10 top tips to keep you motivated to stick to your exercise routine!!

Every day there must be literally thousands of people around the country who decide to make a healthier lifestyle change and start an exercise routine or join a gym or health club etc. Most of them start eagerly excited about the positive change they have decided to make and can't wait to give it their 100percent dedication and hopefully achieve some great results. But unfortunately for lots of them, as the weeks and months go by they find it harder and harder to stay motivated to attend the gym or the classes they have signed up to. I'm sure most of you will relate to this! Any excuse to avoid going will be made. And once out of the routine it can become very difficult to get back into the swing of things.
 
So if you ever find yourself in this situation, or maybe you are experiencing it currently here are some things you can try to get you back on track!
 
1. Don't crash and burn!
 
A very common sight I see is people that are new to exercise training 2 sometimes 3 times a DAY or spending hours and hours in the gym at one time believing that the more they do the quicker they will achieve their goals. But this will soon have the opposite effect.
You may be able to maintain training that much for a week, maybe even 2 weeks but it won't be long before you are totally exhausted. To the point where you are so tired you will be falling asleep at work and every part of your body will ache like mad! Going from nothing to everything like that will give your body the shock of its life and it won't be long before it won't let you carry on like that.
This is when people start to really dislike exercise and dread going, simply because it’s made them feel so bad!!!!
So my advice is to give yourself realistic aims as to how often you should attend, so just start 2-3 times per week at times that suit your lifestyle, doing 30-60 minutes max each time. Don't try to exceed your own ability and just work as hard as you feel you can. This way you will not burn out and see the gym/exercise as a chore but you should enjoy it and actually start to look forward to it!
 
 
2. Get a training buddy

 
There are times when getting up and going to the gym alone is always going to be a struggle. We have all experienced that. So why not get a family member/partner, a friend or even just another member who is having the same struggle to go with you? How much easier will it be if there are 2 of you? The thought of meeting someone at a certain time makes it almost like an appointment; this will always give you more incentive to go. As will the guilt of letting down your training buddy if you cancel! I always recommend people use each other to spur each other on. It will also help you when you are actually training, especially if you are having one of those lazy can't be bothered days! You can use each other to push through the workout and make sure you work as hard as you can. It’s a method that I find works very well and I have spoken to many people who find that training with someone else is the best way to stay committed and get the best results!
 
3. Add variety
 
Your exercise routine is just like anything in life, do the same thing too many times and it will become repetitive, boring and no longer enjoyable. It will also seriously hinder your results too. If you are not constantly challenging yourself, to the point where the workout becomes almost easy, you are really going to fail as far as meeting your goals are concerned.
I would suggest that you mix up your workouts as often as possible, constantly making your body work in different ways. Even if you have a routine that you really enjoy and that is working for you, you can still challenge your body by using the same muscle groups just using different machines, equipment or even body weight exercises.
If you usually do your cardio in the gym, why not try doing it outside either walking jogging or cycling? Or even mix it up by playing sports like tennis, football, netball etc...
They are so many things that we can do to stay active so why stick to just one!....and this brings me nicely on to my next top tip...
 
4. Do activities that you enjoy

 
If you actually enjoy doing something it’s going to make it much easier to motivate yourself into doing it than it is trying to make your self do something that you hate! If for example you can't stand the gym but you love swimming then you should concentrate on trying to make that your main area of activity.
My point is that rather than punishing yourself every time you want to be active by making yourself do something you dread, there are so many other forms of exercise whether it be the gym, a class, swimming, sports plus so many more which you might enjoy.  So keep trying things until you find something that you really like! I promise it will make it so much easier to stick to and get the results you set out for!
 
5. Set realistic and achievable goals for yourself
 
Another big reason people get disheartened with exercise is because they don't get the results they want in the time that they want. But if you set yourself goals that are achievable and you manage to achieve them, this will spur you on like nothing else!  If for example you want to lose 3 stone in weight you need to understand that this is not going to happen overnight. It will be a lengthy process that will require many lifestyle changes. 
 So what I would advise is to get your main goal and break it down into smaller goals. So again for example, if your goal was to lose 3 stone, you can set yourself the target of 6 months to get there, so aim for half a stone a month.
You will find this so rewarding as each month goes by you will see the results and feel encouraged to keep going!...again this brings me nicely onto my next tip...
 
6. Don't give up just because things are not going to plan

 
Unfortunately things won't always go to plan. There will be days where things happen and you don't make it to the gym or class and there will be plenty of times where your healthy diet plan will be broken. This is where a lot of people throw the towel in and think "it’s not worth it" well I assure you it is!!If you miss an exercise session or you break your diet just say to yourself "I may have missed my class Tuesday but I won't worry I will be back there on Thursday!"
There will always be blips, but don't let them make you feel that you can't do it. We are all only human after all!! Just stay focused and get back on track and you will realise you CAN do it!!
 
7. Train before work or straight after...try avoiding going home first!  
If it is possible for you to do your exercise early in the morning BEFORE you go to work then I really advise you try to do this. The initial getting out of bed part my feel like a struggle at the time, but once you are up and going I promise you will feel amazing. Not only does it totally kick start your day, it gives you the evening to yourself without worrying that you have missed your exercises.
 If training early is not an option that you have, then try going to your gym or class straight from work...if possible avoid going home first! So take your training kit with you in the morning and head for the gym as soon as you finish. Going home first, getting comfy on the sofa and watching TV for a bit will make it 10 times harder to get yourself up and back out again!
 
8. Try an exercise class

 
In very much the same way as having a training buddy works, doing a class that you have to book in to at a set time along with other people will make it feel more like an appointment that you have to keep so this will push you to go. And with such a wide variety of classes available now days there is pretty much something for everybody.
 And classes are great fun too. They are very social and full of lots of different people usually of all different fitness levels so there is no need to feel self conscious.
 
9. Do something for charity
 
This is a great way to stay motivated. Weather you sign up for a 5k run, a sponsored walk, a triathlon, a marathon or something else...the second you agree to do it and then start raising money for a good cause you know that you have to be ready. There for you WILL make yourself get up and train for it. I promise.
I also think it’s a good idea to tell people you are doing it. It just adds a bit of wanted pressure that will really spur you on to make sure you are prepared for the event. And if friends, relatives and colleges etc know you are raising money for a good cause they will really get behind you and encourage you. And knowing you are doing it for a good cause leaves you feeling really great about yourself!!
 
10. Work with a personal trainer

 
Working with a good qualified personal trainer is a fantastic way of achieving your goals. Just like the classes and gym buddy, you have the appointment that you have to keep. But now all of the thinking is done for you. Your trainer will find out exactly what your goals are, and will get all of the information they need from you to make sure they design the best work outs which will be perfect for getting you to your target.
They will give you help and advice on what to do on the days that you do not see them. They will help up with your diet and lifestyle as well as training. They will push you to work harder than you ever realised was possible and all in a safe and effective manner. They will monitor your results so that you can see the progress you are making.
Although there is a cost, it doesn't have to be very expensive at all and if you have the right trainer it will be worth every penny.
 

So there are my 10 top tips. I hope they help you to stay focused and on track with your training.
 
For more info on any of the topics above please feel free to contact me. All contact details are on my website gbhealthandfitness.co.uk