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50 Motivational Workout Quotes for When You Need Some Serious Inspiration
Get an extra dose of encouragement with a little help from these quotes.
By Brigitt Earley•
Maybe you woke up today and just couldn’t muster up the energy to hop on your bike. Or maybe you’re training for a marathon and experiencing some sort of setback—mental or physical—that has you questioning it all. We’ve all been there.
It’s easy to get in our own heads. In fact, when it comes to fitness, it’s often that negative self-talk that holds us back. That’s why instructors and workout buddies can be vital—they help provide the inspiration and encouragement you need to get started when you're (understandably) feeling tired or discouraged.
Motivational workout quotes function the same way. They can help you remember why you're getting active in the first place, plus give you the drive to stay focused on your goals and push yourself when you feel like calling it quits.
They’re also great motivators when you’ve plateaued or simply need a little fire to push through a tough workout. Workout quotes help reinforce your strength and determination. They can serve as a reminder of your grit, and act as a precursor to better workouts and improved results.
Luckily, inspiration can come from anywhere: instructors, athletes, celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, historical figures—you name it. Below, check out a list of motivational workout quotes from all of the above.
Motivational Workout Quotes
“A goal is a wish. A standard holds you accountable." —Tunde Oyeneyin
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” —Michael Jordan
“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” —Babe Ruth
“You’ve survived 100 percent of your worst days.” —Robin Arzón
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” —Jerry Rice
“If something stands between you and your success, move it.” —Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
“The hardest part is over. You showed up.” —Jess Sims
“You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.” —Michael Phelps
“Allow yourself the opportunity to get uncomfortable.” —Alex Toussaint
“Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard.” —Serena Williams
“The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” —Mia Hamm
“Sometimes, carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.” —Albert Camus
“If you think you can’t, change your mind.” —Denis Morton
“The successful warrior is the average man with laser-like focus.” —Bruce Lee
“All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone.” —Tony Robbins
“The pain you feel today will show itself as strength tomorrow.” —Tunde Oyeneyin
“Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart.” —Gene Tunney
“Enduring means accepting. Accepting things as they are and not as you would wish them to be, and then looking ahead, not behind.” —Rafael Nadal
“The difference between try and triumph is a little ‘umph.'” —Marvin Phillips
“Acknowledge the fear and do it anyway.” —Emma Lovewell
“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.” —Wayne Gretzky
“Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but because of lack of commitment.” —Vince Lombardi
“The most successful people reach the top not because they are free of limitations, but because they act in spite of their limitations.” —Michael K. Williams
“I am Superman. And the only thing that can kill Superman is Kryptonite. And Kryptonite doesn't exist.” —Shaquille O'Neal
“When I feel tired, I just think about how great I will feel once I finally reach my goal.” —Michael Phelps
“I am. I can. I will. I do.” —Christine D’Ercole
“Your health account, your bank account, they’re the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take out.” —Jack LaLanne
“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” — Oprah Winfrey
“What I've learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you're hurting like crazy and you want to give up. … Success is often just around the corner.” —James Dyson
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” —Muhammad Ali
“Never give up because great things take time.” —Adrian Williams
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” —Jesse Owens
"Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I'm possible!’" —Audrey Hepburn
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
“The impossible exists only until we find a way to make it possible.” —Mike Horn
“Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” — Mary Tyler Moore
“Treat your body like someone you love.” —Hannah Corbin
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” —Earl Nightingale
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” —Steve Prefontaine
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“If you give up at the first sign of struggle, you're really not ready to be successful.” —Kevin Hart
“Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do, and at some point, you will. —Venus Williams
“Be savage, not average.” —Cody Rigsby
“If you don't fall, how are you going to know what getting up is like?” —Steph Curry
“The achievement of one goal should be the starting point of another.” —Alexander Graham Bell
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” —Estée Lauder
"Your passion will propel you." —Alex Toussaint
“You can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will.” —Stephen King
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it away from you.” —Mark Cuban
“Your mind is your strongest muscle.” —Tunde Oyeneyin
How Can Workout Quotes Help You Meet Your Goals?
Did you find something that resonates? If that’s a yes, it makes sense—experts say motivational quotes really can help us meet our goals. “Quotes, when written well, often spark more than just our mind,” says Kelsey M. Latimer, PhD, founder of KML Psychological Services. “They hit an emotional button in us that makes us feel something.”
Because of that, quotes aren’t one-size-fits-all. “The quotes that impact us greatly are going to be different for each person based on what the person is interested in and what they are struggling with,” Latimer says. What we feel pulled to is often based on what we are struggling with internally—something we feel on a deep level, even if subconsciously.
“The right quotes can inspire us to view the problem as a challenge rather than a threat, maybe push new and creative solutions, or just lift our mood to know that others feel what we feel or have made it through what currently feels impossible to us,” she explains.
Of course, crushing your goals requires more than a little inspiration and a positive outlook. For best results, set specific, measurable, and achievable goals and lean on your community. Not to mention, apps like the Peloton App (which you can download for free!) can also help you stay on track with inspirational instructors, scheduled classes, custom workout stacks, motivational challenges and programs, and much more. You’ve got this.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.
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