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Post by Teresa on Sept 22, 2009 11:23:21 GMT -8
Some people don't need motivation, they just love working out. But many of us haven't reached that place yet. So I thought I'd ask: what motivates you to work out?
Or put another way, what is it that makes you get up and go exercise even when you don't really feel like doing it? - teresa
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Post by Teresa on Sept 22, 2009 11:52:31 GMT -8
I thought I'd share my answer to the question to get things started.
My dogs are my daily motivation. We go hiking each night on a mountainous trail near our home...and you have to bring the dogs into the park on leash. Once you are a good distance from the entrance (about the length two football fields), you are allowed to take them off leash and the dogs can run free to explore. My husband got in the habit of taking our two dogs for nightly hikes about 3 years ago. That walk has become the highlight of the dog's day. It was always optional whether or not I went with them because he had 2 hands...one for holding each dog leash. And most of the time I opted not to go.
But in January we added a 3rd dog to the family (who I raised from the time he was 1 week old, as I fostered a litter for German Shepherd Rescue). So now it takes both of us to take the dogs on their hike..it is not optional anymore. If I don' t go, then one of the dogs doesn't get to go either...and on the few times where I've been sick and unable to go, it was clear that the one who got left behind felt absolutely terrible about that.
So on the nights when I don't feel like doing our hike, I just look into the faces of my dogs and ... well you get the picture. I end up going so that one of them won't be forced to miss their beloved walk.
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Post by renkymac on Sept 22, 2009 17:29:00 GMT -8
I have never liked to exercise! I never could find anything that I liked to do well enough to do it all the time, plus when I tried anything new, I always did it so gung-ho that I'd be limping for a week, which was a pretty good excuse for not exercising! LOL!
About a year and a half ago, I noticed a gal who walked every morning about the time I was leaving for work. When it rains, she wears a little rain hat. When it's sunny, she wears a little baseball cap with her long pony tail hanging out the back. I watched her every morning for a couple of months when I realized that she was getting smaller and smaller! I was so inspired that I decided to start walking in the mornings.
I walked 1 mile 3x per week all through the summer and right up through the holidays last year. Then it got icy and foggy out, and it was really scary to be outside walking at 5:30 a.m. in the dark by myself. Out of sheer desperation, I put in a DVD that came with my diet program. Leslie Sansone, Walk at Home. Never heard of her.
Wow! What a great workout! Fun! Lots of energy! She has dozens of DVDs! I don't have to leave my house! Plus, I feel great all day, have lots more energy, and a better attitude. And she's a Christian!
Now I get up early enough to do my workout 4 days per week and then have a quiet time for about 20 minutes or so afterward. I am disciplining myself to actually sit down with my bible intentionally, which is something I never could really get a grasp on before. On the day I don't exercise before work, I use the whole time for my quiet time. It has changed my life in so many ways.
The motivation to keep doing it is this: When I don't do it, I feel sluggish and crappy. Plus if I don't make myself get up, I miss my time with the Lord and then I feel spiritually sluggish as well. The whole last year has been an exercise in self-discipline, and I feel really good about myself when I am successful.
I have been thinking about whether it would be too weird to stop that gal who still walks past my house every morning, and thank her for setting an example. I'd like for her to know that I noticed what she was doing and that it blessed me. What do you think?
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Post by Teresa on Sept 24, 2009 7:55:17 GMT -8
I have been thinking about whether it would be too weird to stop that gal who still walks past my house every morning, and thank her for setting an example. I'd like for her to know that I noticed what she was doing and that it blessed me. What do you think? First, I must say that was an inspiring story..thanks for sharing it. Second, she might be interested (and encouraged) to hear that she has been an inspiration for you. But I would not recommend stopping her so much as putting on your walking shoes and walking with her so she doesn't have to change her pace as you share with her. Third, have you considered the idea of maybe seeing if she'd like to walk together with you once or twice a week? She might like the company. But it is also possible that she likes the solitude or uses the walk time to pray or to think things through..so she may not be looking for occasional company...but if the idea appeals to you, you can explore it with her.
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Post by renkymac on Sept 24, 2009 11:08:04 GMT -8
Thanks Teresa!
I see her all over the neighborhood and we wave now, so probably will say something to her. As for walking with her, I exercise at 5:30 am and she walks much later, I see her as I'm leaving for work. But it was a great idea!
I used to have a walking partner but she changed work hours, which is why I was out in the dark by myself for those months. Now I like my video workouts, I can get a much tougher workout in a shorter amount of time than walking around my neighborhood. Plus, we'll be getting into the rainy foggy season here in Oregon soon, so I think I'll just stay indoors for the time being!
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Dennis
Full Member
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Posts: 163
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Post by Dennis on Sept 24, 2009 12:13:37 GMT -8
we'll be getting into the rainy foggy season here in Oregon soon, so I think I'll just stay indoors for the time being! Rainy foggy season? There's a rainy foggy season in the Pacific Northwest? Oh, wait...that's right, I grew up 90 miles north of Seattle, didn't I? Lemme think, now...oh, yeah, I remember! Obviously I've lived in New Mexico a long time.That is a seasonable excuse not to walk outdoors I cannot use.
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Post by melvin on Feb 5, 2013 7:35:23 GMT -8
I want to be a good athlete and this thing motivate me to do regular exercise. My friends also motivate me to build the muscles and shape up the body, so for this purpose I joined the gym and do the regular workouts.
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