There is one factor that can affect your fitness level that doesn't cost a dime, exercise motivation! It's not always easy to stay motivated, but if you can, you'll see consistent results. Here are some exercise motivation tips to help you stay on target.
Exercise with a Friend
When you have a friend to keep you accountable, you are much more likely to stay motivated. Plan a running workout date with a friend on specific days of the week at a preset time. Make your workout a priority, and don't cancel if at all possible. Having a set time with someone else will motivate you to stay on course with your exercise program. Exercise has to take a top priority in your life or you won't stick to it. You wouldn't skip a needed medication, so don't skip something as important as your exercise time. It just might keep those medications away from you in the first place!
Chart Your Workouts and Report Progress
Using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter can help improve exercise motivation. Post your workout times to your status for your friends to see each day. You'll get positive comments from friends, and may even motivate them to join you! Posting a status that lets everyone know that you're off to spin class or out for a jog is a great exercise motivation tip, and one that I use to motivate myself.
Chart your progress online for another exercise motivation boost. There are sites where you can list your exercise of the day, and keep track of your workouts and nutrition each week. These sites help you see at a glance whether or not you're sticking to your workout program.
Give Exercise Priority Status
Certain things in our lives take priority over others. Make exercise a top priority, and you're most likely going to stick to your exercise program. If you take a casual attitude towards fitness, you may as well forget the whole thing now. It's just too easy to skip out on a workout when you're not feeling up to it. Exercise has to be at the top of your list, or you're not very likely to stay with it for the long term. Just view your workouts in the same way as you do your job. You're gonna go to work whether you feel like it or not, because you're gonna get paid. Do the same with exercise and you'll receive a payday of great results not too far down the road.