One of the biggest fitness obstacles is motivating yourself daily for a grueling workout. But how do you get past this roadblock? If you feel like chilling and taking a day off, how do you convince yourself otherwise? Here's one way: music! It can take you from a passive, laidback guy to an alpha male on the prowl, hungry to tackle some iron. You want music that inspires you, "This... is... SPARTA!" style. An intense playlist can easily take a weak, crappy workout to new personal bests on your lifts.

If you have a favorite bodybuilder, watch a training DVD that will ramp up your energy and keep you focused on your goals. Take the time to fill up your iPod with some epic tunes, and get jacked for your training!

Goals are always tricky. But what about when your coach tells you that your 40 yard dash needs to improve, or that you need to shave an extra minute from your mile time? Your first thought is, "Well, this is gonna suck," but when you win the big game for the team on Friday night, you know it will be worth it, and you get pumped.

Short - term goals are all about finding out what motivates you, then using it to get from where you are now, to where you want to be next month.

Maybe you have a favorite actor or athlete that has the physique you ultimately want. Is that a bad thing? No dude, that's a great thing! Let's face it, if you don't have a clear picture of what you want to look like, then how are you going to achieve your end goal? On that note, having these last few tools in your arsenal will help you add new muscle mass.

A workout partner can be a huge asset to help you succeed, so grab a friend who shares your goals. You don't want a buddy that chatters endlessly through your workouts or just checks out chicks, but a truly focused partner. In the end, you want someone to push you even harder, not make the journey more difficult.

The next step to keep on track with your long term goal is keeping a fitness and workout journal. Having a workout journal, or using our Workout Tracker, might seem like another distraction, but it's proven to be one of the most important notebooks man has ever carried. When your friends are out grubbing on fast food, downing soda, and binging on video games, you've been documenting the quest for mass.

Your journal will be your epic novel that tells a tale of hard work, dedication, and sweat. You can also look back from time to time to assess your progress. If your muscle growth seems to be slowing down, check to see if your numbers are going up. If not, it might be time to switch up your workouts. A journal will prevent you from falling into the trap of the typical teen chest and arms routine, and you will be the one with the overall incredible physique.