But I Don't Want To! Secrets to Self-Motivation

by Kate Luther
Published: 07/12/12
Wisebread.com
 

When I sat down to write this piece, I thought the “slant” was pretty obvious. There are, after all, only a few things that truly motivate us to move in one direction or another: fear, money, love, and hate.

The key to self-motivating, then, is to find a way to apply those triggers on a day-to-day basis, thereby “tricking” ourselves into getting things done. Unfortunately, this kind of self-manipulation will only produce limited results because when you get right down to it, you’re either motivated to do something or you’re not. Some of us thrive on setting goals and then seeing what we can accomplish, while others don’t feel that thrill at all. Maybe you just haven’t found your passion yet, or maybe there’s not enough fear or money to get you moving. Whatever it is, the “fire” has yet to be lit, and only you can be the one to answer why.

That’s when I realized that my original slant for this article isn’t really the slant you need. I mean, we all know how to bite the bullet and get something done when we have to. But what about when those powerful prompts simply don’t exist? Or worse, what happens when you have to overcome those motivators in order to move in a different and conceivably better direction?

Truth be told, it’s much easier to motivate us to fail or settle than it is to motivate us to succeed. We’ll stay in unsatisfying jobs, for example, because we need the money and we have bills that must be paid. We’ll stay in equally unsatisfying relationships, too, because we’re simply too afraid to leave and venture out on our own.

As a result, much of what we don’t accomplish isn’t because we’re not motivated; it’s because we’re being motivated in a different direction Therein lies the real question — how can you overcome those traditional motivators to steer your life down a better path?
Well, in true Wise Bread fashion, I’ve come up with a short list of hacks to help you get out of your own way. Here they are, in no particular order.

Eat That Frog

This is something that I picked up from Simple Truths, and it’s become my mantra for getting things done. Eat that frog simply means to tackle the worst job first (eating the frog), and then the rest of the day is, well, cake.

For my daughter, that means doing her math homework. For me, it means cleaning out my office. But once we’ve done those horrible, distasteful jobs, everything else on our to-do list looks much more appealing.

For this philosophy to work, you have to be willing to rip off the band aid and jump in. You know that it’s going to sting a little, but you also know that the pain is temporary, and once it’s done, it’s done. The same is true with those things in life that we don’t want to do. Maybe they’re painful and unpleasant, but if we can just plow through them, we’ll ultimately be glad we did. And everything else that follows will seem simple in comparison to choking down that frog.

Face Your FEAR

I’ve seen a number of different acronyms for the word FEAR over the years, but there are a few that I think were created specifically with self-motivation in mind, and they work together seamlessly to hold you back and minimize your growth.

The first is Frantic Effort to Avoid Reality. Let’s face it — we’re creatures of habit. We don’t like change, and we’ll resist and struggle desperately to stay within our bubble, even when we might actually want or need whatever results the change might bring.
As part of our Frantic Effort, we Find Excuses And Reasons that we can’t do whatever it is we need to do. These excuses and reasons help us justify putting the thing off indefinitely, while we create False Expectations About Reality. This is where we really excel.

We have a knack for making mountains out of molehills, and then allowing those seemingly impossible set of circumstances to influence our decision on how to move forward. The truth is often much less dramatic than we make it out to be in our minds, but we’ll allow these False Expectations to keep us from something to the point that Failure (is) Expected And Received.

Now, what’s really interesting about this scenario is that when we do fail — or fail to try — we’ll say it was out of our hands. We knew this was going to happen and there was nothing we could do to avoid it.

The funny thing is though, our success never stood a chance against our FEAR, and we could have saved ourselves a great amount of worry and stress by just announcing to the world that we weren’t even going to attempt this particular step in our evolution.
But then, where’s the fun in that, right?

So before you work yourself into a frenzy, see if you can face your fear instead. What is it that you’re really afraid of? Are there truly absolutely awful things that could occur, or are you just setting up those False Expectations?

Family Tips for a Successful Summer
By Liza N. Burby, Better Homes and Gardens.
Originally published in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, May 2006.

Believe it or not, school's just about out. Hectic schedules heavy with homework and activities will soon yield to the more laid-back pace of summer.

