Stay Motivated for Exercise

Consistency towards a healthy lifestyle is essential, and staying motivated helps keep that consistency. People are motivated for different reasons; for some it might be appearance, for others it might be the numerous health benefits. Finding and keeping your motivation is important. Here are some ideas that will help.

• Goals are important. Decide what it is that you want out of your program and write down your goals. Establish short-term (weekly), medium-term (monthly) and long-term (6 months +) realistic goals and continually evaluate and adjust them. Keep them with you. When you need a little inspiration, take a look at them.
• Find a form of exercise that you like. What works for one person may not work for another. There are so many ways to exercise: group exercise classes, running, hiking, gardening, etc. If you don't like the mode of exercise, you're not going to want to do it.
• Schedule it just like you would a meeting or lunch. Make every effort to maintain your schedule. Cancellations should be the exception rather then the rule.
• Track your progress. There are many different ways to measure your goals and track your progress. Again, you need to find the method that works for you. Examples are body fat composition, resting/exercise heart rate, amount of weight lifted for a specified number of reps, distance accomplished, intensity level for specific cardio machine, etc.
• Consider the pros and cons. Compare the numerous benefits associated with maintaining a regular exercise program to the costs of leading a non-active lifestyle.
• Focus on the process, not the outcome. Change doesn't happen over night; it takes time. Reaching your goals takes both time and continued effort.