You don't have to love it. You just have to do it.

Last night I did not want to run.  What's new?  I mean, I really, really did not want to run on this particular day of the month (if you know what I mean).  I had to take my son to the YMCA for his Judo class.  My husband said, "Well, just take a magazine and read during his class and you can ride the bike when you get home."  I said, "We'll see."  Because I really did not want to run.

We arrived at the YMCA.  He ran off to his class.  I checked in my purse at the front.  I walked upstairs directly to the weight machine that begins my work-out.  And I started, still thinking I do not want to run.  I finished the weight machines, looked at the clock and thought okay, I'll just check out the track. 

And then I ran.  I know.  I really did not want to run.  But I was there.  The track was there.  I had time.

I guess I've created a situation where I just do what I'm supposed to do because why not?   I did only run half a mile, though, and then rode a recumbent bike for another 35 minutes (on intervals).  Despite my initial misgivings and my inertia, I worked out for an hour, thus completing my seventy-first day of consecutive exercise.

What are you doing for exercise?  How do you fit exercise into your life?

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Need help with motivation or goals?  Check out this list of articles from the Reader's Digest website. 

Comments

[alice]

I do what you do, really. I put my two-yr-old son to bed and immediately go downstairs, put a workout DVD on and just do it. Sometimes I don't want to and I tell myself "minute by minute" and suddenly I've done 50 mins or so, and it's over. And on those days I feel even better for doing it, knowing I could've just sat and knitted on the sofa.

I really enjoy reading your blog - thanks!

[Sara B.]

Isn't that so true? No one ever finishes a work out and says - boy I am really sorry I did that! I even made myself excercise on a Friday evening, which is a huge accomplishment for me. 71 days? You ARE Amazing.

[Missie]

Rock on, sister!

Exercise is one of those things that I.DO.NOT.WANT.TO.DO.EVER. but make myself do because really? My butt and thighs aren't going to trim themselves.

Congrats on the 71 days! I just completed Day 22 of the streak and noticed my abs are actually getting a teenytinymicroscopic bit of definition. My thighs are getting smaller (sloooooooowly) and I am proud of myself, which sometimes I think is my only incentive to keep going. The proud, not the thighs.

Bought a smaller size of jeans and shirt yesterday, so it is paying off.

I just wish I could fall through that portal in space where every minute of exercise is actually like 30 minutes of exercise and you get in shape that much faster and all Pizza Hut Pan Pizza is diet food and chocolate chip cookie dough is good for you and...what? Rambling again? Oh, sorry.

[Valerie]

As you know, Mel, you've been inspiring to me - even your talk of an exercise streak has inspired me to find a new plan to incorporate some sort of fitness far more frequently than once a month. I determined that even working 3 twelve hour nights per week (soon to change to days - yay!) was no excuse. I could set myself the goal of walking at least do ONE mile (17-20 minutes) on my very handy treadmill every day. That felt do-able. And it's worked. Even on days I'm heading in to do a 12 hour night, I've walked a couple of hours before I leave.

So, since September 5th, I have only missed 3 days. I find that for me, listening to Christian music - especially worship music - adds to the experience. It becomes a time of blessing in body and in spirit. And although there's a TV, I find that I tend to look at the timer/miles more often with the TV rather than with music. The faster songs inspire a good steady pace.

To increase heart rate, I can incline the treadmill and/or use hand weights, lifting them up and down. I shoot for at least 3.5 mph.
Once I'm there in action, I find that most times I double my minimum goal of a mile.

So that (in addition to my online food log) has resulted in an 11 lb loss so far since Sept. 5th. Jeans are no longer tight. It feels so wonderful.

Thank you again for your blog/s.

[Heather]

Wow I really admire your dedication! The reason I have failed on so many diet and exercise plans is simply because I don't have that kind of dedication. I am so inspired just by reading what you have to say! Thank you so much and I'm glad to say I'm a part of your team.

