We all go through those phases where we long to start exercising and eating healthier, but getting started is the biggest hurdle you will need to overcome. It is easy to lack motivation, especially if you lead a very busy life. You set this image in your head that'll you'll get home from work, go to the gym and have a salad for tea. But more often than not, it doesn't happen and we've all been there.

There are so many ways to make yourself more motivated, and once you start, you will enjoy it so much that you will never want to stop. So here are a few ways that I have found help me become more motivated.

Realistic Goals: We would all love to become a size 6 overnight, but it's not going to happen. Set yourself an easy goal to start with, try losing a few pounds to start with, then make it a bit harder and change it to half a stone, then a stone or a dress size.

Your goals need to be easy enough that you will meet them without facing constant disappointment, but hard enough that they give you the motivation to push yourself without it being too easy. Once you meet one goal, you'll be raring to go and ready to meet your next.

Find the right Inspiration: Most of us look through magazines and online and find a celebrity which we would love to look like. But the truth is, 90% of the time it isn't going to happen. Find someone who has a similar bone structure and frame to you. Aiming to look like a celeb with the smallest hips you've ever seen, when you have a naturally wide frame, isn't going to work.

You will find yourself comparing yourself to them and wondering why your body isn't starting to get like theirs. But if you have wide hips and they don't, no amount of healthy eating and exercise is going to make your hips smaller and there is no point getting your hopes up and ending up being disappointed by something which we can't change.

Go Food Shopping: If you are old enough to be able to pay for your own food, start going out and doing your own little weekly shop. Try a new fruit or vegetable, look up recipes for healthy meals and go out and buy the things you need to make it.

Even if in a few days you change your mind, knowing that you have spent your own hard earned money on it will make you more likely to eat it. Nobody wants to waste their money by not using it and it's easier to waste food which you haven't paid for, trust me! You may even find your new favourite meal.

Buy some gym clothes and equipment: Go out and buy some gym clothes which you feel great it, having them their in front of you will make you feel much more motivated to put them on, exercise and feel good!

If you're up for a hard core work out, buy some fitness DVD's, weights or any other equipment which you can use to work out at home. Put on your clothes and go exercise in the garden, you will feel great in your new clothes and that you have managed to squeeze a workout into your busy day.

Find a Partner: Find someone that wants to work out and improve their fitness too. This may be someone who you go out and actually exercise with, or someone you just talk to about it. You may prefer to exercise on your own, but having someone to discuss it with and share tips with can really help. They may tell you something which they have been doing, which you'd never thought of and it could be a real game changer!

We are all so unique, what works for one person may not work for you, but it may also work very well. You don't know until you try, it's a bit of trial and error. Doing squats might help tone your friends bum, but not yours. But they may know of another great exercise for you to try instead.

Beth x