Motivations

Do you ever have one of those days in which you really can't get yourself to do anything, much less workout? I have those days...all the time!  The key for me is to keep some motivators in my back pocket.  Here are a few tips that I have found exceptionally helpful:

1.  If there is a particular time of day that you are more likely to workout, try to schedule time to workout then.  For me, this is anywhere between 9:30am to 1:30pm.  After that, I'm useless.  Unfortunately for me, I am usually teaching or have other obligations during that time.  Thus, I move on to the rest of my motivational list.

2.  Find a buddy.  When I'm at my parent's house, I walk with my parent's dog and my mom.  Today, I had a running buddy.  Working out when you really don't want to isn't as bad when you can focus on your buddy instead of how hard you are breathing.

3.  Do something you love.  Don't workout just because it's good for you.  For me, I hate, hate, hate being a mouse on a wheel (which is what treadmills feel like to me).  I think it's boring and I hate that I'm not going anywhere.  In the long run, you are more likely to stick with something you like and thus be healthier than if you did two weeks in the gym, got sick of it, and gave up.

4.  Find someone or something that is inspirational to you.  It could be those pants you are hoping to wear or someone who has accomplished what you are working for.  I like Ali Vincent a lot (first female winner of the Biggest Loser).  She doesn't play games, she works hard, and I see a lot of myself in her.  If you haven't yet, read Believe It, Be It, written by Vincent.  I think I've read that book three or four times.  It helps to know that I'm not the only one who thinks this stuff is hard sometimes.



5.  When everything above fails, you have come down to the final two options.  If you know your body needs a workout and just don't feel like it, give yourself a 10 minute workout.  This tip comes from the book The Go-Girl Guide: Surviving Your 20s with Savvy, Soul, and Style by Julia Borland.  My sister gave me this book when I turned 20 and, sadly, it looks like I will need to hand it off in 10 months.

The theory is that if you workout for 10 minutes, you will likely feel better and you'll finish out the workout.  The truth is, this works!  I love Jillian Michaels' workouts.  My current obsession is Jillian's Ripped in 30.  It's literally a total body workout in 34 minutes (and it's a great workout!).  After 10 minutes in front of Jillian, I always finish.

The second of the final options is to take a rest day.  A cop out?  Maybe.  It can also be exactly what you need.  If I have worked out 4 days or more in a row, especially if they are intense workouts, sometimes I just need a day off to let my muscles rest and rebuild.  I can pick up where I left off the next day.

What are your motivations?

Challenge Update

I really did not want to go for a run today!  My muscles were tired and sore.  Luckily, I had planned to run with a good friend and did not want to cancel on her.  We did not run all that far (just under 1.5 miles) and we walked the rest of the way but it was a good workout none-the-less and it was way better for me than sitting on the couch.