Staying Motivated to Exercise

Getting started

friends working out at the gym together, hi-fiving

Let’s be honest. For most people, exercise is not the most fun activity. Sitting on a stationary bike or running on a treadmill in a gym for an hour isn’t that appealing. However, exercise doesn’t have to be boring, and addressing the monotony of what you’re told to do by countless online influencers can go a long way toward staying on track.

Having More Fun in the Gym

Before you start working out, list exercises and activities you enjoy doing. Next, see how you can incorporate those things into a workout.

Do you like dancing? If so, see if your local gym or YMCA offers hip-hop classes or Zumba (Latin-inspired dance workouts).
Don’t like the gym? Plug in your Wii or X-Box and sweat to the latest dance hits on Just Dance or your favorite other dance workout games.
Do you like being outside? Jump on your bike and cruise around the neighborhood or the nearest park. Brisk walking makes for great cardio too. Grab a pet or your significant other and walk in your favorite area. Remember to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Get a Partner

Sometimes, a friend is the best way to keep you motivated. You can push each other through the workout and make it fun. Think of it as socializing instead of exercising! Exercising with someone else is also great for accountability. It is easy to tell yourself you don’t want to work out, but much harder to tell someone else. Working out with a partner is also a great way to gauge your progress. It’s hard to give ourselves credit when we do well, but your partner will see it and likely give you the kudos that keep you coming back.

What Is Your Why – And Focus On It

Much like starting a business or any endeavor that requires a drive to succeed, you need to have a mission statement for why you want to lose weight. This is more than a generic goal, like “I want to feel better” or “I want to lose weight.” Be very direct and honest with your goals. Do you want to be able to take your kids or grandkids to a theme park? Do you want to fit into the seat of an airplane? Maybe your goals are entirely cosmetic. There is no wrong answer if you keep the goal in mind and work relentlessly toward it.

You can avoid the exercise blues by dropping the complacency of the same workout routines, thinking outside the box, incorporating exercise into your daily life, and challenging yourself daily. Most importantly, don’t give up!