This blog post is all about how I stay consistent with exercise year round — even when life gets busy, motivation drops, or it’s freezing outside. The ultimate guide to making your fat loss exercise routine stick!
One of the biggest reasons I was able to lose 10 pounds of body fat in 2025 is because I finally learned how to stay consistent with exercise. Not perfect. Not extreme. Just steady and intentional.
I showed up for myself even on days I didn’t feel motivated, and I put real effort into every training session. That consistency added up over months, not from a 30-day challenge or an unrealistic fat loss exercise routine, but from sustainable habits I could maintain long term.
And listen… I am not a robot.
I have lazy days, bad moods, cramps, stressful weeks, and seasons where motivation disappears completely. The reason I stay consistent year round isn’t because I’m magically disciplined — it’s because I built a system that makes showing up feel doable.
Whether you’re starting fresh or trying to get back on track, here’s exactly how I stay consistent with exercise all year, and how you can too.
1. I Pick Workouts I Actually Enjoy
We cannot “girl boss” our way through workouts we dread.
If your fat loss exercise routine feels miserable, consistency will always feel like a battle.
The moment I stopped forcing myself into workouts I hated and started doing things I liked (weight training, long walks, Pilates-style warmups)… everything changed.
Ask yourself:
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What style of movement makes you feel confident?
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What kind of workout doesn’t feel like punishment?
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What would you do even if you weren’t trying to lose weight?
Start there. Consistency comes from enjoyment.
2. I Treat My Workouts Like Appointments I Can’t Cancel
This mindset was a game changer.
Workouts aren’t “optional if I feel like it.”
They’re on my calendar the same way a meeting, haircut, or dentist appointment is.
I don’t ask myself:
“Do I feel like working out today?” because 70% of the time the answer would be a hard no.
Instead I think:
“Okay, what time am I showing up today?”
Also, one of the biggest motivators to get me out of bed in the morning is thinking about how good I’ll feel after. I have NEVER, and I mean NEVER regretting going to a workout, but I have regretted not going.
And that is usually enough to get my ass out of bed.
If you treat your workouts casually, your results will be casual too.
3. I Keep My Routine Simple (So It’s Actually Sustainable)
Consistency has nothing to do with intensity.
To stay consistent with exercise has everything to do with repeatability.
Here’s my agenda-year-round-friendly structure:
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3–4 days of weight training
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Daily steps (8–10k when I can)
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Occasional yoga, stretching, or weekend fun movement
Nothing crazy. Nothing wild. Just steady, manageable movement.
Most women burn out because they do too much too soon. Or they get overstimulated.
So if you are feeling overwhelmed trying to decide or plan everything, keep it simple.
Start with something you can realistically maintain… even on your busiest weeks.
4. Don’t Go More Than 2 Days Without Moving
This is my personal rule: Avoid two rest days stack.
Honestly, my body (and mind) craves activity and movement. If I good more than 2 days without moving my body (either in a workout or at least a walk), I feel it. I feel more sluggish and less motivated.
If you don’t workout regularly, this may not apply to you and you may have to work your way up to moving your body at least every other day.
One rest day? Totally fine. Good even.
Two? Still okay. Especially if did a harder workout and need more recovery.
Three or four in a row? That’s when it becomes harder to get back into routine.
If I’m sore, tired, PMS-ing, or overwhelmed, I still do something — a walk, a light lift, a stretch, anything.
The main point is movement keeps you in the rhythm which is SO IMPORTANT to stay consistent with exercise.
5. I Focus on How I Feel, Not Just How I Look
When you’re only chasing aesthetics, it’s very easy to lose motivation.
What keeps me consistent is knowing that:
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I sleep better
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My anxiety drops
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I’m more productive
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I feel stronger
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My mood is better
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I simply feel more like me
This mindset shift is everything.
Working out becomes a form of self-care, not self-punishment.
6. I Prep for My Workouts the Night Before
Little things make a big difference:
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Laying out clothes
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Charging headphones
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Pre-logging my workout in my app
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Putting my water bottle in the fridge
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Wearing a cute workout set (never fails lol)
When there are fewer steps between you and your workout, you eliminate excuses before they even show up.
7. I Keep a “Bare Minimum” Version of My Routine
Some days I’m feeling strong and energetic.
Other days I’m tired, busy, or just not having it.
Instead of skipping entirely, I have a bare minimum workout, such as:
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20 minutes of lifting
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A long walk
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A quick dumbbell circuit
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A Pilates flow
Even on low-energy days, I do the minimum, and that alone keeps me consistent long-term.
8. I Track My Progress (and Celebrate Wins That Aren’t Scale-Related)
Seeing progress in:
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strength
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reps
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endurance
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energy
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confidence
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how workouts feel
…keeps me motivated far more than a number on the scale ever could.
I screenshot PRs.
I write notes.
I celebrate every little improvement like I just won a medal.
Because progress = motivation.
9. I Don’t Wait for Motivation, I Rely on Habits
Motivation is seasonal.
Habits are stable.
Winter? Still show up.
Summer? Still show up.
Stressful week? Still show up.
Traveling? I am more flexible, but I adapt and still show up.
Once working out becomes part of who you are, not something you “try to do,” you don’t need motivation, it just becomes your lifestyle.
10. I Remember My “Why” (Especially When I Don’t Feel Like It)
At the end of the day, consistency is built on purpose.
My “why” is simple:
I want to feel strong.
I want to feel confident.
I want to age well.
I want to have energy.
I want to take care of this body because it’s the only one I get.
When I come back to this mindset… the excuses lose power.
Consistency Isn’t Perfect, It’s Persistent
The girlies who stay consistent all year aren’t perfect.
They’re not more disciplined.
They’re just committed to showing up — in whatever way they can — through every season.
You don’t need motivation every day.
You just need habits, a plan, and a compassionate approach to your own body.
Start small.
Show up often.
Be proud of every step.
And trust: consistency builds the version of you you’ve been trying to become.
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