How do you stay motivated & an 'only'...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
How do you stay motivated & an 'only'...
14
Fri, 07-18-2003 - 11:17am
Hi everyone....thanks again for the warm welcome and many words of encouragement!

On a day-to-day basis, how do you all stay so motivated and on-track?

For instance, where I live it's expected to be 109 today. My plan was to walk this morning before my husband left for work. Woke-up, went back to bed and said I'll start tomorrow (tomorrow should have been January1st!). Evening comes, I tell myself this is an ideal time to take a walk, instead I talk myself out of it.

It's always tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow........has anyone else dealt w/consistantly procrastinating? And if so, how did you get yourself back on track?

TIA for any feedback,

Karen~

P.S. What's also interesting, I've noticed that many of the members have one child (like myself). How has it been raising an 'only'?

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Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-18-2003 - 11:29am
IMO

I stay motivated by finding an exercise that I love to do. For me it is Jazzercise and bicycling. I have 8 classes a week that I really love to go and I usually make it to at least 6 of them. Plus I hate to get less than the max value for my dollar and since I pay for an unlimited Jazz membership, I feel like I'm cheating myself if I don't go as often as possible. After a while, it just seemed like if I didn't go to class or at least get my bike out for a ride that I really started to miss being active. I just about went nuts on vacation in May because I couldn't go to class. Thank goodness for that lovely hike in the mountains! Once you find something you love, it becomes second nature. I know it's not much fun when the heat and humdity have you feeling logy, but just go for 10 minutes and see if you don't decide to keep going the whole way. Once you're all hot and sweaty, it seems kind of silly to stop.

Good luck

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Fri, 07-18-2003 - 11:33am
Great advice, Lori!

I have always wanted to try a Spin class (being that it's indoors is definitely a plus!).

In fact, I will go to the local gym and check-out the schedule.

Several of my friends take Jazzercise classes and love them, however; I am definitely lacking the the rythmn department;)

Thanks for that,

Karen~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-18-2003 - 12:42pm
I've been a big procrastinator for months, but have also had some injuries, and lately, just a lot going on. I can always find some excuse. LOL! I think the advice to find something you love is the best. I can work in the yard or boogie board or things like that for hours, and it doesn't seem like exerise or workout.

I have TWO "only children." My daughter is 27, and my son is 14. They say if there's more than five years between children it's like having more than one only child, particularly if they are opposite sexes. My daughter and I were very close when she was young, but now we're estranged, but I'm not sure why. My son and I are very close and do a lot together. He's the first boy in our entire family, so it's been a real trip!

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


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Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Hey Karen,

I understand what you are say all to well. I think I am the queen of procrastination when it comes to exercise. It is true about finding something you love. I hate it in general and I am looking for the right attitude. I can not afford a fancy gym, money is tight. I joined Curves, which I should be going to at least 3 days a week. But since my kids are on summer vacation there seems to one reason or another. Getting up late, friends coming over, its too hot,running errands....well the list can go on and on. Coming here, does help and keep me focused, much more than I had been in the past. Trying to eat right is another battle for me. I can not give up things like some diets require, so I am trying to count points, as in Weight Watchers. With out going to the weekly meetings and paying more money......like I said money is tight.I am very lonely too. Although the kids are around (I have 3 by the way, 18, 14, and 9)its not the same. I am home for the summer, after just having returned to school this past Sept. I know I need to and want to be here for them I feel I am missing something. My hubby is self employed and works very long days. All excused I know. I wish I had some girl friends to walk with daily and shop with but everyone seems too busy and already into a group to let me in. Please try and motivate yourself, which I know is really hard. Come here and read about how many miles some of these great ladies do on a daily basis. Keep thinking positive about how you are trying to be more healthy for you and your loved ones. You can email me if you like, I look forward to hearing and chatting with people. Just know you are not alone. My weight has not moved at all in 2 months, which is very depressing but I try not to dwell on it.

Deb

PS: My email should you want to write.........is dmm11730@yahoo.com

Debbie

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
I haven't got a coordinated bone in my body. I just don't care what those other people think and besides, they aren't any better than I am. If they were, they'd be making money dancing. It's a really non-judgmental environment where they really stress that you work at your fitness level. There is no drill sargent yelling at you. I love it.

Definitely try out the spinning class. I've never done it myself, I like to ride a real bike outside on a beautiful day much more.

