One of the key factors to building muscle is dedication, but this can be a serious issue if you don’t keep yourself motivated. Countless men have given up on themselves because they’re unaware of how to stay motivated in the gym. It may be a simple concept, but you’d be amazed how quickly one can lose motivation when putting themselves through grueling regimens 5-6 days a week. If you’re serious about building muscle and seeing drastic results, you will want to keep yourself motivated. Here are ten ways to help keep you on track and enthusiastic about yourself and workout.

Find a workout buddy: Find someone who is serious about building muscle. I recommend that this person be bigger and stronger than you. I say this because they are more likely to push you further than someone who is new to the gym. Not only will you be depending on them, but they will be depending on you. They will keep you consistent with your workouts and won’t allow you to skip out early or slack.

Keep a workout journal: By keeping an accurate record of your daily routines, you will be able to track your progress. This helps monitor your strength and muscle gains, along with your bodyweight and body fat percentages.

Lift in front of a mirror: It’s no coincidence that every single gym as walls of mirrors in them. You don’t have to feel egotistical or conceited because you use a mirror to lift. Being able to see what is being worked and how good it looks helps you push yourself. You begin to strive for more and set goals for how your body should look.

Change your routine: Every four weeks or so you need to switch up the workout. If you stick with the same routine you will not only plateau with your results, but you will begin to get bored and lose interest. Staying with the same lifts is okay if you change the number of sets and repetitions, it not only makes the lift harder, but helps in building muscle faster.

Become informed: Learn as much as you can about building muscle. There is an unlimited supply of knowledge available to you about improving your routines and techniques, low carbohydrate and high protein diets, what to do and what not to do, and much more.

Scheduling: Set a time and place to work out in advance. Keeping a consistent routine is much simpler if you have a steady schedule to work with. Also if you make plans in advance to hit the gym then you are more likely to follow through.

Set goals: Setting realistic goals that are attainable will allow you to be set up for success. The more goals you reach the better you will feel about yourself and the more you will want to accomplish.

Reward yourself: Once you have met your muscle building goals, reward them somehow. This can be done many different ways, such as buying yourself a new workout outfit, a professional massage, treating yourself to a delicious treat, or anything you can think of.

Subscribe to a fitness magazine or website: Fitness magazines or websites, such as this, are full of tips to improve and excite your workout.

Take progress pictures: You see your body everyday so it’s difficult to notice the actual change that is taking place. Building muscle is a long process and may be hard to track, but if you take pictures of yourself every few weeks you’ll notice magnificent changes. This will keep you enthusiastic and motivated.