How to Stay Motivated to Workout

I was having a bit of writer's block when I remembered I wrote down these five blog post ideas. When I re-read that post, I got inspired (by my own idea - is that possible? Let's just say it is) to share with you a lil' workout motivation.

I workout five to six days a week. I've been working out five to six days a week since I was a scrawny 15 year old who tried out for (and made!) the varsity cheerleading team in high school. That's nearly 16 years of consistent training!

Clearly, I enjoy working out. I think anything that you want to do consistently, you need to enjoy. But just like the average woman, some days I don't want to. Some days I'd rather sit on my butt and eat pizza. Some days are a struggle to make it to the gym, or the yoga studio or lace up my running shoes.

I thought good and hard about what's kept me motivated to keep going, to keep pushing for 16 years of workouts. So here, dear readers, are my best tips and tricks to stay on your workout game and avoid burnout:

Switch it up! If you always run, or always walk, do something else! Try weight training. Try a yoga class. If you don't have a gym membership, get one so you can experience different workouts! Group fitness classes are a blast. If it's not in your budget, pick up some DVD's try new things at home. Not only is fun and refreshing to try something new, your body will thank you for it - mixing it up yields better results than doing the same workout all the time!

Have it be your "you" time. I was reading lots of Mother's Day posts last week, and one blogger said that she'd never do a marathon because she didn't want to be away from her daughter that long (four-five hours). Are you kidding me?!?! First, that's developing a co-dependent relationship, but that's a whole other can of worms that the daughter will eventually have to work out (READ: not "workout" - see that?!) with her therapist. To the point of this post, it's ok to have time for yourself! You need it. It's mental sanity. Physically you need this time, too. Have your workouts be your "you" time that you get to focus on yourself, and more importantly, doing something good for yourself. "You time" is something you GET to do, not HAVE to do, and viewing workouts that way is key for long-term success.

Don't set weight goals. I know, ignoring goal setting is counter-advice from every other fitness guru out there. But here's the thing: Let's say you reach the goal. Good for you! Will you stop working out then? Where do you go from there? Get skinnier and skinner? Well that's dumb, and unhealthy. Now let's say you don't reach the goal. Bummer. Will you punish yourself for it and binge eat cake... AND stop working out? I never have weight goals and I never weigh myself. I don't care. I want to be fit and athletic and I want my pants to button. That's my only goal. And that's a good long-term goal.

Allow breaks. When you're seriously mentally done/physically done with a workout, take the day off! I've found that when I completely lack motivation, I need a day off. Then I return the next day ready to hit it hard! Sometimes a rest day is exactly the motivation you need to continue for the long haul.