Mad Manatee Mentors v.2 thr.3 CLOSED (Poptart/pet pic bribes considered) (Page 40)

Hahaha!

Mary, I can only tell you my experience.  And to be fair, I have people to strength train with, so that was my initial motivation.  But I have noticed a HUGE difference in everything since starting strength training.  My swim has improved by ~10s per 100m.  I have lost weight.  I took 10 min off my HM time.  My muscle imbalances have improved, lowering my (used to be really high) injury risk.  Heck, just walking up the stairs to the parking lot after swimming is easier since my right hip has gotten stronger.  My bad knee hurts less often.  I will drop strength when the tri season starts, but on the off season, I am doing them.  

So after all that rambling...can you find someone to work with at the gym?  Maybe there are trainers that will work with you as part of your membership?   Are you doing them at home on your own--can you watch a fun show while doing exercises?  What about a reward system--each week you do both your strength sessions you get to eat, buy, watch XYZ?  

Dude, Ben, I feel ya on the kids bringing out exactly how sore you are. My nieces have been climbing all over me and making me run "faster!" on the beach. Ow. Ow. Ow.

The oldest (6) has also decided that, "If I want to get faster I need to run a lot more and a lot faster. Starting today." and that "I need to get more sleep and drink more water in order to win more trophies." Which she thinks I "don't have nearly enough." 

She was horrified that I did not win the marathon. 

Snicker.  Hilarious.  Horrified!

Hahahahahaha! Kids are awesome! So they don't agree with your pre-race beer strategy?

Oh, so since I've been sidelined I've rather enjoyed having more wine! )I normally rarely drink beer or wine because even without them I have a heck of a time keeping up with my hydration.) I guess that's one positive to having an injury

i don't understand that statement at all!

That's great!  You've clearly taught her to have high expectations of you. 

Haha! Mine just keep getting me sick. Some little cold this week, has been much worse in the past. I like never missed a day of work before my sister had kids.

What don't you like about it?  Do you not like going to the gym to do it?  Do you not like doing it when Alex is around?  

I couldn't resist and I was pretty sure that Darren wouldn't take offense 

10:17 on a Friday night. Dare I even attempt to catch up?

Gooooo, Melanie and Stacey! Enjoy the heck out of your racy selves.

Awwww....DLers. (we need a little nurse emoticon!)

GO PEACH MELBO!!!
GO STACE FACE!!! Quite sad I'm not there with you this year, but we'll do another event together tomorrow anyway

Aw! Way too long DL list! (Crap, just my D's are too long!) Keep healing and resting!!!

I don't like how weak I feel when I can't do the exercises as well as I think I should.  I do them at home and Alex usually isn't around; if he is, he'll go in the other room.  Haven't tried cranking up some music.  That might help me get through it.  It's the starting that's the problem.

I guess what I'm really asking is more how any of you motivate yourselves to do a workout you don't want to do, regardless of what it is.  Maybe I just need to remind myself that my coach is giving them to me for a reason, in particular to address a weakness I specifically said I knew needed to be addressed (core strengthening to help my back, hip strengthening for my weak L hip), so I just need to HTFU, do the dang workouts and stop whining. 

Kirsten, you suggested the rewards thing.  That's a good idea.  It sure worked for me when I was getting started so maybe I'll try that again.

I guess my motivator for things I don't want to do but know I should is the reward.  Or sometimes the lack of (self-imposed) penalty.   There are days when I absolutely don't want to get up and go swimming.  But I know if I don't, I will be mad at myself later.  Or sometimes I feel too tired to run, but I know if I do I will feel energized. 

And you might feel weak right now, but that is because the area IS weak.  That's kinda the point, no?     Can you congratulate yourself for doing the exercises, in spite of the fact that you don't feel like you are doing them well enough?  Or, do the workout, then come and tell us about them and have us congratulate you . 

Mary, think of how you felt a couple of years ago. Think of all the steps that have led to this point. And ask yourself, what kind of result have you seen? Now it is time to take another step. Think of how much further you want to go, what more you want to be able to do. Remember too that this is not entirely about the end result, it is about the journey. Each step in the journey leads us to a better place, and it is a reward in and of itself.

Now, in so far as the daily motivator to get each workout done, well that is a tough one. Little rewards along the way to get you going might be a tactic. Break each workout down into segments and commit to the first 5 minutes. Get through each segment and you'll be done with the workout in no time. Distraction with music or TV or a movie might work also.

WOOT WOOT!  Happy birthday!  It'll be good to see you around more - and maybe even doing a tri!  Does that mean that you'll stalk yourself?

Mine's tomorrow, but I don't age up.  

Hope you enjoyed the cake!

(my sis in Boston sent us a half dozen lobsters for a b-day/christmas gift.  Although I love Tejas, the touch of "home" was a much welcomed reminiscence - followed by a "Nothing Bundt Cakes" local dessert!  Aahhh, good times)

Matt

I have to put it on my calendar.  I'm pretty good at attending meetings with myself ;-)

What I was getting at when I asked what you don't like about it is that there are many ways to skin a cat.  Do you not like free weights?  Do you not like machines?  Do you not like yoga?  I used to go to Gold's Gym and they had a setup with 8-10 machines numbered and I could just bang that out before or after my spin class. That was easy for this non weights person so that worked well for me.  Right now, I'm enjoying TRX (still figuring it out though).  I think that we (Manatees, Tess, etc.) just need to help you come up with something that you like (tolerate) a bit more.

Careful, you'll give Dazzers another heart-attack-like-thingy come over West and do one with me and Stace Face!

HAPPY HALF A, JOJO!!!!

Heh, time to trot out this oldie but goodie (why not?)

Motivation: 9 Tips to Get Going in Winter or Whenever

You've gotten great advice (as usual). Find a way to enjoy it. You can also bribe yourself with rewards although ultimately for it to be sustainable it needs to become its own reward.

I don't remember one training session of anything or even one race this last year that I had the motivation to do or wanted to do. Ask Stace Face, I DID NOT want to do Ironman WA that morning, would have been perfectly happy to miss my own bloody (and it was bloody!) wedding

I probably seem to be brimming with over-enthusiasm. I actually do, but I work hard at it. I really focus on the SPIRIT of the thing (whatever thing it is) and the fact that I wind up LOVING the experience and especially the result.

I can't wait for, or work up, motivation. It's never going to come. I just have to stick my foot out there and do whatever it is that needs doing. Act first, then the feelings do come later. I can't make it work for myself the other way around.

Happy birthday!!

Good to hear from you again!