motivation

[SugarBlue27]

How do you guys motivate yourselves to excersize when dealing with school, work, and friends...how do you have the time and energy?!?
I don't always have time to exercise in the morning and that seems to be the only time I have energy to do it or the motivation...

After I'm done at school or work its usually about 6 or 7 and I'm starving/ready for dinner. I do snack between lunch and dinner and I dont want to eat right before I work out, especially if I plan on doing yoga because you are not supposed to....

whats a busy girl to do?
How often is often enough to excersize, i.e. cardio, yoga, weights.
I feel great if I can do it everyday...but it doesnt seem to be happening...

ideas?

[mrfishandme]

Try doing thirty minutes of strength training two or three days per week, and at least thirty minutes of cardio three to five days a week (preferrably thirty minutes a day). I used to have trouble fitting everything in, with school and work and whatnot, but then I realized you don't have to do it in half-hour chunks. Try breaking it down into ten minute segments-- whatever you can fit in. And remember: Something is better than nothing! Keep trying!

Recently I joined SparkPeople and that's really helped keep me motivated! Maybe a community to back you up would help as well.

[The Lurker]

Routine Routine Routine

If you get yourself in the routine of exercising you will automatically just do it without question. Maybe its different for everyone though - I get up at the same time everyday and I wake up like 30 seconds before my alarm goes off, jump up and get straight in the shower. Mrs Lurker does that snooze thing on the alarm clock for like an hour so she gradually wakes up - I cant do that. You just have to say 'at 1200 I'm going running' and focus your mind on it.

Dont make excuses

Get into a routine, but not a rut . . .

[Bios]

If you're best at doing it in the morning, get up earlier and just get it done. Gives a wonderful sense of accomplishment to start the day with.

As for motivation, I just consider how it would feel, day by day, to spend the last thirty years of my life with chronic and partially disabling chronic disease (diabetes, whatever). Then I consider how very likely that is if I don't take care of myself. I find that very motivational. I've been sick; it sucks. Don't want to do it for decades.

[evelinadatta]

I understand what you mean SugarBlue; although I have no problem with motivation, I have a problem with schedule. Three days out of the week I work at office A, very close to where I live, so I get up at 6, exercise till 7, then get ready and go to work. The other two days though I work out of office B which adds more than an hour of commute in each direction. I still get up at 6, but I have to skip my exercise just to make it to work on time... I am very much a wake-up at the same time each day person. I am still trying to figure out a solution to this puzzle (this change with having to work from office B is recent)...

[figsNolives]

i have a workout buddy who is of my fitness level, age, enthusiasm.. we both make it a HUGE priority in our lives.. we do it first thing in the morning when we are fresh(est), gym is not so crowded, and it doesn't interfere (too much) with work, family..

that's why i do it in the morning.. and it's just one of those things i don't necessarily always enjoy, but it's become a habit.. like brushing teeth... and knowing i'm doing my body a good service.. i feel happy :D

[pandora9kry]

I also need help with motivation!! I had this routine for awhile where I jumped on a tiny trampoline every day when I got home from work while watching an episode of South Park on DVD, I also lifted weights and sometimes added in crunches. But then I think I got sick and ended up quitting. I might start listening to my Animal Rights radio show podcast while working out at the end of the day, but that's a lot longer than an episode of South Park.

[Poppy]

I learned years ago that if I don't exercise first thing in the morning - it's highly likely I won't at all. I've always been more of a morning person than a night person, and I also tend to have an afternoon slump - so I exercise in the morning and then I don't have to think about it again for the rest of the day. I've jogged for years. But I'm learning to do some weight-lifing and sculpting as well. My problem is that I hate, HATE! gyms, and much prefer to be on my own. So jogging and fee weights at home are the way I go. I also try to catch yoga on TV or on the interent once or twice a week, but I usually end up doing some yoga on my own after my weight sessions. These days I'm jogging 4-5 mornings/week about 3 1/2 miles, and sculpting/yoga twice a week. I also add in some power walks when the weather is nice. My exercise takes anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes.

(BTW - I'm 48, and I've been a regular exerciser for the past 23 years. I can't stress enough how important it is to make exercise a regular part of your life when you are young!!! I'm watching my friends age at a frighteningly rapid rate - they're getting heavy and they're having operations and needing medication - it's scary! I'm so relieved that I feel fit and strong and that I'm able to do as much now as I did when I was 30...so just do it!!!:p)

[CaptainSwab]

I also tend to have an afternoon slump but as much as it sucks to get out there my workout always energizes me so thats something I try to keep in mind.

Also, routine as somebody mentioned and plan it into your day. actually write it in your plan book.

[Marie]

When I don't feel like working out.. I'll tell myself that I'm only going to workout for ten minutes. I usually end up working out for longer than that.

[synergy]

I understand how it's tough to get motivated.

For some, our schedules don't permit an actual routine.

My hours might be 1pm to midnight or 8:30 am till 7:30 pm.
It's all over the place. The only days I almost always exercise are my days off and that's only twice a week :(

All lot of the other days I'm just too wiped after being at work for 12 - 14 hours.

[irunbarefoot]

I agree... besides caffeine. How does one stay motivated?

For me, I wish I could slow things down sometimes. Hey, why can't I? Whose life is this anyway?

I feel like we should be doing the things we WANT to do along with the things we NEED to do. Shouldn't we? I've found that I simply don't have the energy to do too much of both. When the things I NEED to do pile up on one side, and outweigh the things I WANT to do. Or vice versa. My balance is lost. Life sucks.

It's hard to find the middle way. Sometimes people around you get pissed off when you cut out for a quick afternoon training run. But oh well.

I think we need plenty of sweet to balance out the sour in life.

[AmyDawn]

SugarBlue27, are you in college? You can take PE classes for credit. You earn an A for showing up, mostly. It raises your GPA a little, earns you an extra credit or two, and it would already be worked into your schedule. Plus, you have an instructor who can teach you how to exercise properly. I've taken Pilates and hiking, in college, and I'm signed up for Salsa in the fall.