It might be too rainy for a run, too late to catch a class or simply too early for a weekend morning. No matter what, one thing is for sure: It’s easy to talk yourself out of a workout.
You’ve probably heard that, once you get into a routine, exercising will become a part of your life that you look forward to. This is probably true for some exercisers on most days, as a good sweat session does leave you feeling great. However, you’re likely to have days where you need an extra dose of inspiration.
One place to get yours is on the Internet, where fitness fans everywhere have created memes designed to motivate those who see them. We’ve gathered ten of the best images from the web:
Browse them to kick-start your next session or to inspire you to start a new healthy lifestyle.
A photo posted by Muse (@choosemuse) on Aug 24, 2015 at 1:52pm PDT
A photo posted by Bluefin Software (@bluefinapps) on Jul 24, 2015 at 5:00am PDT
A photo posted by Caissie Crafton (@motivated_fitness5) on Aug 20, 2015 at 11:31am PDT
Just in case this fit-spiration isn’t enough to get you amped up for your next workout, we’ve also put together a list of 4 ways to further motivate yourself.
Reflect
Every exerciser has a reason for starting. Whether you didn’t like the way you looked in a particular outfit or you had dreams of crossing that half-marathon finish line, there was something that inspired you to pick up a fitness habit. If you’re having trouble finding motivation, take your mind back to that very first day, the one where you found the impetus for your workout routine. That should get you out of the door!
Sweat in Packs
If you’re exercising alone, you’re more likely to slack off — no one is depending on you, after all. On the other hand, if you have a workout scheduled with a buddy, you won’t want to bail unless you’re truly under the weather or otherwise unable.
Perhaps you don’t have a fit-minded friend in your circle. If so, soak up the social vibes of a group fitness class. The camaraderie will fuel you to finish a tough cardio or strength-training routine alongside your peers. Lots of classes have high-energy music and even lighting, which will keep your mind off of the tough workout you’re actually performing.
Great Effort, Great Reward
There’s a reason why kids respond so well to “If/then” scenarios that end in a reward: It works. In fact, experts say that the same goes for exercise routines. You can start giving yourself a little treat to look forward to post-workout in order to get yourself through a sweat session. Perhaps you’re addicted to a new show on Netflix. Rather than binge-watch the entire series in a weekend, you should make the next episode your reward for working out. If one workout equals one episode, you might find yourself jonesing to hit the gym each day.
Of course, you should make sure that your reward is something that won’t interrupt your fitness goals, as good as an ice cream sundae would taste after a weight-lifting workout or spin class.
See Your Success
You might look in the mirror and think, “Why bother? I don’t look any different.” The truth is that you are different. Whether it’s due to lost inches, slightly greater muscle definition or a higher number of reps per set, you’re better than you were when you started.
To keep everything in perspective, keep track of your routine. You’ll be able to see how much weight and reps you’ve added, as well as which simple moves have been swapped out for more difficult ones. If you snap before-and-after pictures, you can see the differences in your body more easily, too.
The most important thing, though, is that you feel better about yourself and that your health is better than it was. If that’s not enough to inspire your workout, we don’t know what is.
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