I'm busy. You're busy. We're all busy. But we've all got the same 24 hours in the day. How we decide to use them is up to us.
Last winter/spring/summer and into the early fall, I was so dedicated, getting up at 4:45am to get my workouts finished before anyone else was awake. That still needs to happen -- if I start work, I KNOW I won't stop to workout -- but I've definitely been pushing the limits, staying in bed just a little bit longer, running just a little bit later, having to fast forward through some parts of my workout. I hate that. When I commit to something and put a workout on my schedule, I like to follow through. Plus, when I don't get up and get moving, the whole day feels rushed and running a little behind.
I've talked about how I'm training for a triathlon, and now I realize it's time to recommit to my goals. Over the past few weeks, sports channels have been running recaps of the Ironman that took place in Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman is a triathlon on a HUGE scale. I always enjoy watching it, but this year I've watched with greater interest because next summer, I will swim, bike, run, but on a much smaller scale.
The professional Ironman athletes are amazing, but it's the everyday citizens who are INSPIRATIONAL. Twice I've sat through the show that follows some of the "normal" people who choose to compete in the Ironman. There are cancer patients (yes, patients!), cancer survivors, a fire fighter who ran the marathon portion in full gear in honor of comrades killed on 9-11, people my age (which makes me think I need to ramp it up!), and even people in their 60s and 70s! Each time a competitor crosses the line, the announcer welcomes them saying, "You are an Ironman!" How cool is that? From the first person to the last.
If you're a P90X aficianado, you know who Tony Horton is (P90X creator). But what you may not know is that his sister, Kit, is a Beachbody coach. In a recent blog post, she wrote about all of the excuses about exercise she'd had in her head over the years. How familiar do these sounds? So familiar to me!
-I work long hours, I can’t get the workout in
-My travel schedule makes it difficult to eat healthy on the road
-My family won’t eat what I make and I’m tired of making two separate meals
-P90X workouts are an hour long, most days, I just don’t have an hour to workout (or 90 minutes for Yoga !!!)
-The holidays are coming and it’s challenging to eat well this time of year with all the temptations around
-It’s just not normal to eat healthy all the time, you should be able to indulge once in a while
-Before I know it, the day gets away from me and I haven’t got my workout in
-Cooking healthy meals takes too long and it’s so expensive
-Or how about the infamous, "I'll start on Monday."
When you watch the Ironman, you realize it's time to throw all those excuses out the window. The Ironman competitors made a choice to take on the most difficult athletic challenge and many other daily choices to commit to their training and fuel their bodies in the best way to be able to compete. Plain and simple: this race became their priority.
Do we all need to start training for the Ironman? No, of course not. But it's time to start making our own choices -- nutritionally, physically, mentally.
What does making exercise and healthy eating a priority really mean? It means more than doing the workout when you really don’t feel like it and saying no to the birthday cake at the office. It means getting back on track the day after you’ve had a bad day. It means feeling good and feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments for the first time in a long time. It means saying no to crappy food not because you have to talk yourself into it, but because you truly don’t want it AND because you've learned how badly you'll feel afterwards and you're tired of digging back out of that hole! Making conscious, consistent good decisions about your nutrition and fitness will give you the strength, perseverance and determination to make the right choice every time you’re faced with one.
You'll be surprised how quickly it will be a good habit. You'll soon wonder how you ever lived any other way!
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Getting Motivated, Staying Motivated!
Like everyone else, my motivation to exercise waxes and wanes. I'm waning right now, for sure. For the last few years, I've tried to pay more attention to how I feel at certain points during the year, and Fall to Christmas is always hard for me. I think it has to do with the change of seasons, the fact that it's dark so much more, not to mention getting colder. In the summer, I have no problem hopping out of bed, walking in the early dawn hours and then coming home and doing some resistance training or heavy duty cardio.
But when it's cold and dark? Not so much.
I do try to think about ski season and conditioning for that, but since we're at about the furthest point in the year from bathing suit season, and right now I could hide any extra LBS under heavy ski clothes, again, not hugely motivated.
So this is when I've got to dig deep and really keep my act together. I came across a really good list of ideas for staying motivated regardless of the time of year. I pulled out some of my faves to share to keep us all thinking about staying on track:
1. Remind yourself how you feel after a workout. Endorphins, baby!
2. You time. This is when you make YOURSELF a priority. Not your husband, not your kids, not your extended family, not your job. It's about you. And trust me, you'll have more to give back if you take this time for youself.
3. Calories burned. If you count calories, which I do most of the time, and let's face it, doing so is really one of the most effective ways to lose weight, you know that the more you exercise, the more calories you burn — and the bigger your calorie deficit. So this is just one step closer to your goals.
4. Having fun. Exercise should be fun (and to me it is, except for running days which I would only define loosely as fun!). If it isn’t, try a different kind of activity that you enjoy. As long as you’re moving, it’s good for you.
