Reader Questions Answered

Today's Question comes from Annie on the nest.com:
I'd like to hear about motivation. How do you do it on days/weeks when you just don't feel like it.

Ahhh, days I don't feel like doing it... Most often it's the weekdays, because on the weekends I work out as soon as I wake up. But coming home after a long day at work and then having to go run/shred/elliptical can be a challenge. There are a few motivators for a few different reasons.

1. I want new clothes so badly, but I won't let myself buy anything until I hit certain sizes. The faster and harder I push to lose the weight, the sooner I get new clothes!

2. It's become a routine, I get home, I work out, so I never plan things for right after work, and if I do, I make sure as soon as I get back from that I work out. I'm a very 'stick to the routine' kind of person, so this really works.

3. My husband gets home before me, gets my water bottle full and sitting out for me and has my shred DVD ready for me at the level I want. We call it getting me 'shready,' yeah, we're cutesy like that. If I don't work out, I tell him to judge me and tell me I'm fat (which he won't, but he does give me motivation)

4. I have many people who know about my situation, and ask me if I did what I said I would do - like the c25k.

5. If you have a workout buddy, you're more likely to stick with the plans, JJ did the first few weeks of C25K with me, he'd be ready to go when I got home, and would make sure I got going.


Overall, when I feel like I just don't want to, I put life into perspective. I don't want to pay taxes, I don't want to go to work, I don't want to pick up Pumpkin's poop in the yard (well, JJ does that one) but I do because I have to. I am taking responsibility and doing what I have to do. In the end, I'm really proud of myself for doing it, and that's a much better feeling than guilt for not doing what I know I should.
If you need a motivator, you just call me, or my husband, he does a good job :)