So what's to stress about? Maybe plenty. "Children -- and parents -- often find transitions difficult, and the school-to-summersummer change removes many of the structures, routines, and expectations that children rely on," says Scott L. Barking, a psychologist in Brooklyn, New York, and father of three school-age children.

"Many parents go into summer with a wish and a hope, rather than a plan for what they want to accomplish," says Virginia Shiller, a psychologist in New Haven, Connecticut, and author of Rewards for Kids! (Magination Press). "The end result can be a chaotic household with whining children who complain they're bored, argue with each other, and just generally get in Mom's hair." Here are ways to help your family slip into summer with a minimum of mayhem.

Summer Plans As Shiller says, a successful summer is a well-planned one.

Let the kids have input when planning summer activities. Suggest outings such as picnic lunches and day-trips to the aquarium or museum to stoke your kids' imaginations, then ask them for their ideas.

Keep them apprised of camp dates, daycare, family trips, and other plans by giving them a detailed calendar. This helps them visualize what's ahead and how to prepare.

Set up regular play dates now before vacation schedules make it tough to reach friends, says Jen Singer of Kinnelon, New Jersey, creator of the Web site MommaSaid.net.

Routines All children benefit from clear expectations and some structure during the summer months, says Barking, CEO of the Block Institute, a nonprofit agency that serves developmentally delayed children and adults.

Children need adequate sleep year-round for their development. Have set wake-up and bed times.

Maintain regular meals too. Poor summer habits such as skipping breakfast or excessive snacking will come back to haunt your kids next school year.

Establish daily routines, such as family game time after chores or morning walks for the dog.

But don't overschedule. Children need downtime to explore, create, and relax.

Feed the Brain Many children experience academic slippage during the summer, which can make it difficult for them to get back on track when school starts again, says Stacy DeBroff of Newton, Massachusetts, author of The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School (Free Press). Fight academic amnesia by keeping kids intellectually engaged throughout summer.

Set aside a regular reading routine. Many libraries offer children's reading clubs with a theme, such as detective books or science fiction.

Keep your children physically active by limiting video game, computer, and TV time. Take family bicycle rides or walks, play hopscotch, or shoot hoops.

Maintain kids' writing skills by encouraging them to keep a journal of their summer experiences. "Above all, have fun together," says Barking. "All too soon it will be back-to-school time."

The Many Benefits of Pilates Exercise
A Top 10 List of Great Reasons to Do Pilates

Excerpt pulled from following source:
Marguerite Ogle, About.com Guide Updated February 16, 2012About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

1. Pilates is Whole-Body Fitness

Unlike some forms of exercise, Pilates does not over-develop some parts of the body and neglect others. While Pilates training focuses on core strength, it trains the body as an integrated whole.

2. Adaptable to Many Fitness Levels and Needs

Whether you are a senior just starting to exercise, an elite athlete or somewhere in between, the foundations of Pilates movement apply to you. Building from core strength, focusing on proper alignment, and a body/mind integrative approach make Pilates accessible to all.

3. Creates Strength Without Bulk

Long, lean muscles are the name of the game here. In Pilates, we are not looking to build muscles for show. We are building toned muscles that work perfectly within the context of the body as a whole, and the functional fitness needs of a person as they move through life.

 

4. Increases Flexibility

In Pilates, we work toward a safe increase in length and stretch of the muscles and range of motion within the joints. You won't find quite as much "pretzel logic" in Pilates as you might in yoga, but a body that can stretch and bend to meet the flow of life is a very realistic goal.

5. Develops Core Strength

The core muscles of the body are the deep muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. These are the muscles we rely on to support a strong, supple back, good posture, and efficient movement patterns. When the core is strong, the frame of the body is supported.

6. Improves Posture

Good posture is a reflection good alignment supported by a strong core. It is a position from which one can move freely. Starting with Pilates movement fundamentals and moving through mat and equipment exercises, Pilates trains the body to express itself with strength and harmony. You can see this in the beautiful posture of those who practice Pilates.

7. Increases Energy

It might seem like a paradox, but the more you exercise, the more energy you have and the more you feel like doing (to a point, of course). Pilates gets the breath and circulation moving, stimulates the spine and muscles, and floods the body with the good feelings one gets from exercising the whole body.

