Hey, Barbell and Bands fitness family!

Today we’re going to speak about keeping motivated and committed to your fitness goals. 

We’ve all had those days where you want to turn off your morning workout alarm and just lay in or the couch looks more comfy than going to pick up weights. We’ve all been there. And every person you see who is a fitness enthusiast started as a gym sceptic – trust me!

We’re human and sometimes our social battery or physical battery just runs out. So let’s dive into how we can stay committed to our fitness goals, even when the going gets tough. 

Tips and Tricks To Stay Motivated

Let’s get into it…

Understanding Your “Why”

There is a reason why you decided to start your fitness journey. Maybe you woke up one day and wanted to get stronger, or you wanted to lose a few pounds, or you wanted to do better for yourself and your health. 

Whatever it is – this is your ‘why’.

But dig a little deeper. Really understand the core reason behind your fitness journey. Do you want to feel stronger and more energetic so that you can keep up with your kids? Or do you want to ensure your body is at the optimal weight for health reasons? 

Your ‘why’ is a game-changer.

Once you have figured out your why, grab a pen and paper and jot it down so you have a little reminder on the days you’re not feeling overly motivated. 

Setting Realistic Fitness Goals

Ahh, I want to be skinny. I want to be able to bench press my body weight. I want to be able to run like Usain Bolt. And although these are all great visions to have and are achievable goals, you need to break them down into bite-sized achievable targets. 

Think, I want to be able to do 10 pull-ups in 6 months or run 5K without stopping. These smaller goals are your stepping stone to your bigger end goals. And when you tick them off one by one, you will feel amazing.

Being Part of a Supportive Environment

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is the key to your fitness journey. I know many people, just like myself who started the fitness journey alone and it was hard to keep myself motivated every day. Until I met some great like-minded people in the gym who were sharing the same journey as me and now have become long-time friends. 

One piece of advice I will give to anybody is not to feel intimidated by anybody. Everybody is on their personal fitness journey and nobody is better than anybody. 

I have spoken to many people who were scared to join the gym because they were beginners and were worried about what other people would think if their form was wrong.  I’m here to tell you that nobody cares and if you spoke with a lot of people in the gym, they understand how hard the fitness journey is and are more than willing to help you. 

The fitness community is one of the most supportive communities!

The Power of Routine

Organisation, routine, and commitment! That is all you need when it comes to staying motivated with your fitness goals. My routine is the only thing that has kept me on track for the past 5 years. It has changed due to work, personal life, etc – but I always ensured that my goals at the gym were reached regardless!

Making your workout a non-negotiable of your day, just like brushing your teeth is what will transform you into a fitness champion! It doesn’t have to be 5 am, it can be when you’re done with your day and you need to sweat off all the stress and pump some weights. Find a time that works for you and stick to it!

Have a read of: Do I Need A Structured Workout Plan For The Gym?

Navigating Setbacks

Had more than 1 cheat day than you planned for? Did you miss the gym a few days in a row? Ahh, we’ve all been there and there’s nothing to feel bad about because it happens to everyone. 

I’ve had days where a chocolate muffin was exactly what I needed and that’s exactly what I had. It made me feel crap about myself but I still went to the gym the next day and said I am going to have to work extra hard to burn off that small chocolate muffin that had me in a headlock!

Don’t panic. It’s okay. The most important thing you need to remind yourself is that you’re going to get back up, stay committed to your routine and achieve your fitness goals. 

Celebrate Small Wins

If you’re a newbie to the fitness world and you see people flexing in the mirror showing off their biceps or checking out their leg growth – these are people celebrating small wins! People sharing their fitness progress on social media – that’s them celebrating their small wins. 

Celebrating these small wins builds a positive association with your fitness goals. 

Join A Supportive Community

The purpose of Barbell and Bands was to be a community and space where everybody feels welcome regardless of their fitness goals. It can be hard to follow fitness influencers on social media because their genetics may be different, you don’t know if they’ve had plastic surgery or you don’t even know if the video is edited anymore. 

Your fitness is unique to you. Do not let anybody throw you off guard!

Remember, stick to your routine, crush your goals and most importantly have fun and love yourself through the process!

Do you have motivation tips or stories? I’d love to hear them! Share your experiences in the comments below, and let’s keep this motivation train going. Remember, we’re in this together, and together, we can achieve anything we set our minds to.

Join our newsletters to keep motivated with realistic goals, tips and advice below!