Motivation to Exercise

Hi K.:

I think once you get started on a routine you will like the exercise. That's how it worked for me. Now, I actually feel worse on days when I don't get a chance to work out. So, it almost becomes an addiction.

My advice is not to start off with anything too difficult. Sometimes people get turned off when the exercise is vigorous. So...take baby steps...lol. Good luck!

Hi Kimmy
I am older lady, mother of seven..so I do know the "boy do I gotta get back in shape" thingy.
We were on a limited income prohibiting joining health clubs ect.
Walking is wonderful exercise. Pushing a stroller is better. Personally I think walking, alternating brisk and relaxed, is a wonderful exercise inside and out.
My BEST get-back-in-shape exercises were swimming at the Y....hey, only three mornings a week for an hour has fantastic results.
AND the VERY BEST is kitchen dancing. Some band, some group, must touch your rythym soul and set your feet to tapping. Gonna date myself here but Aerosmith and Stones did it for me LOL
Crank some boogie music and dance in your kitchen...be creative. Try for an hour a day. Those pounds and inches will absolutely MELT off.
Maybe swim three days and alternate days dance, walking everyday...even half hour.
Dont forget to drink lots and lots of water .

Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

K.,

How about activities that are centered around your son. Taking him for a walk, chasing him in the park, building a snow man, shoveling, playing hide and seek - outside so you can chase each other. Things where it is fun for him but exercise for both of you.
I've decided to walk to the store instead of using the car and that has helped. We also go to together in motion and that is fun for the kids and I just chase them a little.

Hope this helps,
L. M

Your son is the perfect age to start the way I did with my kids years ago. Start slow with something you enjoy. Don't try to jump into the gym and go full out at first, you will make yourself sore and won't want to continue. Start by going "treasure hunting" with your son.
Get a little treasure box ( I made one out of an empty detergent box) then go for a walk and find treasures (sticks, pretty rocks, we even occasionally found some change) Take some antibacterial wipes just in case and your stroller since your little guy is so young yet. My kids still enjoy doing this, although they are older now and we do more exotic things like beach walks and geocaching. Since it is winter in new england, you will need to bundle up to do this now, and if you don't like being cold this will be hard to do. You might also purchase a beginners exercise video ( I suggest something with an aerobic component, stretching component and strengthening component)

If you are the gym going type, that is also great. Most gyms offer a free consult with an exercise physiologist or trainer, use it and have them start you off on the right foot to make you the most successful. I keep myself motivated by remembering that this is something I'm doing for myself and my family. I also feel so much better physically and mentally when I exercise regularly that it is its own reward in that respect!

Each year at this time I register for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in honor and memory of many people in my life. That is motivation to keep training as well. knowing I will be walking 26 miles in 2 days is good motivation to keep going!!! Good luck.

Hi! Have you checked out www.sparkpeople.com ? It's a free site where you can join a community of people with the same goals. It has nutrition and exercise trackers and videos and stuff you can watch. I really like it!

One of the things I do to motivate myself to exercise is that I have a section on my MP3 player that has "Exercise" listed as the genre. This allows me to put that on when I do my exercise routine and it's all songs that motivate me to get up and move. If you are not comfortable with wearing ear phones while you are home with your son, you could always burn a cd on your computer with similar types of songs for yourself that you can put into your stereo when you're ready to do the exercises. I also found it helpful at one point to use the media player on the computer to do an exercise song list for myself.

HI, I'm in the exact same boat but my kids are older so I really have no excuse for not going out and taking a walk sometimes! :) I've been thinking about this too, like how do I get motivated? I's really cold out there for walking... I have a gym membership and hardly go...

so anyway I was visiting a friend in Edst'n (a single mom with one small child) and she had bought herself a wii-fit (am I spelling that right?) and after 15 minutes of just doing "hula hoop" I was laughing and breaking a sweat!

So I think if you (and if I!!) could afford it, that would be a fun way to play with your son while you know you are getting a good workout. I'm going to try to get one.
Good luck!

K., I suggest finding a gym near your home, and finding an exercise class that you like. Its tough to get yourself to go, but once you go a few times and really like the class you'll miss it if you don't go.

The only other thing is find a friend to go with you. Having someone to go with makes you feel obligated to not skip out on them.

I hope these work!
G.

Hi K.,
This is not uncommon. The best thing to do is find a friend that will join you in this quest for fitness. I have a friend that runs with me at least 3 times a week during the year it doesn't matter if there is rain, sun or snow. What happens is like magic you both don't want to let the other person down so you show up for each other. It is pretty tough to get out of bed where it is warm and cozy to put on workout clothes and do something you really don't enjoy when it is only you being affected. I promise if you get yourself in a routine it will feel weird not working out instead of the other way around. Your well being will be a positive start in your day. You will feel better about everything around you and you will start to look at conflicts in a different thoughtful way. Life seems to be a bit easier when we are feeling good about ourselves. Another benefit is you get to know your friend even better and grow that relationship further.
Remember the woman in the house sets the tone of the house, it will positively affect your husband and children. Good Luck, I'm sure you will be awesome. Put a before picture of yourself and a picture of what you want to look like somewhere as a reminder that you can do anything you put your mind & muscles to. Please keep us posted or me posted on your journey. Happy New Year! L.

My advice is pretty simple - don't give yourself the option to quit or get out of it! Find a time of day that works for you to go, and just go to the gym, hit the streets for a walk with the stroller, even the mall doing laps is a good start. My only time of day to work out is from 5 - 6 a.m., and it totally stinks getting up way before the sun, but I always feel better afterwards and throughout the day, both mentally and physically. I tell myself that I'd feel worse if I didn't do it than I feel having to get up so early. Find something you like to do and go with it. Good luck and good health!

