7 Sneaky Ways to Make Yourself Work out ...

1. Pay for It in Advance

If you’re a girl on a budget, or if you just hate wasting money, one sneaky way to make yourself work out is to pay for your gym membership in advance. I’ve done this and it works! I felt so bad about the idea of wasting money, I went nearly every single day for that entire year. I wanted to make sure I got my money’s worth!

2. Find a Friend

There’s nothing like a little guilt to motivate you sometimes. If you have a workout buddy, someone who meets you at the track for a run, or who joins you at the gym, you’ll be a lot more likely to show up. One of the best ways to make yourself work out when you’re feeling so unmotivated is to imagine having to explain to your workout buddy why you weren’t there… suddenly all of your excuses just sound lame.

3. Keep a Journal

What’s an even better way to make yourself work out than possibly having to answer to a disappointed workout buddy? How about answering to your future self? I keep a workout journal, listing my run and time… I hate seeing blank days, or worse, two blank days in a row… this keeps me motivated to work out!

4. Set Your Alarm

If you find that you just can’t squeeze in a workout after a busy day at work, maybe you ought to try getting up 20 minutes earlier as a way to make yourself work out. 20 minutes is nothing, and there’s no cup of coffee that’s going to give you the burst of energy that a morning workout can. So set your alarm a little early and get your fitness on!

5. Get Your Clothes Ready the Night before

I always have a long list of excuses for why I shouldn’t have to run every morning: I’m too tired. I can’t find my favorite pair of running shorts. My pink sports bra is in the laundry. Two of those three excuses are irrelevant if I’ve laid out my clothes the night before, so I always do that now. Hey, if nothing else, it gives my brain something else to do while I’m running — think of creative new excuses for NOT running. How many calories does that burn, I wonder?

6. Reward Yourself

You’ve been eyeing that new pair of waxed jeans for months now, but you just can’t bring yourself to buy them in a size 14… why not reward yourself with them when you reach a size 10? Having a very specific (and very stylish) reward in mind is another great, and sneaky, way to make yourself work out.

7. Make It a Competition

I’m not a very competitive person, but even I can’t stand it when my Facebook friends are all posting their weight loss and fitness updates and I don’t have any to add. If you’re of a competitive nature, why not make your fitness regime and schedule a friendly competition? This may be the best way to motivate you, the best way to make yourself work out!

With so many super-sneaky and incredibly effective ways to make yourself work out, what are you still doing sitting here in front of the computer? Which of these ideas do you think will work best for you? Or do you have another tip or motivation to share? Do tell!

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