Losing weight can be just as hard as lifting the actual weights. Getting the motivation to go and work out is difficult for many people, despite the end goal that is hoped to be achieved. American fitness guru, Denise Austin, has another strategy to get you back into the gym and into shape.

Rather than making our overall goal to lose weight, she suggests adding smaller goals to increase your stamina and endurance. If you’re only able to do 18 sit-ups one week, try for 20 the next week. Developing routines and keeping things simple will make your goals easier to achieve. In addition, you’ll be improving your body as you lose weight, rather than decreasing muscle tone with the unhealthy methods that fad diets can provide.

There are many tests to take to see how fit you are and to benchmark your progress. They test the different measures of fitness such as flexibility, strength and endurance. Taking the test every few weeks can show your progress. If you get some friends to take it with you, you can motivate each other together - which should keep you motivated, and keep you fit.