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Working out can be hard. It takes a lot of motivation and dedication to stick to a fitness routine. But staying motivated doesn't have to be a struggle. In this blog post, we'll explore ten ways to stay motivated to work out. From setting goals and tracking progress to finding an exercise partner and mixing up your routine, you can stay motivated and reach your fitness goals. So let's get started and find out how to stick to a workout plan! Set Goals and Track Progress When it comes to fitness, many people tend to take a seat of the pants approach. They figure that if they just try hard enough, they'll eventually reach their fitness goals. While this approach may work for some people, it's not always the most effective way to achieve success. To be successful with fitness, it's important to set short term and long term goals, track your progress regularly, and make necessary adjustments as needed. One of the best ways to do this is by setting achievable, short term and long-term goals. Short-term goals should be relatively easy to achieve and help you measure your progress towards your larger goal. For example, you might set a goal of running a mile in under six minutes. Longer term goals might be more difficult but also have greater rewards associated with them – like losing 20 pounds or becoming a certified personal trainer. Taking notes of how you feel after each workout is also important in ensuring that you're making progress towards your larger goal. This can be done by recording how much energy you feel after each workout, how much pain you're experiencing, or how tired you are afterwards. This information will help you track whether or not your workouts are helping you reach your longer term goals faster than expected! If you specifically want to track your Pilates progress check out this article I wrote: How to track your Pilates progress Achieving success with fitness doesn't happen overnight – it takes consistent effort and dedication over time. That's why it's so important to establish regular workout routines that fit into your schedule and keep you motivated along the way! One great way to do this is by scheduling weekly rest days so that you can recuperate from all of those hard workouts! Additionally, celebrating small wins along the way can keep yourself on track and motivated for the bigger challenges ahead. For example, rewarding yourself for completing 30 minutes of cardio rather than hours at the gym every day can help keep things enjoyable for both you AND your fitness routine! Find an Exercise Partner Working out is great, but it can be even better when you have a partner by your side. Working out with someone else can increase your commitment and motivation to reach your fitness goals, and it can also be more fun and challenging than working out alone. Below, we'll outline some of the benefits of working out with a partner, as well as some tips for finding the right partner and setting realistic goals together. When you work out with a partner, you both benefit in several ways. First, you both get to work off those extra calories that you've been storing up – which is great for weight loss or overall health. Second, exercising with someone else creates camaraderie and strengthens the bonds of friendship. Third, it's easier to stay on track when working out with someone else because there is someone to help motivate you – even when the going gets tough! Finally, one of the best things about working out together is that it encourages greater fitness progressions than would be possible if working out alone. For example, if one person starts off doing moderate intensity workouts while the other person does more intense workouts later on in their workout routine together – they are likely to progress faster as a team than either individual would have achieved separately. This isn't always true though; sometimes people excel better when they exercise solo or in smaller groups rather than larger groups or pairs. That's okay though; finding an exercise partner that suits your needs and goals is crucial for maximizing your results! To find the perfect exercise partner for you, start by setting realistic expectations together from the beginning. Discuss what kind of workout routine will work best for both of you (and make sure that each workout incorporates some form of cardio!), set challenging but achievable goals together (rather than expecting one person to do everything), and be committed to making this partnership work – no matter how challenging things get along the way! The Benefits Of Having An Accountability Partner In Fitness An accountability partner is someone you trust to keep you motivated and accountable to your fitness goals. This person can be anyone from a friend or family member, to a co-worker, or even a trainer. Setting clear, achievable goals with an accountability partner can be incredibly helpful in keeping you on track. By agreeing on specific targets, both of you are able to maintain motivation and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand. Additionally, tracking progress and celebrating successes helps both of you stay motivated throughout the journey. One of the best things about having an accountability partner is that they are always there for inspiration and motivation. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, your Accountability Partner will be there cheering you on from the sidelines! An accountability partner could be a friend or could be a personal trainer. The advantage of being accountable to a qualified professional is that they can also offer helpful advice on different exercises or workouts that may work for you specifically. Plus, by sharing common experiences and struggles together, becoming friends along the way is very likely! Don't Take On Too Much At Once Working out is a great way to stay healthy and fit, but it's easy to get carried away and set unrealistic goals. It's important to set realistic goals that you can actually achieve, rather than aiming too high and feeling discouraged when you don't reach your target. Achieving consistent results is key, so be sure to structure a routine that fits best into your lifestyle and takes into account your limitations. For example, if you're someone who struggles with endurance workouts, try breaking up your routine into shorter segments or adding more cardio in between sets of weights. Likewise, if you're someone who loves yoga but can't do a lot of reps, find an alternative workout routine that accommodates your needs – like Pilates or boot camp – instead of quitting altogether. One of the most important aspects of