On the 1st Day of Christmas

by Kris Pitcher

I can't wait until the 12th day, so on the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me, twelve ways to motivate your way to the New Year! Let's get things started off on the right foot with 12 new ways to motivate ourselves to renew our enthusiasm!

1. Make Your Mark - Mark a big green X on your calendar every time you make it to the gym or park. Seeing your motivation in green and white helps keep you going. This keeps your goal right in front of you!
2. Join up - Joining a club or team provides a support system and someone to share the experience with. Often just knowing someone will be asking you how it's going can be the difference between exercise success and failure.
3. Peer Pressure - You can't leave your neighbor out on the corner checking her watch. When you make a date with someone you've got the accountability you need to lace up and get moving.
4. Challenge Yourself - Sign up for a 5-K fun run in the spring. Having a goal to train for gives you the motivation to work toward it with every session.
5. Dance Dance Dance - Music is a great motivator. Load up your i pod and get moving. Music can motivate you to work harder and longer than you otherwise would.
6. No Counting - If you're watching the calorie burn with each passing minute, your cardio becomes a chore. Burning off calories isn't your only goal or benefit. Focus on the stress reduction, the increase in cardiovascular capacity and the new found self esteem.
7. Find Fun - Find activities that you love and have fun. The more enjoyable your exercise is the more likely you are to stick with it.
8. Do It Together - Enlist your family to exercise with you. Your spouse, your kids, your friend, or take the dog...it's more fun when you do it together.
9. Dress To Impress - You need the right shoes and clothes to fit your workout. Breathable, wicking fabrics in stylish cuts will have you feeling great in the body you have now.
10. Show Me The Money - Put a dollar in a jar every time you go to the gym. At the end of two months treat yourself to a massage. You'll get there more often.
11. Mood Swing - A bad mood can ruin your motivation. A great workout can also swing your mood into line. Put things into perspective, take a deep breath and put your workout first. Your mood will thank you.
12. Only You - Motivation success comes down to you. You can make successful habits become your lifestyle. It's all about your values, and your choices. You can do it!