Motivation Tips to Achieve Your Best Beach Body for Next Summer - Starting NOW!! You know you want to... ;)

We all KNOW most of the benefits of exercise (and I will have more recent research about aerobic/cardio exercise and brain function coming up soon!). BUT if you are anything like me, it is SO HARD sometimes to not press snooze or to go home and relax when I should be heading to the gym. I'm going to share some of the things that motivate me, as well as some motivational tips I have heard in my life that haven't worked for me. Not everything works for everyone, but maybe it will spark your desire to get off the couch and go.

ALSO, I would absolutely love any comments from people that have found ways to get motivated. Unlimited ideas are welcome. Please share so others can benefit!

Tips for Motivation

• Don't think, just do it. This sounds so simple and Nike-like, and it is. The longer I debate going to work out, and the more I think about other things I could be doing, the less likely I am to go. However, if I just stop my mind, get in the car and go, I am NEVER disappointed that I went and always love the post-workout feeling. Often times it is our BRAIN, not the time constraint (how many times do find the time to do something non-important instead of working out?) that hold us back. Clear your mind and do it.
• Put on your workout gear. If you put on your gym clothes, there is a much greater likelihood that you will go. Period.
• Go outside and take a brisk 3 minute walk. If you get fresh air and start to move, you will be much more likely to go exercise. To make this more powerful, think about the awesome post-workout feeling while you are doing this and how great you will feel after you get done at the gym.
• Make working out part of your 'hygiene' routine. Getting exercise is as vital as brushing your teeth and taking showers, although we don't often think about it that way. Try to figure out a way to make exercise part of your identity and routine - if you do, it will be hard NOT to do it. Can you imagine NOT brushing your teeth or showering every day?? Ewww...and if you happen to be thinking to yourself, "Those things only take 15-20 minutes combined, MAX." - exercising in any way for 15-20 minutes a day is EXERCISE and will make you that much better for it. If you start with that every day, just taking a walk on your lunch break, you will have accumulated 100 minutes of exercise every work week that you weren't getting before!
• Imagine the future you. It's no secret that many people, especially young adults, feel invincible when it comes to disease and disability in the future. However, it happens. Exercise wards off diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, stroke, cancer, depression/anxiety, dementia, etc. etc. etc. Sedentary lifestyles invite all of these health problems and diseases. Think about your future kids and grandkids. Do you want to be the decrepid, sickly grandparent (if you even make it that far) or do you want to be the active, fun grandparent that takes your precious grandchildren to the zoo? YOU choose.
• Birthdays, Weddings, Swimsuit Season. Doesn't hurt to mention that when you have a specific deadline, you are more likely to reach your goal. That being said, you can't just say, "I'm going to lose weight by this summer so I look good at our beach vacation.". You MUST make small, incremental goals such as a certain weight loss every two weeks, or your clothes fit better at the end of every week, etc. This way, you aren't losing track of your end goal. Summer could be a few months away and it is VERY easy to lose the weight when you have this much time, IF you keep sight of your goals. You WILL end up in Mexico on your vacation with a rockin' body, blasting "I'm Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO :)
• Get a workout buddy. This works wonders for many people! It keeps you accountable for your exercise action (not as easy to back out at the last minute). Some people like to socialize while they are working out and some like to be one with their iPod. Either way, the buddy system truly works. Try it.
• Set a timer for 15 minutes. This one is motivation for when you have made it to the gym. This doesn't work for all exercise, such as Crossfit WODs or sprints. However, if you are running, using an elliptical, or any machines, this works well for a lot of people. Set the timer to 15 minutes. When it goes off, set it to 15 again. It is much easier on the eyes to watch the highest countdown in a workout be from 15 minutes rather than 45 or 60.

Other ideas??!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!