working out is consistency. If you miss a few days here and there, it will be harder to make up the lost ground later on. However, don't forget to take rest days as needed! After all, overworking yourself without giving your body time to recover isn't going to lead to successful results either. Finally, don't forget about the fun factor when it comes to working out! Whether you're lifting weights at the gym or hitting the treadmill at home – make sure that you have some fun while staying focused on your goals! This will help keep your motivation alive during those tough workouts. And as long as you keep moving forward one step at a time (and don't try too hard too soon), success is just around the corner. Crafting an Achievable Workout Routine It can be difficult to find the time to work out, especially if you have a busy schedule. But with a little planning and effort, you can create an achievable workout routine that will help you achieve your fitness goals. First, set short and long term goals for yourself. This will help you stay motivated and on track throughout the journey. Next, make sure to have access to a gym, or create a comfortable home workout area that will allow you to workout. Start with a realistic exercise routine that is challenging but still doable. Give my beginner Pilates workout a try. https://youtu.be/vdy7KRE80mA Set aside a specific day and time to do your physical activities; this is where fitness classes can help because they're held at a specific date/time. Treat home workouts the same way, as a class you can't miss. Don't overbook yourself; for example, if you're just starting to get back into fitness, don't aim for a gym session every day of the week; that can quickly lead to burnout and a loss of workout motivation. Variety Is The Spice Of Life Staying fit and healthy is important, but it can be easy to lose interest if you do the same thing over and over. That's where variety comes in, it's the spice of life after all! By making a goal-oriented plan, trying different types of workouts, and using a reward system, you can keep your fitness routine interesting and exciting. Here are some tips on how to make the most out of your workout:. Try different types of workouts, such as running, biking, swimming, or weightlifting. Make a goal-oriented plan and set specific goals for yourself. Socialize with friends who are also interested in staying fit by swapping workouts together or going for walks together. Use a reward system, for example, put money in a pot for every mile you run, or treat yourself to something when you hit a specific milestone. This will help you stay motivated throughout your workout journey. There's no doubt that staying motivated to work out can be a challenge. After all, it's hard to resist the lure of the couch when we're feeling tired and sore. However, incorporating variety into your workout routine can help to keep you on track. By working out in different ways – from running to biking to swimming – you're more likely to stay motivated and engaged. Plus, by scheduling your workouts in advance, you're also more likely to stick to your goal. One way that you can keep a workout journal is by tracking how you feel after each workout. This will help you identify areas of improvement and make sure that each workout is helping you reach your fitness goals. Dress For Success They always say dress for success, so why not dress for exercise? Having motivational clothing coupled with positive affirmations can also direct perspective towards victory instead of defeat: fancy sports bras, leggings usually help in this role being professional gym-wear icons too! Investing in new workout clothes mentally and financially invests you in committing to do workouts. Unsure what to wear? Check out this article on What are the best clothes for Pilates? Get Moving with Music Have you ever wondered why gyms and workout classes usually have high energy music on? Music can be a powerful motivator when it comes to working out. It can help you stay focused and energized, and even make the workout more enjoyable. Create a playlist of your favourite upbeat songs that will get you pumped up for your next workout session. You can also try listening to podcasts or audiobooks to keep you entertained while exercising. Focusing on the audio can be a great way to distract your mind from thinking negative thoughts such as "I can't do this". Take Breaks Taking breaks is an important part of staying motivated to workout. Breaks give your body a chance to rest and recover, which can help you stay energized and focused. When taking breaks, make sure to take a few minutes for yourself. This could be anything from stretching or meditating to listening to music or reading a book. Taking time for yourself will help you recharge and refocus on your workout goals. If your exercise program is high intensity, consider using Pilates to create active rest days. Get Plenty Of Sleep Getting plenty of sleep is essential for staying motivated to workout. When you don't get enough sleep, your body and mind become fatigued, making it harder to stay focused and motivated. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to ensure that you have the energy and motivation to exercise. In addition to getting enough sleep, make sure that you are eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Eating a healthy diet will help to fuel your body and give you the energy you need to stay motivated. Visualize Success Visualizing success can be a powerful tool for staying motivated to workout. Visualization is the practice of creating mental images of yourself achieving your goals. By visualizing yourself succeeding, you can create a positive mindset and stay focused on your fitness goals. Start by picturing yourself completing a successful workout. Imagine how it will feel to reach your goal and how proud you will be when you do. I've found looking back at past successes incredibly helpful; knowing I've reached certain milestones kept me smiling all year round literally ;) Conclusion Working out can be difficult and require a lot of motivation. But with the right strategies, you can stay motivated to achieve success. From setting goals and tracking progress to finding an exercise partner and taking rest days as needed, staying on track with your fitness journey is totally achievable! Additionally, having an accountability partner or workout buddy that you trust to keep you motivated is essential for maximizing results. With consistent effort and dedication over time, you will be well on your way to reaching all of your fitness goals! So what are you waiting for? Start crafting that achievable workout routine today!