I am getting married in a matter of months. I have already picked out and purchased my dress. You would think that I would be on the motivation train to get into shape. And you would be right… in my mind. I have been so much better about diet and exercise for the past few months, but I’m not consistent. We all know that consistency is what keeps you motivated. Make it a habit, they say.
I don’t know why it is so hard to get moving. I absolutely freaking LOVE to work out. The harder the better, for me. I am currently in a routine of doing 40 minutes of high intensity aerobics/kickboxing and usually burn 700+ calories in that time. But then there are days when I just don’t feel like doing it. Or anything, really. Perhaps that goes along with depression. Perhaps it is just an excuse to hang out in my PJs on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I really don’t know.
The truth of the matter is this – When I work out, I feel great all day. I have more energy, I eat healthier, and I sleep better at night. I have a spring in my step, and I get a lot accomplished. I have, on several occasions, actually broke down in tears while exercising because it was such an amazing tension reliever.
When I don’t workout… I feel slothy. More than that, I just feel crappy. I am much less active. I have a tendency to binge on bad-for-me foods. I don’t sleep well and usually end up tossing and turning all night. The next day, if I don’t workout, I start to feel very sedentary. It isn’t a good feeling.
So, that gets me thinking – Why on Earth do we settle for feeling like crap, instead of putting in the work to feel great? Because solthy is easy, but it really doesn’t feel good. I think so many of us get used to feeling crappy, so when we do something that feels that good, it almost feels wrong. Today I feel puffy, tired, and fat. I know I am retaining fluids and wouldn’t go near a scale if you put a gun to my tiara.
I am going to try hard to remember this feeling. Not because I want to think about feeling shitty, but because I want to remind myself how much BETTER I feel when I actually do something. Tomorrow, I will get up early and do my workout. Not because I want to, but because I HAVE to. I know that I am the one who stands in my way the most. I need to get better about treating myself well.
How have you been treating yourself? Are you taking care of you, or everyone around you? Much like on an airplane, you must put the oxygen mask on yourself first, because you can’t help your kid if you are unconscious on the floor. Take care of you, and you will feel better about taking care of others.
LOVE IT! Gonna clean off the treadmill tonight!
I make it a habit to work out 5-6 days/week. It makes me feel so much better, but it doesn’t seem to make me lose weight!
Tracey, a therapist once told me that exercise is not for weight loss. It is for stress relief. But reduced stress makes it easier to lose weight!
Also, you might try to vary your workout as your body gets used to what you are doing and it doesn’t work as hard over time.