Thursday, May 27, 2010

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

17 comments:

Kelly Michelle said...

I agree, if you don't make it a priority it doesn't happen. I have a planner that is my life. At the very top line of every day I go through and write "workout:" Before I start each week I go through and fill each day out. Then it is on my planner at the top before everything else. If something urgent comes up then it has to be rescheduled. It is a(n) (almost) daily appt that can't be missed.

TheFitnessFreak said...

Yep Kelly, I treat my workout as an appointment as well. It would take something life threatening to skip it : )

Maria@HuffandBuff said...

Hey Nicole,

Great Post! I didn't realize you were a VFer too! I have a "motivation" poster board in my workout room with pictures and phrases to keep me inspired!

Maria

TheFitnessFreak said...

Hey Maria!

Yep, I used to hang out on the forums all the time. I actually reminded myself of it when I wrote this post so I may be lurking there again : )

A motivation poster board is a great idea!

Thanks for reading,

Nicole

scrapwordsmom said...

Very inspiring post, Nicole. I have been a regular exerciser for nearly 13 years!! My anniversary is this October:) I LOVE to walk outside. It is therapy for me...plus a great way to keep my weight down.

I also have DVD's {love the FIRM!} and I have a bench, weights and lots of books. Plus Oxygen mag. articles.

I workout in the morning...otherwise it would never get done!

Keep up the inspiration! Love it!

Leslie

TheFitnessFreak said...

Thank you for the encouraging words Leslie! You are always so sweet : )

I agree, the morning is the way to go! Congrats on 13 years!!

Nicole

Alexis said...

Motivation is sometime a challenge. There are days when you are just too tired to do anything, but you know you want and need to workout. For me, it's pretty much using willpower and psyching myself up. For example, yesterday I was tired and the idea of going to the gym to do some cardio was daunting to me. Then I though about it a few minutes (the usual should I go or not go debate) and was able to convince myself that it's better to just go, and do ANYTHING instead of nothing. Sometimes you surprise yourself that once you get on that treadmill or elliptical you find the energy to do 40 minutes instead of 30, or whatever you usually do. It's all a mental game. My favorite trainer, Chalene Johnson, always says in her videos that you have to think about what you want more... to be healthy and have the body you want or to sit in front of the TV and eat that cake, chips, or whatever you would do instead. Simply, you have to ask yourself "What do I want more?"

My favorite workout is always a Chalene workout like her Extreme videos or Turbo Jam, but as a generalization, I love belly dancing and Bollywood dance workouts that you can find on FitTV. They may not get your heart rate up like a good run, but they're fun and at the end I always have a smile. Sometimes elevating your mood and finding peace at the end of the day is just as important as getting your heart rate up.

As for me, exercise is always a priority whether it's at the gym or hitting a tennis ball around with my father. Six days a week baby!

Kristine @ Busy But Healthy said...

Great tips! I had a bunch of pictures of my fellow fitness girls posted next to my treadmill during contest prep! ha

Coby said...

Seeing results is what motivates me! I'm back to my pre-baby weight, my booty is a little firmer and narrower,and my clothes fit again - it makes me want to keep doing it! Just knowing that what I'm doing is working makes me want to keep doing it.

Megan said...

thanks for this post Nicole :) i know i've asked you a bunch about this topic! I recently rearranged our office/guest room and organized my weights, yoga mat, and ball. Now I feel like there is lots of space to do those workouts! I also have a pass to the gym too! The thing that has been keeping me motivated lately is that I just need to MOVE and incorporate fitness into my life every day...it doesn't have to be the perfect workout every time. Doing something is usually better than me skipping a workout entirely :) right? keep up the good work!

TheFitnessFreak said...

Alexis, 6 days always : ) I thought Bollywood was fun. It's good for my rest weeks.

Kristine, Good idea! I hope the contest went well : )

Coby, Way to go! Keep with it you're doing so great! It helps that you're tall and beautiful inside and out to begin with : )

Megan, Thanks! Yes, something is ALWAYS better than nothing!

Sport said...

Thanks for this great post.I used to exercise 6 days a week. This last month, I wasn't motivated anymore and I workout only 2 days a week. Your post reminded me to look at my photo before beginning my workout journey and well I don't want to go back to that flabby look. So I'm motivated more than ever to workout 6 days a week.

TheFitnessFreak said...

I'm so glad it motivated you Sport! Have fun with your workouts!

Sharanya said...

Nicole:
Very Inspiring post.i totally agree with you its should be made a priority or it gets u nowhere esp for me.Consistency matters too.I have beeen at it since sept beautifully toned up with abs no weightloss(May be soon..tsk.tsk..)My son is in Kindergarten and thats exactly what I do,I run to the gym the min his bus leaves and he goes for half day too.I get 1cardio and a stretch class done sometimes a bit more.There is so much more energy after that...
My fav work out now is Bosu,Kickboxing and Pilates.I torture myself with bootcamp too once a week.
Sharanya

TheFitnessFreak said...

I'm so glad it inspired you Sharanya! Now I'm even more excited for September, it sounds great!

Nicole

Laury@TheFitnessDish said...

This is an excellent post! Sometimes I really need to get myself out of a fitness rut..I never skip workouts, but sometimes its super tough to get myself excited about working out! New music on my ipod, new sneaks and some fun new toys are fitness clothes always help!!

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

nicole, love this post! love seeing your stash of stuff and the library, good tip. i forget that the libr even exists LOL

ok girl it's so freakin hot here like 114-115F

so i will take the "hot spell" omg just 36 hrs away!
xo

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