This thread is a great idea, Erin -- I'm on board!
I've also made health and wellness one of my major areas of focus for this year. My goal is to significantly alter my diet, engage in a daily fitness regime, and lose 30 lbs during the next six months.
I officially kick-started my efforts a few weeks ago. In addition to changing my diet (I'm going with the "Zone" for now), I've managed to get out running 5-6 days a week (I'm now up to 2-3 miles), and I work out at the gym 3-4 days a week. So far, the results have been encouraging: I've lost 5 lbs in about 3 weeks (I started out at 215 and am now at 210).
Each day I remind myself that a few minutes of pain while running and/or working out is a price worth paying for optimal health -- and maybe even keeping myself alive. My family's health legacy has been a major motivator. My dad suffered a heart attack a few years ago, my mom's two brothers had heart attacks in their late 40s, and my mom's father had multiple heart attacks. I'm only 46 -- I sure don't want to be next!
Another thing that has worked well for me is to crank up my portable mp3 player to full volume when I run or work out -- the more intense the music the better. Metallica's latest album, "Death Magnetic," usually does the trick... It may sound a bit morbid, but it works for me! My ears have been ringing a bit lately though... :-)
It would be interesting to hear what other forum visitors do to motivate themselves.
- Steve
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