Motivate Your Way Out The Door

After a fun filled and incredibly short weekend in Disneyland, I'm home! I arrived in Disneyland on Friday and flew home on Sunday evening - it was a whirlwind of a trip, but I had an incredible time and wouldn't trade a minute of it!

Since it was such a short trip with no time off work, I'm still trying to get my belongings and my life back in order. I'll be back this week with a recap of the Tinker Bell10K. In the mean time, here's a few tips from Jeff Galloway himself, all about motivation! (Don't we all need a little of that?!)

There is a point where every runner needs a little motivation to head out the door. Here is a proven strategy to get moving on the tough days. The method has also been helpful in dealing with other challenges.

Mentally Rehearse

The following is a mental exercise that you can do throughout the day to prepare for this situation, as you are sitting around at the end of the day, driving, or commuting home. Don't focus on the workout. Instead, break down the experience into a series of small steps which are easy to do. As you rehearse the sequence of these, over and over, you become more likely to follow the same pattern when you need to do so.

Prepare by putting on comfortable shoes and clothes, and having your exercise equipment handy. You're not thinking about exerting yourself - just getting out of work clothes and into clothes that are comfortable but could be used for your workout.

• Coffee? As you are dressing, brew some coffee, tea, or have a diet drink, etc. Caffeine (if you have no problems with it) will wake up the central nervous system, making exercise feel better.
• Eat a snack. Low blood sugar is the most common reason for low motivation in the afternoon. An easy-to-digest snack will raise the level so that you feel good and will reduce the negative messages received from the stress-monitoring part of the brain (the left brain).
• Weather? Just walk out the front door to see what the weather is like.
•  If you are using exercise equipment in a health club, check the availability and walk around until the user has finished his or her workout. 
• If outside, walk to the end of the block to get your bearings. Once you have walked 100 steps, you are almost certain to continue. If using a treadmill, commit to walking 100 steps, then commit to running 100 steps. 

Have a reward afterward, such as a snack, a beverage, or a massage - you earned it!

There is a principal of lazy physics here: "A body on the couch wants to stay on the couch. But once a body is in motion, it wants to stay in motion."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks so much, Jeff! A little motivation here and there is just what I need to kick the "I don't wannas" away.

Disclaimer: As a Jeff Galloway blogger, I receive occasional running/workout tips that I in turn share here. No compensation is received for this exchange, I simply enjoy sharing with you! :)

Reclaiming My Mojo

Confession time.

Since Princess, I’ve noticed a change – a change that began after the New Orleans Marathon. Rock ‘n’ Roll NOLA was such a tough race for me and I didn’t do as well as I hoped…I think that was really when I fell into a rut and had a lot of trouble getting back out.

For a while, running in the afternoons after work no longer seemed exciting to me. Here in the South, our days become hotter and more humid as we grow closer to Summer. With no long distance races to train for until the Fall, I completely lost all forms of motivation for running.

In general, I feel as if running is supposed to be a passion and something you enjoy – if you don’t feel that way, then you’re going to begin resenting it. So, I knew something had to change.

In it’s place, I began an at home workout that I really liked – it was one that kept my heart pumping and helped me work up a sweat. I really enjoyed the workout and loved the change.

Then…one afternoon, I realized something…..I missed it. I truly missed running. It was late one night last week and we just returned home from eating with my parents. I had a ton of energy I didn’t know what to do with and I couldn’t take it any longer. So, I laced up my shoes and I went for a run!

It was a short run – only 2 miles – but it felt invigorating and I felt alive, as if something had woken up inside of me and said, “Hello! I’m here and I’ve been here all along – remember me? You do truly love this!”

To say I had an “aha” moment recently, yes…even though small, it was there. I’m incredibly grateful for it because I finally feel as if I have my mojo back. Thank goodness, it was about time.

This Pinterest motivation sums up exactly how I feel.

Have you ever lost your excitement and motivation for running/working out? If so, how did you reclaim it?

Fitness Friday–3/7

Currently training for…..

Nothing in particular?

Now I find myself at that awkward place where I’m not training for a long-distance race, just a few 5K’s and shorter races here and there.

I need a new goal and a focus. This week, I’m going to work on finding it! :0)

Here’s how this past week looked:

Saturday – Rest Day due to sickness
Sunday – Rest Day due to sickness
Monday – Squats/Lunges/Resistance Bands leg work 
Tuesday – Biggest Loser Power X-Train; 25 minutes
Wednesday – 3 miles with Jason
Thursday – 2 mile walk with Jason/puppies
Friday – Rest Day

I’m planning on running tomorrow and Sunday, hence the rest day on Friday. I usually take Sunday as my rest day but I’m changing it around this week.

Also, I became sick after the Princess Half Marathon (apparently so did many others) and it’s still lingering on – aka the “Florida Plague”. I’m hoping it clears up soon because I’m tired of coughing and blowing my nose. I’m a vitamin/pro-biotics regular and I added AirBorne into my regime last week. I’m trying to avoid an antibiotic so we shall see…keeping my fingers crossed!

Tuesday was a dreary/nasty/super cold day, so I decided to do something I hadn’t done in a really shamefully long time - crosstrain…really, put effort into it, build up a sweat, crosstrain. Can we say OUCH?! I’m embarrassed to say, but it still hurt to walk last night (hence the reason I didn’t push myself this other workouts this week). I’m really hoping I feel better this weekend because I need to RUN. It’s been far too long! I also really need to add a cross train routine of some sort to my weekly training regime (a fact that has become painfully obvious to me – literally).

Family out for an afternoon stroll…a quick one at that!

In other news:

This happened this week!

So did Mardi Gras! I enjoyed a slice of strawberry cream cheese King Cake and a nice cup of tea – yes sir! It was delicious! :0)

I hope you all had a wonderful week!

What’s your favorite way to cross train and how do you work it into your weekly regime? How do you stay motivated when there’s not a long distance race in your immediate future? I need some ideas! Have a wonderful weekend!!