I've been a little gym-happy recently, experimenting with a few things here and there to keep me motivated, focused and sore (the good kind, obviously).



So here are my current top tips for kick-starting your workout:

1. An early start
Exercising in the mornings will give you an energy boost that will help you keep motivated for the rest of your day. If you're at school or work, doing your workout before will boost your brain activity and release endorphins in your body, helping your remain focused and alert.

2. Small but punchy breakfast
It's important to fuel your body before a workout. You'll be able to run further, train harder and it'll keep you from feeling sluggish or faint. Keep it light with some fruit, nuts, a little cereal or smoothie. You don't want to be exercising on a full stomach!

3. Music you love
We all know listening to up-beat music keeps us running those extra kilometres, but if we're not jamming along (at least in our heads), we're less likely to push ourselves. So if you've got a taste for cheesy classics or modern mishaps, now's the time to indulge your cringe.

4. Secret exercising
This one sounds cheeky... and it kind of is. Whilst you're exercising, you're most often not using all of your muscles. So to give yourself a little extra workout and pull up those pelvic floors, tighten those glutes and tense those abs. You can do all of these things whilst running, cycling or on a cross trainer.