STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

Please help!

atlgirl · Gucci

Music!

DH bought me an iPod in April and I am loving my exercise. It SO helps to have music to distract me from my burning lungs, dying legs, and uber-sweatiness (I'm in Georgia and even if I go out super-early it's still like a friggin' sauna here).

Bring music along and lose yourself in that. :)

Plus I took some pics of myself in bra and panties, and was disgusted. (sorry if that's TMI; I started WW and am wanting to track progress visually). So that in itself was a great motivator. I miss my muscle tone!

blubirde · Chanel

I've been riding my bike lately because it's too hot to go to the track (and everyone's at the gym because of it). It's pretty fun because, well, it's a bike and I can feel it in my legs and ass afterwards (always a good motivator for me). I go after work and plug myself into NPR on my old walkman and go for it. For me, I try to do some tiny chore in the neighborhood (like dropping off a rent check or buying a bottle of water) to have a distinct destination in mind. That way I can't not do it, ya know?

Another motivator for me is going to the gym/doing activities with friends. I'm afraid of looking like a wuss so I always push myself harder and show up for those events.

I also like to go to the gym and watch baseball games while I run on the treadmill. It makes the time fly. I look forward to days when a game coincides with my gym time. If you like music, I'm sure you could download a new cd and listen to that while you workout.

twinkle · Coach

What works for me when I need to get motivated is to partner w/a friend. It's a much bigger deal to flake on a friend than just yourself!

Also, it helps to schedule times to work out- don't just wait for a good opportunity to arise. Keep them on your calendar and don't let yourself reschedule!

CheryleB · Kenneth Cole

I think of older women and the difference between the lifestyle of the fit ones and the inactive ones. My mom is 70 years old and could hike up a mountain. She is also 5'8" and weighs 125 pounds. She could easily pass for 10 years younger than she is but the big difference is that she can do anything she wants to do. I've seen inactive people in their early fifties that can barely walk they are so out of shape. I know which I want to be.