5 Ways to Get Motivated to Workout
Today I’m sharing a few ways you can get motivated to work out. You know that working out is good for you but some days you just don’t feel like it. There are things you can do to help yourself get more motivated to get up and get moving.
For the last few years or so I’ve waffled back and forth with being intentional about staying active, getting in shape, and even losing weight. I’ll never forget the first time I looked at a picture of myself and saw a roll of flab around my middle that hadn’t always been there! I had recently turned 30 years old and all of a sudden my metabolism slowed down and I starting gaining weight.
I started walking every morning a few weeks later I had lowered my cholesterol {which was a little high} and lost 15 pounds. But then winter came…. and some of that weight returned. And so my weight has flucuated ever since – down in the spring, summer, and fall… and about the time the holidays start rolling around, weight usually creeps back up on me.
In late 2016 I started changing the way I ate and eating less. By the fall of 2017 I had lost weight and several pants sizes and felt so much better!
And while my motto for 2017 had been “do something every day to be active” and I wasn’t working on toned muscles or getting in great shape. I was basically staying active enough that the weight would stay off. So some days that might mean I took a walk or a hike or went swimming. Other days I’d stretch on the floor and work on getting my back bend and better posture.
It wasn’t until January 2018 that I finally committed to working out and toning my muscles. Y’all I’m forty-two years old now. I’m not hung up on age – I think that every age is amazing. But at the same time I’m not getting any younger! I realized that if I didn’t start really getting in shape now, it might never happen. And there are so many benefits of having strong muscles as we age!
But honestly, staying motivated to work out isn’t always easy. I’ve had to work on my internal motivation to stay motivated week after week. It’s now April and I’ve been consistently going to the gym several times a week since January 15.
Here’s the thing though. Some days I really don’t feel like it. But I’ve found that if I just make myself go to the gym or just make myself exercise I feel so much better afterword. I’ve never regretted getting exercise. Not once.
8 Ways to Get Motivated to Work Out
Here are eight ways to get motivated to work out:
Create a workout playlist. Nothing gets you moving quite like some great music so take some time to gather your most motivating songs and put them in a playlist to help get you up and moving. I’m an Amazon Prime member and I use the Amazon Prime Music app on my phone. I can create playlists of my own or I can listen to their selection of radio stations or playlists. What’s really nice about Amazon Prime Music is that most of the songs I want to listen to I can download to my phone for no extra charge!
2. Bring a friend. Many people find it easier to get motivated if they are not doing it alone. So bring along a friend and motivate one another. For me, that means I work out everyday with my girls. I’m lucky because they are already in such amazing shape and every week they get stronger and stronger. They definitely motivate me to work out!
3. Put on your workout clothes. When you don’t feel like doing anything, putting on your favorite workout gear can help. Some people find putting on the gear gets them in the right frame of mind for doing the work. I don’t know about you but I always feel better if I’m wearing clothes that make me feel good. And it’s a lot easier to get motivated to work out if I’m wearing clothes that make me feel good. I’ll be honest and say I don’t think I look amazing in my work out clothes – yet. But I’m working on it. Some of my favorite brands are:
Just recently I purchased a new pair of Nike shoes and my favorite sports bra is from Under Armor. Actually my favorite workout pants are from Under Armor too.
4. Find what inspires you. Some people like inspiring pictures others like motivational quotes. Find what inspires you and then make sure you have it around you. I love Instragram and following people that inspire me. You might like to do that too!
I took photos of myself in January and last month I took a couple more photos. I haven’t seen a huge difference in my body by I know I’m getting stronger and my arm muscles are gaining definition. I also feel like my thighs are stronger and my abs are coming along. Every once in a while I look at those photos for motivation!
5. Reward yourself when you reach a goal. Don’t feel guilty about giving yourself rewards for working out and meeting your goals. Giving yourself healthy rewards will help you stay motivated to work out. Setting appropriate goals is important. When you have a very large, long term goal to reach, it can be more difficult to stick with it. For instance, if you’ve set the goal to lose 50 pounds, you may feel discouraged when you don’t lose the weight as quickly as you’d like. So be sure to set smaller goals like losing four or five pounds each month or working out three days a week for one hour.
Remember why you’re doing this. At the end of the day, the reason you decide to work out is the strongest motivator of all. For me, setting goals to not only lose weight but change my lifestyle, eat healthier, and work out several times a week is only means to an end. I want to live a quality, healthy life as I age. I want to feel good, be active and mobile when I’m older and that means I need to take action now.
No matter how difficult some days may feel, you can do this. If I can do it – anyone can do it. Believe in yourself, never quit, and just keep at it. You’re worth it!
