“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Most of you have your resolutions in mind or written down for 2010. Most likely at the top of your list is weight loss or getting in shape fast. We all know that to achieve those weight loss goals or resolutions, you must be motivated. A lack of motivation seems to be the one thing that keeps us from moving forward and achieving our goals. Below are ten tips to help keep you motivated to exercise:

1.  Know the benefits of exercise. We talked about many of them in earlier blogs. See past blogs on: mood boosting; healthy immune system; cardiovascular fitness; weight loss; and even increased sexual appetite.

2.  Create your own “reasons why” list. Keep a piece of paper and pen handy for a couple of days. Jot down every reason you can think of as to why you want to get healthier, lose weight or get fit. You’ll amaze yourself at the number of reasons you can come up with. Below are a few examples – the list could go on and on, but you get the picture. Read your list often – it’s a powerful way to get re-motivated!

• More energy to spend quality time with family and friends.
• To be able to live a longer, healthier life.
• To fit into some clothes in your closet that you’ve been dreaming of wearing again.
• To not be out of breath when you climb a single flight of stairs
• To not be uncomfortable in a swimsuit
• To keep up with your younger friends

3.  Exercise with a friend – we’ve talked about this before and how   this helps you to be consistent in your workout program. Not only will you keep each other accountable, but the competitiveness will kick in and motivate you even more!

4.  Start working out first thing every morning. If you’re serious about getting in shape, then get to it first thing and gitter done! Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do a huge workout – if you can’t then, get outside and take a 30 minute walk.

5.  Train for a local 5K or 10K walk or run in your area. If you think that’s out of your league, then think again. Once you commit to it, the mindset will kick in and you will start seeing your body and your stamina change. You can do it!

6.  Reward yourself. A friend of mine told me that she started paying herself to exercise. She put $5 in an envelope every time she exercises. She then treats herself at the end of the month to something she normally wouldn’t spend money on.

7.  Keep a journal of your exercise time (minutes) each day. Keep a running total for the month and year. This will help you set goals and keep them!

8.  Make your exercise time as enjoyable as possible. If you’re a walker or runner, update your Mp3 player with your favorite songs and change them out regularly. You’ll start looking forward to your walking/listening to music time. If you prefer to exercise in peace and quiet, make sure that you won’t be distracted by outside noise during your workout time. Do whatever makes exercise most enjoyable for you.

9.  Wear good shoes when you exercise – whatever type is appropriate for what you are doing. Often injuries occur because the improper type of shoe is worn. If you injure yourself, you’ll not only be preventing yourself from further working out, but you’ll find yourself discouraged and possibly depressed.

10. Get ready for people to notice! Once you start seeing results, you’ll find others complimenting you. For many, that’s the best motivation of all!

What’s your greatest exercise motivator? Maybe yours is completely different from those I have listed. Let’s help each other by sharing what works for you!

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