Motivation to Workout

I would have to say the number one question I get asked is, "How do I get motivated to workout?". This is not a cut and dry answer as everyone's lives are different in so many ways. My number one response is make it a PRIORITY!

This may sound absurd or unrealistic to some of you, but working out is second only to God and my family. I schedule appointments around it, I rework my schedule to include it, I get up at the crack of dawn and I sacrifice other things to get it done. If your life depended on it, you'd figure out how to fit it in. For this next week I want you to pretend your life depends on it because in the scheme of things, it does!

Keep pictures up of whatever motivates you around your house. For some of you that could be an outfit, an event or some amazing abs! Whatever it is keep it at the forefront of your mind. If you don't have reminders around you, you may forget and I don't want you to do that! I keep my blood tests and body analysis on the fridge to remind myself of why I workout regularly. That may be very real for a lot of you and is a very serious motivator, trust me.

I have a huge library of workout DVD's. Working out at home is more practical for some of you. Think about it, you're already there and all you have to do is get dressed and pop in the DVD. You don't have to haul all of your stuff to the gym to wait in line for the treadmill, get half of a workout and rush to get showered and off to work or somewhere else. I have so enjoyed my workouts at home for the last 7 years. I have all of my equipment hidden away in my tiny living room. For those of you who think you don't have room for equipment at home, I give you Exhibit #1:

Yep, it's all neatly hidden away yet accessible. Come on, join me in the fun! I'll give you as many tips and suggestions as you want. I think I own or have done about every DVD out there: ) The library also has a ton of DVD's to choose from. Rent it, try it and if you like it, buy it. They even have a ton on Netflix if you want to try some of the newest ones. I purchase a lot of mine from Collage Video and Amazon. If I get sick of a workout I put it on The Video Fitness Exchange. It's so cool, you offer up your DVD's and have a wish list of the workouts you want. Turns out a lot of people have been sick of some of the workouts I want and vice versa. Everyone is happy : )

For those of you who can get to the gym, GO! Yes, you have the time! Skip coffee with the girls or beer with the guys and invest in your health. It will bring you so much more happiness than the latter. Make working out your "me" time. If you don't put your body and your health at the top of your priority list no one will. One of my favorite magazines, Oxygen Magazine, has new workouts every month. You can type out the workouts and take them to the gym with you. It's like having a personal trainer at your fingertips. I am excited to take them with me in the fall when I return to the gym. My youngest will be starting kindergarten so I have decided that I will drop him off, go to the gym and workout then take a shower there and go pick him up. He will only be in half days so it will work out perfectly!

I want to hear from all of you! What do you do to stay motivated? What's your favorite workout? Is exercise a priority for you? E-mail me anytime with questions or motivation. I want you to enjoy working out and forget what life was like without it : )

P.S. Take before photos NOW!!  I am so glad I did. You will see so much more change if you have proof of where you were before you started your workout journey.

Nicole