5. How you’re going to look. Imagine a slimmer, fitter you. Now let that visualization drive you. My vanity is a BIG motivator!
6. Health/fitness magazines. It motivates me to read fitness magazines. I see what exercise does for others and I find that motivating.
7. Blogs. I enjoy reading blogs about people who are into running, or losing weight. It can show the ups and downs they go through, and you can learn from their experiences. I hope people learn from mine, too :)
8. Success stories. I find the success stories of others incredibly inspirational. If a fitness website or a magazine has success stories, I’ll almost always read them.
9. Forums/support groups. Get with a group of people (message me if you need one!). I have challenge groups on Facebook that help me keep on track, and I have a whole group that I call my Fit Friends who I swap info with all the time. Find a group that works for you, and then make it a point to check in daily. It really helps.
10. Rewards. Set a goal for yourself and when you achieve it, reward yourself in a non-food way. I like to go to my friend's day spa. She really spoils me!
11. New clothes in smaller sizes. I love it. My husband who monitors the budget -- not so much.
13. Feeling strong. When I'm having a really good workout or run (yes, sometimes I have a good run!) I envision myself kicking ass and taking names!
14. Stress relief. Mad about something? Get out and work off that stress. It makes a world of difference. After you're finished, you'll be calmer and possbly not even remember what was annoying you!
15. Time for contemplation. Mostly this is when I walk. I love having time to mull things over or just listen to music I enjoy. When I lift or do HIIT workouts, I do try to concentrate. Science shows concentrating recruits muscle fibers more effectively.
16. Get a workout partner. There is nothing better for accountability than having someone to report in to or to serve as your cheerleader. In grad school, when I first lost a significant amount of weight, my friend Marci and I worked out together every day. As I lost weight, she'd cheer me on and leave me little notes and cards to celebrate my success. That was way cool.
17. An exercise class. Sign up for a class, perhaps with a friend, and you’ll be motivated to get there and work out.
18. A coach or trainer. I can coach you for FREE :) Message me!
19. Keep track. I log my workouts through Beachbody's WOWY.com and it keeps me accountable and motivated. You wouldn't believe what I'll do to make sure I get a scheduled workout done. I take DVDs with me when I travel and make sure I find an empty room to jump around in.
20. Compare. Take photos, measure, weigh. Give yourself several yardsticks by which to track your progress. I've completed programs where I didn't lose a lot of weight, but I lost a lot of inches and I could see results in my pictures (and how my clothes fit).
21. Train for something. Whether it's a 5K race or triathlon, just signing up will keep you motivated. I'm doing this now, and I'm already panicking on how I will keep up with my running in the winter. I don't want to re-learn to run in the spring, so I'm working hard to keep up!
22. Avoiding feeling like Jaba the Hut. That's how I feel when I take more than one day off a week. Obsessive? I don't know, but I do know how great I feel when I DO stay on track. That's what gets me out of bed on those cold, dark mornings. For me, exercise is non-negotiable. It's going to happen, I just need to figure out create ways to do it sometimes.
23. A healthy future. I want to be a good role model for my kids AND be healthy for when I do finally get grandkids (although I probably should have started having kids earlier).
24. The scale. Some people hate it, but to me, it's just another tool to see how I'm doing, even for maintenance. It’s not motivating to weigh yourself every day, as your weight fluctuates. But if you weigh yourself once a week, you’ll be motivated to have it keep going down, instead of up.
25. Achieving my goals. Whether it's weight, running a certan distance/time, completing a workout program -- whatever -- set realistic goals and be specific. Do it. Track. And then celebrate your achievements!
26. Go public. Talk about your goals, programs and progress publicly. Post it on your blog or Facebook page. Tell people you’re going to lose weight or exercise daily, and report to them. You’ll make it happen when people are "watching." AND you'll be surprised how supportive people are. Suddenly, YOU'RE motivating someone else, which is way cool.
27. Motivational quotes. Maybe it's cheesy, but I like to find them on the Internet and post them on my Facebook page. It lets people know what my mindset is and why I do what I do.
28. Compliments. When someone notices the changes in your body, it feels good. And it makes you want to work out more. Again with the vanity!
29. Beach vacation or high school reunion. Eeeeeek! There's a hilarious line on one of my favorite workout DVDs. Chalene Johnson shows a move and for encouragement she says, "Imagine you're walking away from your friends at your high school reunion, IN A BIKINI!" Yes, the thought of that drives ME to the basement to pump some iron!
What motivates YOU?
But when it's cold and dark? Not so much.
I do try to think about ski season and conditioning for that, but since we're at about the furthest point in the year from bathing suit season, and right now I could hide any extra LBS under heavy ski clothes, again, not hugely motivated.
