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Week 2: How I Stay Motivated
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.
I’m not always the best at sticking with a fitness routine. Life tends to get in the way. The fire life schedule throws a wrench in the scheduling process every third day as my husband, a professional firefighter, works a 24 hour shift. Add in working part-time out of the home, full time from home as a freelance writer, parenting duties, household maintenance, family and friends and, well, the scheduling gets even more complicated.
Excuses, excuses, right?
This year I have been determined not to get too lax with my fitness routine. However, I’m one that kind of freaks out if I feel forced to do something. I’ve allowed myself a little leeway as long as I’m doing something specifically physical three times per week. That involves me actually scheduling fitness activities into my already busy schedule. I find that when I write them in pen or add them to my Google calendar, I am more likely to complete my intended activity than if I just make a mental note of it. Instead of scheduling three specific things, over the past few weeks, I have been scheduling a “gray” fitness activity three days per week. Most of the time, these are my couch to 5K runs. Sometimes I decide that I can’t run (that random leg pain that’s bothering me, crazy torrential rain), so I will do some yoga at home. Or, if I’m not working at 7:00 on a Wednesday evening, I go to my yoga class. (I frequently work on Wednesday evenings so I can’t make it a weekly thing, sadly.) Some weeks are crazier than others and so I allow a two mile walk hauling the boys in the wagon to count as a physical activity. (They’re heavy!)
In addition to scheduling, I’ve found that participating in social media fitness sites is also a great motivating factor. I joined DailyMile and have been tracking my progress over the past few weeks. I’m not doing as well as I’d like to be just yet and sometimes I even forget to log a run but I’ve found that watching and interacting with others keeps me on my game. Engaging in discussion on twitter about fitness topics (like my question about mile tracking last week) also gains me new followers who are fitness oriented. Reading their tweets about their latest run time serves to encourage me to get off my doopa and get back out on the track.
Also, and kind of shockingly for me, my sister-in-law has been a huge motivating factor this year. She ran the Columbus marathon this past October. In October, I still wasn’t on the fitness track. In fact, I was still convinced that I would never be able to run again thanks to a traumatic ankle injury during my junior year of high school. All previous efforts had been anti-climactic. When she ran the marathon, it got me thinking. She offered encouragement. Seeing how healthy she has become since she started running in earnest made me start the research on how I could possibly get back to running in a slow and appropriate-for-me manner. Both she and my mother-in-law are thrilled that I’ve taken up running again. Their support is a great encouragement on those days that I don’t really want to keep it up.
Lastly, my energy level itself is probably the biggest motivating factor. All those things that your gym teacher said about exercising boosting your energy level and mood were true. I’ve been thrilled with how healthy and ready to tackle (almost) anything that comes my way this year. If I go a few days without doing something to exert myself, I feel kind of anxious and down in the dumps. Then I realize, “Oh, sillyhead, you need to get back out there and run!” And I do. It’s such a great feeling!
So, tell me, how do you stay motivated on the days that you don’t want to get out there and do anything? Remember that anyone who comments on this series of fitness posts (see my landing page) is eligible to win a $100 Visa Gift Card when I wrap it all up. There are other chances for you to win, too! Just visit BlogHer for the other bloggers who are participating in this great series of fitness posts hosted by Crystal Light Pure Fitness. Check out the official rules for more information.
And give this poll a click, too!
I stay motivated by knowing I’m going ot have some alone time. That’s more than enough motivation for me!
I stay motivated because going to the gym is the one time during the day I get alone time from my toddler AND I get to watch cable tv on the cardio machines, ha!
I stay motivated by having my daughter as a training buddy. We keep each other going and motivated.
several things motivate me to work out. rain: if it rains i usually hit the gym. coffee: enlivens my sluggish body to get moving. the mirror: one look and i’m hitting the gym, or biking my son to the park.
My walking buddy keeps me motivated. If she calls me go for one of our 5 miles walks, I feel bad letting her down so I always say yes.
I have 27 excuses why I can’t exercise, and none for why I should. So I can’t help you there LOL. I wish you the BEST of luck, though!
Monique
I stay motivated to work out because my husband works out with me. We both get up at 6:00 and leave for the gym. If we didn’t go together, we probably wouldn’t go at all. So, it is nice to have a workout buddy that is also married to you!
This year I have been motivated by Zumba, and specifically by Queen City Dancing Queen, which is an organization that runs zumba or zumba-esque classes 7 days a week in my area. It is cheap as hell ($40 for a unlimited monthly pass). There is always a class. It’s always music and choreography you know. If you get yourself to the place, they will make you burn 400-500 calories in an hour. They do all the thinking and planning for you and then kick your ass to the tunes of Lady Gaga and Celia Cruz. Prior to that I was running on my own…I’ve never had a terrible problem getting myself to exercise, but I tell you, the Zumba thing makes it dead easy.
working out with my wife keeps me motivated
working out with my husband keeps me motivated
Knowing that if I start slacking off in my exercise, that my husband will be de-motivated, keeps me going!
I try to make exercise fun and listen to good music. Sometimes I’ll daydream while I’m exercising…it’s fun and I get to escape reality for a while.
I stay motivated by pushing myself while doing something fun. If I’m going to run, or walk, I take my iPod along. Or I switch things up by running a different route, or walking to a new part of town. Sometimes I’ll ask a friend to come along with me, so we can talk too.
I have two little boys under the age of 4 that keep me busy and motivated. There is never a dull moment with them. Also having weekly weigh-ins and wanting to see success on the scales helps me stay motivated to be more active.
I’m motivated by wanting to fit into prepregnancy pants sometime this decade.
Also, my exercise routine is largely based around family activities right now, as well as a yoga class which gets me away from the house and the big kids for a couple hours a week, which is a life saver, even if I never break a sweat.
Ugh, Motivation has always been my largest hurdle. So about six months ago, my boyfriend and I put a price on motivation. Literally.
Whomever was the “loser” for the month (as in didn’t hit their goals) would put $100 into our 2012 Olympics travel fund. The “winner” would put in $50. In the event of a tie, where we BOTH hit our montly goal, we’d each put in $75.
In the end, we’re motivated, AND we’ve saved up a chunk of cash for our vacation
I am totally not motivated for fitness. I was a book worm as a kid and hated gym class. I sometimes think I am just not genetically programmed to want to exercise!
So I don’t have a whole lot of advice. I do want to get in shape to set a good example for my daughter and our future children plus I know there are lots of benefits to my body and my emotional peace of mind
Some days the only way I stay motivated is knowing that I have a goal I’m working toward, and that I have friends who are working toward goals right alongside of me. We check in and hold each other accountable to work out and eat right!