Starting a new fitness routine is exciting. Your goals are clearly set, and motivation is at its peak. However, as time goes by, it's common to lose focus and drift away from the initial objectives. To combat this, here are five practical tips to keep you on track with your fitness goals.

Hang them up

Maintaining a visual reminder of your goals can help you stay focused on your fitness objectives. Place these reminders where they're most effective — on your refrigerator, inside the snack drawer, in your calendar, or as periodic alerts on your smartphone.

Share them

A strong support system is important for reaching your fitness goals. Don’t keep your goals to yourself. Share them with those who will support you. These people can help cheer you on when you feel discouraged and join you in celebrating your successes.

Meditate

Add short meditation sessions to your day that allow you to focus on your end goal. Visualizing yourself accomplishing it can boost your confidence and motivation to stay on track.

Reward yourself

Don’t let small accomplishments go unnoticed. Incorporate rewards for each small step you conquer towards your goal. These rewards remind you that you are working towards something worthwhile and you are continuing to make progress.

Adjust your goals

Your goals should change as you do. As you lose weight, drop clothing sizes, or run further, you will need to continue to set new goals to stay motivated. It’s also important to remember the goals you set when you first started may not be a good fit for you as you progress. Perhaps a scheduling conflict makes it impossible to attend a fitness class, or it turns out you’d rather jog than walk. Revisit your goals often and ensure they are challenging enough to keep you motivated.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.