Starting a fitness routine?

[Kim]

I've been trying to get in shape, and lose a few pounds, and I need some serious motivation. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for starting a routine?

A friend and I decided that unless I write it into my schedule, it's not going to happen. I set a goal of going running twice this week, so I'll hopefully knock the first one out of the way today. It'll be easier when it's warmer, but I want to start NOW!

I'm also looking into buying an elliptical, but it will be until summer before I do that. I think I'm going to add a 3rd day of exercise and go to the fitness center at school hopefully.

I also need to start eating healthier, stop snacking, etc.

But does anyone have any suggestions on staying motivated, and the easiest ways to get into routines? Thanks!

[Lis]

Best way that I've found is to literally make it an everyday part of your routine. Kind of like I know if I can't drag my butt out of bed at 5:10 to get to the gym before work, it will be down there at lunch. Force of habit at this point for me. I also feel bad when I don't get down there (see guilt below ). I'm not able to ride right now, so I'm trying to make up for it in the gym. Once I'm able to start riding again though, it's SO much easier for me to motivate myself to get down there.

Motivation? Can't really help you there. I guilt myself into it more or less.

[abowls]

If you can find a workout buddy that's worked really well for me in the past. That way I have someone waiting to meet me for our run. It makes it harder for me to excuse myself.

My SIL told me once that when you were planning to exercise but catch yourself trying get out of it you should force yourself to go and get dressed to exercise. I found that it mostly works. If I can force myself to get dressed for a run I'm unlikely to sit back down and not go.

Do you have any interest in running a race? When I need motivation I sign up for a race. Whenever I don't want to run I think about the race and I can not allow myself to be disappointed in my race time. I have an unhealthy competitive streak when it comes to these things. Once when I was running a half marathon, without training for it, an old lady passed me POWER WALKING! I was so mortified that I know that I'll never go to a race unprepared again.

[alisonph]

I do the best if I have a running partner. It's easier if you have to meet someone.

That being said, I don't have a running partner right now and force myself out of bed at 4:45 a.m. to run. If I'm having difficulty getting up, I tell myself "oh, i'll just walk". Then when I get outside, it's like "well, i'm here, I might as well run."

I run 4 days a week, so I make it a priority on those days to get up and get OUT. It takes 30 days to make it a routine, so for the first month it's hard, but after that, it becomes part of your schedule.