You may hit the gym every once in a while or join a spin class once a month, but you'd really like to make working out a more regular part of your routine. However, trying to find the motivation to exercise can be a challenge even for those who work out on a daily basis. If you are trying to include more fitness into your life or just need a boost to get you going every once in a while, then you'll want to read on for some tips and tricks to stay motivated with your workouts people have shared and summarized.

Motivations and Tips to Keep Exercise

• Start with small steps. If you can't find any motivation to workout, just start by putting on your workout clothes or your gym shoes. This might be all you need to get you out the door and to the gym.
• Know what obstacles you will face sticking with your routine effectively. You can visualize and know the benefits of exercising more but, once you find an excuse not to workout, you will let that keep you from your routine. Identify the problems you will encounter and come up with a plan to overcome them.
• Make a commitment. Whether it's paying a membership fee to the gym or making a deal with a friend that you'll pay them ten dollars each time you miss a workout, you want to have some form of consequence in place. This will give you motivation on those days you don't want to work out by reminding yourself what it will cost you if you don't.
• Keep your workout gear out where you can see it. Any equipment you need for your workout or even your work out shoes and clothes laid out can be the reminder you need to exercise. Having them in plain sight as a reminder every day will keep your workout routine.
• Keep track of your workouts. Whether it's online or with pen and paper, this is a great way to not only stay on top of how often you work out, it also allows you to see the progress you are making, which is motivation in itself.
• Invest in the right gear and clothing. Finding the motivation to exercise means you want to be as comfortable as possible while you do it. The right clothing and shoes can have a huge impact on whether you workout or not.
• Make it a competition. Find some of your co-workers, friends, or family members who also want to start being more active, then make a fun contest out of it. Put money in a pot, buy a gift certificate, or just for bragging rights, but have a reward you are all trying to win by either losing the most weight or clocking in the most time at the gym.
• Keep track of how you feel afterward. Everyone will feel better and happier after working out. Why not do something happy?
• Eating a healthy snack about two hours before you work out will help fuel you with the energy you need to power through your workout. Eat a snack that has protein and complex carbs like a hard-boiled egg on whole wheat bread.
• Increase your iron intake. If you feel extra tired after your workout, it might not just be from the workout. Iron helps convert the food you eat into energy your body uses. Eat more leafy greens, lean meats, and legumes for an extra dose of iron.

• Consume most of your calories earlier in the day. Along with making the right food choices knowing when you should eat will affect your workout. Eating earlier in the day will ensure you have the energy to workout later on in the day.
• Give yourself a non-food award for little accomplishments as well as the big ones for great accomplishments. Workout out three times week, you can get a new nail polish or whatever reward you wouldn't typically purchase for yourself!
• Workout without even realizing it. You don't need much motivation to exercise when you don't know you are actually exercising. Consider playing with your dog outside for an hour or running around with your kids for an hour and you will get all the exercise you need.
• Create your own motivation playlist. Sometimes all you need is to hear the right songs to get your butt moving.
• Include cardio, strength and flexibility workouts in your week. Doing one of each of these types of workouts a week will keep you from getting bored and help you maximize your energy levels and reduce your risk of injury.
• Choose workouts that are compatible with your mood. Feeling sad or depressed? Get outdoors to walk, bike or hike. Miss your kids? Take them to the park to play with them.
• Change the intensity, frequency, duration, or just anything about your workouts at least once a month. This will keep you from plateauing and keeps you challenging yourself.
• Everything you do can be turned into a workout. Get up to change the channels on your TV instead of using the remote, bike to work instead of drive, take the stairs, add lunges into your house shores... When you don't feel like working out, there are plenty of ways you can squeeze in mini workout session throughout the day.

• Get enough sleep. Your body will need the rest to recover and repair itself from your workouts. The more sleep you get, the better and more eager you will be to work out again.
• Write out your goals and hang them where you can see them every day. This will remind you why you want to stick with a regular workout routine.
• Get a workout buddy. One of the best ways to stay accountable and get the motivation to exercise is with a partner. Make sure your workout buddy is someone who will really push you to workout and not let you make excuses to miss a day.
• Schedule in your workouts just as you would do for any other important business meeting or appointments.
• Sign up for a class. Whether it's a spin class or a dance class, sign up for something that will get you moving and keep you moving the entire time. Have fun! Working out should not be a punishment but a reward, so find a program, exercise or class that you really enjoy doing and you are more likely to stick with it.
• For morning workouts, set your alarm away from your bed so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
• Consider your workout time as your own personal quality time. Don't worry or stress about anything else except bettering yourself.
• Eat clean. If you aren't eating healthy, then your workouts aren't going to make you feel much better about yourself. Eating clean and working out go hand in hand.
• Make a list of motivational audio books to workout to. Personal development books are the best ways to work out your body and mind at the same time.
• Work with a personal trainer to help you start your workout routine and stick with it. You don't have to hire them for a year every day or the week, but having a personal trainer every once in a while tell you how to improve your workouts and make correction can be the thing that keeps you motivated.