Written by Jeffrey T Spaeth, L.M.T, C.P.T.

Do the following statements sound familiar to you? “I’m tired this morning, I don’t feel like going to the gym” or “I’m sore from working in the yard yesterday, I’ll go to the gym tomorrow”.  It is so easy to make excuses when it comes to skipping workouts. Getting into a workout routine on a regular basis is difficult but a routine is what it takes to get the fitness results you want. Here are some tips on how to get yourself motivated to workout.

Set Goals

Set specific fitness goals you want to achieve. The key to setting goals is to make sure you are setting reachable goals. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure so start small. Setting a goal of losing 50 pounds isn’t a good goal. You want to set a goal of something more like 5 pounds. Once you achieve your small goal, you then set another small goal. Over time you will get the bigger results you are looking for without discouraging yourself.

Set achievable fitness goals to stay motivated.

Post Your Goals

To help yourself stay motivated, post your fitness goals. Whether you write them down and place them around your home or you post them on your electronics as a reminder, it will help you remember what it is you are working towards. If you have a constant reminder of the reachable goals you are working towards you will hold yourself accountable.

Get Support

Find someone you can go to the gym with. Having a person to workout with will help both of you be more motivated. It is easier to get yourself to the gym when you are meeting someone there. Your supporter can be a family member, a friend or even someone who is a member of your gym.

Go to the gym with a friend and hold each other accountable.

Schedule Time

You have to make time to work out or you won’t. Schedule out a block of time each day specifically for your workout. If you make a weekly workout schedule you will be more inclined to go to the gym than if you are just trying to fit it in your day. Once you start scheduling out time to do your routine it will become easier. You have to make yourself workout for the first 7 to 14 days. Once this time span is over, your body will begin to adjust and it will become easier to get yourself to the gym.

Reward Yourself

Working out takes motivation and discipline. Reward yourself when you reach your goals. It doesn’t have to be anything big. It can be something like giving yourself a free day or buying yourself a small gift. Go for it, you worked hard and you deserve it! Just get make sure you get back to your workout routine the next day. If you happen to have a day where you don’t go or you cheat on your routine, don’t give up. Nobody is perfect. Just get back to it the next day and keep pushing towards your fitness goals.

Members, if you are just beginning a workout routine or you don’t know where to begin, come see me at the Golden Ocala Fitness Center. Together we can create a plan and achieve your fitness goals! For more information about the Golden Ocala Fitness Center visit our blog.