So this is when I've got to dig deep and really keep my act together. I came across a really good list of ideas for staying motivated regardless of the time of year. I pulled out some of my faves to share to keep us all thinking about staying on track:
1. Remind yourself how you feel after a workout. Endorphins, baby!
2. You time. This is when you make YOURSELF a priority. Not your husband, not your kids, not your extended family, not your job. It's about you. And trust me, you'll have more to give back if you take this time for youself.
3. Calories burned. If you count calories, which I do most of the time, and let's face it, doing so is really one of the most effective ways to lose weight, you know that the more you exercise, the more calories you burn — and the bigger your calorie deficit. So this is just one step closer to your goals.
4. Having fun. Exercise should be fun (and to me it is, except for running days which I would only define loosely as fun!). If it isn’t, try a different kind of activity that you enjoy. As long as you’re moving, it’s good for you.
5. How you’re going to look. Imagine a slimmer, fitter you. Now let that visualization drive you. My vanity is a BIG motivator!
6. Health/fitness magazines. It motivates me to read fitness magazines. I see what exercise does for others and I find that motivating.
7. Blogs. I enjoy reading blogs about people who are into running, or losing weight. It can show the ups and downs they go through, and you can learn from their experiences. I hope people learn from mine, too :)
8. Success stories. I find the success stories of others incredibly inspirational. If a fitness website or a magazine has success stories, I’ll almost always read them.
9. Forums/support groups. Get with a group of people (message me if you need one!). I have challenge groups on Facebook that help me keep on track, and I have a whole group that I call my Fit Friends who I swap info with all the time. Find a group that works for you, and then make it a point to check in daily. It really helps.
10. Rewards. Set a goal for yourself and when you achieve it, reward yourself in a non-food way. I like to go to my friend's day spa. She really spoils me!
11. New clothes in smaller sizes. I love it. My husband who monitors the budget -- not so much.
13. Feeling strong. When I'm having a really good workout or run (yes, sometimes I have a good run!) I envision myself kicking ass and taking names!
14. Stress relief. Mad about something? Get out and work off that stress. It makes a world of difference. After you're finished, you'll be calmer and possbly not even remember what was annoying you!
15. Time for contemplation. Mostly this is when I walk. I love having time to mull things over or just listen to music I enjoy. When I lift or do HIIT workouts, I do try to concentrate. Science shows concentrating recruits muscle fibers more effectively.
16. Get a workout partner. There is nothing better for accountability than having someone to report in to or to serve as your cheerleader. In grad school, when I first lost a significant amount of weight, my friend Marci and I worked out together every day. As I lost weight, she'd cheer me on and leave me little notes and cards to celebrate my success. That was way cool.
17. An exercise class. Sign up for a class, perhaps with a friend, and you’ll be motivated to get there and work out.
18. A coach or trainer. I can coach you for FREE :) Message me!
19. Keep track. I log my workouts through Beachbody's WOWY.com and it keeps me accountable and motivated. You wouldn't believe what I'll do to make sure I get a scheduled workout done. I take DVDs with me when I travel and make sure I find an empty room to jump around in.
20. Compare. Take photos, measure, weigh. Give yourself several yardsticks by which to track your progress. I've completed programs where I didn't lose a lot of weight, but I lost a lot of inches and I could see results in my pictures (and how my clothes fit).
21. Train for something. Whether it's a 5K race or triathlon, just signing up will keep you motivated. I'm doing this now, and I'm already panicking on how I will keep up with my running in the winter. I don't want to re-learn to run in the spring, so I'm working hard to keep up!
22. Avoiding feeling like Jaba the Hut. That's how I feel when I take more than one day off a week. Obsessive? I don't know, but I do know how great I feel when I DO stay on track. That's what gets me out of bed on those cold, dark mornings. For me, exercise is non-negotiable. It's going to happen, I just need to figure out create ways to do it sometimes.
23. A healthy future. I want to be a good role model for my kids AND be healthy for when I do finally get grandkids (although I probably should have started having kids earlier).
24. The scale. Some people hate it, but to me, it's just another tool to see how I'm doing, even for maintenance. It’s not motivating to weigh yourself every day, as your weight fluctuates. But if you weigh yourself once a week, you’ll be motivated to have it keep going down, instead of up.
25. Achieving my goals. Whether it's weight, running a certan distance/time, completing a workout program -- whatever -- set realistic goals and be specific. Do it. Track. And then celebrate your achievements!
26. Go public. Talk about your goals, programs and progress publicly. Post it on your blog or Facebook page. Tell people you’re going to lose weight or exercise daily, and report to them. You’ll make it happen when people are "watching." AND you'll be surprised how supportive people are. Suddenly, YOU'RE motivating someone else, which is way cool.
27. Motivational quotes. Maybe it's cheesy, but I like to find them on the Internet and post them on my Facebook page. It lets people know what my mindset is and why I do what I do.
