Exercise Win

on May 6, 2011
in All Posts

This morning, I had the same sleepy debate as yesterday… more sleep or exercise.  Let me tell you, it is very hard to get up when I’m staring at this face.

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Maggie is the cuddliest puppy around.  It is really hard to motivate myself to get up when a chubby little dachshund is snoring softly in my ear.

 

Anyway – this was one of the moments having a blog really motivated me to make the healthier choice.  People ask me if I behave differently because of the blog, and the answer is always that blogging helps hold me accountable to the lifestyle I want to lead.  It’s like having a gym buddy who will be mad if I don’t show up!

 

So, I was in bed, debating again whether I should skip my workout or snooze another 45 minutes, and then I thought of you guys!  And that got me out of bed and away from Maggie. 

 

(Side note – I’ve had a few people ask me why Maggie is always on the blog and James isn’t as much – don’t worry! I love James just the same.  Maggie is just a stick-to-your-side kind of pup and James is more independent so he’s not in as many stories.  We go on long walks alone together everyday – he’s never ignored!).

 

I slammed some orange juice and was out the door faster than you can say, “Motivation!” Despite the rush-hour traffic to Uptown, I was glad I had chosen the healthier option.

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And I was ESPECIALLY thrilled when I got to the pool and discovered the lanes were set up in 50-meters.  Normally, it’s 25-yards on Fridays, which I hate!  50 meters is so much more relaxing.

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I did 800 meters and dashed back to the house to eat a quick breakfast for leaving for work:

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Peanut butter on a Bagel Thin + a blueberry, vanilla Greek yogurt, soy milk, and protein powder smoothie.

 

Do you have a gym buddy that holds you accountable?  Or do you find that blogging is a great way to stay on track with your healthy goals?

{ 64 comments }

 

  • Kris May 6, 2011, 9:43 am

    My blog helps me stay motivated, but so does my husband! We are both training for the same events, and both being very competitive… well, if I skip a workout, he may do better than me! (Which he does anyway, genetics will kill you.) 😛

    And that picture of Maggie is sooooo cute – I’d have a hard time leaving that cuddly ball of fur too!

  • Meaghan May 6, 2011, 9:44 am

    I love getting inspiration from your blog every day! 🙂 I tend to hit the gym solo, but seeing other people toughing it out online helps to get me motivated as well!

  • Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table May 6, 2011, 9:45 am

    I had a similar experience yesterday. I did NOT want to run, but I had just written in a post that I was going to. So I did. It was a loooooong run, but I’m so glad I had my blog to hold me accountable. 🙂

  • Lauren @ Lettuce Eat Cake May 6, 2011, 9:46 am

    I’m fairly new to the blogging world, but I’m hoping it will help keep me more accountable. I don’t think I could commit to public weigh ins on my blog, but I definitely love reporting healthy milestones! 🙂 Good for you for getting out there this morning! As you say, you’ll never regret getting your workout in.

  • VeggieGirl May 6, 2011, 9:47 am

    Yep, Suave Slav keeps me accountable 🙂

  • Freya May 6, 2011, 9:47 am

    Yesyes my blog helps me! It stops me from eating the same boring thing all the time 😛
    Aah I wish I had a gym near me- THEN I’ll wish for a gym buddy!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat May 6, 2011, 9:47 am

    I don’t normally do my cardio work outs with a gym buddy, but I guess you could say my trainer is my strength training buddy! And yes, blogging REALLY helps me stay accountable to my goals. I announce 5 at the beginning of each month and re-cap them at the end. It’s a great way to keep me working towards them. Nice job on the swim this morning!

  • Khushboo May 6, 2011, 9:48 am

    My blog defo holds me accountable. The way I see it is that if I can’t follow my own advice, why should anyone else. Great going in the swim! I had the similar debate this morning but 1hr later, I felt great to have started my weekend on a healthy note 🙂

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers May 6, 2011, 9:50 am

    I sure could use a workout buddy to hold me accountable these days!

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas May 6, 2011, 9:54 am

    Blogging is an awesome motivation to get that workout in!

  • Lauren May 6, 2011, 9:55 am

    Blogging makes me stay accountable to training plans! I barely trained for my half marathon last year, but this year, I’ve rocked my plan because of encouragement and reading about other’s training.

  • Leslie May 6, 2011, 9:56 am

    Just like everyone else, my blog also holds me accountable. I’m usually pretty good at finding motivation, but on those extra lazy days, having a blog about health and fitness REALLY helps.

    I wish I had more running buddies though, none of my girlfriends like to run :(.

    If there are any Miami runners out there, send me a message!!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) May 6, 2011, 9:56 am

    Blogging is a great way to stay on track. It definitely motivates me to try new things and to keep moving forward. I am my own gym buddy. I have to be. I have a need to feel strong and healthy as I get older. I feel like my body has been through enough hard stuff…it deserves to be the best that it can be.

