How do you stay motivated?

Good morning, friends.  

As you all know, I'm training for a triathlon on August 28th.  And starting in Monday, I will start training for the Kansas City Half Marathon on October 15th.  I'm not quite as crazy as you may think I am, but people constantly ask me how I do it.  How do I stay motivated?  How do I run without getting bored?  How do I find time? 

 

For me, staying motivated is simple when I'm training for something specific.  If I know that missing a workout will somehow impact my results in my race, I simply won't miss the workout.  Or I will reschedule for another time.  As far as boredom...I have a great play list.  I try to change my scenery as often as I can.  And I solve a lot of problems while I run :).  Both work and person and everything in between....running is a great time to think!  As far as finding time to run...most of you know that I have more time now than I've had in the past 2 years of my life.  I trained for my first race while coaching a National level girls volleyball team and working on my Master's degree.  Short of people who have children themselves, there is PLENTY of time to train.  It may take making some sacrifices here and there, but I promise you can fit it in if it's important to you. 

I found this article this morning from Health Discovery that I thought had some great ideas on how to stay motivated to stick to your workout plan, regardless of what it is.  If it's losing 10 lbs, training for a race, or making it to the gym at least 5 days a week, these are awesome tips.  One of my favorites is buying new stuff :).  Buying new running shoes/bras/tights/shorts are the best way to get me in the gym ASAP.  I hope you find this helpful.  

Have a good one!

xoxo,

ryann

Top 10 Tips For Staying Motivated With Your Workout Plan

Are you finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning for your daily walk -- and are you making up excuses to skip the gym on the way home?
Even the most dedicated exercisers occasionally get bored with their routine. Waning motivation, cutting short and not having your old enthusiasm are signs of a stale exercise regimen.
But that doesn't mean you can't re-energize your routine. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has worked out the following 10 tips for staying motivated to stay active.

 
1. Vary your routine or change your scenery! A new variation on your favorite activity -- cardio kickboxing instead of Step aerobics; power yoga instead of working on machines -- may be enough to reinvigorate a stale routine. If you've always exercised indoors, move your workout outside for a welcome change of scenery.
2. Try something entirely new! Make it something you never dreamed you'd do. If you've always stuck to solitary pursuits, sign up for a team sport. Or tackle something you've shied away from... maybe even rock climbing!
3. Find a workout buddy! Exercise companions add a social element to any routine. Ask a friend to be your workout partner -- you won't skip a workout if someone is waiting for you.
4. Set a new goal! Working out to stay in shape is fine, but setting a goal -- such as finishing a 10k race or completing a rough water swim -- will give your daily workouts more meaning.
5. Treat yourself to a workout gadget or accessory! Heart-rate monitors, aquatic toys and other exercise gadgets can make your workouts more fun and challenging.
6. Keep an exercise log to track your progress! Unsure if your making progress toward your goals? Then start a workout log. It allows you to keep track of your goals, monitor your progress and adjust your routines as necessary.
7. Don't berate yourself if you miss a workout! Life is full of obstacles. Unexpected appointments, illness and setbacks are bound to happen sooner or later. Don't let a few missed workouts turn into a month of unfulfilled resolutions.
8. Reward yourself! Reaching a fitness goal or milestone is a great excuse to treat yourself to something new. A massage, an evening out, or some other "indulgence" may be the key to staying motivated.
9. Focus on how good exercise makes you look and feel! You know that incredibly satisfied and healthy feeling you get immediately after a workout? Remember it! And use it to motivate yourself the next time you're thinking about blowing off that next workout!
10. If all else fails... take a break from exercise! Sometimes a lack of motivation is your body's way of telling you to take a break. If anything hurts, or if your energy is running low, take a break for a few days before resuming your workouts. A little "R&R" may be just what your body needs to renew your motivation.