My Motivation Monster

OK - so my motivation monster is HUNGRY!

Or - Old Man Winter is freezing the motivation out of me.

Or - Santa Clause sat on my motivation and he squished it!

Whatever you want to call it - it's a struggle getting my booty moving right now.

Yep - I still go to the gym almost everyday and when I'm there I kill myself. I'm still doing awesome on my healthy eating. But - I stare at the dessert tray a little longer than usual - in fact I take a 10 calorie sniff every once and awhile. In fact - the other day my sniff turned into a 200 calorie bite - ouch - that one hurt!

I hate admitting that I ate those couple bites. Why??? I should be allowed a goodie now and than, right? I think it must be a control issue, or maybe a "must meet my goal" thing. I get so disappointed at myself when I slip up. Of course in the last 9 weeks - I've had 3 slip ups and I beat myself about them. I obviously need to get over it and move on.

So how to stay motivated? Well..... I look better, I feel better. Getting out of the house for a 90 minute "Mommy only" time definitely helps. I've noticed after I get home from the gym that I'm a better Mom, a better wife, and just overall happier. So those things help.

My Dead Leg

OK - so going to the gym feels like dragging a dead leg behind me. It just drags and drags. Even when I'm warming up on the bike - my legs do not work. They just hurt. Those first 10 minutes are just plain awful. It's like waking up a sleeping bear. He growls and rolls over, sometimes he rolls on me and I can barely breath - but finally... after 10 minutes of pushing and prodding, he awakes! That's when working out can almost become fun (except when I'm doing plank, lunges and squats) those are always a "bear" - pun intended.

#1 - The $8.00 Motivator

See you have to schedule an appointment at the gym and if I don't show up they charge me $8.00 (4 kids x $2.00 each). That's usually a good kick to get the kids in the car and get going. Because the choice between 500-700 less calories in my bod - or $8.00 out of my bank account, the calories usually always wins.

#2 - The FEELS GOOD Motivator

I just love that feeling right in the middle of my workout - when I get my 2nd wind and I start thinking about doing a marathon - or maybe even a triathlon. You feel like you can do anything and go anywhere. It's such a freeing feeling. Now that is a motivation too!

The reality... I get home from "feeling good" - like I can conquer the world and I walk in the door and all of a sudden there's this weight put on. There's cleaning to be done, kids to be fed, bedtime routines to be completed, babies to be held and bounced. It's a go, go, go bucket of to-do's.

I admit this, ashamedly, but sometimes I don't even shower after a workout. I know grouse, huh? But I'm seriously so exhausted that I'd rather sit on my patootie and do nothing and just pat myself on the back and reward myself with a little "me" time.

#3 - The www.loseit.com Motivator

So a friend of mine (Renae) "invited" me to join a website called loseit.com. It's free (which I like) and it's AWESOME!

You plug in what you eat for every meal and snack each day. You tell it how much weight you want to lose and it calculates how many calories you can consume a day and still loose that weight.

It has seriously kept me from "slipping up" several times. Because I know I'll have to put in the calories and it might go over my allowed amount - which is a big No No!

I thought having to take the time to put my food in would be time consuming and cumbersome - but SO NOT! It's actually kind of fun. You also get to see what nutrients you are consuming and making sure that you get enough Protein and Carbs (and the all important "poopy" Fiber).

This has been a great motivator for me in the "diet" area.

IS THERE ANY (Other) TIME?

The time is now! - that's what you always hear. But I think whoever said that didn't have children. Seriously? With school, preschool, naptimes, and feedings, finding ANY time for myself is, well, difficult. I know that school is until 11:30 - naptime is until around 3, and feedings are every other hour about. So the ONLY time I can even leave my house is around 3:30 and I have to be back by 6 in order to feed my hungry animals again (this includes dad). :-) And the worst part... Is the guilt.

Why I even feel guilt - I don't know... Sometimes I think it's because of our culture, my upbringing, or just plainly being a woman and mom and it just comes with the territory and emotional hormonal imbalances.

I know and have heard from "expert" opinions that taking time for yourself is healthy and good - and I KNOW it is - but even knowing that doesn't seem to quail the guilt monster.

MY TUSH WILL GO ON

So I'll continue pushing and going and moving and trying my best to keep this booty active. And hopefully, in time, it will shrink along with the madness.