  • Amara@GirlinaWhirl May 6, 2011, 9:56 am

    Yep. I had a weights workout on Wednesday that I knew I’d wimp out on if I let myself, so I brought the camera phone downstairs and videoed my sets to put on the blog. I SOOOO would have dropped that barbell otherwise!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg May 6, 2011, 9:57 am

    Blogging definitely helps keep me accountable — and I agree with you, it isn’t that I think people will be mad if I skip a run, it just helps me knowing that I need to own up to it later on! Good for you for making the exercise choice!

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me May 6, 2011, 10:00 am

    I used to have a gym buddy but now I don’t and I fell off the bandwagon for awhile. But I’m back on and motivating myself and it’s awesome!!

  • Beth @ 990 Square May 6, 2011, 10:01 am

    I have a virtual online running “team”. We all run at least one race together a year, and we really do a good job of keeping each other on track!

  • Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun May 6, 2011, 10:06 am

    blogging most definitely holds me accountable. In fact, it did yesterday afternoon. I pre-write my blog posts bec my schedule with the kiddos and in my post for today I had written out my planned workout from yesterday before doing it. When I was tired in the afternoon, I didn’t want to have to change what I said I would do – so I went and had a great workout!

  • sarah (sarah learns) May 6, 2011, 10:09 am

    my sister and i just started a “fitsista” challenge with each other! it’s modeled after heather (then heather said) and her friends’ challenge. basically, we have a spreadsheet where we keep track of points we’ve earned each day for workouts, eating fruit/veggies, drinking lots of water, and a bunch of other healthy habits we’re trying to achieve.

    it’s great and it keeps us accountable from across the country (i’m in wisconsin & she’s in california!).

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) May 6, 2011, 10:10 am

    I totally think that blogging holds me more accountable for the lifestyle I want to live. It’s actually on of my favorite things about blogging.
    I admire you for getting up to go swim especially when it’s a bit cooler out today and under the covers feels soooo good!

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) May 6, 2011, 10:23 am

    I bet you felt totally awesome after swimming. Though, as a seasoned flip-turner/glide-and-kick off the wall expert, I am personally not a fan of 50m pools :). One thing I do with an occasional swim buddy is send her a tweet during the evening asking if she wants to meet at the pool at 6 am. She does the same to me. And who wants to be the wus who says “no” in front of the 30-some people who follow both of us?

    I also train with a masters swim team, which often pushes me to swim father than I would on my own.

    • Lindsay May 6, 2011, 10:27 am

      I happened to see that tweet last night! I was that wus 🙂

      • Victoria (District Chocoholic) May 6, 2011, 10:28 am

        HAHAHAHAHA. Another day :). I mostly do it to harass Emily ’cause we’re both there in the AM anyway.

  • Lindsay May 6, 2011, 10:25 am

    I need a gym buddy! I have some walking buddies, which is always good. I typically will walk the dog about 30 minutes on a weekday (longer on weekends), but with a friend that easily becomes an hour. As far as blogging goes, I have a photography blog and so very similarly to your experience with exercise, if I just don’t feel like taking pictures, the fact that I have a blog and some followers (not alot, but some!) forces me to get out there and find something to photograph!

  • Ali G. May 6, 2011, 10:35 am

    My workout buddy and I text eachother at 5:30 each day to make sure we’re up and will meet at the gym! It’s gets me up everyday knowing someone is there waiting for me!

  • Sam May 6, 2011, 10:44 am

    I started my blog as a WAY to keep myself accountable and motivated. It works great for me. Reflecting on the things i do (and don’t do) each day keeps me aware of myself really well. I’ve always kept some sort of journal since i was about 8 years old so it isn’t much of a stretch for me either. btw my dogs name is Maggie too! 🙂

  • Michelle (your girlfriend for fitness) May 6, 2011, 10:48 am

    I have both a gym buddy and now a blog to help keep me motivated. It’s still hard to get up to do something if no one is waiting for you to show up, so I am hoping that my blog will help me make the right, or more healthier, decisions especially when my gym buddy isn’t around.

  • Emily May 6, 2011, 10:50 am

    I stumbled across your blog last night while on another fave, Fitnessista. This morning I set my alarm for a spin class and VERY nearly didn’t get out of bed for it. As I am just starting to get back in shape, your 2 blogs reminded me that I have to start somewhere, and getting out of bed is a good place to start! I dragged myself there & rocked my first-ever spin class. Thanks for the motivation!

  • Stace May 6, 2011, 10:57 am

    Having a blog does help me stay accountable to myself in a lot of ways. I guess I could lie but I would never be ok with myself for that so it is an effective tool.

