How can I prioritize exercise?

[Anonymous]

I know exercise is good for me. I feel so much better when I exercise. I'll get into a rhythm for a few weeks, and life will throw a curve ball and I'll fall off for several weeks. I've been going through this cycle for two years. How do I treat exercise like it's not an option? I know the whole, just do it. But unfortunately that's not worked for me. I also can't join a gym so I don't have that accountability. I'm wondering if I can use some other sort of tangible incentive (looking good and feeling great are incentives, but that still isn't working for me to exercise consistently).

[Anonymous]

What exercise do you like?

what about committing to something like the 21 day fix?

Maybe join a running group and committing to run with them a few days a week.

[Anonymous]

Do it first thing in the morning. I started getting up at 5 and working out from 6 to 7. When I worked out later in the day, there was always "something" that stopped me from going, even if it was just being pooped at the end of the day. It is tough at first but eventually it becomes a habit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it first thing in the morning. I started getting up at 5 and working out from 6 to 7. When I worked out later in the day, there was always "something" that stopped me from going, even if it was just being pooped at the end of the day. It is tough at first but eventually it becomes a habit.

+1 Get it out of the way as you are waking up. And don’t question it. Get your workout clothes and shoes ready the night before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it first thing in the morning. I started getting up at 5 and working out from 6 to 7. When I worked out later in the day, there was always "something" that stopped me from going, even if it was just being pooped at the end of the day. It is tough at first but eventually it becomes a habit.

+1 Get it out of the way as you are waking up. And don’t question it. Get your workout clothes and shoes ready the night before.

I do this too. If I havent done it by 8am (9 on weekends) I won't unless I've booked a class.

[Anonymous]

Is there any way to make it part of your commute? I usually fit in exercise by jogging or biking to or from work so it's using time I would otherwise be on metro instead of doing something fun.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but there is no magic and it’s not easy you just have to push through

[Anonymous]

Better to bust your ass at the gym in the morning and be too tired to work all day than to bust your ass working all day and be too tired to go to the gym. =)

[Anonymous]

Get a workout buddy or accountability group - so they'll be there waiting for you after the curve ball - illness, travel, deadlines... and you do the same for them.

[Anonymous]

OP, Post here every time you exercise.

Make yourself read the flaming you get when you don't post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better to bust your ass at the gym in the morning and be too tired to work all day than to bust your ass working all day and be too tired to go to the gym. =)

I'm a teacher and tried doing this last year. I got up at 5:15 and worked out but I was exhausted during the school day which wasn't good. I need a lot of energy to keep up with the kids and I just didn't have it on days I worked out. I'm not one of those people who get energized by an early morning workout although I wish I was. The issue is that I'm also too tired to work out at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to bust your ass at the gym in the morning and be too tired to work all day than to bust your ass working all day and be too tired to go to the gym. =)

I'm a teacher and tried doing this last year. I got up at 5:15 and worked out but I was exhausted during the school day which wasn't good. I need a lot of energy to keep up with the kids and I just didn't have it on days I worked out. I'm not one of those people who get energized by an early morning workout although I wish I was. The issue is that I'm also too tired to work out at the end of the day.

I think it really depends on what time you are going to bed too. If I go to bed to late and try to work out at 5am every day I am dead by Wednesday.

[Anonymous]

For me, the trick has been to make it non-optional. I can't do an every-other-day sort of schedule. It has to be all or nothing during the week. I also do it first thing in the morning and it really sets the day off to a great start. Winter kills me though when its dark outside then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it first thing in the morning. I started getting up at 5 and working out from 6 to 7. When I worked out later in the day, there was always "something" that stopped me from going, even if it was just being pooped at the end of the day. It is tough at first but eventually it becomes a habit.

Me too. The only thing that stands in your way of exercise at 6 am is sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to bust your ass at the gym in the morning and be too tired to work all day than to bust your ass working all day and be too tired to go to the gym. =)

I'm a teacher and tried doing this last year. I got up at 5:15 and worked out but I was exhausted during the school day which wasn't good. I need a lot of energy to keep up with the kids and I just didn't have it on days I worked out. I'm not one of those people who get energized by an early morning workout although I wish I was. The issue is that I'm also too tired to work out at the end of the day.

If this is your attitude, all you will do is keep making excuses.