Determined To Succeed

As I was working out today a few random thoughts came to my head. And not the standard question of the “did I leave the iron on” variety. No, I mean things like…

…ok, I am really sick and tired of the equipment not being repaired in a timely fashion at the gym. I am so sick and tired of having only one elliptical and one treadmill working and wondering 1) when are those going to break down 2) why do I have to pay for equipment that’s broken and 3) when the hell are they going to be fixed.

…hmmmm. These new airport body scanners. I agree we need them for a good long time to come (maybe even more) until we can determine with as close to 100% assurance we are safe in the skies. And no matter whether it happens to me or not, or whether I get pulled over for additional random search, at least it’s happening to others and that makes me feel safer.

…why is “Avatar” making so much money? I guess I don’t see the big deal in this movie but others think it is amazing. It is on a technical level but break it down for story and it leaves me cold. Also, I hope it doesn’t beat “Titanic” at the box office.

…CNN is reporting on a guy who affixes cameras to animals to see things from their point of view and that is getting press. SIgh. I know I’m in PR but sometimes they report on the craziest crap. And how do I get that attention for my website? Do I need to make a viral YouTube video of me doing something nutty while wearing my website t-shirt? And what would that be? Working out on the elliptical outdoors in sub-freezing temps in nothing but basketball shorts and my t-shirt while singing “Empire State of Mind” at the top of my lungs?

Why tell you all of this? Why give you this sneak peak into my mind? Because it’s thoughts like these that help pass the time during a workout. I love it when my mind chews on something so much I don’t think about my exercise goal. I just think about other stuff. Then, before I know it, I’m almost done with (or further past) my goal for the day. I don’t feel winded, or overworked, mentally or physically. I just feel great.

I’ve always said you need some good tunes on your ipod to help give you good motivation during a workout. But no matter whether you use a TV, ipod, book (although I do not know how some people read on a treadmill or other equipment), etc., whatever helps motivate you is cool.

What do you use to help get you going? Do you use certain songs? Or watch a particular TV show? Sometimes I even use negative feelings to fuel a workout. That’s OK, too. It’s better than using them to shove food into my mouth. Take a survey of those around you today. Ask people what things motivate them to action, even an action like simply tapping their feet. It’s interesting, no? I think so anyway.

As we embrace week two of 2010 strive to make (or begin) your weight loss journey something that doesn’t feel like work. Instead try to make it feel like a journey, and there is no better way to start or continue a journey than with company of some sort.