50 Reasons Not to Skip a Workout - With Pictures

Come up with 50 reasons to not skip a workout AND NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM CAN INVOLVE HEALTH, FAMILY OR GROWING OLD.

Okay. I'm game.


1. ENDORPHINS. They're great. Anyone who's experienced the post-workout endorphins know what I'm talking about. The COMPLETELY LEGAL, TOTALLY KICK A$$ HIGH you get. Overcome with joy. Feeling just like acting silly and enjoying life. It's great.


2. Yep. Tiffany's Jewellery! I'm not kidding. When I cross the finish line at the Nike Womens Marathon this October in under 6.5hours I get some. Presented by firefighters in tuxes. hehehehehehehe. Can't wait. Notice I said "when" not "if"....


3. Speaks for itself.


4. I am sick of this Muffin Top I've been carrying. It's gotta go. PERIOD


5. The feeling of freedom. You can't even describe it. You've gotta be there.


6. Because even though when I'm doing it, I'm tired and fighting for the right attitude to keep going, and wishing the next car that passes me by will accidentally run me over so I can stop. Even then, I know deep down I am learning to love it. I love the feeling I get from it.


7. I don't care if I finish first or last. As long as I finish, I will feel like a first place winner!


8. To have my body covered in a thin, glistening layer of sweat. Knowing how hard you have to work to get that. And knowing I DID IT!


9. To get from here...


10. To here. And yes, I do own this bikini too. Just haven't taken a pic in it yet.


11. To feel as sexy as this pin-up appears to feel.


12. Now who wouldn't want this kind of reaction when they walk by.


13. Or even this kind of reaction. Okay, I couldn't find a good pic of a guy drooling over a sexy model type walking by, but you get the point...


14. For the opposite of this image. Working out helps me keep depression at bay. The more I have in me to fight it off, the less I have to fight. It just seems to not bother me at all.


15. To tame this little guy. He's the one who tried to convince me to just melt into the couch and relax. Unfortunately, that leads me away from where I want to be.


16. To learn just what I am made of . Just how strong am I? I still haven't discovered that.


17. TO OWN THE BODY OF MY DREAMS


18. To KNOW I will look half this good walking away. To never have to wonder about how bad it looks anymore...


19. To know I am on the right path. I am making the right decisions. I am not a failure!!!


20. To avoid looking like this when I finish my race this October.


21. To be able to wear anything I want to. Even if I never do because I feel I'm too old to pull it off. Doesn't matter. I want the option, knowing I would look great in it.


22. To be an example to my daughter, who is battling her own battle of the bulge.


23. Okay, not so much to be carried across a threshold exactly. But to know if someone ever wanted to pick me up, they could. I wouldn't be twice their size!


24. Because I feel so lost. This is one path, that I know the direction. I know how to get there. I want to get there. This is one way I can feel I AM ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING IN MY OWN LIFE!!!


25. To become as beautiful as this unique flower. I know I'm beautiful inside. But I also want it outside. I want people to be able to instantly see it.


26. To avoid the fat prejudice out there. You all know what I mean. Fat people are lazy. They smell. and so on. It hurts. I don't deserve it. And in case you didn't know, NEITHER DO YOU!!!


27. To follow through on something I've started for once in my life. I have set smart goals. Now to reach them.


28. To know I'm being successful on this journey. If I keep taking these little steps, I will be able to reach those starts I've set out for myself...


29. To create my own tomorrow. Not to just coast through life.


30. To break though the limits that I've felt keeping me locked down.


31. To stop wishing, and start doing.


32. Kind of self-explanatory here too


33. To keep myself from wanting to do this on a regular basis. Frustration from being overweight!


34. To complete my Circle of Success!


35. BECAUSE I CAN!


36. To discover who I really am along the way


37. Okay, so a size 2 is out for me. I'll be happy back in 9/10.


38. To feel CONFIDANT that this saying is all about me. That I do run like a girl and that others have to keep up to me!


39. To unleash my inner super hero. She gets to come out and play when I'm working out.


40. Okay, so I might never have a 6 pack. I really don't want them. But I want closer to this than what I have now.


41. Look at that feeling of Freedom. Accomplishment. Like she can do ANYTHING. I want it!!!


42. To prove to myself I can affect the outcome by taking care of my attitude. Once it's on board with me, nothing will be able to stop me.


43. To stop being able to find excuses to get out of my workouts.


44. To stop feeling like my life is so controlled by the scale. I don't know if controlled is the right word. But everyone here knows what I mean. The scale is a HUGE part of my life now. I want a healthier relationship with it. I don't want to kill it so often.


