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.