8. Promotes Weight Loss and Long, Lean Appearance

If you practice Pilates regularly, it will change your body. Known for creating long, strong muscles and a leaner look; Pilates improves muscle tone, balances musculature, supports beautiful posture, and teaches you to move with ease and grace.

9. Increases Awareness - Body/Mind Connection

Joseph Pilates was adamant that Pilates, or contrology as he called it, was about "the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit." This is one of the secrets of Pilates exercise: we practice each movement with total attention. When we exercise in this way, the body and mind unite to bring forth the most benefit possible from each exercise. The Pilates principles -- centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow -- are key concepts that we use to integrate body and mind.

10. There are Many Ways to Learn Pilates

Pilates instruction is easy to come by these days. The ever-growing popularity of Pilates has put it on the map all over the world. This is good because when you start Pilates training, it is important to start with live Pilates instruction at a studio or gym, and preferably from a certified instructor.

Fitness and Your 2- to 3- Year Old

What Kids Can Do

It's important to understand what kids can do and what skills are appropriate for this age. By age 2, toddlers should be able to walk and run well. They may be able to kick a ball and jump in place with both feet. By age 3, toddlers typically are able to balance briefly on one foot, kick a ball forward, throw a ball overhand, catch a ball with stiff arms, and pedal a tricycle.
Keep these skills in mind when encouraging your child to be active. Play games together and provide age-appropriate active toys, such as balls, push and pull toys, and riding vehicles. Through practice, your child will continue to improve and refine his or her motor skills.
Mommy-and-me programs can introduce toddlers to tumbling, dance, and general movement. But you don't have to enroll kids in a formal program to foster these skills. The most important thing is to provide lots of opportunities to be active in a safe environment.

Family Fitness Tips

Kids who like to engage in active play now are likely to stay active and be physically fit in the future. Walking, playing, exploring your backyard or using playground equipment at a local park can be fun for the entire family.
Also, these games provide fun and fitness for parents and toddlers:

• Walk like a penguin, hop like a frog, or imitate other animals' movements.
• Sit facing each other and hold hands. Rock back and forth and sing the song "Row, row, row your boat."
• Bend at the waist and touch the ground. Walk your hands forward and inch along like a caterpillar.
• Sit on the ground and let your child step over your legs, or make a bridge with your body and let your child crawl under.
• Play follow the leader, "Ring around the rosy," and other similar games.
• Listen to music and dance together.

The possibilities are endless — come up with your own active ideas or follow your child's lead. Also, limit the amount of time your child spends watching TV (including DVDs and videos) or playing on a computer.

Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Medical Editor, KidsHealth
Nemours Center for Children's Health Media
Division of General Pediatrics
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Wilmington, DE

Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating out
Resource: United States Department of Agriculture/ChooseMyPlate.Gov

• As a beverage choice, ask for water or order fat-free or low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks without added sugars.
• Ask for whole-wheat bread for sandwiches.
• In a restaurant, start your meal with a salad packed with veggies, to help control hunger and feel satisfied sooner.
• Ask for salad dressing to be served on the side. Then use only as much as you want.
• Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce.
• Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
• Choose a small" or "medium" portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages.
• Order an item from the menu instead heading for the "all-you-can-eat" buffet.
• If main portions at a restaurant are larger than you want, try one of these strategies to keep from overeating:
• Order an appetizer-sized portion or a side dish instead of an entrée.
• Share a main dish with a friend.
• If you can chill the extra food right away, take leftovers home in a "doggy bag."
• When your food is delivered, set aside or pack half of it to go immediately.
• Resign from the "clean your plate club" - when you've eaten enough, leave the rest.
• To keep your meal moderate in calories, fat, and sugars:
• Ask for salad dressing to be served "on the side" so you can add only as much as you want.
• Order foods that do not have creamy sauces or gravies
• Add little or no butter to your food.
• Choose fruits for dessert most often.
• On long commutes or shopping trips, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, low-fat string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts to help you avoid stopping for sweet or fatty snacks.

5 Surprising Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

Beat the weight loss plateau

By Denny Watkins
From Health magazine

You’ve been walking the straight and narrow—counting calories, working out—and yet you’re not dropping pounds. What gives? The answer may be hiding out amid the random things you do over the course of an average day—those little habits that have seemingly no connection to weight loss, but may in fact be sabotaging your best get-fit efforts.

