Keeping up the day to day of working out can be tough. Motivation is key, but keeping up that motivation, particularly if you don’t like working out, can be just as difficult as saying no to that extra piece of cake. Well The Health and Fitness Guide offers 12 Keys to Staying Motivated:

# 1. Vary your routine every so often to prevent boredom and provide enhanced benefits by working different muscle fibers within the same broad muscle groups. Try different exercises; try doing more reps and lighter weights one day; more weight and less reps another day, etc.
#2. A little bit is much better than nothing and in fact goes a long way. While an hour or so 3 to 4 times a week is great, exercising for 15 to 20 minutes once or twice a week is much better than no exercise.
#3. Work with a trainer when bored or discouraged– even if it is just for a few sessions – to get you back on the right track, learn some new things and rejuvenate your workout.
#4. View work-out time as “your time” to escape from the demands placed on you from others and take care of yourself. Get in a “zone” by focusing on the music you’re listening to, the results you will achieve or how good you will feel after your workout.
#5. Write down your goals – You are more likely to remain committed to them. Also, keep a diary of your workouts and your progress – what gets recorded and measured gets improved.
#6. Workout with a friend – you will push each other and time will go by faster.

Keep reading for the other six.

What do you think?

Do any of these tips resonate with you?

When do I get to be a Skinny Bitch?

So how do you stay motivated when you’re not seeing any results?

What’s going to keep you going to the gym or doing that workout video or waking up early to run everyday?

I ask the question because that’s the situation I find myself in right now. My weight is fluctuating between 165lbs – 169lbs which is down from my high of 172lbs, but nowhere near the 140lbs I’m trying to get back too.

It’s beyond frustrating.

I know that my body is prone to weight gain and not so much weight loss. I also know that I gain muscle easily as well so that’s a bit of consolation. So except for the occassional experience with back fat (that’s gone now by the way) I’m not saggy or flabby and I still have a small waist and relatively flat stomach.

But still..

I’m tired of being fat.

And all the running and walking and jumping doesn’t seem to be doing the trick.

Sigh.

It can be tough.

Ultimately I don’t have any major words of wisdom, but to keep going to the gym, doing those videos and waking up and running. I think you have to be very methodical about it. Tracking your weight, being congzinant of what you eat and making the necessary changes if what you’re currently doing isn’t working. Basically you just keep pluggin away because the alternative isn’t an option.

225.6!!!!!

Hello Lovely People!!

Gotta run to another hiking expedition, so this will be short….Weighed in Friday at 227.6 for a contest loss of 7.9 pounds for the month – yay!

Wanted to keep the momentum going, so I tried faster walking/slow jogging for a few blocks of my nightly walk.

Got on the scale this morning, and danced all thru the house!! 19.2 lbs. lost so far!!! Maybe I will make my goal after all!

Talk at ya later!!

OH! And a big welcome to Nona from England! Can’t wait to hear from the other side of the pond!

So what motivates you?

This is an important question that you need to seriously think about and answer. Really. Everyone wants to lose weight but not everyone wants to do what it takes to lose weight. And that’s the key between those who lose the weight and keep it off and those who never start or who gain the weight back.

So I ask again: What motivates you?

My motivation is vanity. Yeah I know that may be bad but it’s true. I like being able to wear little black dresses and stilettos. I like being able to fit into my skinny jeans. I like believing I look good when I walk out the door and having others think so as well. LOL.

So that’s my motivation. What’s yours?

Today is a new day. So what are you waiting for?