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It seems to me that the number one problem people seem to have when it comes to getting and staying in shape is with motivation. Of course, they would like to look good, but because they don’t really enjoy their healthy diet and exercise regime they can’t stick to it. Put simply, the key to motivation is enjoyment. So here are my favorite five ways to get motivated and stay motivated.

It seems like such an obvious tip, but it’s amazing how many people don’t even think of listening to motivational music when they’re exercising. I think a lot of people see music as a distraction, and feel that they couldn’t concentrate on it when exercising.

Well, music is a distraction but that’s a good thing. The part of your brain that’s saying ‘I’m bored’ or ‘Ow, I’m in pain, let’s just sit down,’ is distracted by the music and leaves your body alone to get on with its work. The type of music you listen to is important, however. You can’t listen to chill-out music when attempting to sprint on the treadmill. Try to listen to something rhythmically-driven like dance or pop music; you’ll soon find that your body gets into the rhythm and you’re in the zone!

I’ve always thought that having exercise equipment at home is a great idea, if you have the space. This means that you can exercise in private, you can watch TV or listen to music at the same time, and you have absolutely no excuse for not exercising.

Most people tend to buy an exercise bike as their first piece of home-gym equipment, but I find that stationary cycling can become a little boring and also only targets one muscle group. That’s why I’d say an elliptical machine is a better investment; it’s more varied and targets several different muscle groups at a time. It’s always a good idea to have a look at some online reviews such as the Sole elliptical reviews to find the best elliptical machine for you.

These are the gold standard of elliptical machines so they don’t come particularly cheap, but they’re a great investment. The great thing about spending money on a piece of equipment, of course, is that you really do feel motivated to use it!

Because the key to staying motivated is having fun, it’s always a great idea to invite a friend to exercise with you. This way, you can chat as you’re exercising and make the whole experience a social one. You’ll also feel far less self-conscious if you’re with someone else, and you’ll soon find that your mutual encouragement keeps both of you motivated.