28. Compliments. When someone notices the changes in your body, it feels good. And it makes you want to work out more. Again with the vanity!
29. Beach vacation or high school reunion. Eeeeeek! There's a hilarious line on one of my favorite workout DVDs. Chalene Johnson shows a move and for encouragement she says, "Imagine you're walking away from your friends at your high school reunion, IN A BIKINI!" Yes, the thought of that drives ME to the basement to pump some iron!
What motivates YOU?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Groovy Music
Most of the music on my iPod is from the 80s or before. Sad, I know. But I confess, I love 80s music. And now that I think about it, there is a good bit of 90s music on there as well. But as for anything in the 21st century? Really not much.
So now I have children. Children who have iPods and friends who listen to music that sometimes makes me raise my eyebrows.
But look who's talking. How about some of the stuff we listened to growing up and never thought twice? "Mama's got a squeezebox, Daddy never sleeps at night?" What's that all about? And "gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight, gonna grab some afternoon delight." Excuse me? I clearly remember belting out those lyrics when I was younger than Declan is now. Afternoon delight? I had no clue what that was until someone explained it to me. When I was about 32.
I've lived a sheltered life.
I had a point here. Ah, I know what it was.
My point was that lately, I've been downloading some music. I'm going to tell you what it is, but you can't laugh. One of my favorite new downloads is from...wait for it...the Disney TV movie, Lemonade Mouth.
Cannot believe I just confessed that. I will also admit that for several years now I've sometimes been seen trotting around the neighborhood and listening to High School Musical 2. I hope you still respect me.
In my defense, I have also downloaded some Bruno Mars, Pink, Jessie J, and some other stuff the boys wanted. I don't even know who they are, but I feel like I need to listen to them just in case they're learning about afternoon delight or something.
My point--finally--is that I love walking to music I really like, regardless of whether or not it makes me look like a huge geek. I like to bop along. Sometimes I play the air guitar, sing or even do a little dance step. If I think no one is looking. Then there was that time not too long ago I was singing and not realizing someone was running up behind me. Oh well.
Exercise doesn't have to be a hugely strenuous thing (although I'll do a post about intensity). Strap on your sneakers/tennis shoes/running shoes/trainers--whatever you call them in your corner of the planet--and get out there.
And do a little groovy step in my honor.
Checking in
I'm on target for this week except that we've been out and about so I haven't logged my food. And I notice it in the little nibbling I've done here and there. Those little nibbles add up, so take my advice. Log your food and be consistent about it.
In fact, that's my tip of the day. Again.
So now I have children. Children who have iPods and friends who listen to music that sometimes makes me raise my eyebrows.
But look who's talking. How about some of the stuff we listened to growing up and never thought twice? "Mama's got a squeezebox, Daddy never sleeps at night?" What's that all about? And "gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight, gonna grab some afternoon delight." Excuse me? I clearly remember belting out those lyrics when I was younger than Declan is now. Afternoon delight? I had no clue what that was until someone explained it to me. When I was about 32.
I've lived a sheltered life.
I had a point here. Ah, I know what it was.
My point was that lately, I've been downloading some music. I'm going to tell you what it is, but you can't laugh. One of my favorite new downloads is from...wait for it...the Disney TV movie, Lemonade Mouth.
Cannot believe I just confessed that. I will also admit that for several years now I've sometimes been seen trotting around the neighborhood and listening to High School Musical 2. I hope you still respect me.
In my defense, I have also downloaded some Bruno Mars, Pink, Jessie J, and some other stuff the boys wanted. I don't even know who they are, but I feel like I need to listen to them just in case they're learning about afternoon delight or something.
My point--finally--is that I love walking to music I really like, regardless of whether or not it makes me look like a huge geek. I like to bop along. Sometimes I play the air guitar, sing or even do a little dance step. If I think no one is looking. Then there was that time not too long ago I was singing and not realizing someone was running up behind me. Oh well.
Exercise doesn't have to be a hugely strenuous thing (although I'll do a post about intensity). Strap on your sneakers/tennis shoes/running shoes/trainers--whatever you call them in your corner of the planet--and get out there.
And do a little groovy step in my honor.
Checking in
I'm on target for this week except that we've been out and about so I haven't logged my food. And I notice it in the little nibbling I've done here and there. Those little nibbles add up, so take my advice. Log your food and be consistent about it.
In fact, that's my tip of the day. Again.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Well, Now What?
So I've had this goal/deadline in my head for over a year now--get to my goal weight for my 25th high school reunion this summer.
A few funny things happened on the way to the reunion.
First, I met my goal and went past it.
Then I set another goal in my head. And now I'm sort of sitting there. I've hovered really close to it for about two months now, but I'm not really putting in the Big Push that I know I need to do to wipe away those last 4.2 pounds that would put me at this next number.
