Starting and maintaining a gym routine can be tricky. Busy work weeks, vacations, and keeping up with the kids are just a few obstacles that often get in the way. If you are looking for some motivation or advise to start/stick to a gym routine, have a look below for some helpful tips so you don't lose sight of your fitness goals.
-Realize that the benefits of exercising go beyond weight loss and muscle building. That’s right! Working out can give you a stronger immune system, reduces chronic pain, strengthens bones, relieves constipation, prevents strokes, and since exercising releases endorphins it also improves our moods.
-Don’t get discouraged if you don’t notice results right away. It will take a few weeks or more to begin to notice changes in your body. This should motivate you to continue working out. 
Think of it this way: each workout is one step closer to your goal than the last workout, so keep it up!
-Can’t get to a gym? Join an online challenge. This option makes it easy to hold yourself accountable for sticking to your fitness routine because it involves inputting your progress into an app, your personal journal, or even social media. Most exercises in these challenges do not require going to a gym, so this is a great option if you are a busy parent or have a crazy work schedule preventing you to get out of the house when it comes time to work out. The challenges come with full body workout guides, pictures and videos. Another benefit is that minimal equipment is needed to complete the workouts, so you end up saving some cash. Another perk is that most challenges come with meal suggestions and recipes. So, while you’re losing weight, you’re gaining some great healthy recipes you can show your friends!
-Write it down. Each time you go to the gym, record it in your agenda. You can also pre-plan your workouts - you are less likely to skip your workout if you've already written it in your calendar. Once you’ve been doing this for a few weeks/months, it is very rewarding to look back to see how many times you’ve gone. This will motivate you to continue going regularly in the future!
- Don’t be intimidated by the regulars. Even they were new to the gym at some point in their lives, so focus on yourself and your goals instead of comparing yourself to others!
-Go straight from work instead of going home first. If you prefer to work out in the evening, it’s easy to leave work with the intention of going to the gym after dinner, but once you’re home and relaxing, it makes it difficult to find the motivation to turn off the TV and get to the gym. Instead, bring your gym bag with you to work and go straight to the gym. You will thank yourself that you got it over with and can spend the rest of the night relaxing.
-Make working out a top priority. There are 24 hours in the day, spend at least 1 of them doing a physical activity. Whether that be an intense cardio session, or a light flow class, your body will thank you for it later.
-Try new activities. 
Gyms have a wide variety of fitness classes to choose from to make your weekly gym routine fun and exciting. Not to mention, your body will benefit more if you change up your activities throughout the week instead of doing the same routine over and over. Why not try a weight lifting class on a Monday, a cycling class on a Wednesday, and a Pilates class on a Friday? Take a look at the classes that your gym offers and give them a try. You just may surprise yourself and be a Zumba pro!
-Sign up for a boot camp. Boot camps are great because they cost less than having a personal trainer, but you get similar benefits. Think of it as sharing a personal trainer with a small group of people. The classes are scheduled usually 3 X a week, which make it easier to hold yourself accountable for attending. This option is also perfect for beginners because once the camp is over, you can take what you learned in the camp and do those same activities in the gym, and you just may make a new gym buddy at the same time!
Getting started is always the hardest part, but after just a few weeks you will find that it begins to feel like a natural and enjoyable part of your day. Give these tips and tricks a try and don't feel discouraged if you don't succeed right away!
