August Tips by Nic 2009: How To Stay Motivated When You Just Don’t Feel ‘It’

First off, everyone has those days when you just don’t feel like working out. Some people have more of those days than others. Still others only have those days.  So what do you do?  How do you keep on going?

Everyone has to answer this question for themselves. Even I have days where I just don’t “feel” like working out. I not only don’t want to go to the gym, I don’t want to ride my bicycle or go for a hike. Nada. There’s nothing ‘wrong’. I just don’t ‘feel’ like it. You know what I’m talking about.  Here are some suggestions to help you when you’re feeling like this:

1. Do it anyway. Not working out is NOT an option. Ninety-nine percent of the time this works for me.
2. Call a friend. Social support group for working out. Call someone you may know who is having this same problem & meet at the gym, or on a trail. Whatever.
3. Do something different. If you’ve been going to the gym a lot, take a hike. Ride your bicycle. Something different.
4. Do your favorite workout. Even if you did it the day before. Lighter. Easier.
5. Make it an ‘easy’ day. Stretch.
6. Take a class. Again something different.
7. Or you just may need to take the day off.

Here’s a little story for you: I started working with this woman who had been walking on the treadmill faithfully. Initially there was a lot of progress. Weight loss. Clothes fitting better. Feeling better. Then she stopped losing weight & in fact started gaining a couple of pounds. She walked on the treadmill 5 to 6 days a week for at least an hour. She was frustrated, but she kept going . That’s when I got her. I asked her if she ever used the elliptical or a different cardio machine, or lift weights. The answer was ‘no’, because she was so successful on the treadmill. I had 1 word for her “Change”. That’s what we did. So if you’re feeling a little stagnant in your workout – do something different.