When you’re home all day and have unlimited access to junk food in the pantry—not to mention that you haven’t been able to go to the gym in ages—it can be challenging to stick to an at-home wellness program. Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is crucial to living a higher quality life, and getting regular exercise is essential to maintaining our mental and physical health at this challenging time.

Unique Workout Outfit Ideas That Will Inspire You to Exercise

“With everyone stuck at home, many are trying to find innovative ways to kick-start their fitness routines and begin the journey to a healthy lifestyle,” says Amanda Tress, founder of FASTerWay to Fat Loss—a virtual nutrition program geared towards women and their specific health needs. “But if you don’t know where to start or how to keep yourself motivated, you’ll find yourself burning out and turning to old habits. Tracking progress, setting goals and joining an online community are just a few of the ways you can set yourself up for success.”

Here, Tress offers some great tips on how she motivates herself and her clients to stick to a routine:

• Set realistic, attainable fitness goals. Setting goals that you can realistically achieve in the short term is more effective than setting a lofty goal that might get you frustrated. For example, doing 5 more pushups than you could do previously is a more attainable goal than doing 50. You’ll feel proud of yourself each time you reach your goal and encouraged to set an even higher goal.

• Track your progress. Using apps like MyFitnessPal can help you track your nutrition, water intake, workouts and movement. Taking frequent photos of yourself can also help you to see your progress visually. Tracking your progress will hold you accountable and motivate you to keep going.

• Join a community. In gyms, there are fit people and trainers around you who can push you to run a bit faster on the treadmill or squeeze in that one last rep. Joining a community—whether in a program like FASTer Way or other virtual platform—will mimic the gym experience, and give you the support and encouragement you need to stick to a plan.

• Involve your circle. Many virtual fitness brands (i.e. Obé, PopSugar and even FASTer Way) are offering kids workouts to do with your children while quarantined. You can also hook up Zoom and do a workout class with your friends—a healthier alternative to the Zoom happy hour!

• Dress up. Get out of your sweatpants and put on your favorite matching workout set. Getting dressed in the proper gear will trick your brain into thinking you’re going to the gym and give you the extra push you need to dominate your workout.

• Be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you had an extra helping of dessert or were too tired to get your workout in. We’re all going through a once-in-a-lifetime, unique experience, so give yourself some leeway and find gratitude where you can. Remember, tomorrow is a new day.

By pairing science-backed nutrition strategies such as intermittent fasting, carb cycling and whole food nutrition with high intensity and strength building workouts, FASTer Way to Fat Loss has empowered tens of thousands of women to make life-changing transformations and achieve healthier lifestyles.

For more information, visit fasterwaytofatloss.com and follow them on Instagram: @fasterwaytofatloss

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk