by Amber Alexander

Created on: October 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

No one starts a workout program with the intention of giving up. Yet many of us, time and again, find ourselves doing exactly that. We can find a thousand things to get in the way of our good intentions. So how do we jump those hurdles? How can we convince ourselves that we do in fact have time? That we are in fact capable?

First and foremost, set some goals. Real, reasonable, short term goals. When your goal is lose 100 lbs, it's easy to get discouraged when it takes longer than expected. Try a quicker goal, such as lose 5 lbs. Or better yet, set a goal that's not to be met on the scale. If this week you set a goal to work out for twenty minutes, next week up it to thirty. Write these goals down, someplace large and visible. Keep setting new goals as you go.

Speaking of meeting goals, it can't hurt to reward yourself. Be careful with this. Your reward should not be food. Instead, perhaps, purchase a new top after you've dropped that first five pounds. Seeing your shrinking body in a new well-fitting garment is a great way to make yourself feel good about what you've accomplished. Challenging yourself to run further and longer? A new pair of running shoes, or perhaps just some new workout music, may fit the bill. Whatever reward you choose, make sure that it is not something which will ultimately hinder your progress.

Also, it is important to find an activity that you like. If you absolutely despise running, no amount of accomplishment or reward will keep you interested long-term. The more you enjoy an activity, the more likely you are to stick with it. Keep trying new things til something clicks. There are so many options. You can exercise outdoors or in a gym. You can go it alone or include others

For a little extra motivation, try relying on other people. It doesn't necessarily have to be an organized sport. Just having a standing meeting to walk with a friend can be a great catalyst. It's a lot harder to bail out on your scheduled workout when you know someone else is depending on you to be there. Pick this person carefully. You don't want an agreeable person who won't make a big stink when you cancel. You want someone who will call you on it, not let you get away with it.

If no one wants to commit to work out with you, or if you are simply more comfortable exercising alone, you can still count on others for help. Don't keep your goals to yourself. Tell people. A friend. A spouse. A coworker. It's much harder to push those goals to the back burner when you know others are watching to see if you succeed. Turn your fear of failure into a positive. Instead of fearing that your workouts won't be successful, turn that to a fear of others knowing that you are a quitter. It may seem like harsh way to look at it, but it's a powerful motivator.

The bottom line for any person trying to begin or stick with a workout program is to find out what works for you. So many of us beat a dead horse trying to mimic the results/methods of a friend/cousin/sister/coworker who had great success. Measuring your goals or your success in reference to another person will absolutely be discouraging.

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