DO YOU BATTLE WITH YOURSELF TO DO SOME FORM OF EXERCISE EACH DAY, EACH WEEK, EACH YEAR? ANDREW MCCOMBE PROVIDES THE SIX KEY TIPS TO STAYING MOTIVATED AND ACHIEVING YOUR FITNESS GOAL.

If you answered ‘yes' to the above question, you are not alone. We all have that conversation in our head, sometimes. You know, the one that says "I need to do some exercise today, but you know what, I just don't feel like it".

But don't despair, it may be that you are just suffering from a lack of motivation, which once easily rectified you will be back doing a form of exercise that you actually enjoy, simply by following one, or all of the six tips below.

Tip One: Long-term motivation comes from within...

Motivation is possibly the biggest determining factor when it comes to being successful with your exercise program. Your level of motivation can make or break your plans. That is why it is so important to be clear on the underlying values and feelings that your exercise program will give you before you even start. Know ‘why' you are performing the exercise program and identify the steps that you will be taking by setting specific and realistic goals. If they are very clear and you feel 100% committed to their achievement then nothing will get in the way of your success. Your subconscious mind works like a heat-seeking missile; it will always hit what it is aiming for. So guarantee your level of exercise success by;
Pursuing activities that you feel passionate about.

Tip Two: A stitch in time saves nine...

If we fail to plan, we plan to fail, At the beginning of each week, or each day, decide what exercise you are going to perform, for how long and at what time. Make sure that you have whatever equipment or support you need. That way, when it is time to take action, you will not have to think about it - you can just turn up and get on with it. Always be sure to identify any potential obstacles that you may encounter with your program and design a strategy to overcome them so that they will not affect your progress toward your exercise goals.

Tip Three: Incorporate fun and variety into your program...

Developing a variety of fun and interesting activities in your program will help you to stay interested and reduce boredom. Fun and variety also reduce the chances of you dropping out and help you to ensure that you have a holistic and well-balanced program that ensures on-going results. Try an outdoor group class one day, a boxing session the next to provide you with added stimulus and to spark further results and motivation.

Tip Four: Train with a friend, group or personal trainer...

Identifying a like-minded person or group of people in your life that has similar exercise goals and that you enjoy training with will support you to achieve your goals a lot faster. Even better, you and your friend(s) may want to hire a personal trainer for a period of time, they will tailor a program specific to your needs, keep you accountable, inspire you to train harder than your friend(s) will and best of all will never miss a session because they don't feel like it.

Tip Five: Acknowledge Yourself...

Often we get caught up in the things that we haven't achieved in our lives, which take our focus away from what is really happening.

If you are struggling to see any personal progress with your exercise routine, then I recommend writing a list of everything you have achieved so far (and this could include your diet and other areas of your life that have shown some positive change. Such as reduced alcohol intake, higher libido and better sleep quality). This will quickly give you a different perspective on your exercise program and the progress you are making toward your goals.

Tip Six: Celebrate Your Success...

Perhaps the best way to acknowledge yourself is to reward yourself every time you achieve a significant goal. Rewarding yourself builds motivation and confidence. Each time you achieve a goal, CELEBRATE! You deserve it!

You will notice, as you begin to achieve your exercise goals, that the feelings of achieving the goals are often the greatest rewards. The feelings of strong self-confidence, self-belief and heightened self-worth that come with achieving your goals are priceless.

Here's to your increased motivation and much awaited return to a successful and fun training program.

Andrew McCombe is the owner of Activate Lifestyle Management. He is a life, business and high performance coach that he combines with his expertise in EFT. For a free copy of 10 Steps to a Life of EASE visit www.activateyourlife.com.au.