The second thing that happened: the reunion was cancelled.
GAH!
I got an e-mail about it today. I immediately ate four chocolate chip cookies. Something tells me that won't help me get any closer to my mark, but I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong.
I have been kicking ass on my workouts, even with the kids home for the summer. I'm still not back to my super-early workout time, I think I'll be rallying here shortly (when I have PMS I get super tired and I'm just passing through that lovely phase). My eating has been lackluster though and that's what I need to ramp up to really succeed. I know this intellectually, but I definitely go in cycles where I can be super strict for awhile, but I also know when I need to lighten up so that I don't go nuts. That's where I am right now: in this nether world of about to clamp back down, but suddenly finding myself without my key motivation--the reunion--to push me through the homestretch.
If anyone has any big ideas, let me know. It has to come from within, I know, but if you've got any wise words or threats, now is the time to throw them at me!
On a more fun note, I got a SECOND pair of new workout shoes. Crazy! I know! It's all very exciting. My next post will be about the shoes because believe it or not, those new shoes are motivating me to hop out of bed and get to my workouts in the morning.
A few funny things happened on the way to the reunion.
First, I met my goal and went past it.
Then I set another goal in my head. And now I'm sort of sitting there. I've hovered really close to it for about two months now, but I'm not really putting in the Big Push that I know I need to do to wipe away those last 4.2 pounds that would put me at this next number.
The second thing that happened: the reunion was cancelled.
GAH!
I got an e-mail about it today. I immediately ate four chocolate chip cookies. Something tells me that won't help me get any closer to my mark, but I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong.
I have been kicking ass on my workouts, even with the kids home for the summer. I'm still not back to my super-early workout time, I think I'll be rallying here shortly (when I have PMS I get super tired and I'm just passing through that lovely phase). My eating has been lackluster though and that's what I need to ramp up to really succeed. I know this intellectually, but I definitely go in cycles where I can be super strict for awhile, but I also know when I need to lighten up so that I don't go nuts. That's where I am right now: in this nether world of about to clamp back down, but suddenly finding myself without my key motivation--the reunion--to push me through the homestretch.
If anyone has any big ideas, let me know. It has to come from within, I know, but if you've got any wise words or threats, now is the time to throw them at me!
On a more fun note, I got a SECOND pair of new workout shoes. Crazy! I know! It's all very exciting. My next post will be about the shoes because believe it or not, those new shoes are motivating me to hop out of bed and get to my workouts in the morning.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Finding the Balance
A friend sent me a link to this great edition of Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, Goop. It's all about finding the balance in your life and offers a glimpse into a day in the life of Gwyneth and a few of her friends.
I found it very interesting and enlightening to realize that they all struggle--just like I do, just like you might--to find the time to get it all done. But something that really jumped out at me, they make a point of getting workouts in (at least two of them do, the other was pregnant at the time!) no matter what's going on because they realize the benefits.
Today didn't start as planned and I was so tempted to skip my morning workout. Last night I had this mental plan that I'd be out of bed at 7am for my workout because I knew we'd be gone most of the day at a pond hockey tournament. Pond hockey is fun--lots of good hockey and socializing. I didn't want to miss it.
First, my husband and I stayed up WAY too late last night watching DVR'd shows (we love the Good Wife and Southland) and we didn't just watch one show--we watched THREE! We dragged ourselves to bed at nearly 1am, which is ridiculous. Sometimes it happens that I'm up that late working, but that's pretty rare these days now that both boys are in school and I can mostly work during the day (unless I realize almost too late that a day like Martin Luther King, Jr., day is coming and I didn't get quite enough work done of Friday to make up for it...).
Anyway, I was so tired this morning that I didn't get out of bed until about 8:40am. I had about an hour of exercise scheduled. Kids needed to be fed. My husband was putting all of the boxed up Christmas decorations away and vacuuming. Hockey gear needed to be prepared. There was just a lot going on. Finally, at 10am, I zipped downstairs and squeezed my workout in. I had a fleeting thought at one point that I would just wait until after pond hockey to exercise, but I know myself far too well at this point in life--I wouldn't have done it. I knew I'd be tired, kids would need to be fed (the dang things are always hungry), hockey gear would need to be unpacked, I'd want to mess around on Facebook and blog, etc. etc. I will make excuses quicker than anyone--trust me!
Tomorrow will be the same story. We'll see how I do getting my workout in before day two of pond hockey. Nope, let's change that. I will do it. Period.
Sorry for a lack of blog post yesterday. Before the DVR marathon I was making 1 million cookies for pond hockey. It was my cheat day. I was happy to discover I was down .6 of a pound from Monday. I'm sure I erased that during my cheat day because I ate a load of salty popcorn. But I ate minimal cookie dough. Small victories.
