When it comes to fitness, we all want fast results. But you also know you’re not going to get what you want by taking shortcuts. A good fitness routine requires a proper balance of resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and good diet habits.

You must also ensure you get enough sleep so muscles recover faster from the rigorous training. Whether you’re trying to lose fat, gain muscle, or just get in shape, it takes a considerable amount of effort to achieve certain fitness goals.

That said, here are some natural ways to start firing up your fitness routine and getting you more motivated.

Find a Workout Partner

There’s a certain impetus to perform our best in front of others and working out is no different. So instead of plodding along with your workouts, taking excessive rest periods, and chatting up a storm with other members, find a workout partner.

Workout partners can motivate you to work harder during sets. They can also spot you when necessary, and offer encouragement that you don’t get training alone. When searching for a partner, select someone who works out about the same time as you and has similar goals.

You should also work out with someone of comparable size and strength so you can keep the workout moving along without all the weight adjustments.

Vary Your Routine

Novices might make impressive gains for a while, but most people struggle putting on muscle. The reason being, your muscles make adjustments to the demands placed upon them, forcing them to grow and get stronger. If you stick to the same routine, you risk stagnating your results.

To vary what you usually do, perform different exercises each week for chest, back, shoulders, and other muscle groups. For example, do barbell bench press on your first chest workout of the week, then use dumbbells three or four days later.

Vary the rest periods between sets which forces the muscles to work harder. Superset several exercises without resting on certain days. You should also vary your cardio, so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Track Your Results

You can better force gains in muscle mass or lose inches in fat by keeping a monthly record of your measurements. The incremental changes will serve as a great motivator. If your goal is to increase strength on certain exercises like bench press and squats, start keeping track of how much you lift each workout.

Know what your goal is for the next week, and try to get that extra rep in. Alternate light and heavy days as the extra reps on lighter days can enhance your strength on heavier days.

Change Your Diet

Let’s face it, you need to eat right to get in shape. If your goal is to bulk up, increase your calories. Eat five to six meals per day so you assimilate your foods better. Eat lean foods high in protein such as chicken, seafood, lean beef, egg whites, and beans.

Consume plenty of complex carbohydrates like potatoes, yams, green beans, and brown rice. If you’re trying to lose weight, reduce your calories and increase your cardio training with things like running, cycling, and aerobics.

If you’re struggling with your diet, you may want to consider a nutritional cleanse to kick start things.

Take Supplements

People who work out require more protein, so start supplementing if necessary. Get some nuts for snacking or use protein bars for an extra burst of energy rather than caffeine. The extra protein, if taken within 40 minutes of your workout, can enhance the recovery of your muscle cells.

Consider taking other supplement options like ASEA Redox Supplement. Redox signaling molecules are present in all healthy living cells and start decreasing after the age of 12. And since muscles are cells, redox supplements can help increase muscle mass too.

Start focusing on the fitness results you want to achieve, then use some of these tips to fire up your routine. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how what you thought were once unattainable goals become attainable.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information on ASEA water supplements check out their site or contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.