How can I stay motivated?

When it comes to exercising and eating healthier most people have the best of intentions but motivation levels can go up and down like a yoyo.

Try asking yourself why do you want to move more? Is it to be fit enough to play with your kids, to cope better with stress, or just to be that little bit healthier? Whatever it is, find your why and write it down and constantly reflect back on this reason for motivation. You could even plot it on the meal and activity planner in the Action! centre.

Now that you’ve got your why it’s time to set SMART goals – that means, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and within a time frame. Just saying ‘I want to lose weight’ won’t give you the motivation to strive for your goal when the couch is calling your name.

But most importantly, find a way to make it part of your routine, just like cleaning your teeth. A ten-minute walk around the block is better than nothing, and once you’re out there, you may well go for longer than you initially aimed for. Getting started is often the hardest part, so set a small goal initially and work your way upwards. So let’s get started.