I have a kick butt awesome employer who lets me come in earlier/stay a little later so I can work out on my lunch hour. (Side note: My employer rocks!). While I’m really thankful that they realise the value and benefits to both me AND them for allowing me this flexibility, there are certainly some days when I just don’t feel like getting my sweat on. OK – there are actually MANY days when I don’t want to work out…
The other day I looked outside at lunch time, and this is what I saw:
Dark, dreary, COLD, snow, wet… Not a nice day for running. Unfortunately (fortunately?) my training plan had an 8km “easy” run listed as my work out du jour. Argh! Do I have to?
But then I remembered this:
So I reluctantly got dressed in my gear and headed out for my run. I told myself that I’ll just do one lap of the park (2.5km). It was so cold when I began running that my fingers were freezing and felt like they were getting frostbitten because I lost my mittens (naughty kitten). I just wanted to quit. But I curled my hands in my sleeves and kept my little paws as warm as I could and kept on going. Somewhere between 1.5km, when I felt like this was the stupidest idea ever, and 2.5km my mind changed to “Oh my goodness this is fun! I can do this!”. I kept going at an awesome pace and managed to run my 8km faster than my training plan called for (YAY ME!):
This happens to me almost every day. I don’t always WANT to workout. Shit – I RARELY want to work out. It takes so so so soooooooooo much motivation to get off the couch, out the door, in my car, changed into my work out gear etc…
BUT…
It’s always well worth it. I feel better, more alert and HAPPY after my work outs, don’t you?
Question:
How do you motivate yourself? How do you beat the “I don’t wannas”? Got any tips & tricks to share?
Forward to a friend
Twitter: irunthere4iam
says:
I beat the “I don’t wannas” by signing up for races, setting goals, and most recently by entering the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge. I want to make sure I get more points than last week, so come hell or high water, I’m going to get in a workout!
Twitter: Kodjoworkout
says:
Janice,
Like Tony, I like working out as soon as I get up at 6am. The night before, I put out my workout clothes and workout gloves in the bathroom. I also practice negative visualization (which means I picture myself looking out of shape) and it helps motivates me to stay in shape, because it’s not a pretty picture!
Kodjo recently posted..Partner Workout – Abdominal Exercise Routine
Great visualisation idea!
I’d love to get up & workout before work but… (here comes my excuses…) I leave for work at 7:15 & get up most days at 6:30. I do have a membership at a 24hr gym, but getting up at 5:15 would leave me really cranky (especially since I’m up to nurse the “baby” 2-3 times/night).
Twitter: RunningRachel
says:
In order for me to beat the “i don’t wannas” I have to just suck it up and do it. I KNOW that I will feel better afterwards. Great job!!
Rachel recently posted..Work It Wednesday: Rockin’ My Run
Thanks! I kept how I felt after Tuesday’s run in my mind & used it to motivate me to run today – it worked really well.
The #1 thing that has kept my workouts consistent is making them the first thing I do in the morning. When I wait, I start talking myself out of it, or something seems to come up.
Tony – Coach Calorie recently posted..Six Pack Abs – How To Get Them
That’s kinda how my lunch time workouts are (most days), it’s like a built-in date with myself.