My motivation

I saw recently on SparkPeople an attitude/motivation makeover plan.

Something –  if you’re an avid reader of my little corner of cyberspace, you’ve read about a lot. I waver, I plan, then I don’t execute. I enjoy my couch, my tv, my cats, my bed, cuddling my husband – anything that would otherwise keep me from working out. Guilty, guilty and guilty.

I should just rename my blog “Confessions of a recovering couch potato.”

It’s true when they say the only workouts you regret are the ones you don’t do. So. True.

So let’s see what I’m guilty of (according to their list) and how I try to make it better. Because that’s what I’m focusing on while hubs is away – being better.

I am guilty of “starting out strong.” Planning my weeks. Boozing heavily on the weekends (though last weekend was awesome just staying in) and just not sticking with my workout schedule.

Solution:  80/20 all the way. For instance, the other night was Patrick’s birthday so we all went out to top of the hill. Last time I was there was the night before my wedding where my friends got me ah-hem a lil tipsy I ended up having a dance off with one of my best friends that ended when I did the worm. In a JCrew dress. I digress.  But Tuesday I didn’t drink. I knew I had to drive home (never. ever. drink and drive.) Tonight, though we’re going out in Annapolis to celebrate Liz I’ll let myself have a couple of drinks but I also know I have to run 8 miles in the morning tomorrow and don’t want to spend my day hungover. I’m very much of the mindset that everything is okay in moderation. I generally (and I don’t know who does might I add) have a disdain for hangovers that has curbed much of my drinking over the past few years. Not to mention the extra pounds are KILLING ME.

Guilty of: Staring Down the Scale. Yes I weigh myself every morning. It gives me a good idea of how I do day to day. If  I go out boozing on a Saturday night, it shouldn’t surprise me if the scale is up a couple or a few pounds. I use it more as a way to keep myself on track to know that I’m sticking to my 80/20 rule and a way to keep myself motivated towards my long term goal(s).

Solution: I don’t take the numbers seriously. I don’t punish myself harshly if I go up a few pounds. I also know that near that time of the month I gain a couple pounds of water weight. Completely normal, so it’s a guide also for me to tell where I’m at in my cycle. I don’t think I need a solution for this considering I’m not obsessive about it it’s just a habit (probably not a good one might I add but whatevs).

I do however also like this solution: “Track specific behaviors to gauge your progress; how many push-ups you can do in a minute, how many miles you walk or bike each week, how many flights of stairs you take each day at work. Keep tabs on a variety of positive results and you won’t be left wanting for fitness focus.” That could also be a way of tracking progress.

But here’s the thing about motivation – having people and goals are great. They are. But my friends? Not all are runners. Our schedules are different. My family is far away and I’m incredibly self conscious about my speed. I know being a slow runner ain’t no thang but when you want to run with someone for the first time, you can’t help but feel a lil nervous that you’ll be too slow for them. I am my biggest cheerleader and my biggest deterrent. If I don’t lean on anyone, I only have myself to blame is kind of my mindset which may be wrong but honestly, I’m a bit more independent anyhow. Workouts are my stress relief and it’s my thinking time.

My motivation now: Doing it for the husband. Let’s face it, homeboy is going to lose some weight at BCT, something we had both been trying to do forever (he calls BCT the cheapest weight loss plan…) so we made a challenge out of it. Keeping myself motivated is my challenge.

My biggest hurdle? Being realistic. I’m not going to be a morning workout person 200% of the time, but if I go for little victories, plan ahead. I can be a morning workout person 2-3 days per week. Weekends are generally no problem for me though

But here’s the thing with motivation is that it all comes down to setting SMART goals. If your goals don’t excite you? Why would you stay motivated? My goal of getting to 125 lbs excites me. Going on a vacation with my husband late next spring excites me and wanting to look for him (rather than being slothful

I am motivated by… {comment with YOUR motivation}

{Spark People post also seen over on FitStop blog}