Sometimes the hardest part about working out is actually getting to the gym.

That doesn’t mean finding the time. You always have the time. Trust me. It means getting out of bed or off the couch.

You brain is the master excuse-maker. It tricks you into thinking your too tired, too hurt, or have too many other obligations. But those excuses aren’t rooted in truth. You just haven’t been able to properly tap into your motivation to initiate your workout.

That motivation is going to be different for different people, but I’m going to break it down into two categories: mental and practical. If you attack it from both angles, you’re going to feel more motivated to maximize your consistency, and therefore, your gains.

1. Remember Your “Why” with Visualization

If you’re a fan of mine, you know I’m big on visualization. That can be anything from visualizing yourself dominating on the stage to visualizing the body that you want to achieve. That’s my first motivation tip. If you remind yourself every morning why you spend hours grinding away in the gym, then working out will never be a chore. It’s a mission. A quest. It’s what you live for.

2. Motivate Yourself by Competing…With Yourself

My next tip is essential for a sport like bodybuilding: self-competition. Official competitions are simple in terms of motivation. If you put in the work, it’ll show in your scores. If you don’t, you’ll embarrass yourself. But if you’re just starting your journey, that far off goal doesn’t help much. That’s why you need to be focused on tracking progress. Keep it somewhere visible. Record the numbers from all your lifts, and try to beat those numbers the next time you do the same workout.

3. Get a Little Extra Push

My third tip is get a hype man. Get someone in your corner that pushes you to work. It could be a gym buddy, a relative, or a co-worker. Just find someone that you can share your progress with and they’ll get you stoked to hit the gym the next morning. It’s called accountability, and it’s one of the most motivating techniques out there.

4. Remove Your Obstacles in Advance

One of them most motivating things for me is when I know my path is already laid out. When I’ve removed any obstacles standing in my way. If you’re working out in the morning, lay your gear out the night before. Have your food and whatever else you need to get out the door ready to go. If you waste time in the morning, you’re going to look up at the clock and see it’s 7:30, and you have to be at work by 9. That’s your morning. Gone. Do what ever it takes to cut prep time.

5. Fail to Prepare = Prepare to Fail

My last tip can also be summed up with “be prepared.” This mostly applies to new blood, but if you walk into the gym without a detailed plan, it doesn’t matter that you made it there. Make sure you have your workouts down tight. No winging it. Check out my membership site for detailed workouts and exercises to make sure you know what you’re doing.

Maximize Your Gains

Motivation is important. If you’re not willing to get in there and work your butt off, no supplement can fix that. If you’re ready to take it to the next level, then my site can be provide everything you need.

You need to make sure your nutrition is down tight, with your macros planned and your supplements researched. I can help you out with recipes, product advice, and even a macro calculator. Half of achieving your goals is showing up. I can’t drag you out of bed and get you in that weight room, but I can help you with the rest. If you’re willing to dedicate the time and effort, I have the resources to take your passion to the next level.