(I just liked this picture!)
So the hardest thing for me to get motivated doing is the thing that will make the biggest impact on my weight loss….working out. I have never enjoyed working out nor do I think I really feel better after, I am more just relieved when I am done! Ok, maybe I feel a little better.
I hate working out in the morning, because frankly I love my sleep. I have a hard enough time getting out of bed to go to work, let alone waking up an hour before to exercise. As if. I don’t mind working out when I get home and I typically have all intentions on doing so, but there is always an excuse. I have to go to the store. I have to cook dinner. I have to do the dishes. I have to sit on the couch and watch TV.
I do have a treadmill and don’t mind walking on that, but honestly I get really bored after about 15 minutes. I am just walking and not going anywhere, what the heck is up with that?! (Of course I don’t like walking outside because I feel like I am just walking but with no real place to go…go figure.) I have tried workout videos, but again I am bored and usually find whoever is leading the workout highly annoying and I just stop watching the video out of principle (no one should be forced to watch a peppy and annoying instructor) and blame my suspending of said exercise video on the lack of a proper instruction and an un-encouraging and very thin teacher. Yes, excuses…because I HATE working out. I really wish sleeping or lying completely still was working out.
So what do I need from you? Encouragement, tips, motivation, help on getting my ass to work out every day!!! When do you work out? What tips do you have for working out? What workouts do you do? What tips do you have for staying interested? What are the best workouts to do if you only want to workout for 30 minutes? Does anyone else hate working out as much as I do?!
I will pay someone $5 a day to wake my ass up every day and workout with me!
I have motivation issues, as well. There was a time or two (two might be stretching it), when my friend Bob and I woke up before work and rode our bikes around the park. It.was.awesome.
ReplyDeleteSeriously. Once I got my butt out of bed and out the door, I loved it. The chill in the air. The birds. The silence. No was else was out. It was so ... peaceful. It didn't even feel like exercise.
We kept this up for a day or two until it rained one morning and we never went again.
I make deals with myself - oh, you want to read, well, you can, AFTER you do 10 sit-ups. (Obviously, this is why I never read anymore.)
I also like to give myself gifts - a new fancy something or other for crafting - if I reach some goal, like walking three days in a row. I make small (but not ridiculously easy) goals so that I don't let myself down. Once I let myself down, that's all she wrote.
P.S. Now 'working out is hard to do' sung to 'making up is hard to do' is in my head. Thanks. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat is EXACTLY the song in my head when I was typing it!! Oh, I love that you got it. I wanted to make it my title, but didn't think people would SING it :) I heart you Amber!
ReplyDeleteI really like the reward idea. Work out X number of days or X number of hours get something. Yes, it may also work for a 5 year old, but whose to say I am not acting like a 5 year old when it comes to working out. (I swear I only threw a fit and sat on the ground whilst crying once)
Is it defeating though to say, work out 4 days get to eat a cupcake?!?! Because that might just work!
:-)
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer that depriving yourself of snacks or treats is a recipe for disaster. So, as long as it's not one of those jumbo cupcakes, with a whole can of frosting on top, I think that is a perfectly good treat. (I'd like a strawberry one, please.)
Hey Jenn!
ReplyDeleteI can finally comment now that I have my own BLOG! Woo hoo!
So, motivation. The best thing I've found is to get into a routine. Currently, I come home, take the dog out, change & go to the gym. If I don't do that, I feel gross. So I guess my motivation is not wanting to feel gross or disappointed in myself that I didn't go.
ALSO - if you walk or run or want to run, I highly recommend Nike + iPod. You've probably heard of it - it's a chip that goes in your shoe and a thingie that plugs into your iPod (I have a Nano)... keeps track of your workout during your working and keeps track of your stats as you improve/rack up miles. It's awesome. Can't WAIT to run outside again with it!
I have one question:
ReplyDeleteDo you have a tv/dvd player to watch while you are on the treadmill?
What helps me?
ReplyDeletePut my shoes, sports bra, shorts, etc. RIGHT in the middle of the damn floor the night before.
I seriously can't keep walking AROUND my work out stuff.
I'm only allowed to move it if I put it on and exercise.
(Note: I've had my shoes in the middle of the floor for two weeks.)
Iris I do but where the TV is compared to the treadmill I have to look to my side to SEE the TV...and my clumsy ass doesn't need to be looking sideways as I walk. This weekend I am cleaning the basement a bit so I can move the treadmill out a so I can watch TV, that should help!
ReplyDeleteGood ideas! I have put my stuff out (I keep most of my stuff on the floor and in baskets anyways and I DO walk over everything) so as soon as I get home I change and start working out that way I don't sit and start to relax...it seems to be working!
Sarah, guess who still doesn't have an iPod. However, I still have a working portable tape player!