So many times, you hear the stories of people getting all excited to start their workout routines, and just seem to falter off.  You get pumped and motivated, start by buying some new shoes, workout clothes, get that gym membership started and start going.  You try to make some decisions on the type of workouts your going to start doing.  Whether it is some weight routine, some treadmill or elliptical workout.  Then you decide on how many days a week you’ll go and what time of day.  Rock on, your ready to go.

It starts out great.  You go on the days you decided, putting in the hour or so of time that you dedicated and things are looking good.  You make a conscious decision to try and eat better, watching them calories and cut back on the ‘bad’ foods you were eating before.    All of a sudden, an obstacle of some kind gets in the way. Or maybe, you are forced to take a day or two off because of some crazy work schedule or travel plans.

So what happens next?  What happens to us mentally that allows something to get in the way of keeping up with your fitness/health/life goals?  Is it a lack of motivation? Is it a lack of finding the right routine that really keeps your interests peaked? Whatever it is, it happens. I did the yo-yo workout thing for ages.  Go for a month and then just stop one day.  No real reason other than the lack of desire to get in the car and drive.  Especially when it got cold out.  I couldn’t muster the energy to go to a gym and stick to the routine.

So what can get us back on the wagon and stay on it?  What are those factors that really get people to stick to something that they need to do.  Or what breaks them of their ‘bad’ habits that they have so often fallen back to when they stop doing the right thing.  Each person person is different. We are all wired somewhat differently, so it takes different motivators for each and everyone of us. 

Let’s list some things to get you back on the wagon if you’ve fallen or feel like you are beginning to waiver.

• Set Goals - If you set goals your more likely to succeed. Your more likely to want to reach them if you see them on paper.  It creates accountability!
• Variety – Variety is the spice of life they say right? If you create some variety in your workouts, you are less prone to want to stop. less chance that you will find a reason to not reach your goals.
• Track it  - write it down.  Use a website, such as WOWY.  Use a fitness log to journal your adventure. Treat this like you on an adventure of a lifetime. Because it is.  This isn’t some simple 1 day, 1 month thing.  It is a lifetime lifestyle change for the better.
• Support/Motivators – find a family member, a friend, or a support group of people that have the same dreams, goals, aspirations about their health.  There is nothing better than helping one another achieve results.
• Have Fun – to play the game, you have to have fun.  Why else do it.  it shouldn’t be a second job or work.  Enjoy it!

If you’ve fallen off the wagon once or twice, it happens.  You just need to find out what works best for you, to keep you motivated day to day to get it done. Working out shouldn’t be a chore, shouldn’t be something that you feel ‘forced’ to do. Working out, getting healthy is a natural extension of your everyday life and activities.  Make it a part of it. Get your family involved and you will all find out that you are living a happier life full of excitement and energy.  It’s never too late to start.  Never let anyone say to the contrary that you can’t get yourself back into shape, that you can’t be happy!  Everyone has that right and capability.  Just have to find it. 

Contact me, and I would love to help discuss what you want to do, what your goals are.  I’ve used P90x and Insanity so far as the guiding forces to my fitness and healthy lifestyle change, in 8 months I have transformed myself both physically and mentally.  I can guarantee you that they work.  I can 100% say with certainty that you will see results if stick with them.  There is no reason that you can’t find success either.  Join me in the revolution that we need to make our lives more enriched.  It’s a two way street. You give it the due attention, and it will give you back the same if not more in results.

So something that I got hooked on from doing P90x, was keeping a fitness log. keeping track of what I am doing day to day fitness wise, including what I eat, how long worked out, etc.  Before that, i wouldn’t even of considered doing something like that. Didn’t seem like it had any purpose or would really give me any benefits.  I was wrong about that one!

By keeping a fitness log you are keeping yourself accountable to what you are doing. you are also creating a means by which you can go back, see how well you were doing over a period of time. Are you gaining strength in one area vs.. another and might need to focus on that particular area.  Whatever the case may be, a fitness log will give you context to what you are doing. Check out the rest of the story. Worth the read More...

SO, yes, in fact It is DONE.  Round 2 completed. My P90x Round 2 Hybrid consisted with a  little of P90x, P90x Plus and the Tony Horton One-on-One workouts.  I loved every minute of it.  And I would recommend any of the workout programs to anyone that is interested in getting themselves into shape and on the track to a better lifestyle.  I really do enjoy discussing fitness and how it has changed me and can change you.  I'm learning something new everyday, and we can certainly learn together..  Contact me for details about any of this.  I think I can help.

