Whether you’re trying to lose weight or just get in shape, staying the course can be difficult. Workouts can be boring, and it’s all too easy to start making excuses for why you can’t make it to the gym. You might decide to take one day off, but then one day turns into two, and the next thing you know, you’re skipping more workouts than you’re completing.
There are several ways that you can stay motivated and ensure that you reach your fitness goals. Below are some of the most effective methods to help keep you going.
Workout With Friends
One way to help stay motivated is to work out with friends. Along with being a support group for each other, you’ll also look forward to getting together with people you enjoy spending time with. Exercising with other people also makes it easier to play sports or engage in group fitness activities. Additionally, it’s harder to make excuses for bailing on exercise when other people are expecting and relying on you.
Get A Personal Trainer
If friends aren’t available or if you’re looking for help with specific areas, a personal trainer is a great choice. Personal trainers are available at most gyms, and some will even come to your home or meet you at a fitness facility. In addition to the fact that a personal trainer can help you keep motivated during workouts, you’re less likely to skip a workout if you know that you’ll be leaving a personal trainer hanging.
Personal trainers can also work with you to help keep you on track and determine a fitness regimen that works with your schedule and goals. Seeing progress is an essential part of staying motivated, and a personal trainer can help sure you get the most out of your workouts.
Compete With Yourself
If you’ve played video games, you know that leveling up is a part of making a character more powerful. Well, consider taking the same attitude with your workouts. Leveling up is all about trying to do better each time you exercise. This can involve shaving seconds off of a five-mile run, doing one more lift each time you work out or spending more time on the rowing machine. This will not only help to keep you interested in working out, it can help prevent you from plateauing.
Wear Something Fun
You can work out in old cutoff sweats and a ratty oversized T-shirt, but there’s something about dressing up and looking good that can help give you a mental boost. Brands like Fabletics offer workout clothing that is stylish and comfortable, and their clothing can make you want to go to the gym and show off your cute yoga pants or sexy cut-out tank top.
Along with being stylish and feeling good about the way you look, even at the gym, Fabletics athletic gear may improve your workout. Breathable and sweat-wicking fabric will help keep you comfortable even when you’re sweating, and fitted but not too tight clothing can help you move around without baggy clothing getting in your way.
Change Things Up
It’s not just your mind that gets bored with exercise; your body does too. If you keep doing the same exercises, your body will eventually get used to your workout routine. This means that you may not lose ground, but you may not gain any ground either. In order to ensure that your body and your mind stay interested, consider changing up your workout.
Even if you’re not much for sports, there are a variety of different cardio and weight training regimes available. For instance, if you’re normally a runner, you may want to mix things up by swimming or using a rowing machine.
Keep Track Of Your Progress
Part of staying motivated involves reminding yourself of the hard work you’ve done and what you can achieve. One way to keep track of your progress is to take pictures. You don’t have to share them with anyone, but they can serve as a reminder of where you’ve come from, which can help keep you going.
In addition to photos, you may want to keep tabs on your progress in terms of numbers. A record of how far you can run, how long it takes to run or bike or row a mile or how many reps you can do weight lifting show how far you’ve come. Reviewing your progress can help you want to maintain and improve upon what you’ve accomplished, and it can also help ensure that you keep meeting your fitness goals.