Marinate your steak!

Sometimes people mistake this lack of motivation for running out of strength or energy. That happens, but more often than not — if you have the right weights and have been-there-done-that then it’s all in your head. You have to begin to look at the motivation part of exercise as an integral part of your day.

1. Join a gym. There’s nothing more defeating than going to the spare 10′x10′ bedroom to lift some little dumbbells and watch Montel on the TV. You MUST get out of the house and workout around other people. Other people will motivate you just by being around them.

2. Pick a time of day and stick with it. This not only helps you make yourself get to the gym to workout but you synchronize your body to expect it.

3. Plan your diet around your workout. Don’t gorge at lunch on a foot-long chili-dog and extra-large onion rings with that 55-gallon drum of coke. Think light but fulfilling. You don’t want to be feeling your lunch during your workout. And those around you probably don’t want to experience the effects of that chili-dog either.

4. Avoid sugars and food that converts to sugar quickly before your workouts. This includes large doses of bread, non-diet sodas, ice cream .. you get the idea. Once your body gets all that sugar it’ll tell you shortly after that initial rush that it’s time for a nap. Not a good pre-workout strategy.

5. Make some friends in the gym. This part is tricky. I have seen those that seem to only join a gym so they can have somebody to talk with for the entire duration they are ‘exercising’. It’s fine to have a chat during breaks between repetitions but it can be distracting. You must keep your mind focused on the task. Your gym friends should be there to help and encourage, and you can provide the same for them.

6. Determine how to make the gym a lifelong habit. Working out shouldn’t be to lose those 10lbs for the beach vacation. An exercise program is a life-long commitment. As soon as you are able to fix this into your mind you will have more energy and will-power to commit to this part of your lifestyle.

7. Music! If you don’t own an iPod or know how to use one, get one and learn. I prefer to buy music through Amazon downloads because they are DRM free (a long topic just in itself.) I find music one of the most important motivators, especially for cardiovascular workouts. You need something upbeat and motivating. I prefer electronic-techno music for the fast pace when doing cardio. With weight lifting it can be more challenging finding something to make you work harder.

There are dozens of other motivation tips that would take an entire book to cover. Watch here for more motivation tips!