So many articles have been written on how to boost motivation to exercise and it seems they all have crazy ideas that I personally can’t see anyone actually doing. Sign a contract? Get a cheering squad? C’mon now…
I don’t think it’s “fun” to sweat. I’ve not once felt the “high” exercise feeling so many talk about. Never. I can’t schedule an exact time to be active — my life isn’t structured like that. I’ve yet to cut pictures of skinny women out of a magazine as a goal. All the “proven” motivational methods are lost on me.
After reading so many horse shit articles and women’s posts on Facebook about going to spin class, etc. — I want to share how this unhealthy, untrained, old and partially decrepit woman gets motivated to be active every day — and I hope it will give you some ideas too:
ONE: Don’t set unrealistic goals and know your “why.”
My “why” is my pathetic excuse for a back. I don’t want to have surgery again. I don’t care about being “skinny” anymore. I only care about maintaining a weight and exercise level that allows me to walk without being hunched over and able to continue doing other things I enjoy. No big “end game” goals here. What’s your why and attainable goals?
TWO: Just track one thing — keep it simple.
You don’t have to track every step you take, every hour you spend at the gym, or every calorie expended during exercise. Because my surgeon said the best thing I could do for my back was walk, I like to know that I’ve put in enough steps to accomplish that — that’s what I track. If your “why” is to loose weight, you might instead track calories you burn. The more complicated you make it, the easier it is to say, “heck with this.” What do you want to track?
THREE: And here’s the big one… find something to keep your mind off the fact you’re doing something you don’t like to do.
Exercise may be fun for some but it’s not for me. It’s work and I hate it. Some wear headphones and listen to a book or music. Others choose to exercise with friends. I watch TV. I just finished the last season of Bosch and now I’m on Season 1 of Goliath. Yesterday, after watching Rachel get splattered on the street by a van, I have to know what happens next! I won’t allow myself to watch whatever movie or series I’m watching on the treadmill at any other time. What can you do to keep your mind off of how miserable exercise really is? 😉
Me and Billy Bob Thornton are about to rack up a few steps… but first…
TIL (Today I Learned): Until 1960, an American woman needed her husband’s permission to open a bank account.