How to stay motivated on your fitness journey -

We're not all like Rocky, who had a coach telling him to eat raw eggs and chase chickens to get in shape. Sometimes motivation can be a problem. Even though it's part of our natural state as humans—let's be honest—exercising is tiring, both physically and mentally. 

The rewards most definitely outweigh any downsides of working out, but sometimes fatigue accumulates, we get tired, and for one reason or another, we start losing motivation and deviating from our goals. 

If this is your case and you've been skipping the gym, then this is the gallery for you. Here we list a number of ways you can get back on track with your workouts. Click on.

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Hire a personal trainer - Sometimes, all you need is a bit of direction and someone to get you on the right path. Shop around and find a PT that has experience in the goals you're trying to reach.

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Take progress photos - We know, you don't want to be like one of your gym pet peeves, who is constantly taking mirror selfies. But taking photos is actually beneficial to measure progress. Try to take pictures at the same place, under the same light conditions.

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Find a workout buddy - Nothing is more motivating than having someone train with you. You can help and push each other. And there's always a healthy amount of competition that can give your motivation a boost.

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Try different exercises - Variety is key in all aspects of life, and it's no different when it comes to exercise. Try a new workout and keep things fresh in the gym.

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Take a break - Sometimes, in order to stay motivated, you simply need to take a short break. Just don't exercise for a few days. This will allow your body and mind to recover and you'll be more motivated to work out.

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Film yourself working out - Sometimes you need to see yourself performing the exercises to improve your form. This will motivate you to correct any issues and get better.

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Visualize success - Visualization is a powerful tool. Try to visualize your ultimate goal, how great you'll look and feel, and all the amazing things you'll do when you achieve it.

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Enter a transformation challenge - Why not take part in a transformation challenge? This will keep you accountable and will definitely keep you motivated to reach your goal!

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Try a pre-workout - A pre-workout supplement can give you an extra energy boost, and sometimes that's all you need after a hard day's work. Start with a low dose and increase overtime if needed.

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Try a pre-workout - Beware, as many of these supplements contain stimulants such as caffeine. If you don't drink coffee or tea, you can experiment with these first before you move on to supplements.

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Reward yourself with a cheat meal - Reward yourself if you follow through with your diet and workout plan during the week. Choose a specific time, like dinner on Saturday, and eat whatever you want.

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Buy new workout gear - We all like new clothes and shoes, so why not go shopping for workout gear? You don't have to spend a lot of money, and you'll look great the next time you break a sweat.

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Track your weight (if you have to) - Unless your goal is to lose or gain a considerable amount of weight, this is not the best indicator of progress. Nevertheless, it is another tool you can use, depending on your goals.

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Keep track of your body fat percentage - There are many methods of measuring body fat—some more reliable than others—but you can try calipers. These will roughly measure subcutaneous fat through skin folds.

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Keep track of your body fat percentage - There are many online calculators you can use, though don't forget these are just guidelines. Also, be aware of the limitations of this method. Visceral fat (stored within the abdominal cavity), for instance, cannot be measured using calipers.

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Take measures - Grab a tape and measure your waist, chest, arms, and legs. You will be surprised how small changes will go unnoticed to the naked eye over time, but are actually there.

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Set daily goals - Goal-setting is a great tool to achieve success. You might have yours set in the medium and long term, but sometimes you need to set daily goals to keep motivated.

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Set daily goals - Things like adding some weight in a specific exercise or running an extra mile can give you the daily challenge you need to feel more motivated.

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Visit a new gym - Try out a new gym in your area. Sometimes changing your environment will boost your motivation. It's also a chance to see what other gyms are like, so you'll know your options in case you want to leave your current gym.

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Find a fitness group - If classes are not your thing but you still want to socialize with like-minded people, then try to find a group of people who are into the same type of training.

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Work out in the morning - If you have a busy schedule and keep skipping your workouts at the end of the day, experiment with a morning workout. If getting to the gym is a problem, maybe you can do a short and intense workout.

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Download a new playlist - Sometimes it's really that simple. All you need is new music to get you pumped!

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Exercise outside - If you're always in the gym, why not change things up and exercise outdoors once in a while? It will be a breath of fresh air, literally.

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Keep a workout journal - This is a great way to stay motivated. Keep a journal of how much weight you lift for how many reps, how long you run and the time it takes you, etc. This is a great way to measure progress.

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Try a different diet - Keto, Paleo, intermittent fasting? Is there a diet you've always wanted to try? This is the time to do it. It will be a new challenge and will surely help your motivation. You don't have to follow through with it if it doesn't work for you, so just see it as a new experience in your life.

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Join a class - Always wanted to try a different gym class? This is the time to do it.

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Enter a competition - It doesn't matter if you're an experienced athlete or a newbie, there is always a competition you can enter. This will give you all the motivation you need, and then some!

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Try fasted cardio - Some people swear by it, and while it might seem daunting to work out on an empty stomach, it can actually be beneficial for some people.

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Look for fitness motivation - Just look online for fitspo. There is plenty of stuff out there, especially on social media. Sometimes you just need to be inspired by other people who achieved similar goals to yours.

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Set up a home gym - There are numerous benefits to having a home gym. Not sure how to set one up? Just check out our guide on how to set up the perfect home gym.

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