How To Make Yourself Want To (Yes, Want To) Workout
Earlier this fall, I battled a cold that morphed into bronchitis. Walking up and down our basement stairs winded me, so I stopped working out. One week turned into two, turned into three. Once I started to feel better, I knew it was time to head back to Orange Theory, but inertia had set in. Driving Heath to school in my pajamas, then coming home to work at my desk in sweats and fuzzy socks had become my new norm. So, in an effort to break out of this sedentary rut, I employed these tricks:
I bought myself crazy new workout pants They call it retail therapy for a reason, and having a fun new fashion or beauty toy is often, for me, the best way to jumpstart my mojo. Thus, after I ran into my friend Marjo, who was wearing these adorable Teeki Jungle Eye Hot Pants, I bought a pair too. I also just ordered this pair of Zero Gravity leggings from Sweaty Betty. Going for a run just got way more fun.
I road-tested new deodorant scents I’ve written before about how much I adore fragrance. And if you’ve read my bio, you also know Donna Kara’s Cashmere Mist deodorant is an all-time favorite. Thus, when Secret’s public relations team sent me the new four-scent Invisible Spray collection to try, I rotated the scents, trying a different one before each sweat session. Why? Well, this gave me another reason to get moving—it was for work research, after all. My favorite: Cool Waterlily, a fresh, botanical blend that brought back memories of the florally shampoos (Salon Selectives, Herbal Essences) that reigned in '90s college dorm showers.
Niomi Smart's Kale Caesar. Yum.
I signed up for a new class My usual weekly routine is a couple of classes at Orange Theory Fitness, maybe a blend Vinyasa at Tiny Buddha yoga studio, and the occasional outdoor run. But I was feeling apathetic about doing any of those things, so I signed up for something new: Brawl at The Barre Code in downtown Ann Arbor. Billed as cardio kickboxing (with a sprinkling of strength training), the class was like a throwback to bouncy aerobics classes, albeit with upper cuts and crescent kicks. It was fun, and the fifty minutes flew. Taking the class within walking distance of the University of Michigan campus also meant I was at least two decades older than anyone else in the room, including the instructor. This turned out to be highly motivating as I refused to be out-punched or out-kicked by a 20-year-old.
I sought inspiration Heeding the words stamped on this tin of ponytail holders from Cricket; making a new running playlist populated with corny country songs; picking up a new (vegan) cookbook by You Tube star Niomi Smart (the Kale Caesar Salad is delicious); and reading the November issue of Shape magazine (the story on page 33 is by yours truly) were all small, sneaky ways to get me to visualize a healthier, more active life—and helped motivate me to (re)start living one.
How do you get yourself to start working out (again)? Tell (and motivate) us all in the Comments, below!
