Motivation

After a little talk about excuses on Wednesday, I thought it might be appropriate to talk about the other side of things…motivation.

I’m a pretty dedicated exerciser. I get in 6 days a week and have for the past several years. So what motivates me to get out there and sweat on a regular basis? Because it isn’t always easy. Here are some of the things that motivate me to get ‘er done.

1. positive thinking: I am a firm believer in self-efficacy and the self-fulfilling prophecy. If you start a workout thinking it won’t be a good one, or that you’re going to run slow or you’re going to be too sore to do much, then 90% of the time you will fulfill that. So instead, I decide beforehand just how great my workout will be. It gets me excited to workout and results in a overall better workout session.

2. gear: It is true. If I didn’t have good running gear, I would be far less likely to get out there and run and push myself. Thanks to my good running shoes, vibrams, and cold-climate running gear (like my Lucy leggings! which I love), I am prepared for a good workout.

3. Accountability: It really did help me to work harder when I logged my mileage in hoping to get 1,000 miles last year. So this year I track miles and weights I use on my own so I can see progress and try to beat myself.

4. Talking Watch: Okay, this sounds weird. But it is true. Since I got the new Nike+ SportWatch GPS, I have had more motivation to get outside and run. Not only because I love running with it and uploading my stats on the computer…but also because it ASKS me to run with it. So maybe you don’t have a talking watch, but you could get a friend to ask you to run with them!

5. Endorphins: I think it is safe to say once I start a workout, I never regret it. The starting is often the hard part. When that is the case, I imagine myself at the end and the good feeling I get that I accomplished something, I worked hard, and my health is better for it. That makes it alllll worth it.

Here are a few other motivation tips from the greatist.com:

• have a mantra (like the little engine that could!)
• visualize
• train with a personal trainer (eh?)
• break down your workout (tell yourself to run for 10 minutes, then another 10, then just 5 more, etc.)
• find a workout friend
• download some new workout tunes
• count out loud when performing reps
• get in the zone

~What motivates you to work hard?

Lucy’s “Cut For Me Legging”

Remember the Lucy line of workout clothes that had a killer sale at the beginning of the month? Well, they kindly sent me a pair of their “Cut For Me Leggings” that are perfect for running, especially during the cold months in Utah.

Not only are they cute, comfortable, and great for any active person…you can cut them to your desired length! They feature flat-locked seams and trim lines for you to cut the legging to your specific leg length—plus the slimming, moisture-wicking strength of lucy powermax™ fabric.

I have trouble finding pants that I like to run in, so I usually brave the cold in shorts or just hit the treadmill. Not any more! I am excited to get a lot of miles out of these babies. I love the fabric and the thick waste band.

Be sure to check out the “how to” on how these pants work so you can cut them and still get no fray. Pretty great!

~Have you tried any of Lucy’s products?