I've Fallen off the (Workout) Wagon!

I applaud you wanting to get back into it! I think everyone falls off the wagon now and again.
This is not to sound mean, just blunt:
Don't talk about how you're not working out. Don't talk about being unmotivated. Don't even THINK "Oh, gee, it's been six months since I worked out." Just do it. Stop thinking. Right now!! As you are reading this!! Get up and do 10 jumping jacks. Do 3 push ups (not the girly kind either). Do 10 crunches. Take as long as you need. I'll be waiting right here.

Okay, are you back?

Congratulations, you just DID SOMETHING!! And that something is better than the nothing you have been doing!!

Doing nothing begats doing more nothing. And doing something begats doing more something. Don't think so much and DO more!!

Sorry if I'm sounding like a crazy person here, I just finished a workout myself and maybe the old adrenaline is a little high and the blood sugar is a little low.
Good luck! I'm proud of you!

Just letting you know , you're not alone. I've only been to the gym once since we got back from spring break.

Browse the workouts on beachbody.com. They have P90X and a whole host of other workouts that are awesome and you can do at home. I did 2 series of P90X (awesome!) and now I'm in my 2nd week of Slim in 6. It's great too. They also have great vitamins and supplements that are all natural and safe to help your metabolism get started.

Best thing that ever worked for me? a couch to 5k program for my ipod touch on the high school track while my daughter was at her swim practice. {I just found I had to get me ready for my run FIRST then start the nag fest to get her to the potty and her swim suit and out the door.}

Now I need to figure out how to change to mornings.

Hi Catherine,
I too had fallen off the wagon for almost a year after a lifetime of always being in great shape. In my case it was having a baby and the resulting lack of sleep. Lately I've been determined to get out three days a week and get in a work out. What has worked best is running with my little. I walk/run to a local park then do pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, dips, etc on the playground equipment. My daughter thinks I'm playing and I get a great workout in.

There's always a personal trainer option. You can always have one come to your place. Convenient and you can't cancel *grin*.

I agree with some of the other ladies. I've been working out with Jillian Michaels DVDs for a while. Though I find her rather obnoxious, her workouts are effective. I also like Bob Harper's videos. I find that it's easier if I work out with a buddy and since none of my real-life buddies workout, I turn on my "friends" on the DVD.

The other thing that really helps me is to be really consistent about when in the day I exercise. That way, I don't put it off until the sun goes down because I know when my workout time is every day. Good luck! Every little bit helps!

I didn't read all your answers, so sorry if this is a repeat. I love Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. It's 27 minutes, from warm up to cool down, generally free on "ondemand" or $7.95 at Target and it gets you in SHAPE! I did it for almost 30 days and I lost 5 pounds within 2 weeks and my arms looked AMAZING! I plan to start it again tonight or tomorrow.

Also, there's this great web site, myfitnesspal.com which it a community of people who (for the most part) want to be healthy and in shape. You "friend" people, like on facebook, and it has a great newsfeed type thing where people can post struggles, successes, suggestions, etc. You can "post" questions like you did here, and get tons of responses on different ideas.

Best of luck!

Okay, do you have the guts to do this? This works if you LOVE to dance.

Put some great dance music on your Ipod, and go skipping. I actually call it skip-dancing. I made it up. Although I read in a magazine once about another woman who does it. So there are two of us. Wanna join our club? You literally skip/dance to the beat of the music you are listening to, around your neighborhood. You have to not be afraid to look like a fool. It's exercise, without the torture.

Think of the early Ipod commercials. Kind of like that. And it's 1000 times more fun that running, and a better workout.

Sara G...you have motivated me! If you don't do that for a living you should really look into doing something with your talent. Man I want to run around this afternoon...even in the rain!

Yes - running! It'll whip you into shape like nothing else!

Maybe Google 'cool running couch to 5k' and follow that. It is a 10? week program and the schedule could keep you motivated.

Start with small goals, such as "I am going to exercise three times this week."

Have a gym bag packed and ready either in the car or by the door so there is NO excuse!

Get a cool new water bottle or load up the iPod with new music. Heck, buy a new sports bra or shirt.

