8 ways you can stay motivated to get fit for the summer

23 June 2017

We’ve all started to notice the weather getting warmer and with it, our desire to slip into that cute new summer dress or cool pair of shorts. But what happens when that outfit, that looked so perfect last year, doesn’t quite fit right anymore? When we’re so busy it can be hard to put ourselves first in our effort to get fit for summer, but here are eight ways to ensure you get the summer body you deserve.

1.Setting your goals

The first thing you need to do is work out what you hope to achieve. Do you want to lose those last few lbs? Or do you want to work on your cardio? In a working environment, establishing an end goal helps to self-motivate an employee; the same is true here.

2.Group activities

Going to the gym or eating healthy can be a little dull on your own – so get some friends involved! Maybe there’s a boot camp you’ve both wanted to try, but never found the time to? Having another person there who wants to achieve similar things you do can be a great motivational tool; in fact, research has proved that a person is more likely to stick to a weight loss regime if they are paired with a friend. One such study showed that 76% of people working out alone were motivated to complete their fitness programme, while a huge 95% of those sharing the experience with a friend did.

3.Remind yourself why

Sometimes, especially after a long day at work, it can be hard to convince yourself to go to the gym. But its times like these that you need to remind yourself why you’re doing this. Think about that gorgeous outfit you want to fit into, or perhaps there’s a special event coming up and you want to look your best? When all else fails, a motivational ‘fitspiration’ picture can be your best friend.

4.What you put into your body

What you put into your body can have a direct impact on how you feel. Filling yourself with junk food can not only cause you to gain weight but, due to its lack of nutrients, may also cause you to feel too lethargic to work out. On the other hand, adding more leafy greens to your diet will not only make you feel better, but they can also encourage weight loss. Couple this with drinking more water over carbonated drinks and you’re onto a diet which will help you feel great, increase your metabolism and help keep your eyes on the end goal.

5. Reward Yourself

Even if you haven’t lost all the weight, you wanted to quite yet, little rewards along the way can be a great motivational tool. Set yourself interval aims and each time you reach one treat yourself to something you really want; maybe you’re running out of your favourite lipstick?

6. Force yourself

 There are days where you just don’t want to do anything: perhaps it’s raining, and you really don’t want to get out of bed. It’s particularly important on these days that you force yourself to go for that run you said you’d do; because if you don’t, it’s very easy for one missed day to become two… and then three…  and then… you see where we’re going with this. It might be difficult, but we promise you will be so happy you pushed yourself in the end.

7.Change up your routine

Getting bored of eating the same three healthy meals because they’re the only thing you know how to make? Change things up and experiment – just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat boring. The internet is a great place to find recipes, with The Domestic Geek on Youtube being a great example; she has multiple videos dedicated to healthy smoothies that are a great and healthy breakfast option.

8.A little goes a long way

You don’t need to dedicate all of your time to make yourself healthier, and your goals aren’t as far away as you think they are. Want to shave a few inches off your waistline? Well if you can just find enough time in your day to walk an extra  470 steps a day then you could quickly lose a quarter of an inch; that’s around an extra five minutes of walking a day. Doing something small like this which yields visible results can help motivate you and push you towards those bigger goals.

It might take a while to achieve that ‘summer bod’ you’re aiming for but, if you’re motivated, the journey there can be fun, and the results will be amazing.