45. To know I'm doing my best to live up to BEING this.


46. Because I know this is true. If I really want it, I've got to work for it.


47. BECAUSE I WANT IT!!!


48. Just a recap. Fire Fighters. In Tuxes. With Tiffany's.


49. To get back to Onederland. And NEVER leave again


50. TO BE UNSTOPPABLE!!!

Wow. I didn't know if I would be able to get to 50. Hmmm

My 200 Day Journey - Day 99

Thank God. I didn't miss it.

I've been struggling to stay on track, and have dropped this countdown thread for a while. I've still been running, but struggling and sometimes not doing well at all.

I was so upset today, thinking I'd missed the half way point. Well, I'm back and here to say I didn't miss it after all.

But now I'm not so looking forward to my mid-point check in. I am very discouraged. I was hoping to be at my goal weight or closer to it by now when I started this all and it was only a 100day challenge.

Well, no time to wallow in that. Instead, the half way mark is time to re-evaluate where I am and how to get where I'm going....

Anyhow, that's for tomorrow. Today is Today.

Today I need a kick in the butt to get going. And Yoovie has provided it for me.

If you haven't read her most recent blog, you gotta do it. It's amazing!

Click here to check it out. www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=4349611

Here's my first assignment for the afternoon:
Come up with 50 reasons to not skip a workout AND NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM CAN INVOLVE HEALTH, FAMILY OR GROWING OLD.

I'm going to do that. My next blog will be that list. I can't wait.

I also love this one
10. AFTER WORKOUT PAMPERING KIT. (go to bath and Body Works or Victorias Secret or something and get an energizing or invigorating bath scrub and bubble bath and lotion. Anything that says ENERGIZE will work. You need to lvoe yourself AFTER a workout, more than at any other time. Get home, lather up, love every curve, caress every muscle, soothe every tendon, be reborn for work or school with bright shiny happy flushed skin and hair and the knowledge that you kicked ass this morning.

I will do that. Not today. But after a week of solid workouts. When I've earned the extra post-workout pampering kit. I sure don't feel I deserve it this week...

I've got the calendar and stickers. I'm going to strive to add more and more.



I've got a fitness magazine - Jillian Michaels on the cover. Can't wait to read it. And tear out motivational articles/images.

I'M GOING RUNNING AFTER WORK TODAY! No excuses. It's not too hot today. Yes, it's raining. So what. That'll help cool me down on my run.

Now off to make my list. Catch y'all later...

Today's Kick in the Butt ...

I am trying to put my personal issues behind me for a bit. Yes, they are still weighing on my mind, but I've done a lot with them today. Time to put them away and focus on what's important right now - ME!

I am in a challenge. I am supposed to get in 1hr of fitness every day.

Can I stomp my feet and scream NO NO NO!!!



Okay, lets be honest here. We ALL know I can. Some of us might even be aware of how good I am at this.

But does it get me anywhere? NO!






Remember why you are doing this. Not only the short term goals. Lets face it. Some endorphins today would be great.


They would help with my personal issues as well.

And I'm working on reaching Onederland. The scale going up almost a pound today was not such good news.



It's time for me to get out there and earn this body I want.

And while I say that I'm still looking for an easy way out. I almost had myself convinced that a 10min run down to the store, wandering the store to buy stickers, and a 10min run home would be enough.

Enough for what? To make it look like I'm committed? Yeah, that's about it. LOOK like I'm committed.

YOU DESERVE BETTER. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE STOPPING YOU FROM REACHING THAT GOAL. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, SO GET OUT THERE AND JUST DO IT ALREADY!!!

No matter what, that hour is going to pass you by. Do you want to finish that hour with regrets? I wish I had gone and run, I'd be done now. I'd be floating on a cloud of endorphins.

Or are you going to make the most of that hour. Get that run in. Enjoy those endorphins. Bask in the bragging rights that only those who REALLY WORK towards their goals can bask in. Let's face it. Making it LOOK good will get me no where. I might as well actually MAKE IT GOOD!

Now to find a way to make it work. Yes, it's hot out. It's 24Celcuis. Probably still a little humid, but not as overwhelming as it has been. Looks like there are a few clouds out there too. Nothing major. Just enough to help block out some of the sun. Besides, it's possibly going to thunderstorm tonight.


Oh no. There's the heart burn. What a pain in the.....

That's okay. Tums will take care of that. And I can take my vitamins at the same time. Where there's a will, there's a way.


I will not let you win this battle. So you might as well start working with me instead of against me. Let's turn that energy towards reaching the goals laid out ahead of me. I can seriously kick a.. on these goals if I did that.

Okay. Why not head home after work. Get changed right away. Run. Make it an hour run. Then end up at the store to buy the stickers you are looking for. It won't be a knock it out of the park kind of day, but I'll count that as a success. Then I still have to get home from there. Or I could get my room mate to pick me up. We need to get some groceries for supper anyway...

