How do you stay motivated? I cannot seem to get myself back into the routine of exercise. I really need some motivation and you seem encouraging. I was just curious as to how you get motivated.
Hello April Marie- I assume you are new? I've just been back on this board about a month and haven't seen a post from you before.
Staying motivated is hard. It's easy for me to lose my motivation. I think the two best things for me are:
1. After you exercise, notice how great you feel! Even if you are hot and tired you have a feeling of accomplishment and you can feel you are breathing deeper, relaxed, etc. Remember that good feeling so the next time you don't quite feel like exercising, think about how good you will feel afterwards.
2. Sometimes you have to take a break from it because of your schedule or you are ill or something. Don't beat yourself up about it. Just get back to exercising even if it's only 15 or 20 minutes the next time you can.
Marvin & Pam: I usually either get stress headaches in the back of my neck and shoulders or sinus ones around my eyes and forehead. For the sinus one, I actually have one of those blue vinyl ice packs with a cut out for your eyes and I lay down and put that on. At work sometimes I just get a cold can of soda and put in against my forehead between sips. It probably looks stupid but it helps. For the neck and shoulder ones, gently, slowly, rotating your head in a circle a few times in each direction helps release the tension. Breathe in through your nose as you head goes back and breathe out as you circle forward. Reverse. We do this in yoga. Raising and lowering your shoulders (shoulder shrugs) can help or something warm (heating pad) on your neck and shoulders.
Marvin, sorry the house isn't coming along as quick as you'd like. Sounds like the aquasize is a great idea for you though. It's easier to do, especially with the baby weight and it cools you down.
Pam, I think you're right not to stress too much about the weight while you are expecting. I retained water some when I was pg and the baby can go through growth spurts.
Well, my story - I didn't have a great exercise week after Monday. Wednesday night we went out to eat and I didn't exercise. Thursday night I got in the pool for just about 20 minutes. But at least I did something. It was only 65 outside when I got in but the pool was 80. It was cool here this week after having such a hot week during July 4. Friday night I went to a 7 to midnight crop (scrapbooking) and my only exercise was carrying all my stuff up and down the steps. This morning I went to yoga and I intend to either swim or get on the Eliptical trainer later.
Well, sorry if this is a long post! Have a good weekend everyone! and stay cool if it's hot in your area!
Ack Marvin, sorry to hear your house is taking so long!
I ate so bad today cause I was so stresssed, hopefully tomorrow will be better. I'll be focusing on the fruits and veggies tomorrow ya know. Got a walk in tonight, helped sooooo much with the stress. Dh got the little pool for Em set up tonight so maybe tomorrow we'll play in that. We just don't have the yard room for running around.
Stamper, I have such an urge to stamp/scrapbook tonight. Really should get my butt off of here and do it, hehe. It's been so long, sigh.
In Christ,
Pamela
Well, we got the builders out there yesterday, and they're off and running on fixing up the cracks ans stuff, so that's started at least... Hopefully, our general contractor can get on our plumber's a$$ about getting that darn plumbing in! Aargh! I wanna move in!
Had a good, busy weekend though... Friday night I went for a walk with DH and the dog... Saturday we had some of our new furniture delivered, then on Sunday was DH's company golf tourny and bbq... great fun! Yesterday, I spent the day at the new house with our builder (like I said!)... Really tired today, but hoping on either Curves or aquajog. Then tomorrow is my big ultrasound! Can't wait to see the little bean again!
Pamela ~ Great attitude about the eating... I have my bad days too... and I just try to balance them out with the good ones!
April ~ I totally agree with Stamper... Sometimes the only way that I get motivated is to just go do it, even if you don't want to... then afterwards, you feel like, why don't I do that all the time! Good luck, and feel free to hang around... posting here can give you some accountability, which can be motivating!
Stamper ~ Thanks! I'll have to try the icepack thing with my next headache! And I remember the neck stretching stuff from the yoga class I took last year... I'll have to try that out too! Looks like you've been keeping up with your exercise and getting right back on the wagon when you start to slip off ~ good for you!
Well, I probably won't be around tomorrow as we're spending the day in the city after the ultrasound, but I'll see you all on Wednesday!
Pam, glad you got your walk in. Sometimes the stress gets us all. I had a day like that last week when I stopped at dairy queen on the way home!. Before we had our pool, I used to like to sit in the yard with my daughter playing in her little pool and I would sit in a lawn chair by her and she would "water my legs" with a watering can. It really does cool you off.
Marvin, thanks for the encouragement. Sounds like you've been busy but you're getting your excerise. Good luck with the Ultrasound.
Sunday it was cloudy out so I went over to my friends house and stamped all afternoon and my dd played with her kids. Then when our dh's got home from golf, we all went out to eat. I thought I picked a good choice but I felt stuffed when we left so when we got home I went out and swam about 20 minutes.
