Motivation

The glamorous Karen Sugarpants asks:

How do you keep motivating yourself to keep going? 

Do you still set goals?

What do you do during cardio to keep from getting bored? 

Thanks for the opportunity Carmen!

No, thank you.  Motivation is tough.  So, so difficult. In the beginning, I was so desperate to be a smaller number on the scale that seeing the numbers go down, albeit slowly, was a great motivation.  I think I've said before that I gave myself mini goals - lose 20 pounds by this event, or be able to do 20 pushups by a certain holiday. Hitting those goals, even if they were baby goals, made for good feelings. Once I hit the goal, I quickly made another.  I work well with goals. :)

I do still set goals.  I wanted to run the 8K under an hour.  I can do 30 pushups.  That was last years goal - by the end of this year, I want to be able to do ten pullups.  I started those this morning with my trainer - yeouch.  I want to run a specific number of races this year, and in order to be able to do that, I have to train.  I want to look great in a bathing suit, so I remember that every time I am tempted to slack off on my ab work.  Plus, I have a couple of REALLY rotten fat pictures on my screen saver - they come up first - so anytime that I am at the computer, I see those pics and they remind me.  I also have every newspaper article - three - and magazine article - one - that has my picture as a weight loss success, in large copy on the wall in my kitchen.  YES - I am very vain.  But I'll take whatever I can get to keep me going.

To keep motivated in cardio, I watch a movie if I'm at home on the treadmill.  My favorite cardio is capoeira or Thai boxing, and so I do those as much as possible.  I also find running outside with my iPod to be MUCH more enjoyable than inside, and than makes it easier as well.

Thanks, Karen!  More answers tomorrow!

Comments

[Jen]

ok, this goes to a post you had not long ago, too. Once you get close to your goal, how do you keep from sabotaging your success. Fail before you can fail thing. ? Sorry I know the timing for questions is up, but I'm really just processing your answer to Karen and adding my own... :o)
You are a wonderful inspiration to keep going, Carmen! Blessings to You!

[Headless Mom]

Goals are good! I need to get back to that now that I have SPRING! and a cruise with my husbands company in late summer. Oh yeah, and Hawaii, too!

[amy]

New songs on the iPod keep me going. When I hit around 24 mins on the eliptical and want to jump I just need to refocus on hitting the 500 calories burned and 3 mile mark. Plus cranking the Black Eyed Peas Pump IT works every time.
Though I've been stuck in a rut for a few weeks...since I've come back from Vegas
So I bought some new exercise shirts and shorts. Today I took a kick butt class and they warned me it will be hard to even sit on the toilet tomorrow. I'm glad they grabbed me AFTER I did an hour of cardio. I can't remember the last time I sweat so much.
I still have 15-20 lbs to go. 2 lbs to reach my ability to schedule a 1/2 day spa visit. 2 lbs!!! So what is holding me back?????