“I never have time to work out” is the excuse I made for the past year.  I’d given up on myself and all motivation. My weekends were spent partying and eating everything in sight even though I was pretty good during the week. I never made time for myself or carved out exercise into my daily routine and I was at a place where I couldn’t take it anymore. I could blame my frame of mind on a number of things: awful job, post-wedding blues, my mom being diagnosed with breast cancer. But the truth is that I lacked motivation and there wasn’t a spark inside me ready to ignite with passion about anything.

So what’s a girl to do when this happens? Find a light, which I found in a close girlfriend who renewed my faith in working out and within myself.

1) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up on yourself. Even if you haven’t worked out in months, are not eating healthy, have been drinking too much, don’t lose sight that you can always turn your situation around. Call a close friend, surround yourself with positive, fitness-minded people, and know tomorrow is a new day.

2) PREP. Make sure to have a game plan each week with the steps you will take to have a successful health week. For me, this is through my meal planning where I grocery shop for the entire week and get all my snacks ready, and meals prepared in advance. Work used to always get in the way where I’d be stressed out and hungry, grabbing unhealthy snacks or meals; anything I could find to fix my hunger but then feel terrible about myself moments later. Success is all about preparation.

3) GATHER SUPPORT. Isn’t there a saying that “two is better then one?” This is true in life and definitely in fitness. Having a supportive group of fitness friends will inspire you and also hold you accountable. One of the ways to do this is by joining a social media group of health fanatics. They will help you get pumped each and every day about your fitness plan. Don’t feel that you need to be alone because there are too many amazing resources out there. Plus it makes it more fun!

4) CREATE A GOAL. It’s hard to get to where you want to go without a goal in mind. When I started my fitness plan, my “why” was the most important piece and the first question my new fitness support group wanted me to answer. This is critical to one’s success and will keep you striving to your end game and final result.

5) JUST DO IT. What do you have to lose? Of course Nike knows the importance of this saying and understands how this creates customer loyalty. Just putting the pedal to the medal and going for it is the first step to getting there. 90% of life is just showing up so you should treat fitness in the same way.

6) TRACK. Make sure to record your progress as you go along to see your results. Some of the ways I do this is by taking pictures, using a tape measure (not a scale!) and also a journal with my thoughts. Fitness is not just about looking good but is also about the internal transformation of how you feel from the inside out. By recording your thoughts and measuring your results you will start to look and feel your best. All your hard work will pay off, not just for your body but your mind will love you for it too.