I enjoy working out. It’s become a little hobby of mine. Knitting and scrapbooking make me feel like there’s a fork poking me in the eye, but to each his own and I’m happy I found something I like! BUT, there are times when I’m in the middle of “5 rounds of x amount of these five exercises” and I’m sweating and my legs are about to give out and I’m like, oh my word, I just want iced tea and I want to QUIT! Here are my tricks to Gettin’ It Done:
1 – Think things like, “No blood pressure meds, no blood pressure meds” and keep going, knowing that I’m changing my health for the better. Just a reminder, the reason I am trying really hard to be consistent in working out is because just a couple years ago, my doctor said we might have to up my bp meds (I was already on two). I’m not on any now. And my mind made the switch to realizing that what I eat and DO affects my health. It’s not vanity, it’s not stupid, it’s changing my health.
2 – Start counting. I literally just blank out the mind and start counting. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… Depending on my mood, sometimes I think it’s funny to keep tempo with the dance music that’s playing (at the kettlebell place – I would never choose dance music, trust me.), other times, I get totally annoyed and angry when I realize I can’t stop working out to tempo. This might be more because I am a piano player and have played music all my life, but I cannot ignore the music in the background. Yesterday, in fact, I literally stopped working out when a remix of that stupid song “Friday, Friday” came on. My friend is the leader of that class, so I made a face at her until she changed it… ha.
3 – Once? There was a guy who walked into the gym like he owned the place and I was like, dude, you are going DOWN. When she said the men could use two kettlebells and the women could opt to use only one, I picked up two. I picked up the same weight he did and started the 8 minute cycle of exercise we were doing. Guess who faltered first? That’s right… him. Take that, mister. If I’m with a friend who isn’t competitive, I don’t compete, because I’m nice (and I’m not always in this super freak mode). But if I know I’m with my brother someone who can handle it, I go for it. Compete with others and don’t let them win.
4 – Once? No… A zillion times? I was alone when working out. Those are actually the hardest, because you are on your own for motivation! yikes. Then, I compete with myself. I tell myself mean things like, “you’re a loser if you stop before 20 minutes is up.” Or “You don’t deserve nice things in life because you totally quit before P90X Tony did.”
5 – I make lists and goals and cross things off. It motivates. During the workout, I envision myself putting a gold star on my chart. Lame, but it works.
6 – I text my cousin. “I worked out!!!” Checking in with others makes me motivated. I tell Trainer Friend about what I did against Mr Jerk (see #3) and share in my little victory. Knowing I get to tell her I finished helps!
7 – When worse comes to worse, I just stare at my water bottle, which I place strategically right in front of me. “Finish this, you get water.” The brain clears out. Focus on the water. Get… that…. water.
7 – But mostly, I just do it. The health and energy and the actual enjoyment of it is all worth it in the end.
Are you a competitive person? How do you motivate yourself?

































