TEN THINGS TO HELP KICK YOURSELF IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE GOING TO THE GYM




1. Lay your clothes out right beside your bed or in the bathroom the night before a scheduled workout so when you do wake up you are quickly reminded of the reason why your alarm is shouting at you before the sun rises. If you workout at night, either lay your clothes out in your passenger seat or change into your gym clothes before you leave work so you cannot forget to drive to the gym instead of happy hour. (You may look funny dressed in Nike at the bar.)

2. Put a friendly reminder on your phone that will go off obnoxiously 5, 10, and 15 minutes after your alarm wakes you up or after you get off of work.

3. Attach a note to your bathroom mirror, refrigerator, and steering wheel that reminds you that getting a workout in is part of your daily "feel good" things you want and need to do.

4. Have your mother call you in the morning or right after work to remind you that you should be at the gym. (I'm sure this will help.)

5. Plan your workouts with a buddy. This will hold you accountable and make you less likely to cancel on a friend.

6. Make your social gatherings around fitness. Go for a hike with friends. Take a fitness class with your girlfriends. Ride bikes with your significant other. Hire a personal trainer and do group training. Combine your social life and your quest for a hot body! This is a great way to get your friends on board with your fitness game plan.

7. Reward yourself at the end of 1 month with something you wouldn't normally pay for if you complete all of your scheduled workouts for each week. (I'm thinking Spa treatment.)

8. When you are not feeling up to a workout, walk into your closet and play dress up. I'm sure those tight jeans will help get into the gym when you are making many excuses!

9. When you are feeling like skipping a workout:
* drink 1 16oz glass of water - this will probably decrease the fatigue
* take a moment to remember WHAT YOU ARE WORKING FOR!
* KNOW THAT UNLESS YOU ARE SICK AND INJURED YOU WILL FEEL BETTER AFTER YOU SWEAT AND GET SOME OXYGEN FLOWING.

10. REMEMBER TO KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND MOVE FORWARD. If you skip a workout without a valid reason, you are now one step behind reaching your goals. Strive to succeed every day.