The best motivational cues to tell yourself when fitness gets tough

Roger Wolfson is the first to recognize that many false start and failures in weight loss can be attributed to a lack in mental toughness, more than the difficulty of undergoing physical challenges. Here are some motivational cues you can tell yourself when the going gets too tough in your fitness plan.

1. 'Baby steps.'

Sometimes you get to a frustration point that makes you feel exhausted just by looking at what seems to be the very daunting task of shedding off 20 or 30 pounds. "Baby steps" is a reminder to take things easy at a gradual pace. Progress can be achieved one step at a time. As Roger Wolfson suggests, even when the steps seem small, remind yourself that you get closer to your goal every time you advance.

2. 'Just one more.'

There is such a thing as a saturation point. However, the chances are that the saturation happens in the mind before it does so in the body. Tell yourself to go at it for just one more time. Or this can be just one more set, just one more round, just one more kilometer that is too close for you not to accomplish. There is something powerful about the number one. It makes things much simpler for you to grasp.

3. 'Embrace the pain.'

By nature's design, everyone is programmed to resist pain, Roger Wolfson explains. In the natural environment, pain is a signal that comes from your brain to alert you to move away from the source of pain before it does more damage to you. However, you must remember that when you are in the middle of an exercise, you experience pain within a controlled environment. Telling yourself to embrace the pain of effort is necessary because your body needs to find comfort in it if you hope to get results.