This is How We Stay Motivated for Fitness, So How Do You?
August 20, 2009 by Karissa
Filed under Info You Want to Know
How do you stay motivated? Isn’t that one of the hardest parts of staying fit and keeping healthy? If it isn’t I am so jealous! Working late, not getting enough sleep, and plain ol “not feelin it” are usually my fit enemies!
So I asked people around the web what they do to keep motivated. I got some really great answers.
Cat at Mom Blog Talk with 3 Kids and Us, says,
“One of my motivators is to keep photos on hand of my trouble spots. The reminder gives me the umph I need to get up and get moving to work on them.” and even left me a link for an example!
Amanda from Confessions of a Household Six had to say,
“The Wii Fit honestly keeps me motivated. It’s a daily dose of reality. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the weights they think are healthy (It wants DH to be 150ish and he’d be a rail), but that fat little Mii up there is motivation.”
chunkiest I could find online! and he isn't even that big!!
I love that! the little chunky butt is hilarious!
Kate at The Shopping Mama says,
“I need much more short term goals to keep me motivated. Like, Erin of the Mom Buzz being motivated to work so hard for something next year blows my mind. I need to think “I want to fit in to those jeans by next month” or “I want to lose 5 pounds by my husband’s birthday” even if my over all goal is much larger. And then I totally reward myself with something when I meet those short-term goals with a pedicure or date night or something.”
Reward yourself when you meet short term goals!
Kadi from Womb at the Insane says,
“MUSIC. I cannot possibly sit still when music is on. It is an automatic movement inducing element.”
I am so with her on this one! I love to dance, and I have an Ipod loaded with dancy tunes. Funky Grateful Deads tunes (shakedown street), The Black Keys, Soulive, My Morning Jacket, Beck, The Roots and i could really go on and on!
Kara of Through Hazel Eyes, agrees with Cat,
“Like Cat, I have a picture Rob took of me in my bikini sitting next to the computer. I can see all my trouble areas and it makes me think twice before grabbing that snack before I sit down to work on the computer.”
Louise at This is My Life Journey commented,
“I really like tropical flavored water and fresh vegetables so hubby cuts me fresh vegetables each day and after my time on the treadmill I eat my fresh veggies and drink my tropical flavored water. “
hmm, she is on to something. I use a lot of frozen berries in my water, the water tastes so good, and when you get to the end, you have a little snack too! blueberries are great for this!
Natalie at RedSox Mommy had this to say,
“Thinking of a future event helps me to be motivated. Like thinking of an upcoming vacation or a family picture. Right now I’m thinking about trying for another baby and want to lose a little weight first. So I keep thinking about holding a cuddly little bundle of baby cuteness when I feel like giving up. It keeps me going for a little bit more.”
How sweet is that? Sometimes this works for me too!
Canine Hope ResQ at Twitter tweeted this to me,
“I stay motivated for fitness by reminding myself our dogs need to know there is a world outside of the home. -We walk new places.”
You can also visit Canine Hope Rescue to find out more.
Thank you all so much for participating! I think these are all outstanding tips and tools!
One of my motivators is to find a REALISTIC photo of someone I admire and has a body I desire. Keeping that in my billfold, on the fridge, in my car, whatever, it is there! just though of this one, but you could even put it on your phone!
And when I say realistic and admire, I don’t mean Heidi Kluum. I mean we all know she is an alien to be able to pop back like that after pregnancy. I am getting more at people who have succeeded on Biggest Loser.
So we shared ours! What do you do to stay motivated when you start to slack? I would love your tips and tricks!
Related posts:
My salvation are group exercises at the gym. I take a weight training class, a yoga fusion, and a run-jump aerobics type class. They provide a schedule I get used to, and the routine is entertaining because you are doing it with an instructor, to music, and with a bunch of people. So you can work out, rock out and people-watch at the same time! And I absolutely love that feeling after the workout, when your blood is pumping. So, I tell myself, to paraphrase The Steve Miller Band, “you have to go through hell before you can get to heaven”. It works – well, most of the time…
Wow thanks so much ladies. Erin, I am too scared to write a post and start posting pics! Ack! I get butterflies in my belly just thinking about it. think i could take the first ocuple months in a snowsuit? lol
Shannon, I certainly wish I had some powerwalkers around me! I do walk the dogs, but it is hard to get a pace when one of them is stopping to sniff something every 5 seconds!
Barbara, you so right, once you get started with in the first minute it just feels right. sometimes for me it is just putting the clothes on, or tying my shoes.
Anyone else have anything? feel free to keep adding if you think of things!
I regularly do cardio, strength training & stretching.
Sometimes when my motivation is lower, I remind myself that this is the best thing I do for myself all day.
& to just get started, then the rest flows.
The two neighbor ladies I power-walk with are relentless! If I don’t show up at our designated time they come and get me. I happen to live next door to one and across the street from the other so, there’s no getting out of it. The support from both of them has been phenomenal and I am very grateful. I can fit into the jeans I wore before the birth of our second son! Any woman who is interested in weight-loss or working out can appreciate how exciting that is for me.
With the weight-loss comes shopping. I’ve dreaded clothes-shopping since having the boys. All I can say is not anymore! For every 5 pounds I lose I buy myself a new article of clothing. It can be new panties, a new shirt, new sandals, new scented lotion, etc(sometimes I just buy those things for the heck of it too. shh!)Just something small to reward myself for hanging in there.
Seeing the results of all of my hard work(as well as the neighbor ladies)is motivation in itself! Thinner thighs, flatter tummy, smaller bum, no more little double chin growing…all of these things keep me hanging in there, walking on hot summer nights when I’d rather be at home drinking an ice-cold margarita while inhaling garlic and mozzarella stuffed brats.
Now, getting motivated to walk in the winter snow is something yet to be ventured…
Wow! Thanks for the link love there. LOL!
Should I say how I stay motivated? I definitely set a goal with that Figure Contest. Cissy at CoolBabyKid.com has the same goal, smaller time frame!
I also stay motivated knowing I have to post pictures of myself every two weeks. LMAO. How boring would it be if I cheated so much there wasn’t improvement, right?
Great post!