Yesterday's workout: Fire EZ 55. Now that I'm on the mend physically, one of my goals for next week is to perform some of the move high impact and see if that burns more calories.
Today's workouts: Core 20, Stretch 40
Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Lunch: PBJ at the pond (taken from home so I could avoid the hot dogs, chips, cookies, etc.)
Snack: Pumpkin seeds
Dinner: Salad w/greens, egg, celery, tomato, cucumber, olives, feta, avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, Bragg's.
Snack: 5 cups popcorn
Total: 1569
Calories burned as of 8:13pm MST: 1869. I'll get a 500 calorie deficit in--yay!
Here's something "fun" to look forward to: sometime in early February, when I am past an upcoming magazine deadline, there is no new, good snow for me to skip out of work for, and I am caught up on my weekly work AND house stuff (sounds like it may never happen) I am going to have a Biggest Loser Day. What is that? I'm not 100 percent sure, but one of the things they talk about on Biggest Loser is that the people at the Ranch have to burn 6,000 calories a day. That's a lot! I struggle to burn 2,200 a day (midnight to midnight). So I'm curious. What does one have to do to burn 6,000 calories a day? Now, heavier, out of shape people's bodies just burn more--someone might burn 3,000 just through daily activities without even working out. But I'm still curious and I'm going to have a day where I'm exercising all day just to see what happens.
Because I'm crazy like that.
I found it very interesting and enlightening to realize that they all struggle--just like I do, just like you might--to find the time to get it all done. But something that really jumped out at me, they make a point of getting workouts in (at least two of them do, the other was pregnant at the time!) no matter what's going on because they realize the benefits.
Today didn't start as planned and I was so tempted to skip my morning workout. Last night I had this mental plan that I'd be out of bed at 7am for my workout because I knew we'd be gone most of the day at a pond hockey tournament. Pond hockey is fun--lots of good hockey and socializing. I didn't want to miss it.
First, my husband and I stayed up WAY too late last night watching DVR'd shows (we love the Good Wife and Southland) and we didn't just watch one show--we watched THREE! We dragged ourselves to bed at nearly 1am, which is ridiculous. Sometimes it happens that I'm up that late working, but that's pretty rare these days now that both boys are in school and I can mostly work during the day (unless I realize almost too late that a day like Martin Luther King, Jr., day is coming and I didn't get quite enough work done of Friday to make up for it...).
Anyway, I was so tired this morning that I didn't get out of bed until about 8:40am. I had about an hour of exercise scheduled. Kids needed to be fed. My husband was putting all of the boxed up Christmas decorations away and vacuuming. Hockey gear needed to be prepared. There was just a lot going on. Finally, at 10am, I zipped downstairs and squeezed my workout in. I had a fleeting thought at one point that I would just wait until after pond hockey to exercise, but I know myself far too well at this point in life--I wouldn't have done it. I knew I'd be tired, kids would need to be fed (the dang things are always hungry), hockey gear would need to be unpacked, I'd want to mess around on Facebook and blog, etc. etc. I will make excuses quicker than anyone--trust me!
Tomorrow will be the same story. We'll see how I do getting my workout in before day two of pond hockey. Nope, let's change that. I will do it. Period.
Sorry for a lack of blog post yesterday. Before the DVR marathon I was making 1 million cookies for pond hockey. It was my cheat day. I was happy to discover I was down .6 of a pound from Monday. I'm sure I erased that during my cheat day because I ate a load of salty popcorn. But I ate minimal cookie dough. Small victories.
Yesterday's workout: Fire EZ 55. Now that I'm on the mend physically, one of my goals for next week is to perform some of the move high impact and see if that burns more calories.
Today's workouts: Core 20, Stretch 40
Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Lunch: PBJ at the pond (taken from home so I could avoid the hot dogs, chips, cookies, etc.)
Snack: Pumpkin seeds
Dinner: Salad w/greens, egg, celery, tomato, cucumber, olives, feta, avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, Bragg's.
Snack: 5 cups popcorn
Total: 1569
Calories burned as of 8:13pm MST: 1869. I'll get a 500 calorie deficit in--yay!
Here's something "fun" to look forward to: sometime in early February, when I am past an upcoming magazine deadline, there is no new, good snow for me to skip out of work for, and I am caught up on my weekly work AND house stuff (sounds like it may never happen) I am going to have a Biggest Loser Day. What is that? I'm not 100 percent sure, but one of the things they talk about on Biggest Loser is that the people at the Ranch have to burn 6,000 calories a day. That's a lot! I struggle to burn 2,200 a day (midnight to midnight). So I'm curious. What does one have to do to burn 6,000 calories a day? Now, heavier, out of shape people's bodies just burn more--someone might burn 3,000 just through daily activities without even working out. But I'm still curious and I'm going to have a day where I'm exercising all day just to see what happens.