• Took a Rest day 

• Tony Horton - One on One - Medicine Ball Cardio - 29 minutes, 400 calories
• Biking, 30 minutes 440 calories
• Tony Horton - One on One THirty/Fifteen

• P90x Chest and Back

Down into the final 2 weeks of this round.  Pretty excited to be wrapping this one up.  Things are shaping up pretty nice. Still not as far along as I'd like, but it takes time and takes even more dedication than you can imagine to keep the food side of things on track.  I can handle the workout side without issue, but still dip some on the food.  Follow-up blog entry coming tomorrow about 'temptations'.  Don't miss it. Anyways, it is a work in progress, and a million times better than when I started back in January, 6 months ago.  

What this tells me, is that anyone can do it, willing to make it a lifestyle change and dedicated to getting themselves fit, healthy and a better outlook in life.  It just takes you getting up and moving.  I don't care what it is, just anything.  Something can turn into an amazing thing if you just give it a chance.

• P90x Plus Interval X Plus, 50 minutes 681 Calories 

 This week was a good week of workouts. I went a bit heavy on the Cardio this week.  Was feeling good, so went with it.  I love having such a variety to choose from.  Moving into the final 3 weeks of this round of P90x.  Feeling good and glad to see another round completing. 

• Monday (Day 57)
  • Tony Horton, One on One Super Cardio, 39 minutes 458 calories
  • P90x Plus Upper Plus  (P90x Plus)
• Tuesday (Day 58)
  • Tony Horton, One on One Medicine Ball Cardio (one on one) 428 calories
  • Grass cutting 1.5 hours, 737 calories
  • P90x Plus Interval X (P90x Plus) 1/2 cycle only  301 calories, 27 minutes
• Wednesday (Day 59)
  • P90x Plus Total Body Plus
• Thursday (Day 60)
  • Shaun T, Insanity Cardio Preview, 27 minutes, 413 Calories (first 2 sequences)
  • Tony Horton - One on One super Cardio  39 minutes, 400 calories
• Friday  (Day Off) (Day 61)
• Saturday (Day 62) 
  • P90x Plus Internval X  43 minutes, 630 Calories
• Sunday (Day 63) 
  • Shaun T, Insanity Cardio Preview, 42 minutes 617 Calories
  • Tony Horton One on One Super Cardio, 41 minutes 516 calories

Alright, another week has been completed.  Seems like it was just last week actually. But this week went very quickly for me. I went into work 3 days, so it changed up my routine a bit or at least made me feel like I was rushed. Who knows. I did get my workouts in, but shifted things by one day when I had to take my rest day mid-week when the step-dad went home from the hospital.  So check it out below.  I am going to try and add in some calorie information when I remember to track it during the cardio workout's.  More for my own purposes, but helps me see how things progress.

Day 1 - Upper Plus
Day 2- Rest Day
Day 3- Total Plus
Day 4- Medicine Ball Cardio (470 Calories)
Day 5-Insanity Cardio Preview (675 Calories)
Day 6-Kenpo Cardio Plus (480)
Day 7- Interval X Plus (570 Calories), Grass cutting(2 hours 774 Calories), Bike ride (49 minutes 486 Calories)

This upcoming week is my 2nd phase recovery week. I am looking forward to doing some of the original P90x routines (Chest and Back, Core synergistic, Shoulders and Arms, Legs and Back.  I will probably switch up some of the one-on-one's that i fill with.  Try the recovery one on the rest day.  Will throw in Insanity cardio somewhere in there, maybe even 2 days.  Who knows.  Will have to see.

Motivation? What motivates us to do anything on a day to day basis?  5 months ago, i make a conscious decision to get healthly and start taking care of my body.  No real one factor that hit me, but now, I am even more motivated every day after I see how bad you can end up later in life when you don't take care of your body.  My experiences of being in the hospital with my step dad over these past 5 -6 weeks, is really an eye opener and I hope that every can find that 'x' factor that will get you motivated as well to stand up and just go for a walk one day.  To stand up and just start watching what you are putting into your mouth and what you are drinking.  It can be anything, even the tiniest little spark that does it.  That is all it took for me.  Lets start making a change..  More to come from the motivation front. 

 A blog that I follow, is doing a 21 day motivation challenge.  Take a look.  http://crushplay.blogspot.com/