What does it take for you to get out of the house and hit the gym? What does it take for you to go run a mile? What does it take to get off the couch and exercise? Being a mother of five boys, this can be a difficult task. Finding time around your children to exercise is a workout in and of itself. I remember thinking when I was younger, “How in the world do people not exercise at least 30 minutes/day!” That was bizarre to me! It’s a simple answer really,
“Because now you have to worry about MANY little bodies besides your own!”
From experience, I have found only 1 thing that gets me consistently going and getting up to exercise! We all have heard the many benefits of exercising!!
- Decreases depression
- Decreases sickness
- Makes you stronger
- Decreases the chance of getting cancer (I’m sure this is one!! :))
- Improved over health
- Improves memory
- Sleep better
The list goes on and on! We have all heard these, yet we continue to struggle to make it happen! Now you may be thinking that the only thing you need to be successful in exercising in MOTIVATION! Motivation to fit in that cute pair of pants or to look fabulous in your swimming suit come summer? Maybe it’s motivation simply to feel better and stronger?
I am here to tell you that MOTIVATION SLEEPS IN A LOT LONGER THAN DISCIPLINE!
I am motivated about a lot of things! Yet, I find myself snoozing my alarm clock! Sleep and my warm bed almost always wins! Other tasks overpower my need to exercise during the day! Yes, I know I will feel better after, but its the before part I struggle with!
Now your probably thinking, “Great! So she is telling my I need to be disciplined!!” HA HA HA (insert laughing until you cry emoji here). Discipline is great, but not something I have been trained to have at 5:30 in the morning. Are you ready for the 1 thing that gets be out and exercising??? Here it is……
The only thing that I have found that CONSISTENTLY works is to go with A FRIEND!!
Yep that is it!! Find a friend to exercise with! I bet you that if you know your friend is going to be waiting for you at the gym, you will get up and go! You need someone you can rely on! Find that friend, whoever it is. Find them and start an exercising routine.
I have been successful at this each time I have tried it! I used to go play racquetball in the mornings with my sister in-law at 5:45 am. WHAT!! It always got me out of bed, because I knew she was going to be there. Another time began about 2 years ago. I started to go to a personal trainer twice a week at 6 am. (Reason why? Check out this blog post) The only reason why it happened is that I knew someone was waiting for me at the gym. No other reason! It’s simple!
Here are 5 Benefits to working out with a friend
- They will always get you out of your bed
- You get to see another adult face other than your children’s face.
- Together you solve all of the problems of the world (Read my Venting Vs. Complaining Post)
- When you mess up, fall or make a fool of yourself, you have someone to laugh at you!
- They can take you to the hospital, just in case you get hurt (This was contributed by my husband :))
Exercising with a friend not only is healthy for your body, but I also believe it to be healthy for your mind. Mamas need time to talk and chat with a friend. What better way to do this than while you are exercising together! Go find that friend and get started!!