How do you stay motivated & an 'only'...
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How do you stay motivated & an 'only'...
| 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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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
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~
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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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
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
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.
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
Phyllis
Live With Passion!
Phyllis
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
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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