[natalie]

Mel,

Thanks for your input--especially about exercise being cumulative. I did try to increase my activity today, although not as much as I could have. As soon as I'm through with my next commitment, I am dedicated to an exercise streak again. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels...

Natalie

[MissKris]

I mentioned recently that I couldn't wait to get off my meds so I'd start losing my bloat caused by them. Well, I've been doing a lot of re-thinking about a LOT of things concerning my health and my weight...this blog has made me do a lot of it, let me tell you. And this morning when I got up at 4 am I did NOT want to go down to the basement and ride for an hour. But I did. And it felt GOOOOOOOD! I dunno about you, Mel, but quite often the days I feel least inspired to hop on that bike are the days I usually have the best rides ever. I sure wish I could still run...I used to run track in school and even set a record in junior high! But since having my son by C-section years ago, if I run I spot. I don't know why. So I stick to the bike and walking. I am SO proud of you sticking to your guns, tho, even tho you didn't feel like running. Some days it feels impossible to do but we come out the winner when we stick to it.

[Katy]

Exercise? I just got back from a stroll around my apt. complex with my husband and baby. I'd wanted to do it all day and finally at 8:00 pm we did. This was after eating half a pack of cookies from the dollar store. Yikes!

[Tess]

Oh the exercise! Thought I was going to have an ok week because I did 15 mins on the bike and 45 mins on the treadmill at the gym on Monday night and then walked around the oval while my ds(almost6) was doing Little Athletics training yesterday afternoon. My feet got a bit sore but I didn't worry too much until I got home and got the socks and shoes off to find a major blister which burst and has kept me very slowed down today!
Seema better tonight though so I'll be back at Pump on Saturday and then planning a new week

[Cheri]

Wow Mel! Congratulations on your 71st day of streaking! You must be so proud of yourself(and you should)! I'm still not streaking yet, but I'm walking on the treadmill at least 3 times a week now, and I'm up and moving, dancing and playing more with my kids again. I feel so much better already, lots more energy. It's all thanks to you for inspiring me. Also I should say thanks to Beliefnet spiritual weight loss too. I don't know if you've ever read it, but it's Norris Chumley(I think) inspiring people to just start moving more, and reminding us that we are worth it. Between your 2 sites, I have been motivated to make alot of changes during the last couple of months and it is paying off!I would recommend that beliefnet site to anyone that knows they need to and want to lose weight but their just not ready to commit yet. It helps to know you can start with baby steps.

[wendy]

I am so impressed by your running and daily exercise. I seem to be on an un-exercise streak. But that is changing today. You are great!

[amy]

I admire your determination, but as far as cardio exercise goes, I think you should do what you love, because you'll want to do it more. While it's good to do a variety of things, you don't have to run if you hate it -- why not the eliptical or stairmaster to vary your workout? I'm down to 158.

[Rachel]

Hi Mel,
have you tried looking for something that you actually enjoy? Running is all very well and good, yes, but it's SO much easier to stick to things that we actually like. There are some excellent dance videos out there and other activities that keep you active and healthy. I think the key is to find something you can do for the rest of your life (much like your eating plan) :-)

[coraspartan]

Mel, way to go on the 71 days of streaking! That is amazing! Do you realize that's almost 2 1/2 months of exercising every day? I am so impressed by your dedication!

I am holding my own right now--working out at the gym 2 or 3 days a week, and I'm feeling pretty good. My goal is to get to the gym 4 days a week, but on busy weeks that's virtually impossible. I wish I had a treadmill at home so I could at least walk on the treadmill on days I don't go to the gym, but treadmills aren't exactly cheap!

A lot of days when I don't want to exercise I make myself go to the gym anyway and I am always happy I went. I find it's easier for me to exercise when I do things I love--the elliptical machine, weights, and yoga. If I have to run on the treadmill (which I HATE to do), then I dread working out. So I only do that once in awhile to shake up my routine.