Staying Motivated to Workout: Health & Fitness Bloggers Share Their Answers

Deciding to make fitness a priority in your life is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. But for some, that decision develops in three phases:

Phase #1
Empowerment: “I’m all over this. My body is my temple. I am a beast! DON’T MESS WITH THE BEAST!”

Phase #2
Annoyance: “Ugh, I’m sick of getting up early to workout. Those squats make me sore. Why can’t I just look like her, she NEVER goes to the gym. I really hate her. I mean, I like her but I hate her.”

Phase #3
Defeat: “I swear I didn’t throw away those stretchy pants, I KNOW they are in here somewhere. And where is that damn bag of Cheetos? The Bachelor is on in 15 minutes!!”

We’ve all been there at one point or another. But how can we avoid hitting phase two and three and stay on the ‘wagon’? I’ve interviewed 12 health and fitness bloggers to find out just how they stay motivated to workout and keep fitness a priority. Plus they’ve also shared their favorite workouts to help us mix up our fitness routine and avoid dreaded workout boredom!

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Brie from Lean Clean Brie:

“I stay motivated to workout by creating attainable goals for myself to work on each day. Goals that I create range from running a half marathon in two months or moving up a weight set in three weeks. By creating goals that are not too far out in the future and are things I know I am capable of if I put the work in each day, then I am continually motivated to workout and push myself towards those goals. Having goals that I plan out how I will attain through training plans helps me to know what I need to do each day, instead of waking up in the morning and wondering what I should do to workout. When I wake up with a plan, I know exactly what to get done and how that will help me reach  my goal. It is also important to reward yourself once you do hit that goal, whether it be a new workout top or a pedicure, and to continue to set new goals to work towards. That will keep the motivation going on throughout the entire year as you set healthy habits for the long run!”

Favorite Workout: Total Body Tabata Workout

Margaret from Simple Fit Foodie:

“I stay motivated by reminding myself of the feeling I get post-workout. No matter my mood good or bad going into the workout, I always leave a workout feeling re-energized, less stressed, and happier. I like to set goals for myself (time, distance, etc) and when I reach those goals, you cant beat that feeling I get of self-pride and accomplishment!”

Favorite Workout: 20-Minute High-Intensity Interval Workout

Beverley from Sweaty & Fit:

“Sometimes staying motivated throughout the entire year is tough! I get asked a lot how I manage to do it, and to be honest, sometimes it’s REALLY HARD (although I’ll never say that out loud ;)) For me, working out and getting in exercise has become such a routine, that if I skip it, something feels off. And 9 times out of 10, I’ll make sure I make fitness a priority above all other things, to ensure I never feel like I’m stressed out, or don’t have enough time. One of my biggest motivators when it comes to working out would be seeing the changes within myself. Hitting a new personal best on a deadlift or a squat is a big inspiration for me to push myself harder, and see what else I can accomplish. It’s also a wonderful thing to be able to see the way your body adapts, and changes shape, the stronger you get. With that being said, it is also so important to learn to love your body and to appreciate it for what it can do. Taking a rest day or two without feeling guilt is something that I believe everyone can find value in and benefit from.”

Favorite Workout: 14 Minute INSANE Butt & Arm Workout

Kellen from A Cup of Kellen:

“There are some mornings when all I want to do is lay in my nice warm bed rather than workout. However, I find that it’s easier to get out of bed if I have all of my workout clothes laid out, shoes and all! The more you plan ahead, the easier it is to make fitness a priority. I stay motivated by switching up my workouts. I rarely do the same thing two days in a row which not only prevents workout boredom but also keeps my body guessing. I love taking spin classes, going on interval runs, doing HIIT workouts from the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guides, and hiking with friends. I’m a firm believer in that fitness should be fun so if you find a workout you love, it’s easier to stay motivated. I’m also pro rest days – sometimes a day off is just what your body needs to recover and get you back on track.”

Favorite Workout: 30 Minute Pyramid Run

Gina from Fitnessista:

“Teaching fitness helps me make fitness a priority, and my students motivate me. When I walk into a room to teach, I know they took the time and effort to be there, so I want to make it worth their while! When I’m teaching an active class (like Spin or BODYPUMP), I work a little bit harder than I usual would, and it inspires me to push myself. For my own workouts, I like to constantly change up my routine and take classes, so I never feel bored. One of my favorite workout tools is the TRX.”

