I have been so lazy. I just can't get myself in gear. So non-motivated.

I know all of the benefits of exercise but struggle through the Winter every single year. I am an outdoorsy person and it just kills me to not get an early morning walk. I know that 'it's cold' should not be an excuse but it is!!!

What do you do??? Large exercise machines are not an option for us as our home is small and full! How do you get yourself motivated? Have any of you been faithful about exercising for years? If so, what are your tricks for staying motivated year after year???

My Dad...he mall walks every other day...I try to join him on his "week day" walks when the kids are at school. It is a great way to spend time with him and get some exercise. If it wasn't for him, forget it. I have no motivation to exercise.

So my advice? Find a friend to hold you accountable and encourage you.

Guilt works great for me! When I get home from work I have to go thru our daylight basement to get into the main house, so that means that I have to walk right by my treadmill and weight machine. I go into the house, change my clothes and go get on the treadmill right then, no stopping, no excuses, no housework! I try to make it part of my routine. I do my half hour on the treadmill, and then I reward myself with a hot cup of tea and a few relaxing minutes watching my soaps before the kids get home!

I can't get motivated to "workout" so I choose to play on a teenis team instead! I have lost 12 pounds since I started in Sept., and I love to play so it doesn't feel like I'm exercising!

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Kristie
mom to Tyler (11/94) & Joycie (3/99)
www.thegrandskofour.shutterfly.com

I am not very motivated, that is the problem! I used to have a woman friend that I worked with and we used to go to the gym at work (I teach at a graduate school), 2-3 evenings a week. We would warm up and walk around the indoor track for a couple of miles, do the Lifecycle and some of the other circuit equipment. Sometimes we would swim, but alas she moved away-we were really motivating each other. I have to find someone to push me forward. I saw her when i went to a conference in D.C. earlier this month and she looked great-lost weight, looked happy but she is single without kids. Between work, my kids' activities, and just everyday life, I feel like I don't have enough hours in the day. I may try to do some exercise videos at home. early in the a.m. until I can get out and walk when the weather is warmer. When I was younger with no children, I used to get up early in the morning and go to the gym and swim and do the weights and Lifecycle. I also used to like to Jazzercise because it is like dancing. Hmm, maybe I will have to find time for a dance class, I would like that!

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Jocelyn



My babies are the joys of my life and keep me young:
The twins,Tatiana Gabrielle and William Joseph , 1/29/97, and baby boy, Jared Lawrence, 8/27/02.

ITA!

I hate to excercise, but have been walking in the mornings after the bus leaves for 4 1/2 years now. How do I stay motivated? I meet a friend. Most days, we just go. We have a neighborhood lake and it's 4/10 of mile from my house there and 1/2 mile around. We walk for about 45 minutes to an hour...usually 4-5 laps. But, sometimes when it's misty or cold or windy, I'll call her and really be wanting to stay home. She'll say something like, "let's just try 1 lap and if we're cold we'll come home." Of course we never do, we always go the whole time. We both motivate the other one. If she didn't walk, I know I wouldn't.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

One thing that motivates me is that no matter how bad I don't want to work out....and how long I drag my feet to get going....when I go through with it and it's done and over, I have NEVER thought to myself that I wish that I hadn't done it. I ALWAYS feel better for it.

cj/

Thanks for all of the tips... I actually used to be very disciplined and honestly couldn't wait to get out the door because as cj said in the last post, taking a long walk made me feel good! Maybe I need to find a walking buddy... I'll start looking around! but otherwise, I think I just need to get back into the routine and not make excuses. I have previously (up until the last year) walked at least 5 days a week for around 20 years without having a walking buddy... Just tired of same old thing, I guess?

I also get motivation from my 12YO DS who takes his role as Mom's Personal Trainer very seriously. Most times he accompanies me to the gym and will stop by whatever cardio equipment I'm doing to check up on how I'm doing several times. If he doesn't want to go, he "forces" me to go. He likes being my personal trainer cuz it means he gets to boss me around.

cj/