Ask yourself these questions, and if you answer yes to any of them, you may have found your personal diet defeaters. Outwit them and you’ll soon be back on track to a leaner, fitter you.

Do you always eat "healthy"?

A funny thing happens when you focus on making careful diet decisions. If you just "think" of your meal as a light choice, it can cause your brain to make more of the hormone ghrelin, reports a study from Yale University.

"More ghrelin makes you feel less full and signals your metabolism to slow down," says study author and PhD candidate Alia Crum. To keep your ghrelin balanced, focus on the more indulgent parts of your meal—say, the nuts and cheese on your salad, rather than the lettuce.

It also helps to pick foods that are both healthy and seem like a treat, like a warm bowl of soup with crusty whole-grain bread.

Do you pay with plastic?

Carrying cash may feel a little last century, but people who use a credit card when grocery shopping buy significantly more unhealthy, calorie-dense food than people who pay cash, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Junk-food buyers were perfectly aware of the extra calories and cost of those treats, but since they didn’t feel the immediate hit in the wallet, they gave in more easily to impulse buys, explains study co-author Kalpesh Desai, PhD, associate professor of marketing at Binghamton University.

Do you think about exercise a lot?

There’s a downside to that, says a new French study: Simply thinking about exercise can cause you to eat 50% more. Why? People assume that the upcoming workout gives them license to snack.

Avoid excessive munching with a pre-gym snack of no more than 150 calories, advises Keri Glassman, RD, author of The Snack Factor Diet. Try two slices of turkey with whole-grain crackers.

Are you laser-focused at work?

Sit for just a few hours and your body stops making a fat-inhibiting enzyme called lipase, researchers at the University of Missouri–Columbia found.

Stand and stretch every hour, and you’ll boost your metabolism by about 13%, says research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Or, fidget all day (tap your feet or bounce in your chair) and increase calorie burn by 54%.

Do you sleep too little?

"Not enough shut-eye puts your body into a carb- and fat-craving survival mode," says Michael Breus, PhD, author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan. A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who slept fewer than four hours ate 300 more calories and 21 more grams of fat the next day.

Try this to gauge your sleep needs: For a week, go to bed seven and a half hours before you need to get up. If you awaken before the alarm, you can get by with less sleep. But if you hit snooze, you may need eight, even nine, hours a night to wake up refreshed, recharged, and ready to burn some fat.

15 Ideas for Family Fitness
Kids these days are spending too much time sitting still, and it’s becoming a major health risk. American children 8 years old and above spend an average of 6.5 hours a day engaging with media technologies including watching TV, using the computer and playing video games.1 Studies have shown that the more TV kids watch, the more likely they are to be overweight.  Increasing physical activity improves cardiovascular fitness, helps prevent obesity, promotes a healthy lifestyle, boosts self-esteem and confidence, and reduces stress. You don’t need to have a lot of fancy equipment or a membership at a health club—there are many ways to make your family’s lifestyle more active.

To overcome resistance from reluctant youngsters, it helps to make the activity fun. For example, don’t just run with a young child—run like a penguin or hop like a kangaroo! Or have a destination like the park or zoo!

Here are 15 ideas for getting your family on the move:

1. Take active vacations (hiking, swimming, skiing).

2. At the mall or when running errands, use the stairs rather than the elevator. Get pedometers and have a contest to see who takes the most steps in a given week.

3.        •

4. Start a new tradition: take the whole family out for an after-dinner walk around the neighborhood or park.

5. Take on active chores as a family (gardening, raking leaves, shoveling snow, or washing the car).

6. Spend an afternoon at the local playground.

7. Play a sport together (basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, touch football).

8. Dance to your favorite music.

9. Go for a family bike ride.

10. Plant a family garden.

11. Play miniature golf.

12. Go to the zoo.

13. Take the dog for a long walk.

14. Whenever possible, walk short distances rather than using your car. When you drive, park a little farther away from the store.

