Motivation

Last week I took a vacation, so no blog post. And then I have been working on this one for a while trying to make is perfect. I have been thinking a lot about why many of us, including myself, can't keep up on the exercise. It has come down to this....

What motivates me to exercise?

Others? Myself? The media? The world telling me I have to be skinny? Why can't I do it to live longer and live a happier life? That should be the biggest motivation.

Well now that I have a sweet little baby, I want to be able to be around for her for as long as possible. So if that means getting into shape, you bet I want to do it! I also want to be able to play with her and teach her how to stay active and healthy.
I have never been a morning person. My husband is definitely a morning person. Since I married him, I have been able to get up earlier because we enjoy that quiet time in the morning together, making breakfast, telling each other about our crazy dreams and just enjoying the fresh air that comes with a morning. Also, it is good pondering time to sit and think about what needs to be done in the day and what is most important. Well anyway since we had Ella, I have not been able to get up and share the morning with my husband.  At first it was because I was up every 1.5- 2 hours feeding the baby, but now that she sleeps almost all night (9:30-4), I should be able to get up at 6 right? UGH!! It's so hard!

I have noticed that Ella is a morning baby. She is SOOOO happy and playful, but I miss that time with her when I sleep in. I have been pretty good about getting up at 8. and some days it's not until 10.  It does crack me up though to see Ella snoozing, cuddled up next to me and the second that I pick her up she is wide awake! She's a pretty good fake sleeper!! But I can tell that she is starting to pick up my habit of sleeping in and not being a morning person!

I don't want this to happen! I want her to be able to get up and be productive and look forward to the day, just as she naturally does! So my goal is to get up no later than 8 am. That way we will have time to go for a walk, get ready, eat breakfast, enjoy our happy playful time and take a morning nap (for the baby) all before lunch time!

The way that I see that I'm going to accomplish this goal is to: JUST DO IT! (thank you nike!) Just simply ACT and follow through.  I see many people struggle with exercise because they give excuses, for example,

-not enough time in the day
-tooooooo tired
-too many other things to do
-don't know what to do
-it doesn't even work it just makes me sore
-etc

It feels easier to give an excuse rather than just doing something. I go through phases where I am the queen of excuses- just being honest. But I know I am suffering for it because it gets me out of good habits and turns them into bad habits.

My husband has always been great at doing push-ups, crunches or lifting weights at night. Last week he asked me to do it with him. So I did. Well since then we have been doing it every night (except Sunday :)) And now that we have been doing our little nightly exercises, the pain in my back has significantly decreased and I feel stronger, better and even a little happier!

He claims that he needs my help to be able to keep exercising and stay healthy, but really I think he has a secret plan to help me get back into shape. It's awesome though, either way. I'd say what motivates me is my husband. I also think I am motivated more that I have started, to keep going and to keep up with my husband.

Here's my challenge. Get together with your husband, roommates, family members- who ever and JUMP IN AND START YOUR EXERCISE!!

 This is what we do...

We start with pushups. 30 each.  We don't have a very big space so we trade off. We do ten at a time and count down for each other. (This is a good way to make sure they have proper alignment.No cheaters with your bums in the air! )

Then we do some crunches, obliques and sometimes bicycles. Depends on the night and how tired we are. ;)

Then we hold plank for one minute! Yeah I know it's not very long, but plank is brutal!

We always do push-ups and plank. I don't know if I've lost any weight, but I do feel better than I did before.

If you don't have a partner to do this with in your home, or in the neighborhood, consider this- 

Make a promise to a family member that you will do this then report to each other every night- like send a text saying- DONE! It's so easy to do. NOW DO IT! (I will too).

Also- figure out what motivates you? Since I have discovered this, I feel like exercise is always possible and I don't have to give an excuse. :)

Happy Exercising!!