Hi K.. How are you? I am a trainer and I offer a Free Fitness E-Book to any mamasource mom. You can email me if interested: ____@____.com contains exercises you can do at home, as well as other fitness, diet and nutrition info.

Working out has the word WORK in it, so it can be hard to get motivated. Your best bet is to do something you like. I find most people like to dance - especially if it is in the privacy of their own home and no one is watching!

Put on your favorite music and dance like crazy around your living room til you work up a sweat. Let your son watch you or join in!

Other suggestions I have it to run up and down the stairs in your house several times a day. You can even use the bottom stair as a "step" like you would in a Step Aerobics Class. OR - if you watch TV at night, during every commercial get up and do an exercise - push ups one commercial, ab plank for another, lunges during another, etc, etc,. Just get moving!

Good luck!

This has motivated me in the past. Take a photo of you in a bikini and put it on the fridge! Instant motivator!

Hello K.. Acknowledging, accepting, and asking are 'all good' in 'being the change you want to see in the world'. Do not dismiss this insight as petty...it is the very means your beautiful body gets you to 'pay attention' to whatever it is you need to address to make yourself 'whole'...balanced and well, which I believe, is truly each of our purpose here on earth. How simpler the world would be if each of us focused on balancing ourselves...as Ghandi suggested. The 'motivation' you seek from others most likely will not magically appear in these replies...but I sense you already KNOW that somewhere inside you. The 'motivation' you allude to must come from within you. Its not complicated, although we make it so. Thats the dance, I guess...choice. We choose to 'be' whatever we choose to 'be'. It occurs to me that Christiane Northrup s' Womens' Bodies, Womens' Wisdom may be of great help to you. It is an extraordinary reference book, as well as a 'sit down and read cover to cover' book for women. It focus's on creating wisdom (with 'creating' being the operative word here)and physical and emotional health and healing. As an alternative health practitioner, I relate to her book and hope you may also enjoy her perspective. On the subject of exercise she writes' " to exercise actually means to bring into action..." and "our body creates our soul, as much as our soul creates our body", a quote by David Spangler. You just may discover an insight within her pages that points to that part of you that presently struggles with old patterns of self sabotage.

I also wish to introduce 'flower essences' to you. There are many books and websites out there on the subject now, unlike before. I have been aware of these wonderful essences for about twelve years now. We are making the turn back to our ancestral memories, thank Goddess. Flower essences help support our emotional selves. I have found that 'blackberry flower essence' works very well with self-empowerment. Feel free to contact me personally should you be moved to. Stay in touch. Be Peace, and stay close to your fire within, N.

Santa brought our family an indoor trampoline with a handle bar. My husband and me and our two girls ages 6 and 9 take turns using it and see who can do more bounces. My husband and I also take turns jogging on it.
And the kids love getting their energy out just bouncing like crazy on it. If you purchase one make sure you check the weight limits on it. It's lots of fun!
Good luck!
L.

WEIGHT CONTROL: A DISCIPLINED BODY
If you struggle with weight control, God has words of admonishment and encouragement for you.
1. Be accepting. God designed your physical make-up. Refrain from criticizing His creation (Ps. 139:13–16).
2. Be grateful. God has given you a triumphal new nature at your conversion. You are admonished to give thanks to God who gives you victory in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).
3. Be careful. The Bible, speaking for moderation and against gluttony, condemns over-indulgence (Prov. 23:20–21). Resist extra helpings and rich foods that add additional inches.
4. Be disciplined. Achieving temperance in eating will strengthen other areas in your life. Paul proclaimed that although all things were lawful for him, he refused to be brought under the power of any (1 Cor. 10:23) because all things were not helpful to him (1 Cor. 6:12).
5. Be active. Regular exercise will help you to reach and maintain your ideal weight. Activity also improves productivity, cardiovascular stamina, and mental alertness. The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to run with endurance (Heb. 12:1; see also 1 Tim. 4:8).
6. Be persistent. Just as Paul finished the race (2 Tim. 4:7), you, too, can persevere if you set a goal and move forward victoriously to achieve it!
See also 1 Cor. 10:23–11:1; Phil. 4:13; notes on Fitness (Phil. 1); Fruit of the Spirit (1 Cor. 10); Health (Prov. 3); Nutrition (Lev. 11)
i have the same problem maybe we can help each other by encouraging each other to exercise,you are not alone
sincerelly glo

If you can go to a gym that you have to pay for, that can be motivating. If you have not exercised in a gym before or it has been a long time, I would recommend a personal trainer. Again, it is extra money, but he/she will certainly hold you accoutable as well as show you how to use the equipment properly.

If a gym is not a option, I would recomend a contest such as Body For Life, Biggest Loser, Weight Watchers, and etc. There are a lot of great options. All of these programs have blogs, chats, guestbooks and etc. so you are able to network. You may find not only to others keep you motivated, but you help others as well.

Good luck to you! Don't lose hope and stay commited. Remember, you will set the example for your son. Get him involved too. My son loves Yoga. It's really funny to watch him.

I'm not sure if weight loss is a part of your goal, but if it is...

My sisters and I have started a biggest loser club. We each put twenty bucks a month into the pot. 40 goes to the monthly winner and 40 goes to the end game pot. It certainly had proven a good motivator to exercise and eat right!