I have great motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle which is what fuels me to continue to exercise and keep up with my active lifestyle. My motivators might be different from yours, but I am sure there is something that motivates you. For me, I find myself less depressed when I exercise, the aches and pains that I have seem to subside with regular exercise, I am trying to avoid the health problems that have plagued my family, but most of all… I have the energy to keep up with my two energetic children.
I used to attend the gym regularly before I had children. On my lunch hours, I would head to the gym and take difficult kickboxing classes, pilates, power yoga, and aerobics classes. I had college weight to lose and the time to think about just me. The longer and the harder the class, the more I loved it! I would spend my afternoons at the gym and the evenings doing community theater and just thinking about me. It was just all about me all the time and it was glorious.
Those days seem a lifetime ago. My workouts have to be quick and effective, crammed between two kid’s extracurricular activities, homework, laundry, and daily life. I find myself trying to figure out how I can just find twenty minutes to myself. In fact, my workout routines are mixed in with children trying to exercise rightwithme and a cat that insists on rubbing against me while I am doing my ab work. Kids are crying for computer time or needing help in the bathroom and I am pausing the DVD and running back, hoping to continue my little burst in energy. What a far cry from an hour at the gym for just me.
That being said, I wouldn’t have it any other way and as the kids see me exercise, I know that I am modeling for them the importance of taking care of the body that God gave you. I could join a gym, but I have found that driving over to a gym takes more time and more energy than popping in a DVD or using the workout equipment we own at home. That being said, it requires a great deal of discipline to maintain a workout routine on your own. Thankfully, interacting online with my real life friends and internet friends keeps me motivated enough to do it all on my own.
What I have discovered is that moms need to find a solution that works best for them. The gym might be for some, but it might not be for you. Workout equipment at home might not be helpful to you, but for others they find motivation in having what they need right at their fingertips. Realize that as long as you are moving, you are doing exactly what your body is intended to do.
1. Make it quick and convenient. Try aiming for just twenty minute sessions and do what fits best with your schedule. If going to the gym doesn’t work for you right now, stick to a workout DVD. If you can’t manage either, try a brisk walk around your neighborhood. Whatever you do, make it something that is easily doable and can be done in a short period of time.
2. Make an appointment with yourself. Find the times that work best for you and do it every single day. If something gets in your time slot, push it back, but do not push it off.
3. Schedule your workouts when it is best for you, not when you think you should workout. I can admit it; I am not a morning person. I have tried being a morning person and I just can’t do it. I will no longer apologize for not being a morning person and will understand that maybe I will come to a stage in my life where morning workouts work better for me, but for now I am content on being groggy in the morning and doing afternoon workouts instead.
4. Get pumped up. Find what motivates you to get moving and incorporate that. Music is a powerful motivator for me and I love to get music from the local library and play that or load fresh music into my iPod for working out.
Others are pumped by community sites that help them track and login their workout times. SparkPeople is one resource where you can track your caloric content and exercise schedule while chatting with others through forums. Others are motivated by having a workout buddy or making a daily date with a girlfriend at the gym. Whatever it is, find what motivates you and get your body moving.
5. Challenge your spouse. My husband and I decided to challenge each other one month to an exercise challenge. I did a workout routine for 30 days straight and he did did sit-ups every single day. Both of our bodies were transformed by the experience and so was our mindset. Adding an element of competition encouraged me that I could totally take him on and added another level to my workout routine. Adding a little trash-talking in our dinner conversation also helped with our friendly competition that not only ended up rewarding ourselves with a more active lifestyle, but even added a little bit of spark back into our relationship!
5. Get some workout gear. I don’t know why, but I have a hard time spending money on workout gear. The year 1997 called though and they wanted their workout clothes back so I knew it was time to make an investment. Buy a few good workout pieces for yourself and try washing your tennis shoes to freshen them up. Just slip off the laces and throw the shoes in the washer. Wash them on a warm setting with a little laundry detergent. After they are done, stuff the interior of the shoes with newspaper (to help hold its shape and also to absorb any lingering odors) and let them dry outside in the sunshine. Fresh workout gear can make all the difference in how you feel about yourself and can help you commit more to making exercise a priority.
6. Reward yourself. Rewards to myself are exactly what keep me motivated and what you might find keeps you motivated too. It could be something simple like a glass of wine in the evening, a bubble bath with a good book, a new pair of jeans after reaching a certain weight, a new DVD that will keep inspiring you to workout, or a protein-packed smoothie that can only be drank if a workout is complete.
7. Switch it up. I need new routines each day to keep things fresh and keep myself motivated. I love to visit our local library and check out workout DVD’s for free and add variety to my workout routines without spending any money. If your library doesn’t offer a great selection, try pooling your workout DVD’s with friends and trading with one another to add different elements to your workout routine. If you have a movie membership, use that for a workout DVD instead of another couch potato night.
Dust off that old treadmill, use the Wii Fit that you told your hubby you would use regularly, but quickly gathered dust in your family room, grab those DVD’s that you just had to have to keep your workouts fresh, and put those five pound weights and mat that are still wrapped in their packages to work.
Do it for you, do it for your kids, do it for your spouse, do it for your body, do it because YOU DESERVE TO BE HEALTHY! Do it for whatever motives you, but DO IT!
This is my motivation. I want to see them go to high school. I want to watch them at graduation. I want to meet the loves of their life. I want to watch them walk down the aisle. I want to hold my grandchildren. I want to hold my great-grandchildren. I don’t want to miss a moment of any of it. I know I can do all of that if I take care of myself and the body that God gave me.
