Hi Everyone,
You may have noticed that I love working out (200+ youtube videos of different workouts may have tipped you off!) So maybe it will surprise you that there are days when it’s really difficult for me to get motivated to start my workout.
This weekend I was completely and utterly exhausted. I felt like a slug, and kept falling asleep anytime I would lay down. I knew that if I worked out I would have more energy, but getting to that point felt impossible.
Saturday I took the day off, thinking that I clearly needed some rest. I am a firm believer that you need to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Too often there is a disconnect from the mind and the body. I believe this disconnect leads to illness, exhaustion, over/under eating, and a variety of other negative problems.
Sunday I woke feeling tired again. Coffee didn’t perk me up, and again I was so tired that I was falling asleep during the day. My cell phone was on the edge of the bed, so I laid down to check my messages, and I fell asleep!
I know that after I work out I am more energized, more positive, and happier. I kept telling myself that, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. So I used my blog to motivate me. I went upstairs, and got changed, ready to film a new workout. As soon as I got downstairs Jesse got a call from his brother, and he needed to head over there. I could have used that as an excuse. “Jesse can’t film me. I’m tired anyway. I might as well take another day off.”
Instead I decided to get on the treadmill and run. When I started I made sure to mentally check in with myself to see how I was feeling. As I finally got moving I felt all of the energy that had been blocked up inside of me start to flow again. The sluggishness went away and I felt great. I ended up doing the Treadmill Workout that I shared here. I felt amazing, and my only regret was that I didn’t do my workout earlier so I could have had more energy to enjoy the rest of my day.
Use whatever motivation you have to get started. Listen to your body. If you’re not feeling well, and working out makes you feel worse that day maybe it’s time to take a day off. Or check out one of my quick workouts: 8 Minute Cardio Fat Stripper, 8 Minute Ab Workout, 10 Minute Total Core Toner, 15 Minute HIIT or Cardio 15 Minute High Intensity. Or you can choose to do a yoga flow.
Remember, sometimes you feel better after you workout, and it’s worth the effort of getting started. Do you have any tips or motivations that work for you?
Melissa
I do the exact same thing. I usually try to drag myself into the workout then check back in with my body. Most of the time it is just that I have to get over the initial hurdle of starting, but every once in a while my body is drained. When 15-20 mins in, if my body is still exhausted I allow myself to stop without any guilt. Exercising while exhausted, whether emotionally or physically can lead to very poor form and easily cause injury – the opposite of why I work out. At least I know I gave my all.
This is just what I needed to hear! I’ve been sluggish ever since my season of cross country ended. I guess I enjoyed the off season so much that I got in the habit of not working out. It’s been three weeks of feeling awful, and I know that something’s got to give. Thank you Melissa!