The excuses are done. For way too long now I have told everyone including myself that I am a new mom and my fitness will come. I don’t care about losing all the baby weight or cutting into time with my son to workout – but the thing is as a former professional athlete being fit has always been part of my identity and I know I feel better overall when I am in better shape. The thing is – is you don’t just snap your fingers and magically reach your fitness goals. There’s diet, exercise, and the motivation. All of these pieces are important if you want to see real results. And while it can be tough to stay motivated on your fitness journey (like I have learned in the last 11 months) I am learning that some things do make it a bit easier and I wanted to share a few of these tips with you.  

#1 Track Your Progress

Keeping track of your progress is one of the best ways to stay motivated. It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, but tracking your progress over time can help you stay focused and motivated to keep going. For some people tracking your workouts helps – for others it might be keeping a food journal. But alas it is important to find a fine balance and not become too fixated on the numbers and lose sight of why you started your fitness journey in the first place. This will only end up demotivating you.

#2 Celebrate Your Successes

When it comes to long-term goals like health and fitness, it’s important to celebrate the successes that come along the way. It can be easy to get trapped in a negative mindset and focus on all the things you have yet to do, but celebrating your successes is essential to keeping yourself motivated.

Take the time to recognize your accomplishments and treat yourself to reaching milestones or meeting new goals.  Take yourself out for a nice dinner, treat yourself to a new outfit. Do something for you! This will help motivate you to keep going when times are tough and remind you of why you started in the first place.

#3 Get Help From A Personal Trainer Or Coach

If you’re struggling to stay motivated on your own, finding a personal trainer or coach can be a great way to keep yourself accountable and motivated. Having someone there to provide support, guidance and encouragement can make all the difference. Plus, they can help you learn the jist when it comes to proper nutrition and exercise too.

There are plenty of online options for trainers and coaches if you don’t have access to in-person services. Just make sure you find someone who is knowledgeable and supportive so that you get the most out of the experience.

#4 Find Your Why

At its core, staying motivated is about understanding what drives you. What inspires you? What makes you want to continue despite how hard it may be? Knowing your “why” is key to staying motivated on your fitness journey.

Take some time to reflect on why you chose to pursue this journey in the first place. Is it for better health? To lose weight? To look and feel better about yourself? Knowing your reason for wanting to get fit can be a great source of motivation when things get tough.

 

Staying motivated on your fitness journey can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these four tips – tracking your progress, celebrating your successes, getting help from a personal trainer or coach and finding your why – you’ll be on your way to achieving the desired results.