15. Play games that your kids love (tag, Simon Says, Red Light- Green Light, Duck-Duck Goos

Source: www.pta.org (National PTA®)

New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year is a time for new beginnings! For the Y – a leading nonprofit that strengthens community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility – one of the most important resolutions is to resolve to make positive changes that strengthen individuals as well as entire communities. Following are five New Year’s Resolutions the Y recommends for 2012:   

1.    Live Healthier – Achieving greater health and well-being is all about taking small steps. Take care of your health by eating nutritious foods and being physically active each day – experts recommend 30 minutes of daily physical activity for adults and 60 minutes for kids. This can be achieved throughout the day by incorporating physical activity into your daily routines (i.e., taking stairs instead of elevators, walking instead of driving, etc.) The Y offers many fun opportunities for individuals and families to be active. Visit http://www.charlottecountyymca.com/ to learn more.

2.    Volunteer – Doing good feels good, and giving back to support neighbors benefits everyone involved. Volunteering also provides individuals the opportunity to meet new people and to develop new relationships. Find an opportunity in your community that you may enjoy, such as cleaning your neighborhood park or distributing food at a local food bank. Volunteer opportunities are available at our Y for child watch, giving tours and the Y-READS program.  Contact your branch for an application.

3.    Help Inspire Children and Teens, Be a Mentor – Children and teens often need caring adults to look up to and seek guidance. By nurturing our youth, we can help them strive to accomplish success and reach their full potential. Whether a relative or neighbor, use your experience and talent to help youth realize who they are and what they can be. The Charlotte County Family YMCA offers a variety of mentoring programs. Learn more at http://www.charlottecountyymca.com/. 

4.    Learn Something New – Step out of your comfort zone, have fun and grow by exploring personal interests. Is there a swimming, Zumba or painting class you’ve always wanted to take? Try something new that you’ve always wanted to do, to build your spirit, mind or body. Find opportunities at the Charlotte County Family YMCA.

5.    Spend Time with Family and Friends – Socializing is good for your well-being and spending time with the people you care most about really helps strengthen meaningful relationships. It also helpful to have a community of people you can reach out to during times of need. So, try to carve out time each month, depending on your schedule, to connect with family and friends, and to get involved with community organizations, such as the Charlotte County Family YMCA.

Childhood Obesity: An epidemic we can't ignore.

The Y recommends reading the Surgeon Generals "Call to Action" with ideas and tips on how to prevent and overcome obesity.  One of the main I things a parent can do is set a good example.  A parent certainly wouldn't let their young child smoke cigarettes, but getting them set up at an early age for heart disease may be more harmful than that.  Here are my favorite tips from the Call of Action:
1.  Stock the refrigerator/cabinets with healthy foods.  Of coarse a child will pick cookies over veggies if given the choice!  If it's not in the house, they won't eat it and will be forced to choose something healthy if they are really hungry.  (Whining may happen, but oh well.  If they whined for cigarettes, it would be a hands down NO!)
2.  Discourage eating in front of the TV.  I know that when I'm distracted, I eat faster, and this goes for children too.  By slowing down and listening to their bodies, they will know when they are full.
3.  Don't use food as a reward or withhold it as a punishment.  I'm guilty of this one: "Finish your dinner or you won't get dessert!"  This trains kids that they should eat when they are not hungry to get dessert.  If dessert is a reward, it's associated with feeling good, hence "Comfort Food."
4.  Be active for at least 60 minutes a day.  This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's something that many kids aren't doing.  Provide safe environments for kids to play (swimming, biking, etc.) and have certain hours of the day where no tv or video games are allowed.  (If whining ensues, see #1.)

Even with extremely overweight children, weight loss should be gradual.  You should never put a child on a strict diet (unless supervised by a physician) but you should teach them healthy eating habits right from the start.  While my kids and I aren't overweight, we do eat quite a bit of fast food and it's something that I know I need to change.  Now.
-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

Gym Shoes!

I've got to admit, shopping for gym shoes can be challenging.  There are so many brands and styles to choose from that it can be overwhelming. 
Here are a few tips that I have to make it a little less painful:
1.  Find brands you like and stick with it.  My favorite brands are Saucony and Avia because they fit my feet well.  New Balance has cute styles but they don't fit well on me so I don't bother.  This helps narrow it down!
2.  Walmart and store brands are great for lots of things, but I don't recommend it for workout shoes.  It's worth the investment in decent shoes because it affects your feet and knees and you'll go through them so quickly that you'll have wished you'd gotten better shoes in the first place.
3.  Look for sales!  You don't need to purchase the new style $150 shoes to get a decent pair.  Outlet stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx sell name brand shoes for less.
4.  My (humble) opinion is that shoes do not need to be "broken in."  If they are uncomfortable in the store, don't buy them.
5.  This may seem obvious, but bring a pair of socks that you normally wear to the store to try on with the shoes.

