As I mentioned in my post, My workout routine, summer break and 24 Hour Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness asked me to evaluate their facility for a month and report back my experience to my readers. I’ve signed up for my first session with a personal trainer and will go to my appointment later today.
Since I have an errand to run and a Weight Watchers meeting to attend, I realize I need to pack a workout bag. (I usually work out at home or close to home, so I never take anything with me except a water bottle and my iPod.) That got me thinking about what motivates me to exercise and make it part of my normal routine.
Time management – schedule time to exercise
Some of the most helpful advice I’ve received about exercise was at a Weight Watchers meeting - you should schedule time to exercise and write down your exercise time (a walk, a class, and so on) into your planner. That way you can’t use not having time as an excuse not to exercise. By putting exercise on your calendar, you’ve made time.
But calendars and planners aren’t the only time devices I use in exercising. There’s my trusty Sony Dream Machine alarm clock that goes off every morning at 5:00 – and has a wonderful snooze bar. Every time you press it, it gives you 10 minutes of snooze time. So if you press it three times in a row, you can snooze for 30 minutes. Love that I can plan my snoozing, too.
Of course there is the timer on the exercise bike, and the clock on my iPod lets me know if I have time for breakfast or not before I wake up the kids and get my husband’s coffee going.
Time management is also about convenience and trying to fit in exercise into your busy life. Is the exercise class you’re interested in scheduled on your day off from work? If the kids aren’t at school, is child care offered at the same time? Maybe you can take a class during your lunch break or before or after work? Don’t forget about factoring in drive time back and forth to the gym and time to change and shower, too.
Accessories can motivate you
I love accessories of all sorts – everything from kitchen utensils to office supplies – and exercise accessories are no exception. I have a very attractive metal water sports bottle that I carry around. However, it has a screw off top that I inevitably drop when I’m on the exercise bike. So, I’m looking forward to getting a Nalgene OTG (on the go) bottle to review as a replacement.
I also have my trusty iPod filled with everything from Bruce Springsteen to NPR’s Planet Money. It’s amazing how uplifting and motivating great music can be. It’s also makes time fly by. (What do you mean my 30 minutes is over? I didn’t get to listen to the entire album yet?)
However, if you’re multitasking and trying to get a little work done while you exercise, look into downloading audio books or podcasts. If you have great eyesight, you can even watch a movie on your video iPod. (Don’t forget your MP3 exercise armband
Speaking of downloading, a Kindle
There’s exercise clothing to motive you, too, like sweat-wicking undergarments, pants and shirts, yoga pants and tops so you can do a downward dog without showing everyone your sports bra, and so on. If you swim, make sure to get a bathing suit that you don’t have to constantly adjust – and don’t forget the swim goggles and cap, too.
Finally, I do my best thinking when I exercise, so I like to bring a small pad of paper and a pen, too.
It’s all about your attitude
I’m really excited to check out 24 Hour Fitness and meet with the personal trainer. Changing my routine helps improves my attitude and makes me look forward to exercising. After all, having a good attitude about doing anything – whether its exercise or staying on your healthy eating plan - is the best motivation of all.
