Honestly... how did you start to get in shape?

Why don't you try something different on the weekend. It doesn't have to be a "gym workout". How about going for a bush walk. Or a kick around with a ball. Set up a badminton/volley ball net and have hit in the back yard, or back yard cricket. Take the dog for a walk. I haven't set foot in a gym for about 8 years.

Right now for me, it's walking. I knew it was something I could do for free, do anywhere, not look stupid doing it , etc, plus we have a beautiful wooded area 1/2 a block from my house. I know my very active dog needs to be exercised daily so even when I may not want to go, I'll do it for her. I've actually just started the C25k program too as I'm feeling more fit, although only on the treadmill at home so I don't embarrass myself..lol.

I started with 30 Day Shred. It was difficult. I had to really talk myself into doing it every time. I dreaded it. But I felt good after. I got through that, and I got a couple of other Jillian DVDs and alternated. I did well for awhile, with forcing myself to do them. Then I went on vacation and after I got back it was too easy to just not do it. So I stopped and wiped out all the progress I made. Fast forward a few months, I had to establish a new goal, one without a time limit (not like the vacation goal was). So I started back at it again and tried to be consistent. And one day I woke up and was laying in bed and I felt like I just couldn't wait to work out. I never ever thought I would ever say that.

So, my advice is to stick with it. Try some different things to find out what you like. Maybe that is just walking. Make yourself do it consistently, and one day you might wake up with a whole new attitude. I sometimes think about how much farther along I would be if I hadn't quit for several months, but really I'm just happy that I had that attitude change and I'm seeing progress now.

Walking. No need to jump in with both feet, just start simple. Every time I have lost weight, it started with walking, and when I gained, it was because I quit walking. I love aerobics (I know that's not what we call it anymore, but that's what it will always be to me), and I like lifting, but walking is the easiest thing for me to stick with. If you feel like it's not enough, you can add mileage or increase your speed, but all you really have to do is get moving. You can do it outside, inside, in place. It's how our ancestors stayed in shape. Just do it.

I started counting calories to lose weight before I started running. Then I read Born to Run, which convinced me that I wanted to run an ultramarathon.

At the time I decided that, I was an overweight smoker smoker who couldn't run a mile. My first "run" was at about 16 minutes a mile, and it sucked. However, turning into a runner, hard as it was, was the only thing that made weight loss stick for me, ever.

I think an external goal has a lot to do with it. I signed up for a race...couldn't skip workouts if I planned to finish THAT. On the same note, I started slacking a month ago. Signed up for an April race.

Stuff like races and other events can be a great motivator. Similarly, having workout buddies helps tremendously.

I'm a big believer in The Chain: http://lifehacker.com/281626/jerry-seinfelds-productivity-secret

Start small. I've done chains like:

Work out 20 minutes a day (walking, running, biking, lifting, anything!), run/walk 1 mile a day, run 30+ minutes a day, etc. Once the chain gets long enough...it's a huge motivation not to break it. Get a big wall calendar. Put it somewhere ANYONE at your house can see it. You get a red X when you meet the goal for the day. You don't when you don't. Tell EVERYONE that comes to your house you're doing it.

DailyMile rocks for this, too, if you can find a good fitness community in your area.

Take a dance class, take your kids (or someone else's, like I do) to the zoo or on a nature walk, get a hula hoop, give a five year old sidewalk chalk and ask them to make the craziest hopscotch you have ever seen and then play it! I don't think about exercise as a workout, I think of it as playing. If I'm not enjoying it I won't stick with it and if I don't move for a few days I'm in serious pain! Do something every single day that makes you smile, it's good for your heart health and mental health! :flowerforyou:

I have noticed that I start a fitness routine, and then about 5 days in (ahem, when the weekend hits) I find myself not in the mood to keep going, or telling myself that I will take a rest day and then I just can't get back in to it.

How did you become an active person, one who likes to work out, or manages to work out every day. What is your motivation? I am trying to get myself to be a person who enjoys to work out and/or find something that I want to do every day. I would love to hear your stories.

You make it fun, make it a game, challenge yourself, focus on the rewards.

Turn on the radio and dance there are so many dance videos, go to the park and walk enjoy nature.

I play. I've never stuck with exercising long term, but I'm excited about hiking, biking, kayaking, roller blading, playing catch, tennis, Kinect, batting cages, etc.

Do something you enjoy!

