If you can relate to this title, I see you! There are people that are very self-motived when it comes to exercise. They are so regimented with scheduled times to go to the gym so much so that you could set your clock to them. I am not one of those people. I find myself laying in bed or on the couch when I told myself I would be working out.

What is Your Why?

Whenever you have a goal in mind that you want to start working on, it is important that you define your why. Why is this a goal you want to accomplish? If you have an internal reason, you will be that much more motivated to stick to the course you set out for yourself. External reasons can get you started but you likely will lose steam early or stop altogether.

An internal reason or internal motive is a reason you have for yourself inspired by yourself. So you are not choosing this goal for anyone other than yourself. I have two internal reasons for me to work out. 1) I want to be 80 years old and still feel strong. I am inspired by women who can still hang in their golden years. 2) I want to decrease my health risks. Because these are my goals for me, even on my laziest day, I try to do SOMETHING even if it’s not the workout I had planned.

An external reason or external motive is a reason you have for yourself either placed on you by someone else or one that you have placed on yourself based on someone else. For example, if you are working out because you want to have someone else’s body or want to grab or keep the attention of a person you are interested in, you will lose steam easily.

What Works For You?

If you have very specific goals, you have to adjust your workouts to help you meet those goals. However, for most, if you have the general goal of being more active, then 30 minutes of any activity about five times a week will do. That alone will do wonders for your health.

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Think about what activity involving movement that you enjoy the most. What comes to mind? Walking, running, dancing, swimming, kickboxing, biking, skating, fencing, hiking, and so on. Find ways to include them in your weekly routine.

Be Prepared – Grab Your Gear

Get the things you will need to make your workout a success. Stock up on workout gear that will make the workout more comfortable. Get workout equipment that you plan on using. Strength training? You’ll need weights. Biking or hiking? You’ll need safety gear. Kickboxing? Might need gloves. I personally like a little bit of everything so I have a mini gym of sorts. You can check it out by clicking here.

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An Accountability or Workout Partner Can Be Very Helpful

If you have a friend or friends that already work out or want to start working out, make it a party. It helps to have those around you that can help keep you motivated. That way if you are discouraged one day or fall out of your routine, you can uplift one another and keep each other going.

For some, getting a personal trainer keeps them motivated. This is also a great asset if you have trouble creating and maintaining a routine. They can help you set up goals, create a plan, and keep you motivated.

It’s Your Move

Hopefully, by now, you have at least an inkling of an idea of how you want to get started. I have found the most consistent part of my workout to be due to my Dailyburn* subscription. They have new workouts available every day for those who like a lot of variety. They have programs for those who prefer more of a regimen with scheduled workouts and rest days.

I also had a lot of fun using Groupon deals to take local CKO classes. I took the classes of different trainers until I found the one I liked the most. Then whenever I went to CKO, I signed up for the classes he was teaching.

Another great resource for workouts is Youtube. It’s free and has tons of variety. I use the playlist function to organize workouts I prefer or want to try. My favorite channels right now are Grow with Jo (GWJ) for cardio and Juice & Toya for cardio/strength. Jo is incredibly engaging even though she doesn’t talk during the workout. She remains connected with her audience and looks like she’s having fun. That makes it fun for me too. Her walking workouts are low impact so it’s great for beginners. For those who are more advanced, you can level it up with jumps or other plyometric moves. Juice & Toya have short workouts with modifications that I enjoy. I’ve embedded some of my fave YT workouts below.

My Workout Routine

I work out five times a week. My current regimen is to alternate strength and cardio days. I start my week off on Sundays. Sunday (strength), Monday (Cardio), Wednesday (strength), Thursday (cardio), Friday (strength). I follow the Dailyburn* program Live to Fail and follow it with a strength Juice & Toya workout for my strength days. So if the Live to Fail workout was legs, I would do Juice & Toya’s Lower Body Dumbbell Workout afterward. I typically do a GWJ workout on my cardio days or one of my fave workouts saved on my Dailyburn*app. So far I have been able to keep up with this routine and stay motivated.

Your turn. What challenges do you face when working out? What keeps you motivated? Share in the comments below.