Action Steps:

1. Set Reasonable Goals

Focusing on your goals will keep you motivated. What do you want to achieve with exercise? Write this down and put it somewhere where you will see it every day. See Setting and Acheiving Goals for more.

2. Make a Plan

What are the steps you need to take to get you to your goals? For instance, if your goal is to drop one dress or pants size in eight weeks, one step you would take would include getting to the gym 3 to 4 times per week for 50 minute workouts. Write these steps down under your goals.

3. Keep a record

Get a calendar and use it to track your progress at the gym. Write down how much weight you lift, the max incline, speed, and/or resistance you can work at on a machine, and anything else you think is relevant after every workout. Don’t focus too much on scale weight for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Most people gain water weight when they start exercising. This is a natural part of the process of getting in shape. It will disappear in time, and the scale will drop. But it’s easy to get discouraged when your weight doesn’t change in the first month. This is why it’s so valuable to track your progress in other ways.