Have you ever a moment where you don’t want to go to the gym and any excuse will justify not going? It’s normal and everyone needs a bit of extra motivation to get their ass to the gym. Usually the hardest part is lacing up your shoes and walking through the door. But, if you can take the few steps required and get to the gym, the rest will take care of itself. Here are some ways to motivate yourself to get to the gym:
- Remember your grandpa or grandma? If you do, they were probably healthy and around long enough to watch you grow up. Do you want to see your kids, nephews/nieces, or other young friends grow up? Increase your longevity by getting going to the gym consistently.
- Look good naked? You don’t have to be perfect, but you should feel comfortable and confident in front of your significant other, at the gym or on the beach.
- Take your shirt off when you don’t want to workout. If you want to feel comfortable without your shirt, you’re going to have to get to the gym.
- Weight yourself – The weight on the scale can be motivating. Don’t obsess about the number, but use it as a guide for progress. That number can be a friendly reminder or motivator that you need to go to the gym.
- Buy a pair of jeans in a size smaller than you are today. Try to put them on every morning. Keep doing this until you comfortably fit into the jeans. The gym can not only help you lose weight, but it can also help tone what you have.
- Use a calendar. Everyone likes crossing off a day that you worked out. When you don’t workout you don’t get to “X” off the box. Put that calendar in a conspicuous place so that you have to look at it multiple times a day.
- Hang around people who workout religiously. Set up a support system where you hold one another accountable for working out.
- Prepay for a coaching session and don’t cancel. When you’ve already paid for that session you will drag yourself to the gym; otherwise, you are throwing away money.
- Reward yourself for working out 5 days a week for a month. Pick out the reward at the beginning of the month. This type of motivation will help you work out with a goal in mind.
- Follow motivational webpages like the one at Pat’s Gym for inspiration.
- Hate diets like I do? You don’t need to be on a diet if you workout everyday. Also, working out will put a focus on eating healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Take a picture of yourself today without your shirt on. At the end of the year, take another. If you work out consistently throughout the year, celebrate your successes. If you didn’t workout consistently, a picture won’t lie.
- Find a gym that holds you accountable. A good gym will motivate you and not depress you. If you dread going to the gym, look for another that serves as a motivator.
- Every month during the winter plan a trip to an indoor waterpark. At the waterpark, you won’t be able to hide under your parka. If you’ve workout consistently, you’ll want to show off that tight body.
I hope that some of these tips help to motivate you to go to the gym, especially, during the winter. If you have questions, please contact Pat Gilles at pat@patsgym.com.