Okay, here's the plan
Start to hydrate right now.
Head home from work in just over an hour
Get changed as soon as I walk in the door
Go for an hour run. Just get out and run
End the run at the Stationary Store
Buy some stickers for my calendar

From there, I can call for a ride home if I want. Or I can walk. Maybe even run if I still have it in me.

Today's Kick in the Butt ...

The kick I gave myself yesterday was great. Now I figure it's worth it to do it again today.


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TMI WARNING ... you may want to scroll down to the line of stars and skip this one, especially if you have a weak stomach, etc.

When I got up this morning, I was feeling a little lethargic. When I went to the bathroom this morning, I noticed partially digested blood in my stool. I think it SUCKS that I can tell what that is, but I can. Basically, I need to be careful for the next while. Not sure why my intestines are bleeding again. Maybe they just will on and off for the rest of my life...

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Okay. Off this.

Now to motivate myself to get out the door. I just don't get why I have to kick so hard, and so often. I guess the activity hasn't become enough of a self-motivating factor yet. Guess I'll keep working on it.



I've got some long term goals. And they are great goals. But they aren't intrinsically motivating for me right now. Instead, they are serving to overwhelm me a bit. I set the bar really REALLY high this time. I am actually scared I might not make it.

But I believe I can, if I can find a way to keep working towards the goals.

So this week, I am needing to find smaller, more immediate goals to reach.

I need a haircut. Why not get a new hairdo, cut and color at the same time. Sounds like a reward me.... Maybe when the scale says 220lbs? This morning it said 227. Actually 228, but it did say 227 once...

So that's about a month away at this rate.



Okay. Time to focus on what my goals would be for getting out TODAY!
Calories Burned.
Endorphins
Feeling like a superhero.
Bragging rights.

Yeah, okay. I know. Bragging rights seems a little narcisistic. But whatever it takes. Besides, I agree that anyone who gets their butt up off the couch and does what they set their mind to for the day deserves bragging rights.

It'll feel great to be able to log back in and claim 5 or more miles finished.
The feeling that I am on track, progressing towards my goals
Knowing I'm still climbing that mountain. That I didn't give up.

No matter what I do, this next hour is going to pass me by. Am I going to make the most of it? Get out there and do something for me? I deserve it. I am worth it.

Or am I going to let all those couch potatoes steal my ability to do this? Am I going to let those nay-sayers have bragging rights come October? Brag that they were right? I couldn't do it?

Or am I going to get out there and fight for what I want? Fight for that small sexy body I had just last fall? I have all those jeans and clothes, and I can't even squeeze into them.

You know how to get back into them. You know how to rock those new bikinis.

WORK FOR IT!



No amount of money will get me there.
Buying new fitness clothes won't get me there.
Wishing for it won't get me there.





THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE IS TO BREAK A SWEAT. PERIOD!!!

Todays Update

***********UPDATE*********

Just got back. Didn't finish the full repeat 9 times. Yes, I was mistaken, it wasn't 7 times, it was 9. I started into my 7th repetition. Didn't finish. I didn't quit. It is wicked hot out. I was starting to get dizzy. I was drinking water. Also had some gu to help with energy. When the dizzy first started I walked it off and started to run again. It came back almost immediately. Heart rate was spiking high too. That was it for me.

Turned off the music and walked the mile back home.

Still counting it as a success today. I covered 5miles, and burned 818 calories. Not bad for just over an hour of a workout.

Today's Kick in the Butt ... Confession Time

I have become a couch potato again. All I want to do is melt into this armchair. No motivation to do ANYTHING! Not even laundry. Or even get up to feed myself.

I'm pretty sure the scale this week has had a lot to do with it. It's up just over 230lbs again. My head knows why. No exercise. Eating things I shouldn't have. Eating too many calories.

Add this on top of the fact when I worked my butt off I wasn't seeing the results and...



My head knows. My body and my heart is fighting it.

I need two things right now. Okay, lets be honest. I won't get motivation. I have to get out there on the pavement and chase it down. I will catch it again. I just have to work for it.



The other thing? Attitude.





If I can get my attitude on board, I know I can do anything.

So that is mainly what todays kick is all about. ATTITUDE



I am worth this. It is worth the fight. Despite the longer term goals - the body, the marathon, etc.

This fight is worth it for the immediate and short term goals as well.
The dropping on the scale.
The endorphins.
The good tired.
The mental fitness that comes with the physical fitness.
The motivation I will find.



I NEED TO DO THIS. FOR ME. FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN FOR ME!!

Forget the marathon.
Forget the race to get to Onederland.
Forget the DIY challenge.

Those are all just icing on the cake.

I NEED TO PUT ON MY SHOES AND GET OUT ON THE PAVEMENT FOR ME TODAY. NOW.

I will tackle W7D1HM - run6min walk3min repeat7x.

I CAN DO THIS.