Now that you know how to set SMART goals and come up with an action plan, here are three more tips that helped me stay motivated over the years. First, I advise you to get a workout partner and meet somewhere to do your exercises together. A good workout buddy can make a huge difference as time goes on those days that you would have stayed at home because it didn't feel like exercising, you will not only be accountable to yourself, but also to him, and he'll get you to come anyways and push you to give it your best. Another great trick is to put your money where your mouth is what I mean by that is to create a monetary incentive to reach your goal. This can be a bet with a friend over whether or not you'll lose that extra five pounds in the next few weeks.

Or you could invest in some fancy exercise equipment that you'll put in your bedroom. And that will remind you of your fitness score every time you go to sleep and every time you wake up the next morning. One less thing to remember, we're all human and setbacks will happen. You won't reach every single goal. You've set for yourself. And this is not the end of the world.

When you see that you're falling behind on your goals, don't freak out about it, and simply accepted. Research has shown that this is the best way to avoid the so called what the hell effect where people tell themselves Oh, I've already messed up so what the hell I can mess up some more. This is not what you want. The best way to face setbacks is to simply cut your losses, get back on track and move on.