Guess motivation boils down to something different to everyone. Ask yourself -
what do I want to get out of this?
Do you want the mass monster body builder physique?
Do you want to be lean and look good for your partner (Or to get a partner)?
Are you doing it for purely health reasons (Drop bp, cholesterol, whatever)?
Are your goals in the gym purely related to how much weight you can shift (I want to be able to bench >300lbs for argument's sake)?
The reasons for going to the gym are as varied as the types of people you'll see in an average gym. Everything from single mothers of 3 kids to >260lb sub 5% bf mass monsters. You need to know what it is that brings you there and when you realise that - you no longer need a training partner, because
the goals are your own.
I train >80% of the time alone and I like it that way. The general motivational things for everyone that have been mentioned already like music are still important, but it isn't the music that gets me off my ass after a 10 hour day at work and gets me ready, in the car and to the gym in the first place. That's mental discipline on my part and knowing what I want to get out of it.
Where a partner comes into for me is that little bit of competition, having the spot there to push those final 2-3 reps out without worrying about getting the weight back into the rack and also a different perspective on how my training is going. Those things are great, but they aren't critical.
I had a good moment yesterday where I caught up with a good friend of mine who I hadn't seen for a while and his girlfriend and when they saw me they were like, "Damn dude you've been working out!!!" - things like that remind you that even if you don't notice your progress on a day by day basis, it all adds up.
That's where it's also good to take before, during & after shots so you can see those snapshots in time and the big difference your hard work and dedication has made.
Ultimately champ it boils down to what you want to get out of it and making sure every workout, every day is another step on the road to that goal.
I'm in a space now where it's harder for me
not to go to the gym and smash myself silly than it is to go. I love it.