Because I'm crazy like that.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Staying Motivated
These days I always workout first thing in the morning. If I don't, it won't happen. I'll get busy, distracted, unmotivated--whatever. It just won't happen. When my alarm rings at 5:30am or 5:45am or 6am (how long of a workout I'm scheduled to do dictates how early I'm getting up and heaven forbid I get up earlier than I need to), I do not leap from bed excited to exercise. Do. Not.
Shocking, I know.
Yes, there are some workouts I enjoy more than others (anything by Chalene vs. Insanity when I was literally counting down the days). But as a general rule, I'd much rather lie in bed and get thin by thinking about it.
It could happen, right?
My undergraduate degree was in journalism and my major is advertising. I was once reading an article in Ad Age (because why else would you read Ad Age unless you were in advertising????). In the article, the CEO of Proctor & Gamble was talking about his philosophy on his advertising budget. He was commenting that reducing your ad budget in times of economic crisis (sounds familiar even though this was 20 years ago. I can't believe I can talk in terms of 20 years ago. Ew.) is like skipping exercise. You might not notice the negative effects at first, but pretty quickly, you notice the effects of skipping.
That has stuck with me for a long time even though his main point was about cutting your advertising budget and not actually working out. But I think he was right on. And for the most part, even after all these years, his words keep me hopping out of bed at whatever hour so I avoid the negative effects of skipping my workouts, whatever they may be.
There are different ways I stay motivated. Maybe some of these ideas will help you because while we're all fired up about whatever New Year's resolutions we may have made at this moment, in two weeks, three weeks, six weeks time, will we still be motivated?
Stuff I do:
-I watch the Biggest Loser. It keeps me in line. And it's a wake up call. Whether you have a little or a lot of weight to lose, it's impossible not to see these people and feel motivated by their efforts (and frankly, I wonder if I could make it through a Jillian Michaels last chance workout. Probably not.). I'm always amazed at the end. I have to say, I'm also amazed that over time, the contestants are getting bigger and bigger as if no one has apparently learned from watching the Biggest Loser. To me, it's kind of like smoking and it boggles my mind that these people have watched the show yet continue to torture their bodies. Anyway, the Biggest Loser is eye opening every season. Watch it and face up to your own demons.
-I pick up a copy of Shape magazine. Great stores, great workout ideas, great food ideas. I know I'll never look like those models--and I'm OK with that--but that doesn't mean I don't look at them and feel motivated.
-I get online and talk to my fitness buddies. Which now includes YOU, but has previously been (and still is) my BeachBody forum pals. I have been on the forums for nearly 3 years and I kind of floundered around for almost 2 years before I hit my stride and tweaked the program so that it worked for me. That was when I saw results. Their motivating words, suggestions and booty kickings--which is what we call it when one of us is really slipping off the wagon and not being serious about nutrition and fitness--have been a great help. Our philosophy is slip ups happen. Don't torture yourself. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in the game. And when you slip up over and over again? They're there to say, get your crap together and get going. No mollycoddling. No whining. Just bring it.
-Phone a friend. Or e-mail one. My sister started doing BeachBody workouts after I did and we not only "meet" online in the "Supergym," we also call each other and e-mail. Why didn't I see you online this morning? Knowing she's going to be on there is very motivating.
-I'm grateful. One of the blogs I follow is written by a woman who was severaly burned in an airplane crash a year and a half ago. She is so upbeat and positive, but she also talks about how she lives in constant pain, how getting out of bed in the morning is torture. So when I'm lying in my warm bed and debating about whether or not I want to wake up and move my ass, I think about Stephanie and how just getting up is painful and I should be grateful that I can move without pain.
So, the moral is find what motivates you and move your ass. No excuses. Move. It. Take time for yourself whether it's 30 minutes before work, at lunch, right after work, after the kids are in bed (I worked out at 9pm at night for many years when the kids were young). You deserve 30 minutes. Period. Meet your excuses head on. You will have more energy--that's science, not just me flappin' my gums at you. Get those endorphins flowing and you will have more patience with your kids, more stamina at work and in life. Science. Don't fight it.
There will always be an excuse for you not to exercise. Always. Laundry. Work. Big project. Sick kids. Sick you. Meetings. Long hours. Travel. You can say you're "going to start on Monday." Guess what? Monday will never get here. You will fritter away the time and you'll be pissed two months from now. I can come up with a counter excuse to every one of those excuses.
So don't be one of those people who's pissed two months from now. Just do it.
The End.
Today's workout:
Fire 30, Stretch 10
Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk = 200
Snack: Banana and almond butter = 289
Lunch: Amy's Mattar Paneer = 320
Snack: 3 cups popcorn = 165
Dinner: Stuffed chicken breast, potato skin w/sour cream (only one kid eats the potato skin so he eats the inside and I eat the outside!), salad w/greens, tomato, red pepper, low fat feta, lemon juice, Bragg's = 444
Total calories: 1418
Still trying to eat salty foods and keep myself puffed up until the weigh in. I wish it would get here already.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Shocking, I know.
