Want to develop a fitness habit, be fit and look great? What separates those who can stick to a fitness program from those who call it quits within a month? Despite what you may think, it has nothing to do with lack of motivation, laziness, or lack of desire. It’s your state of mind and your reasons for getting fit that determine whether you’ll make fitness a habit or drop out until you become tired of the way you look again. Fitness buffs tend to have one major thing in common; they know the intrinsic value of fitness. To them fitness isn’t just about looking good in a bikini, losing weight for the class reunion, or getting healthy because the doctor said so. People into exercise know the health benefits and truly believe that exercising makes them feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally. Jay Williams, Ph.D. and author of the 24 Hour Turnaround, reports that "70% of those who make a lifestyle change for extrinsic reasons do not stick with it after a short period of time". So how do you make the transition from external motivation to internal motivation? Focus on the following fitness buff habits and you’ll begin to discover those intrinsic reasons in no time.

Prioritize Fitness
NOBODY has time for fitness. Everyone these days works 60 hours a week or worst two jobs, some are stay at home moms with four kids, others juggle school, part-time jobs, a significant other, plus extra curricular activities, and some travels for business frequently. Yet these are all people who manage to find to time to get fit because they make it a priority. If you think or say you don’t have time then you won’t have time. The key to finding the time is to put it at the top of your list and then say you will do it, need to do it, must do it. Yes, it’s that easy.

The Just Do It Mentality
Fit people never wonder whether they should workout, they just do it. Being tired, depressed, bored, busy, moody, feeling bloated, having cramps, experiencing a migraine, or any other malady don’t figure into the equation. These are not valid excuses for skipping your workouts because once those endorphins kick in they take care of all that. Never ponder whether to go just show up and if ten minutes into your routine you still don’t feel well (which is highly unlikely) then you can either stop or do only as much as you can handle. Your goal is to just show up until it becomes a habit.

Be Prepared
Would you go to school without your books, show up at a work meeting without necessary paperwork, or forget to pack a diaper bag for the baby when going out? Of course not and the same goes for your exercise effort. If you don’t have comfortable workout clothes, decent athletic shoes, gym bag, toiletry bag, workout gloves, etc. clean and ready to go then chances are you will use this as an excuse to not workout. As the boy scouts say “be prepared”. Buy what you need, get it ready the night before and leave it where it’s in the way. Environmental cues are a great way to get motivated. If you’re planning to workout before work, make getting up extra early part of your preparation as well.

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Set Acheivable Goals
Losing weight and looking good will always be the end result but you have to focus on other aspects of fitness like getting stronger, having more stamina, getting leaner, or getting muscular. Write down every single thing you would like to accomplish from your workouts. Want more upper body strength, really defined legs, or maybe you would just like to go up a flight of stairs without losing your breath. Be as specific as possible about what you want then do your research to find out what will get you these results.

Plan Your Workouts
Getting from flabby to fabulous requires a workout plan which is why fit people don’t wander around the gym trying to decide what machine or free weight exercise to try next. They usually have a workout plan that they copied from a magazine, book, or website. There’s no shame in carrying around your workout on a piece of paper or a 5x7. Plenty of people getting started and even those who are advanced and trying different routines do it. So don’t waste any time. Do a little research and take it with you. This eliminates frustration and gets you results. If you have no clue what to do, hire a trainer.

Have Fit Friends
It’s difficult to get motivated when everyone around you thinks that fitness is silly. Sometimes your family members, friends, or co-workers don’t care about fitness or share the same enthusiasm as you do. This is one of the greatest benefits of working out in a health club. You can make friends with others who believe that fitness is a good thing and this is incredibly motivating. You can also ask questions and most people will be glad to offer advice or help.

Reward Yourself
This is one of the most important ways to stay motivated and something that fit people truly enjoy. Set mini fitness goals like 3 workouts a week, 12 workouts a month, and every time you accomplish your goal reward yourself. Buy a new outfit, get a massage, get your nails done or start a rewards savings account and deposit a set amount each time. At the end of the year take out the money and splurge on a trip, spa day, or anything else that will make you happy.

Doing any of the above will get you thinking about fitness in a positive way and you will begin to focus more on the health benefits rather than on the aesthetic benefits resulting in 100% commitment on your part.