Monday I was in the pool about 45 minutes and I am getting ready to go out now for a workout. I got on the scale this morning and I am down 4.5 pounds since I started back on the board. Hopefully I won't be back up tomorrow. I seem to keep yo-yo ing back and forth a pound or so.
April, what motivates me to excerise is how good it makes me feel. Plus the added benefit of losing weight and getting toned helps too. I'm just a nicer person when I do it. I see the world through much better eyes.
Ate somewhat better today, LOL. We walked almost the whole Mall of America so that was a nice workout. Went to a movie with my sister. Bawled my eyes out (it was Ice Age, btw, LOL). So yeah.
In Christ,
Pamela
We're having a baby! So cool! It actually looked like a little human in there, with two arms and two legs, fingers, toes, everything! And everything looks right on target, according to the tech, so I'm thrilled!
I even got some exercise in yesterday too, since we moved a few boxes and unpacked them in the new house, then before my u/s we walked around the mall for a half hour or so...
Did make it to Curves on Tuesday too, and that's the plan for today as well... otherwise I'll go to aquajogging tonight, and save Curves for tomorrow... we'll see!
Ate a little too much at lunch but that's cause I went too long between breakfast and lunch (had a La Leche League meeting). *sigh* I *will* have a good rest of the week.
Excercising is getting really hard, even just walking. I've gotten quite the belly all of a sudden (I'm not eating *that* bad, I don't think!!) and my body overall is having a hard time adjusting. Lots of hip and low back pain. Trying to do what I can, but yeah...
Trying to do lunges or plies makes me dizzy. But you know what? After the baby's born, I can do it again! I am just going to be more careful.
In Christ,
Pamela
I have a toilet! Sounds silly, but the plumber has promised me a toilet for the weekend, and all the rest of that stuff (toilets, showers, running water...) should all be done by Tuesday! Yay! I am so happy, I'm gonna get to move into my house!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to Curves last night, and it was good.. I have a killer headache right now though, so I'm not sure if I'll be going there tonight or not. Maybe I'll just take my dog (and the cats!) for a long walk...
Anyway, have a good weekend, ladies! I know I will, peeing in a real toilet!
Toilets are very important! What's your move in date officially?? I'm so excited for you!!
Emmett and I had a virus the past couple of days but seem to be doing better now. I'm in another not wanting to eat phase which is good cause I ate all last week! Baby is really kicking! I'm loving it!
In Christ,
Pamela
***sigh*** I wish that I had an official move-in date! As of right now, we still don't have running water (except my toilet! ) and that's all we're really waiting on... they still need to finish off the deck and stairs, and there's some stuff in the basement to be done, but once we have showers, i'm in there! Can't wait for the call from DH telling me that I can move in!
On the plus side, I'm noticing that all this moving stuff around is great exercise! I moved in, and unpacked, a whole whack of stuff yesterday, and I'm off to Curves after work today. Eating like a horse still, but lots of it is fruits and veggies, so I'm happy with it. My next appt is next Wednesday, so I'll find out what the damage is then...
Sorry to hear you an Em have been sick again... I know I'm gonna be the exact same once this little one is up and around... I catch everything! I'm sure I'll be sick ALL the time!
Marvin, sounds like progress is being made - you have a toilet! It's great that you are getting your fruits and vegies and some exercise!
Pamela, sorry to hear you and your son are under the weather - hope you are feeling better soon.
I got a lot of exercise Sat, Sun and Monday. I worked until 10:30 tonight and didn't get to exercise, but on the other hand, I've been too busy to eat much and don't seem to be craving anything yummy the last few days. I usually am a stress eater but I think I am too stressed to think of food. So I've just been eating when I'm really hungry. I know that's not always good either.
Anyway, my mom had wanted me to lose 5 pounds by her birthday and I did it. I wanted to lose more but I guess my goals are always a bit over-optomistic.
So now I am down to 208. I have such a long way to go.
Stamper ~ Congratulations! I am so proud of you! Slow and steady, wins the race, right? I've always had the attitude that as long as you're steadily losing something, you're doing great! Great big pats on the back for you!
As for me, I made it to Curves, adnd was having a great evening until I talked to DH, who informed me that our plumber didn't work at all AGAIN yesterday... But, I won't get into that right now... I don't want to get myself worked up again....
Thinking about going to Curves again today... we'll see. I want to at least do something, since I'm gonna need it for stress relief!
and stay cool if it's hot in your area!
Good luck, and feel free to hang around... posting here can give you some accountability, which can be motivating!
I know I'm gonna be the exact same once this little one is up and around... I catch everything! I'm sure I'll be sick ALL the time!
But, I won't get into that right now... I don't want to get myself worked up again.... 
