Ideas?

Eire228
Eire228 Posts: 238 Member
edited November 9 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone,

I seemed to have lost my motivation to exercise these days, and I'm looking for some ideas to help motivate me to get back on track!

Over the summer I was running quite a bit, and going to yoga as often as I could. Now that it's dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home, I've stopped running. I still try to go to yoga as much as possible, but things like going out to dinner with friends seems to be getting in the way of that.

Right now, joining a gym isn't an option for me. So I need to figure out how I can get exercise in another way. My first thought is that I need to put my yoga classes before eating out, for several reasons. Namely, it's healthier, and I pay a lot of money to be a member of the yoga studio. My second thought is that I need to exercise at home. I have a few DVDs and I know there are countless free videos online. My biggest problem is that I have a really hard time getting myself out of bed early enough to get in a video, and if I exercise at home in front of the TV, I'm also exercising in front of my bed or the couch...and those are very hard to stay away from. I'm also pretty self conscious about doing videos at home with my roommate there, which makes me shy away from it. And saying no to going out with friends or the boyfriend to go to yoga instead is easier said than done (even though I love yoga when I do actually go)

Any ideas on what else I can do at home to get off my butt and work out??? Or what else I can do that doesn't involve exercise videos at home? I know it's only myself getting in the way of it, but sometimes it helps to hear how other people get over their own poor excuses to get in the exercise they need. :)

Replies

  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    If you don't want to skip out on going out with your friends or boyfriend, you're going to have to find a way to get that morning workout in.

    Would your roommate be interested in joining in on the video workout? Maybe you two could challenge/compete to help with motivation.

    An alternative to a DVD would be something like a body weight workout like this one:
    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

    What's preventing you from running in the dark? You could get some high vis gear, maybe even a head lamp, stay in the areas where you feel safe, keep your phone and id on you, etc.

    Good luck!
  • Eire228
    Eire228 Posts: 238 Member
    That's a great question. There really isn't anything in particular that keeps me from running in the dark, especially when thinking about all of those solutions you've come up with! I used to run on the bike path near me, and I definitely wouldn't run on that in the dark because it's so secluded. But the neighborhood I live in is safe enough, but no sidewalks. Reflective gear would certainly help with that, though.

    I guess it's more the motivation piece that's getting me. Get all cozy at home or head out into the dark and cold? I know which I'd prefer... :) But I know that if I want to get back into running, I'll have to get over that.

    Thanks for the reply :)
  • djscavone
    djscavone Posts: 133 Member
    Why doesn't your boyfriend join you? Yoga is not just for the ladies and running alone at night is not a great idea for anyone. Like Minnie said get someone to join you. I bet if you ask around you can find someone. Its a great social activity when people walk, jog, bike, or yoga together.
  • Seatown_Gal
    Seatown_Gal Posts: 20 Member
    Maybe try to find someone that can do it with so you both commit to it? I was the same way and I cut everything extra out so I could hire a personal trainer. It is (for now) the only thing that gets me to the gym. Good luck, you can do this!
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    Couldn't you negotiate to meet friends after yoga?
  • Eire228
    Eire228 Posts: 238 Member
    djscavone wrote: »
    Why doesn't your boyfriend join you? Yoga is not just for the ladies and running alone at night is not a great idea for anyone. Like Minnie said get someone to join you. I bet if you ask around you can find someone. Its a great social activity when people walk, jog, bike, or yoga together.

    At the moment, he lives a little too far away (45 minutes or so) to join me. He loves to hike, so that's a great activity we can do together on weekends. But if/when we're closer, I'll definitely ask him to join me at yoga!

    Thanks to everyone for the replies! I would be much more motivated if I had a running buddy. Most of my friends don't live in the immediate area, but I'm sure there's a running group somewhere in my town. Great idea! :)
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