I walk my dog 4x a day on the days I do not work, for 20 minutes each time and I also go to the gym x5 days a week and do something different there each time. Sometimes I ride the bike, or do the elipitcal, or hills on the treadmill, as long as it has variety for 45 minutes. I do a pilates/yoga class x2 a week. I like it now, but that is beacuse I have been doing this for the past 5 years. It was hard in the beginning, but I figured I would just keep going and it would get better, and it did.

Some strategiesI use to keep exercising consistently

1. Schedule exercise so that it is non-negotiable

Schedule non-negotiable exercise.

- Join a boot camp and pre-pay for sessions and find a good instructor/trainer that will keep you accountable. My boot camp instructor calls you if you should be at a session and aren't.

- Line up an something active to do with a friend on those days that you think you might not go. Arrange to meet for a walk/run, gym class, boxing session. Schedule a time and stick to it. Pick a freind that is committed and who won't flake. A gym/exercise buddy will help keep you accountable

- Join a sports team so that you are motivated by the other people to turn up, not just letting down yourself. Make friends with your team mates so that it turns into a social experience and you are more likley to go.

- Line up a PT session.

Scheduling exercise where you have to be where you said you would is one of the best ways to get into a routine. If someone else is going to be p!#@$d off if you don't show up it's extra motivation to turn up.

2. Sign up for an event.

Nothing motivates you to get moving quite like signing up for an event whether it be a 5k, 10k, marathon, tough mudder. Giving yourself a deadline to achieve a goal is a great way to get motivated. Once you've done one event you can use it as motivation to decrease times and/or distances.

3. Find something that you LOVE to do.

Exeriment with different type of exercise until you find something you love. If you love it you are more likely to keep doing it. Use this as motivation to get better generally. Recreational activities maybe good to consider.

My exercise strategy is a combination of the three above. I LOVE playing football (Australian) so all of my exercise is geared at getting fit and improving for this. I schedule weights workouts with my friends/boyfriends. I pre-pay for bootcamp sessions and pilates. I schedule running sessions with friends. I am planning on signing up for a half marthon which should get my unfit *kitten* moving.

I was a cardio bunny, and became skinny.....then I realized that I was not satisfied with being thin, I wanted to be strong, so i started to lift.

see if you can find any friends to join you in an activity

walking, throw a ball, kick a ball, swim, or whatever

I make it fun! Three days a week instead of elliptical and lifting, I do a dance class! Either Hip-hop or Zumba for me. They're such great cardio and toning but they're so much fun that I forget I'm working out!

Ive always been unhappy with my weight and did some fad diets and on and off exercise but i guess one day i just decided that i had enough. I thought to myself if i want to meet the type of guy i want, if i want to attract the friends im looking for and if i want to be truly happy in myself this is what i need to do. So from that day i decided to cut out all junk food and fast food and only drink water and milk. I started going to the gym 3-4 times a week which has progressed to 6 days a week doing cardio, bodypump and weight training. It doesnt feel like a chore to me anymore. Eating healthy and exercising isnt a chore for me anymore it really is just a part of my lifestyle. Im losing weight instead of gaining it and i feel so much more energetic and focused. This was the best decision i have ever made.

But more to the question- The exercise was the toughest for me because i was so inactive beforehand. A real couch potato. I despised running and im still not a huge fan but i can actually do it now without being out of breath in 10 seconds. My favourite thing is weight training, i absolutely love it because you really notice how much stronger you get in how you feel and muscle definition. The hardest step is the first one out your door, once your in your gear ready to go- you just do it. You will never regret working out but you will regret not working out.

I am a single mom, full time student and a "three quarter time" employee at the university I attend. I'm beyond busy! Finding motivation to keep going can be really hard sometimes for me. I found for me, it works best when I literally write down my work out goals on my to do list. I do a new list every Sunday (runs Sun to Sat). On there I put all my school work, things I need to do for or with the kids (or want to do with them), cleaning around the house I need to do, and how many work outs I want to get done that week and what type. I think over what the week has in store for me and try to make my goals for that week reasonable to that. So this week I have listed 3 cardio work outs and one strength work out. Its not the best goals but if I put down more work outs that I would really like to do, I would be disappointed at the end of the week when I didn't have them done. Instead I go with what I know for sure I can do, then if I get even more in, I feel even better. I really love seeing my work out goals get crossed off my to do list by the end of the week. It helps me stay motivated. I was extremely tired after work today and had about 4 hours of homework to do, on top of cooking and laundry. I knew that I could not work out tomorrow due to it being Graduate preview night at the university and I have to attend it. So despite how tired I felt and how much I had yet to do, I got in a work out. I am so glad I did. I felt more energized afterwards.

Anyways, try to do lists Add your work outs to it!