Hi ladies! How do you get motivated to work out? I work full-time, and after work I am so tired and have no motivation to want to work out at all. I really think I should, but I am just so tired I feel like it would not be good work out.

Any suggestions? I really need to get into a better routine but I'm just not sure how.

ETA: Mornings do not work for me, I wake up at 5am to get ready for work!

Meg, I wish I could help you out. I feel the same way as you do. Mornings dont work for me either. I know it takes alot of willpower and dedication to workout everyday, especially when you are tired. This evening I walked around the neighborhood, and that took everything I had to force myself to do it. I hope others have some suggestions, because I would be willing to bet this is a common problem. I look forward to reading any suggestions as well.

I would recommend starting out with something relaxing - a walk in a nice area in the evening after work, a pilates or tai chi DVD... Then if you have free weekends try to do some more intense cardio or weights then when you have more time.

Meg, I would highly recommend working out with a friend if possible. It is easier to stick with any routine you choose for yourself if you have to be accountable to someone else. Good luck!!

Thanks everyone for your very sweet advice!

I think just posting on this board was what I needed to serve as motivation. I ended up creating a little "gym" in my basement today. I had to move a few things to create room, plug in a small TV, DVD player, and boombox and I was good to go. I did a Tae Bo DVD once everything was all set up!

I hadn't set this up before because our basement used to be more cluttered and we didn't have a spare TV that could have a DVD player attached to it. But now that I'm home from college, I just use mine!

I used to try and work out in my room, but it's not as spacious as I'd like especially for intense Tae Bo. Also, the basement serves as some privacy from everyone else when I just want "me" time to focus and work out (and de-stress by doing so!).

Now let's just hope I can keep up with it!

YAY Meg! Good luck with your program, you can do it! I was motivated to take my dog for a walk today. Normally I just open the back door! Thanks for the inspiration.

Yay Meg, good for you!!!
Keep up the good work and good luck.
After all this workout talk, I went for a long walk tonight.

This is an interesting topic.

I tend to do my exercising at night (usually around 9 PM-10 PM, but this can be flexible on some nights). My motivation to exercise was post-college weight gain. I didn't want to have to go up a size.

So I've been exercising every night for about 1 1/2 months now & I've seen some results. A pair of jeans that was too tight for me to even button up now fits on me & is a little bit loose on me in some areas. That's what continues to keep me motivated.

Meg, good luck w/ your exercise program.

Congrats on the results, Megan!

May I ask what exercises you do every night? For how long at a time? Did you change your diet at all? Just curious!

As far as exercising, I do 100 counts of each exercise & do 2 repetitions of an exercise cycle.

Right now, my exercise routine is as follows:
*Part 1 (done while laying down)*
Lift weights w/ left arm
Lift weights w/ right arm
Regular crunches
Leg lifts on left leg
Leg lifts on right leg
Lift weights w/ both arms
Side crunches (Left side on 1st cycle, right side on 2nd cycle)

*Part 2 (done while standing up)*
Rotate left shoulder (Forward on 1st cycle, backward on 2nd cycle)
Rotate right shoulder (Forward on 1st cycle, backward on 2nd cycle)
Hip sway
Leg lifts (alternate between legs in the 100 counts)
Jogging in place

*Part 3 (done while sitting/laying down)*
Toe touch while in a split position (alternate between legs in the 100 counts)
Leg curls on left leg (have to lay on stomach for this)
Leg curls on right leg

As far as diet, the major things that were hurting me were fast food & dessert, so I've pretty much cut those out of my diet. If I go to a restaurant, I try to eat less or eat something that's healthier. And I don't eat red meat, but that's not a new change since I've been doing that since high school. I haven't changed what I drink & I'm allowed a cheat day per month to make the transition a little bit easier on me.

I hope that all makes sense.

So I've been doing much better with everything, I really think I just needed a boost.

Thanks for your support everyone!

Meg, good for you and keep up the good work.

Its so easy to fall out of the working out routine, and really hard to get back into it. It really takes alot of will power to keep at it, especially after working all day and everything else going on in everyones life.

good job ladies on the recent weight loss, i have lost some weight over the past couple of months, i have pants that i havent even been able to get past my legs, that are now loose on me, and i have been walking whenever i can, be it around my workplace, or down the street, or
by the trail that follows the river,ive also been walking with my cousin which is good, i like walking with someone else besides myself
i have cheated a little this weekend, but im back to my routine this week, ive cut out eating late at night, i drink more water, and
my mood and concentration are a little better than before.walking around the mall however is always dangerous, lol, it leads to stores, lol.

Meg & ILoveB&B, congrats on keeping up w/ the exercise plans.

I've added walking to my exercise routine about a month ago. I go out & walk for about 30 min. in the late afternoon. My evening routine has been changed a little. I've replaced some of the easier exercises w/ more difficult ones & have been using Pilates bands. In addition to that, I've started drinking water more.

The results have paid off. I found out today that I lost a dress size. This is a big deal for me b/c during the past 7 yrs., I've wanted to lose a size & have come close, but never have been actually able to. It came as a surprise to me. I was worried I wouldn't be able to meet my goal since I did some cheating on my diet here & there. I'm happy to have lost a size, but there's still more I'd like to lose.

yay!!! thats awesome!good for you Megan!

Congtatulations to all of you who had experienced some success with small lifestyle changes.

Just wanted to wish you continued 'good luck'.

If anyone has 'fallen off the wagon', all is not lost. Just take the first step in re-establishing the exercise habit. It will pay off.