Health-related goals top US citizen’s resolutions list. We want to lose weight, stay fit be healthier. This is probably the top wish and hope for most of us. It’s all great setting big goals, but it’s extremely hard to stick to them and to get motivated to not give up.
Related: Here’s Why New Year Resolutions Fail
Let’s get back to the workout. Everyone wants that perfect beach body, but it’s so difficult to motivate yourself to workout when sweat and pain are involved.
I’m not a huge workout fan. Probably because I’m skinny and I’m not worried about losing weight (I’m more into gaining it, actually). I am also aware that working out regularly has many benefits and I want to stay healthy as much as I can, so I workout every now and then.
Anyway, here are some tips that worked for me and hopefully will work for you too.
Ways To Motivate You To Workout
Before we dig in, I believe it’s super important to know why are you working out. Is it because:
- you want to stay fit? or
- you want to lose weights?
The reason why I believe it’s important to know your “why” is because you can end up with different routines. Staying fit does not require a strict diet and observation. If you want to lose weight (for real) then there are more factors involved: you should follow a strict diet and be supervised by a trainer or a doctor, to make sure your health will be ok.
1. Track Your Workout Progress
Nothing motivates us more than seeing progress and results. So, you probably set some workout goals already.
Before you start working out, take a few pictures of yourself (or ask someone else to do it if the mirror is not helping), take all measurements needed: around your waist, your bum; on the main areas of your body you intent seeing progress.
Check the status of each KPI every month or so to notice the progress. Be careful! Checking to often might give you the wrong impression that nothing’s happening.
2. Pay for It
Spending money for nothing can be very motivating.
So, if you pay for a gym subscription, you better use it because otherwise, you just wasted money. A good idea is to have a friend that has the same subscription as you, so you motivate each other to not waste money and keep working out at the gym.
Related: 5 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Workingout
3. Sign a Contract
This also involves money, because apparently giving money away is the best stimulant ever.
So, what this basically means is to take a close friend and sign a contract with him/her. Write down your workout goals and state that every single time you skip a workout for no good reason (be sure to include a list of these too), you will pay them a certain amount of money.
Choose the right person for this. Lots of people feel uncomfortable when money is involved. So decide to a reasonable amount of money. Eventually, when you reach your goal, they can give you your money back. Double win!
4. Workout Journaling
I’m quite sure this is not a thing, but I decided to name it like this. Workout journaling implies you should write down after every workout (if possible) how you feel. Write about the endorphin rushing through your body, about how difficult it is to walk because of the soreness and so on.
In this way, you can look back and see the progress and also realise that things were worst and they will get better.
5. Get Endorphin Addicted
Endorphin addiction is a real thing. It can be good or bad, depending on how far you let it go.
Endorphins are hormones meant to inhibit pain signals that induce euphoria feelings as well. – Wiki
So endorphin distracts you from the muscle pain we all feel after a workout. They make you feel pumped, motivated, alert and happy that you took care of your body.
Enjoy that feeling. Own it and make the best part of working out. You’re working out to feel good after all. Try to leave the muscle pain fear at the bottom of the list.
These should be the tricks that worked for me so far. What tricks motivate you to workout? Share them with me in the comments, please!
20 comments
omg thank you and totally need to get to the gym!
haha, anytime. Enjoy the gym, Caitlin!
You got me at “Pay for it”!! Thanks for the motivation!
I need to get myself back in the gym like ASAP lol. This is giving me motivation.
Haha, it’s great that the article brought you some motivation. Enjoy your workout, Jenny!
I definitely agree with spending money. I will sign myself up for races so I’m forced to train. It’s been the most motivating thing. I would also add spend money on a good trainer/nutritionist. I’ve found one who’s incredible and is super motivating!!
Yes, a trainer can help a lot. I included it in the “gym subscription” since you can take a basic gym subscription or one that includes a personal trainer as well.
I am on the other side of the spectrum; I LOVE working out! You brought up some great points! I would like to add that buying a cute workout outfit is a great incentive to workout!
Finding a gym buddy has helped me so much! And paying for a gym membership definitely keeps me motivated to go haha – can’t waste my money on something I don’t use!
Music has always been my motivation. I’ll turn on a good playlist to help get me in the mood and mindset – then keep it playing to keep me motivated.
What a good tip! I have a “running playlist” that’s full of energizing songs that keep me moving.
I have never been a fan of working out. I danced for 18 years of my life and that was my workout for so long that when I stopped I had no idea what to do or really start. I love all of these ideas and hope to start implementing them soon! I can totally agree with the idea of paying for something being motivating! My husband and I are in a tight budget and any more investing we put into something will have to be something we really want to to do.
These are some great ways to be motivated to work out! In January I signed up for a 6 week challenge at Burn Boot Camp and I have 1 week left and plan to become a member and I love it! Having a workout partner keeps me motivated because there is someone else depending on me to get up at 4:30am to meet her at the gym!
That’s great! Congrats for taking the 6-week challenge and for achieving it, Ashley!
These are great tips for motivating yourself to workout! Especially the one about paying for a gym membership or subscription, I definitely am less likely to skip out on a workout if I’m paying for it!!
Kristen | http://www.sophisticatedgal.com
I just started keeping an exercise journal and it really motivates me!
This was so good. It’s so hard to get into the habit. For me, #5 is the only one that ever works. But if I take a break from working out it’s the hardest one to get back to!
What a great post! I would never have thought of an exercise journal, I bet that would do a good job of keeping you motivated.
This is such a great post! I’ve been pushing myself to workout more. My husband and I are looking into gym memberships right now so maybe spending that money every month will motivate us more, haha. The MyFitnessPal app helps keep me going a lot too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this!