Favorite Workout: Total Body TRX Circuit

Ashley from Fit Mitten Kitchen:

“I make fitness (exercise) and health one of my number one priorities because I know it helps me function better on a day-to-day basis. For me, working out relieves stress, which allows me to have more energy, and I’m happier overall. Even though I’ve been consistently exercising for several years now, I know it can be hard to get going, and stay motivated to keep going. During the weeks where I’ve taken two to three days off in a row from exercise, that’s when I find it becomes increasingly hard jump back into a routine. If I ever find myself in that position (which I have many times) I like to either A) look up a higher intensity workout I haven’t done before and give it a try or b) take a group fitness class, maybe even a new one if the opportunity is there. Sometimes all I need is just a fresh workout and a group of people to get sweaty with to get me going again! I think once people make exercise a habit, they’ll start to realize how many benefits it can have on both their mental and physical health, and they won’t want to go backwards. I’m always striving to be my best, healthiest self and that gives me the motivation in the end to just keep at it, no matter what.”

Favorite Workout: Total Body Weight Training Pyramid Workout

Jill from Jill Conyers:

“When Chrissa asked me how I stay motivated to workout my first thought was I’m never at a loss for workout motivation. Really. I’m not, but that hasn’t always been the case. When I first started working out consistently I literally made daily deals with myself. I would give the workout 10 minutes of 100% effort and if I wanted to quit after that I could. Guilt free and no pressure. I can’t remember a single time I quit after the 10 minutes. Not long after that I started creating habits and routines. I constantly reminded myself of my “why” and remembered the incredible feeling after a workout. My best advice for staying motivated? Don’t give up. Keep trying different things until you find what works for you. Maybe it’s a workout buddy or joining a gym. Maybe try creating a vision board that you look at everyday. Whatever it is make the effort to do it. And, if you’re just starting out, stick with it until you experience progress. It will be tough in the beginning, but that feeling of success will always be a BIG motivator!”

Favorite Workout: Make Time for Fitness Series – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Jess from Hello to Fit:

“I stay motivated to work out by putting on some good jams and thinking about how good I’ll feel afterwards, because I feel so sluggish when I don’t get up and MOVE! Also, setting short-term goals helps me stay on track.”

Favorite Workout: Strengthen Your Core with this 3-Limb Plank

Jennifer from The Fit Fork:

“I’ve been a runner for more than 25 years, racing all the distances from one mile to 50 miles! It’s impossible to stay motivated all the time, so when I start to feel burned out, I scale back the running and focus on some of the other active hobbies I love (but may not be as “good” at). Practicing yoga, doing WODs with CrossFit friends or paddle boarding on the lake near my house, help keep me well-rounded and motivated mentally and physically – and sometimes stepping out of my comfort zone helps me discover new things I LOVE (current obsession is obstacle course racing).  Even though I consider myself a very focused and fairly competitive athlete, I try to practice and share the idea of #KeepingFitFun – that mindset makes it easier to stay excited about working out, translate those behaviors into a permanent way of life, and role model the lifestyle children (BTW, I have three teenage boys). Right now at 48, I feel stronger and fitter overall than at 28 when I was a lightning speed marathoner but just single-mindedly focuses on a single event. Being able to enjoy an active life for the next 40+ years is another thing that keeps me motivated – I want to be that 90 year old out there running races!”

Favorite Workout: 20 Minute Kettlebell Blaster

Kat from Katalyst Health Blog:

“My motivation to workout stems from a constant need to push myself. I find joy in strength – both physical and mental – so a day really isn’t complete until I’ve broken a sweat and gotten a workout in. I also love the feeling of accomplishment after a workout. Knowing I just hit a PR on my squat or performed 100 burpess makes me feel like I can fly! To me, there really is no better feeling than a workout, which is why I’m always motivated to get my sweat on!”

Favorite Workout: Reps-Based Workout

Emily from Life in Spandex:

“I live by two rules when it comes to fitness. Number one, don’t get injured. And number two, consistency. They both go hand-in-hand. If you do too much too fast you’re likely to either injure yourself or get so burnt out you never want to step foot back inside a gym again! Balance is vital to long-term fitness. Come January 1, if you dive straight in to a rigorous fitness routine you are putting yourself at risk of breaking these two rules. You want to find a routine that pushes you enough to see results but doesn’t put you at risk of injuries or over-use fatigue. I stay motivated by creating a balance between my workouts, rest-time, healthy eating habits, and yummy food indulgences. I understand that motivation is not a constant. I prepare mentally and physically for days where I’d rather binge watch Netflix than workout or just can’t pass up some homemade chocolate-chip cookies. And, hello, who wants to live a life without House of Card marathons or dessert?! I for sure don’t. For me, depriving myself of the things I love doesn’t equal being fit and healthy. In fact, it can mean the exact opposite.For fitness to be a part of your entire life, you can’t expect perfection. Striving for it can lead to unhealthy, obsessive behavior towards food and fitness. And, it’s just not any fun!”

Favorite Workout: Baby It’s Cold Outside Booty Workout

How do YOU stay motivated to workout and keep fitness a priority in your daily life?