Stay Motivated!!!

Staying motivated to keep on keeping on with your workouts is not easy for anyone, especially someone who is new to fitness and isn't in the habit of working out on a regular basis. It takes dedication, will power, and what feels like blood, sweat, and tears. I know that especially for newbies, staying committed can be difficult because you have all of these expectations for your new, awesome body, and have yet to see results—you only have soreness and more than a bit of doubt that you can makeover your body.

I've listed below some of the things that help me keep keepin' on.

1. Find a buddy to workout with. Team Beachbody has a wonderful network of people in their online support community and in the Super Gym (formerly known as WOWY), their online gym, where you can "virtually" work out with people who may be doing the exact same program as you. They'll know what you're going through and be familiar with your struggles from personal experience.
2. Set a goal for yourself. Then tape it to your refrigerator or bathroom mirror. A word of caution! Be realistic when doing this. Again, many people have the tendency to set drastic goals which are unattainable in short periods of time. So your goal shouldn't say, "I will look like Angelina Jolie in 3 weeks" or "I'll drop 60 pounds this month." That's just setting yourself up for failure. Start small, and as each goal is achieved, set a new one!
3. Reward yourself when you reach a goal. Maybe there's a new pair of workout shoes that you've been eyeing or perhaps a bikini for the summertime. Maybe it's treating yourself to a massage ... that feels pretty good on muscles you've been working. Whatever it is, you should reward yourself for staying committed & meeting your goal. You'll thank yourself, and wonder what reward you will get next.
4. Don't beat yourself up if you miss a workout. If you skip a workout, don't let it be the end of the world (or your commitment to working out). Remember that life happens and fitness is a lifetime process. Schedule your next workout and get busy getting fit.
5. Make it fun. Exercising can be dull and routines have the tendency to become stale over time. So switch up your workouts and do a program that keeps your attention and allows you to reach your goals.
6. Don't undo your hard work just being social. I have friends who kill themselves during their workouts and then go meet friends over pizza or mexican food and beer. If you can't skip that, be aware of all your hardwork and make smart choices! OR skip that altogether and make the offer to grill out at your house!