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Thursday three

[ 16 ] 01/21/2010 |

Well good morning to you, and you and you over there in the cubicle at work. Welcome back to another Thursday Three here at Shrinking Jeans where we list three things to chat about. Yes, we want you to join in on the list of three too! After all, it is all about sharing, right?

This past week we have spoken a lot about what motivates us with our Monday projects and motivational walls. It all got me thinking, “what keeps me motivated when working out?” Of course I was thinking about this in the shower and not while I was working out.

Here are my 3 things that keep me motivated while working out, what’s yours? We could ALL use some help with it, right?

1) Music. Music is a must when trying to stay moving. I like all types of music but when exercising I have to have something loud, pumping and something with a great beat.

My 3 faves this week:

  • Lady Gaga- Bad Romance
  • Anything from the Black  Eyed Peas
  • JayZ and Alicia Keys- Empire state of mind

2) I have favorite exercises that I really do enjoy to do. Doing something that I enjoy keeps me going and in turn encourages me to stay at it.

  • The Wii
  • Butterflies and chest presses
  • Reverse crunches

3) While working out there is a lot to think about, is there not? Mental imagery keeps me going. I daydream quite a bit, maybe too much. Here are my top 3 mental images to keep my head in the game:

  • I have a photo of me at my junior prom. I look fabulous. Like amazing. I was at my thinnest, but too bad back then I thought I was fat.  Often I think of that day and strive to be that healthy again
  • My children. I picture myself in a few years with them and I want them to have memories of  me healthy and active.
  • Almost daily I picture my husband and I in Mexico where I can be in a swimsuit without fear, not just while exercising.  I’ll get there (Mexico) I hope.

Well there you go, there are the three things (with a list of three) that keep me motivated during exercise. What’s yours?

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Category: Crooked Eyebrow, Fitness, MIND IT, The Sisterhood, Thursday Three

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  • Tobey13

    Reverse crunches as a favorite? Oi!! No way, no how, not happening for me though I applaud you for it!

  • BrookeF

    1) the song “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. Its the one and only slow song on my IPod. I needed it to help me defeat the giant of the half marathon.

    “the giant's calling out to me and he laughs at me reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed…you'll never win…but the Voice of Truth tells me a different story…”

    a link to the video if you wanna here the whole song. http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=aaccd2…

    2) My mantra – I sorta just made it up, but all the components are constantly floating around in my head.

    I can. I have. I will.

    3)I run…from moodiness.

    Quite literally. I fight anxiety and the blues often. Running and staying active is my medication – partly because it helps me believe in myself, I might actually be half decent. But also physcially I just feel better.

    Give me my 10 pounds back and I would totally still exercise. For my (and Jay's) mental health and well being its a must!

  • http://www.icommit2befit.blogspot.com Meg @ I commit 2 be fit

    Hey gals & guys! I did a blog post about my Thursday Three so come on ova & Ck it out!! :)

    http://icommit2befit.blogspot.com/2010/01/thurs…

  • crookedeyebrow

    yeah, for some reason I have always liked them. Odd, huh? but I should have flat abs now…

  • crookedeyebrow

    Brooke I wish i could hug you. You are more than just half decent. Never forget that.
    and I just might steal your mantra, because I love it.

    good for you!

  • BrookeF

    for whatever reason i can't comment on your blog…but skinny jeans are a great motivator!!

    i purchased my first and only pair of matchstick cut jeans while we were in california and i love them. for a bottom heavy girl to be able to wear skinny jeans – its quite ground breaking!!

  • kay6672

    No time to blog. To busy researching plans for next January – squeeeee!!!!! But, to honor the Thursday Three:

    1. my Ipod — doesn't particularly matter what's on it at this point. Sometimes podcasts, sometimes music, sometimes books. Although I have found that weights and comedy audiobooks don't work well together — every time you start laughing and snorting your arms completely give way. Just saying…

    2. envisioning the finish line — when I'm still about a mile out, and starting to lag, I imagine I'm in my last mile of my race. And how I want to finish strong and steady, and of all the people that will have waited around for hours cheering me on. Don't suppose you all want to come to Edinburgh in June to wait around all night to cheer me on, do you??

    3. having a deadline — I'm not merely exercising, I have a race I'm training for. And that has made all the difference in the world to my motivation. An exercise session is easy to skip, or put off until tomorrow. But a training plan is vital to your success.

    OK, that's nearly a blog post in itself, but there you have it!

  • Lisa_ShrinkingJeans

    3 things that motivate me while exercising:

    1. Music (me too!). I typically like running to fast songs with a hard beat. However, my power songs are almost always ballads/slower songs with a good beat and usually strike a chord deep inside of me, for whatever reason.

    Current favorites- Lullaby by Dixie Chicks, Amazing Grace by Leann Rimes, Hallejuah by Jeff Buckley, and Stand by Me by Ben E King.

    2. Breaking a good sweat keeps me going.

    3. Imagining my body the way I want it to be. Focusing on my toned arms becoming even more toned, imagining the fat on my thighs diminishing, and the muffin top shrinking even more than it has shrunk.

    But the music is my #1 motivator.

  • crookedeyebrow

    awesome 3!

  • crookedeyebrow

    great 3!

    I wish we all good be there to cheer you on!

  • http://thesassymama.blogspot.com Heather
  • anng

    http://ann-shesgonnablow.blogspot.com/2010/01/3…

    Finally got my 3 motivators done….

  • http://christy.shrinkingjeans.net Christy_TheSistherhood

    Love this post, Donya!

    The three things that keep me motivated?
    1. Finally reaching my goal. I've worked so hard to get there, and I know I will, and I'll look awesome *because* of working out!
    2. When I'm running, definitely music. When I'm using EA SPORTS Active MW”, the variety keeps me moving! It's different everyday!
    3. My kids. They keep me motivated because they cheer me on, ask me questions, and get excited about working out or running with me. I LOVE THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING!!!

  • http://www.littleladybugthatcould.blogspot.com ladybugs714

    Ohh….my 3 top motivators are (they may not be the most positive of motivators but they work for me)

    1) Looking down at my lower belly bulge….which seems even bigger when and working towards the day it doesn't look like I'm 4 months pregnant.

    2) Thinking of my upcoming 15 yr reunion this summer…and wanting everyone to think I looked better then I did at the 10 yr!

    3) I agree with CE on the bathing suit thing…I bought a bikini for last year, but never got around to being comfortable enough to wear it. This year WILL be different!

  • http://christy.shrinkingjeans.net Christy_TheSistherhood

    Love this post, Donya!

    The three things that keep me motivated?
    1. Finally reaching my goal. I've worked so hard to get there, and I know I will, and I'll look awesome *because* of working out!
    2. When I'm running, definitely music. When I'm using EA SPORTS Active MW”, the variety keeps me moving! It's different everyday!
    3. My kids. They keep me motivated because they cheer me on, ask me questions, and get excited about working out or running with me. I LOVE THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING!!!

  • http://www.littleladybugthatcould.blogspot.com ladybugs714

    Ohh….my 3 top motivators are (they may not be the most positive of motivators but they work for me)

    1) Looking down at my lower belly bulge….which seems even bigger when and working towards the day it doesn't look like I'm 4 months pregnant.

    2) Thinking of my upcoming 15 yr reunion this summer…and wanting everyone to think I looked better then I did at the 10 yr!

    3) I agree with CE on the bathing suit thing…I bought a bikini for last year, but never got around to being comfortable enough to wear it. This year WILL be different!