Exercise is a vital part of being healthy and staying fit. We all know this, but knowing it and exercising are two very different things.

Lack of motivation, procrastination, and lack of time are some of the biggest obstacles we face in sticking to a regular exercise routine. Our success is often determined by how much we want it and what we are willing to do to get it.

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The hardest part of any business is taking that first step. Once we take that first step we start to gain momentum. With the momentum comes a great surge of motivation.

After we start to gain motivation, the workouts become easier and easier. Staying motivated is the key to long-term success.

Now that we’ve talked about how drive builds motivation, let’s take a step back and ask ourselves…

How do we get the motivation to take that first step?

Motivation in the form of a conscious decision is what is required to take that first step. That’s what often makes the first step so difficult.

We have to create the initial motivation to get started, after all, “energy in motion wants to stay in motion, while energy at rest wants to stay at rest.”

Motivation

Motivation is the catalyst to create momentum. A little bit of motivation goes a long way and can create endless momentum if channeled properly. Staying motivated requires a conscious choice and the decision to keep going.

Find your reason for exercising and use it as motivation. The more you want it, the more motivation you will feel.

Imagine for a moment the things you do in your life on a regular basis and why you do them.

For example, if you watch football every week without fail, consider why?

If you love going to the movies, like yourself, why?

Do you mow the grass every week, why?

Do you clean your house regularly, why?

Do you go to work every day? Why?

All the “whys” are the motivators that keep you doing those activities.

While some of the ones mentioned can be fun activities, cleaning the house and mowing the lawn aren’t so much, yet we still do them regularly.

Work is another good example of something we don’t necessarily enjoy, but still do. Why? Because we have to work to earn money to buy food and pay the rent or else we will end up homeless and hungry.

Well, at some point you accepted these facts and you don’t question them when you go to work, even on days when you would rather do anything else.

It is possible to achieve that same level of commitment to fitness, with the right motivation.

Common motivations for exercising

Here are some of the most common reasons people commit to fitness:

  • Health
  • Be a role model for children.
  • weight control
  • have a hot body
  • Prevention of chronic diseases and premature death
  • healthy aging
  • energy and vitality
  • Meet new people at the gym.

You need to find yours and take it seriously, for just as you can end up homeless and hungry when you don’t go to work, you can also end up sick, fat, and facing an early death without exercise.

Action steps to stay motivated

  • Set yourself a goal, focus on it and put all your energy into it. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a ton of tasks at once. Even taking it a week at a time can do wonders, as you build momentum and go from there.
  • Be passionate about what you are doing. Passion is motivation in a bottle.
  • Stay away from people who will hinder your motivation, like the couch potatoes we all have in our lives. Instead, meet fitness-minded people at the gym and build a network of fitness-minded friends.
  • Pick a set time to exercise and stick to it. Use TV or social time as a reward after you’ve done your exercises.
  • Keep track of your progress and the goals you have reached. These achievements are key to help keep you motivated.
  • Practice a healthy lifestyle along with your workouts. Eat healthy, be healthy.
  • Have fun with your exercise routine, choose wisely from the hundreds of exercises available, enjoying your workout will make you much more likely to stick with it.
  • Challenge yourself! Don’t let your exercise routine get boring. Add new challenges to stimulate and motivate you.
  • Join a group fitness class. They’re fun and highly motivating, and they also offer a wide variety of ways to achieve any fitness goal.

There are many different ways to increase your motivation and keep it strong, as long as you are willing to take action and build the necessary momentum.

Ultimately, it’s all up to you. Take the time and do it right by creating motivation and sticking with it.

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