5 things that WILL motivate you to go to the gym

Made 2020 the year you finally renew your gym membership and exercise more? You definitely won't be alone. Finding the motivation to keep up your new healthy lifestyle can be frustrating, though, with many of us finding a million and one reasons not to workout.

Our biggest excuses are: It's too cold out, it gets dark too early, we can't be bothered, it's too much effort, we'd prefer to stay in watch Netflix and eat... the list goes on.

However, if you're one of those people who actually wants to go to the gym and make this year your fittest and healthiest yet, then we've got the top five things you need to stay motivated this January. You're welcome!

Five things that will ACTUALLY help you go to the gym

According to a study by Virgin Active, there are five things to do that will help people get motivated for the gym - having two gym buddies, preparing your gym gear two-and-a-half hours in advance and minimising the time between the gym and going to work.

The research also found that setting a realistic goal on how often you want to go to the gym each week and keeping yourself warm so that the cold weather won't put you off going will help keep your spirits high.

The 2,000 adults who took part in the study also shared their own tips around staying motivated, they included; going to bed no later than 9.44pm, telling at least one person of their plans (so it’s harder to back out) and have three different sets of fitness clothes, so they always have something to wear.

Other tips include leaving two days between sessions and heading to the gym straight from the office, so you don’t have a chance to sit down.

That's pretty good advice to be honest...

The research also found the top 20 excuses people say to get out of going to the gym, how many of them are you guilty of?

If you're trying to stay motivated to go to the gym but are struggling worry not, as Hannah Davies, Master Personal Trainer at Virgin Active Aldersgate, shared her top tips to enhance any workout...

Fit it into your lifestyle:

Whether that’s setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier and getting your workout in first thing or using your lunch break to burn off those calories. Make sure you plan it into your day, so you can stick to it. Be time efficient and train smart!

Make it social:

Grab a friend and train together, or join a team or group and become part of a community where you can be accountable, be pushed and socialise with like-minded people.

Invest in yourself:

Get a trainer that is experienced and will tailor your sessions to you and your goals.

Start with small changes:

Setting yourself one thing to change each week is much more manageable and will lead to long term changes without feeling too overwhelming

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Can you relate to these gym excuses? What's your number one reason for not going to the gym? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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