What is your favorite brand?
-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

REAL Zumba Video

I love how this video shows real people doing Zumba, not only Fitness Models. This is what a real Zumba class is like- there are people of all ages and levels. It's really fun and not intimidating at all. (You can always stand in the back if you're nervous!) Zumba is included in your membership! If you're not a member, you can try out a class for free:
Franz Ross Park YMCA: Wednesdays at 7:45pm, Fridays at 6:15pm and Saturdays at 9:35am.
North Port YMCA: Wednesdays at 10am and Saturdays at 11am.
Punta Gorda YMCA: Mondays at 5pm, Wednesdays at 9:45am and Fridays at 8:30am.
-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

4 Healthy Tips for the 4th

Don't worry, one day of indulging isn't going to undo all of your hard work, but that doesn't mean you should go crazy and eat everything in sight.  Here are my 4 Healthy Tips for enjoying the 4th of July:
1.  Drink lots of water.  Before you arrive to the party, bring a 16 oz bottle of water and drink it.  Before dessert, drink another 16 oz.  Often times we are really thirsty and we eat instead.  Try not to waste calories on sugary drinks or beer.
2.  Start a healthy tradition.  The City of North Port is having their 4th Annual Firecracker 5k Run this year at Dallas White Park at 7:30am.  (Only $15 and you can sign up the day of!) Waking up early and walking/running 3.1 miles will surely make you feel great and think twice about what you eat the rest of the day.  Ok, maybe until 11am, but still... 
3.  Moderation.  Are those cute American Flag cupcakes haunting you?  Have half of one.  Still hungry?  Dig into that fruit salad for something sweet and healthy.  Try to use a small plate if possible.
4.  Do not keep (or take home) left-overs.  If those beautiful cupcakes from #3 sit in your refrigerator, you're going to eat them.  (Do not "keep them for the kids." ha!)  Send them home with other guests or (gasp!) throw them away.  By Tuesday when you're ready to go back to the Y you'll be really grateful you did.
-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

Gym Etiquette...for Dummies!

Great (perhaps obvious) tips by the "For Dummies" series: Mastering Gym Etiquette - For Dummies. 
My favorite tip: When you've removed a weight plate from a bar or when you finish using a pair of dumbbells, return the weights to their designated spot on the rack. Never leave dumbbells or barbells on the floor when you're finished using them. Someone may trip on the weights.

-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

I Hate to Exercise.

Ok, I don't anymore, but I used to.  Years ago just the thought of working out made me tired.  After taking care of the kids all day and cooking and cleaning and all the other stuff I had to do, the last thing I wanted to do was go to the gym.  My energy hit an all-time low and I was feeling depressed.  I knew that exercise would help, but I just didn't know how to get motivated.  At a conference I heard some advice that for me would be life-changing.  If you like music, only listen to it at the gym.  Books on tape?  Only listen to it at the gym.  TV?  Only watch it while your at the gym.  It could even work for a favorite game you like to play on your phone.  It seemed so simple so I tried it, and you know what?  It worked.  I downloaded some really great songs and only allowed myself to listen to it at the Y.  Pretty soon I was also addicted to the feeling I had on days I worked out.  (The few hours of free childwatch didn't hurt either!)  What could be your motivation?

-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

Running for Kids

We all know that kids who are active are healthier than those that are sedentary.  However, due to budget cuts, many physical fitness programs in schools are being cut leaving it up to the parents to help get their children moving after school.  The local Zoomers Running Club is finishing up a Youth Fun Run Series for kids where kids met up once a week for 5 weeks by the North Port YMCA to run one-mile.  After their last run they will have a pool party!  All for only $5! 

Before getting your child in any physical fitness program, make sure to consult their pediatrician.  Also make sure they are wearing good quality running shoes that fit properly and encourage them to stretch properly before and after their run.  If you are also a runner, this can be a great opportunity for you and your child to bond!
-Jeannine Borasch, MS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion