by Erik Van Tongerloo

Created on: March 08, 2007   Last Updated: October 22, 2009

We all need exercise for maintaining a good health and to strengthen our muscles. Everyone knows this and there are still many people who don't exercise at all. It is easier to sit in the chair and watch television than all the efforts you need for exercise. Motivation is the necessary factor to start and maintain an exercise program.

It is not always easy to have this motivation and many people are creative in finding excuses, for example not enough time, too tired or no energy. It is time to break these excuses and search a strategy to develop a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips which may help you to stay motivated:

*Choosing the right exercise

If you want to stay motivated; you need to choose for an exercise you like. If you don't like running; it has no sense to practise this sport. Maybe you can start this exercise program for a few weeks but after some time you don't have the courage and motivation anymore to maintain your exercise program. It is really necessary to choose a sport you really like. There is plenty of choice, maybe you like walking, cycling, fitness, swimming or any other exercise; enjoying your sport is always necessary to avoid searching excuses for skipping your regular exercise routine.

*Realistic goals and routine

It is not necessary to exercise every day but it is useful to determine an attainable goal for your exercises. Maybe you can make a plan to exercise three or four times each week and make exercise as a priority of these days. Without a realistic goal you will easier skip some days of exercise and lose the motivation. If your goals are too easy you can always change them and increase your minimum of exercises.

There is a certain routine necessary to maintain the motivation to regular exercise. Realistic goals can also mean to develop a realistic speed and endurance of your exercise; for example running 5 km in 20 minutes or a schedule for building up your training program until you have the ability to run one hour without stopping.

*Exercise in group or with a partner

The social aspect is also important to stay motivated. If you exercise with a friend or you join a club, you will likely have more fun during your exercise. You can talk with other people and you make appointments for exercising together. Joining a club has the benefit that there are fixed days when you have to exercise. For example, club training on Tuesday and Thursday; you will have the motivation to go these specific days to the club training and you

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