren"t, it likely feels impossible.
Though you can"t force yourself to be motivated to change your habits, there are several things you can do to actually get yourself motivated and stay motivated.
1) Take a picture of yourself and compare it to a picture from the past that you really love of yourself. Everyone has that one picture where they feel like they look amazing. Take a current picture and compare the two. If you really want to look like your former self - or even better! - then this is a great motivator.
2) Set a goal that has a tangible timeline. Let"s say you want to start running - register yourself for a 5k that"s 8-12 weeks away. By spending the money on the race and having a clear finish line in your mind, you"ll be motivated more than ever to get out and get your daily run in instead of finding excuses not to run. Put your goals into a tracker such as Gorilla Workout to make sure you stay on track.
3) Buy new clothes in a size too small and make that your motivation. If you have a cute outfit that you buy in a size too small you"ll definitely be motivated to fit into it. Buy an expensive outfit for a special occasion so that you have a firm deadline in mind. The money you spent and the upcoming event will be enough to motivate you to not skip your workout.
4) Think of it as time just for you that you can spend away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. Everyone need a little "me" time and if you have a hard time finding some, use going to the gym as an excuse to get away from your day-to-day routine for a while.
5) Remember how good you feel after a workout. The way you feel after a hard workout is enough to keep you coming back for more. By getting that first workout in and really pushing yourself you open the door for more workouts. The toughest part is starting.
These motivational techniques will help take you from the idea phase to execution phase. These tips will come in handy when the new year rolls around and you make yet another set of New Year"s resolutions. Getting motivated and staying that way are one of the toughest steps you"ll take in your fitness journey, so rest easy knowing the hardest part is behind you when you step into the gym.
