The thought of exerting a whole lot of energy and physical effort would both seem to be appealing and extremely tiring at the same time. We all wish we could run the New York Marathon, have enough stamina and endurance to run for long distances.

There is nothing wrong about wanting to dream big; in fact, having some can really help us to aspire and push ourselves beyond our own limits. However, having to set the bar too high could sometimes prove to have a negative effect on ourselves.

Sure, we aspire to run at least five miles on a jog, but for some of us, our bodies tell us that we've had enough as soon as we hit mile one. It is all up to us really whether we give in so easily, or try to overcome our own limits; all it takes is a little bit of motivation and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Motivation is a very powerful thing; it would cause men to be able to invent great things, reach the stars, liberate countries and inspire nations. Motivation for exercise is not that much different from these. It is all up to you whether you manage to inspire yourself or not.

1. You no longer need to cower in shame whenever you need to go to the beach.

The beach is definitely a wonderful place to go to especially when you're traveling to a tropical country to get some sun and hopefully a tan. But sometimes, even being surrounded by a tropical paradise, some of us are not comfortable of the fact that we would actually be wearing just a pair of trunks or some board shorts when we have beer bellies for all the world to see. Going to the beach could either be a real confidence boost, or a confidence killer to some of us. If you don't want to be subject to the latter, you should definitely start exercising more often.

2. Do not get left behind anymore.

Are you that kind of person that loses his breath or gets winded right away even just after climbing a flight of stairs? This would be a really sorry sight to see especially when you are young and when you're in your prime. Motivate yourself by making sure that you do not get left behind by your friends or by the group you're hanging out with. Sometimes, being on the go all the time could mean that you have barely any time left to stop and catch your breath. If you want to keep up, you definitely have to shape up.

3. Set up rewards after achieving certain goals.

Whether it's a new pair of shoes or just a slice of pizza, pampering yourself after successfully getting over one obstacle should be something that could motivate you well enough to try harder in your effort to exercise right. By allowing yourself these tiny pleasures, you definitely wouldn't lose sight of your long term goals.