Always remember this - even though you may have let yourself go for 6 months, you KNOW what your body is capable of doing and looking like when you get back into the swing of things. You WILL get your awesome hot bod back, just keep working at it, and that could also be a source of motivation.

If you need to motivate yourself with money, join a gym. You'll get annoyed if you're not going, yet throwing your money away on a membership you don't use.

Good luck getting back into it - your fellow gym-girls here support you 100%!

What I like to do is sign up for races. That way, I have a goal to keep excersising until the race. And then after that race is over I sign up for another one. I just ran a half marathon May 1st! And signed up for two more races, a 5k and another half marathon. I try to run 3 times a week, do at least one cardio kickboxing workout (Jillian Michaels is hardcore and the video is only 25 mins), and I do some light yoga 4-5 times per week. This is my new training routine. I have to fit in my exercise during my sons nap. Some days it's hard, I'm tired or busy, but having that race day deadline keeps me on track! Good luck!

Funny, I'm FORCING myself to take a rest week, and I'm going nuts. I feel like such a blob, and I've only taken 7 days off.

Anyway.
My routines consist of heavy weights - total body (which builds in cardio too) 2-3x/week
The other 3 days are either step aerobics, TaeBo or bootcamp.

I'm going to start back with TaeBo. It's my old reliable a** kicker. These days, I get sick of it quickly, but that's where I'll start until I need to change cardio pace.

I'm a Cathe Friedrich JUNKIE for weights, and have everything in my basement. So I'll be doing STS Total Body and High Reps for the weight component.

I know how hard it is to get back to your exercise routine after you've been gone a while!
If you like to move to music and get a great workout you might like to try Jazzercise . You'll Stretch, do cardio, use weights, floor work and some classes use the palates ball. They offer different types of workouts. Some offer child care while you're working out. There are morning & evening classes in Elk Grove @ 8920 Emerald Park Dr. and some just a short drive into Sac. Cheryl Burke from Dancing with the Stars is the spokes person for Jazzercise and you know what kind of shape she's in!!
It's just great FUN and you'll meet new friends .Check it out at jazzercise.com .
It's never too late to start back into exercise even if you only have time to walk the dog.I know there are lots of trails in your area.
Well, I've got to get ready to Jazzercise . Good luck and once you start back into your routine , it will become easier. K. P

My mainstays are walking and yoga.....

I was just recently bedridden for more than 2 months and started back walking about 2 weeks ago and yoga this past week. It feels soooo good to be stretching and moving again.

Start out with 10 minutes and increase by 10 minutes so you don't hurt yourself. Your muscles and ligaments will remember, but give them time to strengthen.

I have had so many friends jump right back into their old exercise regimes and within weeks have injured or pulled or sprained something.

Be good to yourself!!

maybe get your self a nice new workout outfit (this always encourages me to work out) as for workout I LOVE the jillian michaels DVDs (even though I hate the biggest looser...I think it gives a lot of missing leading information to fill time for corperate sponser) I did the 30 day shred for a while and now am into the yoga dvd.

Sara's right: you really can't beat running for fast results. It's the exercise I love to hate. =)

I've always worked out, too...when I hit a rut, it's time to change it up. I used to beat myself up over needing to do X for X amount of time for it to "count", but after pregnancies I have a much more flexible approach. Just do something! I started w/Pilates (10 minute Solution Rapid Results Pilates is available to watch instantly on Netflix!) bc it requires no equipment or special clothes - even shoes! I could do it on my livingroom floor in my PJs, which was perfect. According to Joseph Pilates:

"In ten sessions, you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you'll have a whole new body."

It's the truth!

So I did that for awhile, it was great, esp in the winter, but now spring is here and I want to MOVE! So when I'm playing w/my son, I sneak in some Pilates moves and then in the evenings I'll be getting back out to run (notice that was future tense - ha!). When all else fails, a personal dance party is fully in order - you can set up your own playlist at Grooveshark.com

Good luck and have fun!

Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred video is the BEST! I love being able to work out whenever I can squeeze it in --no trekking to the gym --and it WORKS!

Chalene Johnson and her turbo jam!! I have 4 kids and am in the same boat! I PROMISE U WOULDN'T REGRET IT!!!!!