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Call me crazy, but since I enjoy running, if it's bad weather outside or if I woke up too late to drive over to the fitness club I joined for the summer, I run in place while I watch TV (I don't have a treadmill). I also have a jump rope & a mini-trampoline (although I don't feel as "worked out" on the mini-tramp. I live across the street from a track, but I'm paranoid about going early a.m. (for safety reasons) until school starts. I also have video tapes for when I get bored or can't run (I have the Leslie Sansone Walk tapes, Firm cardio and body sculpting, etc.). I also love powerwalking on trails and wish I could find a partner (for safety reasons) to go out with me. Early a.m. is best for me so I don't have to keep procrastinating the whole day about fitting it in (as it would be at 10 pm before I would fit it in). I'm motivated most by these ladies on this board - they challenge me and keep me uplifted. It's fun to read about their workouts and lives. If I get off track, I come to the board & let these ladies know it & they help me get back on track.

Raising an only child can be challenging for me - my ds gets lonely because I work alot. He has a best friend whose parents happen to like it when Danny comes over, and that helps ease his loneliness some. Also, his dad takes him to his house quite often and takes him fishing at least once a week (in that, my child is spoiled rotten!).

Good luck with finding fitness activities you enjoy.

Katherine (Kat)
Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
"Everyone seems too busy and already into a group to let me in"

Deb - Don't ever forget that you should be welcomed in, not allowed to join. Who are these people anyway??? (my big mouth runnin' again)...

Community gardening - Are there any around you? For a small price, you can raise your own veggies and flowers, get some great exercise, and maybe find a friend among the plants.

Are the parents of your 9-yr-old's friends friendly and welcoming? Can you plan informal pot-luck suppers with them? Maybe the moms are feeling the way you do.

Are your neighbors open to working together to organize a block party? We've had one for the last 4 years, and it's been a nice way for everyone to come together and at least learn names, whose kids are whose, who lives in which house, if there are any elders who may need a hand or someone just to check on them. We invited our mailman this year; he knew more of us than we all did! $5 per adult, $3 for the kids - paper products, hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments, and kids' activities and prizes are included in that, and each family brings another dish, beverages, folding tables, chairs, grills for cooking, whatever. The kids get to do face painting, blow bubbles (a kiddie pool filled with bubble soap), sing with a karaoke machine, ride around the neighborhood in a bicycle parade (decorated for July 4th), whack a pinata, participate in a scavenger hunt, and a neighbor who knows someone in the fire department gets a fire truck to come for a visit so the kids can climb in, try on the firemen's gear, take pictures).

Are there any book clubs going on in your area? How can they not welcome someone who reads??? Your library may have a bulletin board of such groups.

Some of our local churches run coffeehouses on Friday and/or Saturday nights. Are there any in your area that you and your DH could drop by? Most provide refreshments and entertainment for a modest donation.

I don't know if you already help your DH out in his business, but does he have a shop or an office where he has customers drop by where you can work for a few hours, just to get out and see new faces?

Any community organizations you'd be interested in volunteering for? Story hour for kids at the library? Political or social causes you feel strongly about?

Don't give up trying to make new friends. It really does get harder as we get older, but there are some great people out there just like you just looking to connect in person rather than over the Internet.

Have a happy weekend!

Donna


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Did someone say spin . All I can say is ditto to what everyone else has said. Lots of great ideas.

Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
I have days where I'm highly motivated and days where nothing can get me moving.Usually the more I do it the more it becomes habit.And I always feel better, mentally and physically, when I'm exercising.The most important thing is to find something you really enjoy.

I have a one and only.I heard all the horror stories when he was little about having one child.People thought it was awful!!But for us it has been a very positive thing.Having one enabled me to be home with him which I really wanted.I truly don't think my son is more spoiled, selfish or lonely because he was an only child.He loves it.

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Isnt it funny...all the friends and family in the world can't motivate me. I'm at this board for less than 24hrs. I feel like I can do anything (I'm even starting Spin tonight).

I think it takes a forum where people have at least this one thing in common, and can speak from experience and share their thoughts on it.

And yes, I love having an 'only' as well. Despite the horror stories I heard and the pressure of family & friends, we knew this was right for us. No regrets, no looking back......

Thanks for the feedback,

Karen~

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