How do I stay motivated to exercise when starting out?

Start small and make it almost embarrassingly easy at first. If you try to go too hard too soon, soreness and exhaustion will kill your motivation fast. Commit to just 10-15 minutes a few times a week, then build gradually. Early wins matter more than intensity. Attach exercise to something you already enjoy, like a podcast or playlist you only listen to during workouts. Schedule it at a consistent time so it becomes automatic rather than a daily decision. Track your progress in any simple way, because seeing improvement is genuinely motivating. Also accept that motivation fluctuates and discipline carries you through the low days. The habit itself eventually becomes the motivation once it feels like part of your identity.