When motivation is lacking...

It's always more fun with a buddy. Do you have a friend who you could walk or go to the gym with. Maybe you could do start with fun workouts like tennis, swimming, or hiking to get back in the swing of things. Once you start, it will become addictive. Usually when I don't feel like working out, I go ahead and put on my workout clothes and that usually gives me the motivation I need.

You kind of just have to boss yourself around. I have been known to tell myself (out loud) to shut up and quit whining.

Think of your feelings as the caboose and your will (discipline, commitment, whatever) as the engine. You do it because you said you would, committed to it, etc., not because you feel like it. Once you get going, you'll find that your feelings (the caboose!) have no choice but to follow -- your energy will increase and you'll feel amazing.

When I don't work out because I'm sluggish in the morning, I find that I stay sluggish all day. That's no fun. But when I get up and exercise anyway, just because I promised myself I would, I feel better within just a few minutes of exercising, and then I'm up and happy and more energized throughout the day. My daughters have even noticed the difference in my moods based on whether or not I've exercised!

(Funny thing: this engine/caboose thing is true in other parts of life as well -- like marriage!)

Another note: I am not a morning person either, but it quickly became obvious to me that waiting until the afternoon or evening to work out gave me far too many opportunities to come up with excuses and reasons to skip it. Now that I've been working out in the morning for several years now, I can't imagine anything else -- like I said, it changes my mood for the whole day. AND -- it raises your BMR for the rest of the day, too! Some people can stay committed to afternoon/evenings workouts. You'll just have to see what works best for you.

I've gone through the same thing and was in a similar funk this past January. What helped me get out of it is a friend asked me to join a biggest loser contest. I didn't "feel" like doing it but after I ignored my feelings and went ahead I got really excited and into it and found this website in addition. I've lost 5 pounds in the last two weeks and got down past a weight marker that has been my nemesis for 5 years.

Some advice that was given to me a couple years ago was to "take action despite how you feel". If you keep waiting to feel like you may never do it. Take just one action today that is positive. It doesn't have to be extreme. Maybe either just taking a 10 minute walk or drinking a bunch of water today. I find when I get myself up and moving the motivation will start to come. I think it's normal for people to go through what you are going through. You are a human being. Don't beat yourself up. Watch the negative self talk, we all do it and what we are doing is lying to ourselves. Put a postive thought in your head and keep repeating it. Don't give in to the negative self defeating talk.

Good luck to you.

Check other areas of your life as well, and make sure you're not depressed. It doesn't take full-on Major Depression to really sap the zest out of life. Other than that, nothing beats the buddy system.

My best friend and I love to cook and try out recipes, not only together, but it's a lot of fun to make batches of things for ourselves and then exchange some. It's also a great way to ensure variety in our diets and save money. For example: we'll each keep cooked rice on hand, and then exchange some dishes that go with it, like stir-fry or Indian food.