(I am continuing to work on getting happier this year through the help of, “The Happiness Project,” by Gretchen Rubin I recommend you read it too!)
What motivates you to exercise? What routines have you found to be effective for your busy lifestyle?
Thank you Amy! I am going to do this. I have started the 30 Day Shred a few different times but I am going to stick with it this time! Everytime I think I don’t have time I will think of you and your busyness and 20 minutes is not alot but enough to get in shape for me……I deserve it!
Great post and keep up the good work (you are a great inspiration!)
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Amy Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:15 am
Marva, If I had twins, I might not have the time
Ha! I do think that twenty minutes does make a huge difference though and I promise to be your cheerleader- rha, rah, rah! You can do it!!
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I need to take baby steps so I am using the EA Fitness wii “game” – it has a 30 day workout series that is about 23-25 minutes and its great for me as it incorporates about 10 exercises in that timeframe so the time flies plus the workout is different each day. My dogs are my biggest motivation for our daily walks – no way could I snuggle back into my warm bed! I did buy the 30 day shred but I will get through the EA fitness 30 days before I brave Jillian!
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Amy Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
EA Fitness is great!! I am so glad you found something that works for you, S. I have heard the EA Active More Workouts is great and I would like to get that one day to try it out. I am so glad you are moving!!! That is awesome!
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You’re such an inspiration! I really needed this post especially since the cold weather is taking a toll on my fitness routine and motivation. Thank you!
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The last paragraph almost made me cry!
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Amy Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 am
I have a way of doing that, Ginger. It made me cry almost to write it
I am just an old sap at heart 
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THANK YOU! I think I needed that. Especially #3. No wonder I can’t get up in the morning to exercise. I’m NOT a morning person! Thank you.
Hugs,
Melinda
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Gotta say, I don’t find the variety thing necessary or that useful for me. I did the same routine every week for a year and never got bored. It’s all about challenging yourself to do better each time, and that’s easier to measure when you do the same thing. And I think trainers who say you have to mix it up to “confuse your muscles” or whatever are just trying to keep paying clients coming back. If they said “learn one routine and keep at it” you’d stop paying them.
That said, my latest obsession is running, so there’s some built in variety from running different routes. I run about four times a week and mix in some at-home strength training once or twice a week. Definitely requires a supportive spouse to be on kid duty during the workouts, but we trade off and it works.
And it’s not about having the time or finding the time, it’s about making the time. You’ve got to decide to do it and make it happen. Making an appointment with yourself is a great idea. Finding training partners can help, too, since a little external accountability never hurts!
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I am doing the EA Sporta Active 30 day challenge for the Wii. With two Littles at home, i find it hard to get to the gym… That and it is a MILLION below zero outside! Hard to get motivated to go to the gym when I don’t want to leave the house.
Working out at home is great because my kids see me doing it. My 3 year old “paricipates” in some of the exersizes and cheers me on (“Get back in the gam!”).
I am also part of the Blog Your Weight Away Challenge. You can see my first post here http://littlesruletheroost.blogspot.com/2010/01/weigh-in-wednesday-team-black.html
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I am doing the EA Sporta Active 30 day challenge for the Wii. With two Littles at home, i find it hard to get to the gym… That and it is a MILLION below zero outside! Hard to get motivated to go to the gym when I don’t want to leave the house.
Working out at home is great because my kids see me doing it. My 3 year old “participates” in some of the exercises and cheers me on (“Get back in the game!”).
I am also part of the Blog Your Weight Away Challenge. You can see my first post here http://littlesruletheroost.blogspot.com/2010/01/weigh-in-wednesday-team-black.html
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I joined a gym- and I have been trying to go everyday.. I was finding it boring- so yesterday I decided to face my fear and take a spinning class- I didnt make it the whole 45 minutes- only 30- but considering that I was deathly afraid of this class- I am proud of myself- one more thing off my bucket list,- and I LOVED it! So I am big for trying something new and scary!
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Great post – I say this a lot, huh?
What’s really helping me right now is for 20-minutes after lunch, I put on some music for my 2-year old daughter and I. She dances around while I do a quick workout. For now, it’s working!
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Amy thanks for yet another great post! I really appreciate your point about modeling good fitness for your kids. I get up at 5 to run every morning and I hate it! But I’ve been doing it for 20 years, as my fitness regime, and as far as my 3 sons know, I love it!
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I feel the VERY SAME WAY about exercise. It’s what makes me happy, healthy and able to give to my family. In that way, I try not to feel guilty for the time I spend, which usually is about half an hour a day. It means I’m a better mom and a better me. And Damn it feels good.
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It’s so true, I feel much better, both physically and mentally, when I exercise. I make it a priority and don’t let myself make an excuse not to go. I simply do it, end of story. While I wish that I had more time to spend at the gym, I’ll take what I can get.
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This is the one goal that I struggle with the most. My husband works out RELIGIOUSLY, but I just can’t seem to get in the habit. I like your point though about finding something that works for you. I think part of the reason I can’t seem to stick to an exercise routine is because I haven’t really enjoyed any of the ones I’ve tried. Thanks for the motivation to keep searching!
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You can find a lot of 10-minute exercise programs online, too! If you have a Netflix account you can use their instant watch feature to watch 10-Minute Solution workouts. I did one today for arms and it was great! I feel good about doing even that little bit, compared to the nothing I do so often.
Here are a few 10-minute workout resources I found today:
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/express/10-minute/
http://www.goworkoutmom.com/10-minute-cardio-oblique-mix/
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Thanks for providing some motivation! It’s hard to stick to exercise in dreary February!
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