Fitness is fking hard. You need dedication, accountability, motivation and our personal favourite, consistency. But that doesn’t mean going down the fitness path has to be difficult, in fact it can be super rewarding. Starting a fitness journey means you need to be 100% mentally ready, and sure, motivation to start exercising (and keep going) is not always easy to find, but we’ve put together 11 infallible ways to stay accountable to your fitness program. Oh, and bonus? You’ll be a happier, healthier and stronger you after you’ve reached your destination!

First things first - set your goals. What are you doing this for? You may want to lose a few kilos, you may want killer abs or maybe you just want a healthier lifestyle. Whatever your goal is, make it a realistic one. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up to fail even before you begin.

If you hate running and can’t stand the thought of a treadmill, then you’re certainly not going to do it when you’re supposed to. Find a fitness program or a form of exercise that you actually like! One that’ll get you out of bed in the morning. Programs like our Fitaz in 8 Weeks have been proven to work wonders. Why? First and foremost, variety is a spice of life, and our program has a whole range of exercises and instructions so you’ll never get bored. Remember, you’re doing this for you, so it has to excite you at the end of the day.

A proven incentive is a writing down your progress. Get yourself a notebook ( or, you know, download an app) and track your weight loss, your reps, your exercises and even the time you trained. Take before and after shots so you can have a visual motivation. This is a great way to show your progress and remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor was Gigi Hadid. You won’t see immediate changes to your body after your first or fifth workout, in fact it takes at least 1 - 2 months to see significant changes to your shape and weight. But know this, if you stick to it, all the effort and anticipation will be worth it!

Exercise has a plethora of health benefits, but our favourite is that it helps bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters. Our everyday lives can be exhausting, so it’s good to know that exercising can actually help boost your mood and reduce stress simultaneously. According to a report published by the Harvard Medical School, exercise actually reduces the level of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural mood booster!

The internet is your oyster. So, if you’re struggling to find some inspo, look to the world wide web! Find videos, podcasts, photographs, inspirational fitness stories and a whole heap more to keep you going when times are tough. And hey, if you’re looking to start a specific program, reviews and testimonials are some of the most effective ways to get you motivated to start.

Healthy eating isn’t just boiled eggs and munching on celery sticks. There’s a whole heap of delicious healthy meals and snacks to get creative in the kitchen. Not to mention spices, herbal sweeteners and superfoods to open new culinary horizons. Don’t know where to start? Our blog is filled with nutritious recipe ideas from; Portobello Fajitas to BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches (yep Jackfruit baby!), and Protein Pancakes to Chocolate Butter Cups, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Even if one day you catch yourself chowing down on a burger at 10pm, or wake up one morning with zero energy to go to the gym, it’s okay. This doesn’t mean you have to give up! You’re human, dude. We all have weak moments. A minor setback doesn't mean you have to give up on everything you’re working towards. Dust yourself off (or, wipe the grease off your fingers), get focused and smash those goals of yours!

One of the most effective ways of sticking to your fitness program, it to surround yourself with people that support you. Your mum, bestie, bae, whomever is there to give you encouragement, guidance and even an extra push when you’re feeling down. The last thing you need is someone to bring you down with them, and make you feel like you’re not good enough.

Probably the most important. Don’t forget to remind yourself time and time again what you’re doing this. In moments of inability, ask yourself why do you go to the gym? Why are you trying to eat healthy? Why do you want a better life? It’s super easy to give up. But without consistency and dedication, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Keep reminding yourself why you started in the first place, and if at first you don’t succeed…. Pick yourself up and try again.

Okay, so you lost your first five kilos. HELL FKING YEAH! What are you going to do about it? Hint, hint: reward yourself. Setting realistic fitness goals means that once they are achieved you can reward yourself. Go out and buy that dress you’ve been eyeing, go plan that weekend vacay with your bestie, go out and eat THAT burger you’ve been salivating over. Point is, with ever risk comes a reward, and since you’re risking your time, energy, (sanity) and effort, the least you can do is reward yourself.