  • Baking 'n' Books May 6, 2011, 10:58 am

    Too bad Maggie can’t swim with ya! Do you find it a “pain” to have to drive to/fro the gym? How long does it take you?

    The sun looks beautiful at that hour though!

  • Christine @ Merf In Progress May 6, 2011, 11:16 am

    I wish I had a workout buddy. I should use my blog for accountability.

  • Sonia (the Mexigarian) May 6, 2011, 11:33 am

    Lol. Since I have posted on my blog since last Sunday I have found myself to be slacking in my workout routine. I did maybe 1.5 hour at the gym this week and that’s it. Oh and I am sore from 20 minutes of weights so I am using that as an excuse.
    I really do wish I had a workout buddy. Several years ago my girlfriend and I would meet at the gym every morning. We held each other accountable. Bah. No more. 🙁

  • Becky May 6, 2011, 11:36 am

    this is one of the main reasons I’ve started up a new blog! I really wanted to be held accountable and if it helps someone else get motivated too, then great!!

  • Heather May 6, 2011, 11:55 am

    I have friends that I meet at the gym at lunch, if I don’t show, someone is going to follow up and ask where I was. I usually want to go because it is almost always a fun time!

  • Amber K May 6, 2011, 11:58 am

    I’m a big solo exerciser. I enjoy my “me” time and I’m more motivated to push myself if I’m alone. But I do think SparkPeople helps keep me accountable since I track my exercise there.

  • Kacy May 6, 2011, 12:17 pm

    My definitely motivates me sometimes, although less so now than it used to since I’ve kind of switched up my blog focus.

  • Erin @ The Grass Skirt May 6, 2011, 12:33 pm

    My blog does motivate me to eat healthier, but I don’t really blog about my daily workouts and don’t have a workout buddy. It can definitely be difficult to get motivated with no accountability!

  • Jen @ Light Enough to Travel May 6, 2011, 12:41 pm

    I think blogging helps with some accountability for me, but I haven’t gotten to the point of posting about daily workouts. I think as long as my readers (who are mostly friends and family) know that I haven’t turned back into a total couch potato, then that’s what motivation I need for the time being!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales May 6, 2011, 12:46 pm

    Nope no gym buddy, but reading different blogs does inspire me to try new things. That, and working at the Y kind of makes it pointless to leave without getting my weights in. I’ve been consistently lifting now for over a year and I have fallen in love with it!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey May 6, 2011, 12:55 pm

    Reading blogs/having a blog definitely keeps me more motivated! I know I have people backing me up and holding me accountable! I give you credit – I could never have my dog sleep in bed with me as much as I love him!

  • Donna @ Love, Run & Travel May 6, 2011, 12:58 pm

    I’ve convinced 6 other coworkers to join our local gym and now having friends meet me for the fun & hard classes makes sure i don’t skip them and we are all the healthier for it 🙂

  • Morgan May 6, 2011, 1:05 pm

    I love your theory on the ‘blog gym buddy’!!! It is such a great concept! Currently, I don’t have anybody to go to the gym with so I’m totally going to use your idea for that motivation!

  • Kelly May 6, 2011, 1:09 pm

    Your dachshund sticks to your side? NO! I don’t believe you! 😉 They are an incredibly needy breed for sure. I love making plans with people to workout together because I rarely back out on them. Since I don’t blog all my workouts, the blog doesn’t really hold me accountable.

  • Cindy @ The Flipping Couple May 6, 2011, 1:22 pm

    I do Crossfit, so I HAVE to be at the gym at a specific time, and I work out with the same people at every class, with the same trainers. I’ve gotten addicted to Crossfit and LOVE LOVE LOVE my workouts, but there are still times I’m pretty sure I’d skip out if I didn’t have the regimented schedule.

  • Margot May 6, 2011, 1:29 pm

    My husband’s my workout buddy! We definitely slacked over the winter, and weren’t too happy to see some extra weight hanging around as spring emerged.

    So! We decided to refocus on healthy eating — no more mindless snacking, no alocholic beverages during the week (except for special occasions) — and exercise. To keep us inspired, we started weighing and measuring each other, set goal numbers and follow up every Sunday morning with new numbers. It’s been so rewarding to see an inch gone from both my waist and hips after just one month!

    We’re both very competitive, so if my husband gets in a good run on a morning when I can’t work out, I’m *super* motivated to push for an awesome run my next workout session!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) May 6, 2011, 1:36 pm

    I wish I had someone to motivate me! I need a workout buddy 🙂

  • Jen May 6, 2011, 1:55 pm

    Blogging definitely keeps me on track! I don’t want to post about eating fast food or not exercising so it makes it easier when I promised a full disclosure post every day 😉

  • Erin @ Big Girl Feats May 6, 2011, 2:20 pm

    Since my boyfriend and I moved in together, we’ve been each other’s gym buddy. I did NOT want to go to the gym the other day to lift and he did not want to go run outside yesterday – we both encouraged each other to do so and it really works! He says I am much more hardcore than he is though, ha.

