How To Get (And Stay) Motivated
By: Daniel Green
We've all been there. We all know why and how to exercise, but so many of us struggle to get ourselves started on a healthy path. And once we do, it's an almost daily struggle to maintain that lifestyle. Here are some tips for getting and staying motivated in your workout routine.
Make sure your workout regimen includes the three keys to long-term success: challenge, growth, and achievement. And just as important, remember the three keys to staying motivated: safety, fun, and progress. Very few of us will keep working hard if we are bored or find ourselves stuck on a fitness plateau. And nothing brings a routine to a screeching halt like an injury.
To begin, make sure you know yourself: your goals, your limitations, and what you enjoy. Set attainable, short-term goals so you can monitor your progress. If you hope to run a 5K or a half-marathon some day, set small, "stepping-stone" goals so you can see measurable progress along the way.
Now that you have set up your routine and written down your goals, how do you keep yourself motivated? You can battle boredom by making sure your plan includes variety and allows for time to rest, an often overlooked, but essential, aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
Try not to focus on your long-term goals. They can sometimes seem so daunting and distant that they actually drain your day-to-day motivation. Instead, focus on having fun, strive for balance (both in the activities you choose and between activity and rest), and celebrate small achievements along the way.
One last tip: work out with a friend. This creates a sense of teamwork and will help keep both of you on the right track.
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Daniel Green is the Managing Editor for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and an ACE-certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant. He is also a Contributing Editor to both ACE
Fitness Matters and ACE Certified News. Visit the ACE Web site at
www.acefitness.org.
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