How to Stick to Fitness Training

How difficult is it for you to stick to the fitness training program you have devised? If you're like many people, there are mornings when that bed feels too cozy to trade in for running shoes, or you're too tired after work to think about lifting those weights. Yet, it is only with continued, daily motivation that you can reap all of the wonderful benefits of an active lifestyle!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    

   Draw up a list.
   
   Start off by making a list of all the reasons you can think of for wanting to practice fitness training and get into shape. Fitness training has so many benefits, of course: healthy heart, increased stamina and energy, looking great in a bikini, just to name a few! Write down as many as you can come up with. Keep this list to refer to when your mind wants to think up excuses to prevent you from working out.

2. 
    

   Empower yourself.
   
   A picture is worth a thousand words...especially when it has the power to give you that shot of motivation to exercise. Choose pictures of fit bodies that you admire. Or, perhaps you have photographs of yourself at a time when you feel you looked your very best. Post these pictures where you can see and derive inspiration from them often.

3. 
    

   Commit to a schedule.
   
   Choose what days of the week you are going schedule a fitness training session, and then mark them in your day planner or calendar, just as you would any important appointment. You wouldn't skip a client meeting or parent-teacher conference, and you shouldn't cancel this either!

4. 
    

   Involve your peers.
   
   Enlist the help of a friend who also wants motivation to exercise. Chatting and camaraderie make the workouts fly by faster, and it is harder to skip a morning walk if you know you'll be leaving her stranded.

5. 
    

   Eliminate obstacles.
   
   Lastly, keep your workout bag in the most convenient place for when you'll need to use it. Whether that's your car, your office, or beside your front door- having everything in one place and ready to go makes you that much more likely to lace up your tennis shoes and make that workout :)

Tips & Warnings

• It's perfectly normal to have temporary set backs in your fitness training motivation now and then. Just make sure to resume your workout routine as quickly as you can- a set back doesn't have to be forever!

Resources

• Don't Quit: Motivation and Exercises to Bring Out the Winner in You
• Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength
• Total Fitness and Wellness with Behavior Change Log Book and Wellness Journal

[007bobbyj]

on 12/3/2009 I never thought of steps 1 & 2. I think that will help keep the motivation alive!!!

[calwesttropical]

on 11/20/2009 Great article! I keep my gym bag in the trunk of my car and change into my workout clothes before I leave the office- easy way to guarantee a stop at the gym before I go home! 5*

[edwardvance]

on 10/29/2009 This is great advice on staying "workout motivated." I am the true "Mr. Tomorrow", especially if there is a candy bar near by! 5* and I recommend the author.