  • Elena @ GagaForGrapefruit May 6, 2011, 2:38 pm

    the biggest reason why I started my blog was to be held accountable for eating well and exercising! you’re totally right about the gym buddy comparison!

  • Jolene May 6, 2011, 2:55 pm

    I workout at home with my friend the Wii. Right now with 4 children, homeschooling them, living in a very rural area (and a load more excuses) working out at home is working out for me! (Pun intentional) I actually LIKE working out and look forward to it! In a month I plan to start jogging again as I tore a ligament last summer and I am in no hurry to re-injure myself.

  • carlee May 6, 2011, 3:00 pm

    Quick Question Caitlin! Do you photoshop your pics and add contrast, or does your camera naturally do that?

  • Chelsey (Cookteen) May 6, 2011, 3:34 pm

    My gym buddy and I motivate each other all the time! It also helps she lives down the street 🙂 I don’t know what I’m gonna do when we are at college next year! I’m gonna need a new buddy hehe

  • Mac May 6, 2011, 4:13 pm

    I am fortunate to be incredibly dedicated and motivated to workout on my own. I don’t know if it was my participation in college athletics that blessed me with a constant need to stay active, but I’m not going to question it or complain 🙂

  • Cindy May 6, 2011, 5:56 pm

    I think it depends. If you have a popular blog and get regular readers and commenters who can keep you in check and motivate you it will work. If you have a blog where you are pretty much talking to yourself and no one comments or gives you feedback, you aren’t accountable to anyone but yourself. I think that is why I stopped both health/fitness blogs I ever had, because I never got any feedback. (Granted I had a moment of self realization as to WHY I never did, but that isn’t relevant.) It can also be disheartening if you are trying and getting nowhere, and that can affect your writing/blogging so that you end up where no one visits your site (either b/c of lack of posts or success, etc). Of course YMMV in any case, and I can only say how it has affected me.

  • Megan @ On the Road Again May 6, 2011, 6:26 pm

    Blogging has surprisingly made me very accountable for my running. Even if I only have 1 pageview or a a few comments, I know someone out there is checking to see what I’m up to. Plus, it gives me some good content to write about!

  • Meghan May 6, 2011, 7:13 pm

    Last summer, when my best friend and I decided we really wanted to dedicate ourselves to working out and getting healthy, we came up with a bit of an unusual way to be gym buddies. For starters, I belong to a gym and she doesn’t. But we came up with a great system that worked so well for both of us, and held us accountable to ourselves and each other. We set the work out standard as 5 days a week. It could be any kind of workout you want, any where, any time. The catch was, for every day of the 5 that you didn’t complete, we owed the other 2 bucks. Naturally competitive with each other, and naturally not wanting to waste precious dollars every week, it was a real motivator! We both ended up making some excellent strides while pushing each other without ever actually working out together. (And I think we only missed two or three days all summer! Score!) It was a funny way to do things, but it worked for us. Virtual gym buddies I guess you could say!

  • Tay May 6, 2011, 8:03 pm

    Ha that’s funny. I HATE when the pools are 50 meters long. The laps take FO-EV-ER. But I think it’s because I grew up swimming in 25 meter pools during swim practice my whole life.

  • Heather C May 6, 2011, 8:22 pm

    I’d argue blogging almost holds you MORE accountable than a gym-buddy! That’s a lot of people to “report” back to (for lack of a better word). I had the same self-debate before a Tempo run on Tuesday, because those are runs I have to do solo (per my own mentality)but it’s always good blog content 😉

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin May 6, 2011, 8:33 pm

    Good job on making it to the pool this morning! I’m finding it so hard to find motivation to exercise now that I’ve started my summer job (that starts at 7 am!). 😛

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday) May 6, 2011, 9:32 pm

    my blog is the same! I also do a lot of yoga, so develop strong relationships with the teachers, and they always ask why I’m not in class if I miss, so they totally hold me accountable.

  • Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet May 6, 2011, 11:19 pm

    Haha I’m sure that James gets just as much love! It’s definitely like my cat vs. my dog. Cats are just so independent and dogs need a little more attention.

    I usually hold myself accountable by thinking how much better I’ll feel after I work out. Especially when I work out first thing in the morning.

  • Kristen May 8, 2011, 10:17 pm

    ive been on a blogging break, but I think I need to get back to it. Because it does keep you accountable food and exercise wise!

  • Stacy May 9, 2011, 2:09 pm

    I think you said it perfectly, blogging helps hold me accountable to the lifestyle I want to lead! Blogging helps push me away from the temptation to be lazy and instead pushes me to make the healthier choices that I want to make in my everyday life.

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