Yes, there are some workouts I enjoy more than others (anything by Chalene vs. Insanity when I was literally counting down the days). But as a general rule, I'd much rather lie in bed and get thin by thinking about it.
It could happen, right?
My undergraduate degree was in journalism and my major is advertising. I was once reading an article in Ad Age (because why else would you read Ad Age unless you were in advertising????). In the article, the CEO of Proctor & Gamble was talking about his philosophy on his advertising budget. He was commenting that reducing your ad budget in times of economic crisis (sounds familiar even though this was 20 years ago. I can't believe I can talk in terms of 20 years ago. Ew.) is like skipping exercise. You might not notice the negative effects at first, but pretty quickly, you notice the effects of skipping.
That has stuck with me for a long time even though his main point was about cutting your advertising budget and not actually working out. But I think he was right on. And for the most part, even after all these years, his words keep me hopping out of bed at whatever hour so I avoid the negative effects of skipping my workouts, whatever they may be.
There are different ways I stay motivated. Maybe some of these ideas will help you because while we're all fired up about whatever New Year's resolutions we may have made at this moment, in two weeks, three weeks, six weeks time, will we still be motivated?
Stuff I do:
-I watch the Biggest Loser. It keeps me in line. And it's a wake up call. Whether you have a little or a lot of weight to lose, it's impossible not to see these people and feel motivated by their efforts (and frankly, I wonder if I could make it through a Jillian Michaels last chance workout. Probably not.). I'm always amazed at the end. I have to say, I'm also amazed that over time, the contestants are getting bigger and bigger as if no one has apparently learned from watching the Biggest Loser. To me, it's kind of like smoking and it boggles my mind that these people have watched the show yet continue to torture their bodies. Anyway, the Biggest Loser is eye opening every season. Watch it and face up to your own demons.
-I pick up a copy of Shape magazine. Great stores, great workout ideas, great food ideas. I know I'll never look like those models--and I'm OK with that--but that doesn't mean I don't look at them and feel motivated.
-I get online and talk to my fitness buddies. Which now includes YOU, but has previously been (and still is) my BeachBody forum pals. I have been on the forums for nearly 3 years and I kind of floundered around for almost 2 years before I hit my stride and tweaked the program so that it worked for me. That was when I saw results. Their motivating words, suggestions and booty kickings--which is what we call it when one of us is really slipping off the wagon and not being serious about nutrition and fitness--have been a great help. Our philosophy is slip ups happen. Don't torture yourself. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in the game. And when you slip up over and over again? They're there to say, get your crap together and get going. No mollycoddling. No whining. Just bring it.
-Phone a friend. Or e-mail one. My sister started doing BeachBody workouts after I did and we not only "meet" online in the "Supergym," we also call each other and e-mail. Why didn't I see you online this morning? Knowing she's going to be on there is very motivating.
-I'm grateful. One of the blogs I follow is written by a woman who was severaly burned in an airplane crash a year and a half ago. She is so upbeat and positive, but she also talks about how she lives in constant pain, how getting out of bed in the morning is torture. So when I'm lying in my warm bed and debating about whether or not I want to wake up and move my ass, I think about Stephanie and how just getting up is painful and I should be grateful that I can move without pain.
So, the moral is find what motivates you and move your ass. No excuses. Move. It. Take time for yourself whether it's 30 minutes before work, at lunch, right after work, after the kids are in bed (I worked out at 9pm at night for many years when the kids were young). You deserve 30 minutes. Period. Meet your excuses head on. You will have more energy--that's science, not just me flappin' my gums at you. Get those endorphins flowing and you will have more patience with your kids, more stamina at work and in life. Science. Don't fight it.
There will always be an excuse for you not to exercise. Always. Laundry. Work. Big project. Sick kids. Sick you. Meetings. Long hours. Travel. You can say you're "going to start on Monday." Guess what? Monday will never get here. You will fritter away the time and you'll be pissed two months from now. I can come up with a counter excuse to every one of those excuses.
So don't be one of those people who's pissed two months from now. Just do it.
The End.
Today's workout:
Fire 30, Stretch 10
Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk = 200
Snack: Banana and almond butter = 289
Lunch: Amy's Mattar Paneer = 320
Snack: 3 cups popcorn = 165
Dinner: Stuffed chicken breast, potato skin w/sour cream (only one kid eats the potato skin so he eats the inside and I eat the outside!), salad w/greens, tomato, red pepper, low fat feta, lemon juice, Bragg's = 444
Total calories: 1418
Still trying to eat salty foods and keep myself puffed up until the weigh in. I wish it would get here already.
Keep up the good work everyone!
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