Good morning, blogland! I hope your morning is off to a great start! 
Let’s get right to it!
Breakfast
Breakfast was a wonderful bowl of creamy banana oats (recipe here).
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats + ground flaxseed meal
- 1 cup water
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sliced almonds
- 2 scoops almond butter
With a good batch of iced coffee…
Double Duty Workout
Despite a rough wake-up call (heat = uncomfortable = not enough sleep), I managed to squeeze in a quality 30-minute workout that combined cardio and strength training. I had less time than usual to exercise, but I didn’t want to chose between doing just cardio or just strength training, so I created a double duty workout.
This workout combines cardio moves with calisthenics that use body weight as resistance, so you won’t need any equipment. Be sure to move from one exercise to the next without rest, so you keep your calorie burn high and maximize every minute!
- 0:00 – 3:00: Jog in place/warm-up
- 3:00 – 5:00: Jumping Jacks
- 5:00 – 6:00: Jump Squats
- 6:00 – 7:00: Jumping Jacks
- 7:00 – 8:00: Mountain Climbers
- 8:00 – 9:00: Burpees
- 9:00 – 10:00: Jumping Lunges
- 10:00 – 20:00: Repeat minutes 5:00 – 10:00 X 2
- 20:00 – 22:00: Jog in place
- 22:00 – 23:00: Push-ups
- 23:00 – 24:00: Jumping Jacks
- 24:00 – 25:00: Push-ups
- 25:00 – 26:00: Jog in place
- 26:00 – 27:00: Burpees
- 27:00 – 28:00 Jog in place
- 28:00 – 29:00: Push-ups
- 29:00- 30:00: Jog in place/cool down
An Easy Way to Get Motivated
A great tip from this month’s Shape magazine:
Banish the word “should” from your vocabulary and you may find you can accomplish anything. By saying you should do something, like exercise, it immediately implies you feel the activity is a burden. But replace “should” with “want” and you’ll start to build positive energy. So try telling yourself that you want to workout and you’ll get in the right mind-set to go to the gym, which is half the battle.
HLS Giveaway
Reminder to the HLS attendees: Check out the Healthy Living Summit website! 
Question of the Day
How do you motivate yourself to exercise when you’re just not feelin’ it?
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I find that if I tell myself the night before “I am going to workout tomorrow morning” and plan ahead for it I actually wake up looking forward to a good workout. I also think of how much better I will feel and all the energy I will have the rest day if I get moving for just 20-30 minutes in the A.M.
http://www.annaseats.com
I find that if I tell myself the night before “I am going to workout in the morning” and plan ahead for it I actually wake up looking forward to a good workout! I also think of how much better I will feel and all the energy I will have the rest of the day if I get moving for just 20-30 minutes in the A.M.
Great workout routine! You can really do it anywhere!
http://www.annaseats.com
I find that if I tell myself the night before “I am going to workout in the morning” and plan ahead for it I actually wake up looking forward to a good workout! I also think of how much better I will feel and all the energy I will have the rest of the day if I get moving for just 20-30 minutes in the A.M.
Great workout routine! You can really do it anywhere!
-Anna’s Eats
Hmm! Banishing “should” sounds pretty intriguing, actually. I think I might try it; it could be helpful for me (I’m a total excuse maker).
I really like the sound of your double duty workout… very Jillian Michaels
. I’m saving it for a day when a quick workout is in order!
If I tell someone I’m going to workout later (especially if I blog about the intention) then I am more likely to do it. Also, if I know I am working out with a friend I actually look forward to my workout a lot more.
I was debating what to have for breakfast and I think you just made my decision for me! Oatmeal!!
I agree with Meredith, if I blog about working out, I’m more likely to do it. Plus I can walk to my gym in 5 minutes so there is really no excuse for me not to go. I actually like working out everyday so that makes me want to do it more!
your workout reminds me a lot of bosu challenge at healthworks!
Something that helps me get motivated is going online and looking at fitnessmagazine.com or women’shealth.com. They always have new and interesting workouts–that make me want to try them! I usually say “I will just go 15 minutes–it’s better than nothing.” But that almost always turns into 30+ minutes because I have fun!
I’ve found that training for something is the best motivation for me. I know that I don’t want to get halfway through a race and realize I should have gone for more runs instead of watch TV or wasting time!
That was one pretty bowl/oatmeal combo picture!
You also win the award for “early morning blogger” ..always dependable….
Have a great day…
Those oats looks so good!
To motivate myself I think about how good my body feels after I exercise, instead of being still and sitting all day!
thats a great workout!! I also love that shape tip, it really makes sense.
I always tell myself that I won’t regret workout out after I am done! I might regret NOT working out (likely!) but I will never regret going for it and busting my butt!!
Awesome workout routine!
For me, it has been important to determine the difference between my body needing rest and my mind just not wanting to go. If my body just needs rest, I do rest but if it is my mind just telling not too, I find that if I just get dressed and commit to doing 10 minutes, I usually finish the work and feel great afterwards. I also have planned workouts with friends and my trainer every week and that really helps motivate me because I know someone else is depending on me.
What a pretty bowl of oatmeal!
Great job with your workout!
What a pretty bowl of oatmeal!
Great job with your workout!
i love that shape tip – couldn’t be more true!
The other day I only had time to do some strength training + 12 minutes on the elliptical. It was short, but I told myself that something is better than nothing
And new music always motivates me to get movin’.
I usually tell myself I can JUST go for 20 minutes…and then I usually end up staying longer.
How’s your hip doing?? Mine is finally getting better! I ran 3.5 miles yesterday – longest run since Feb when this all started!! yay for progress! Hope yours is doing better as well
If I’m suppose to be running, then I think about how great I’ll feel afterwards as well as how its working towards preparing me for my next race.
I’ve solved the weight training portion by going to a Kettlebell gym…. every day is different, never boring and I usually go with the same people so they KNOW when I’m slacking off… so I’ll hear it from them and the instructor.
Now that I’m blogging, I agree…. if I blog that I’ll do it, I gotta do it!
Great looking oatmeal today…. I just cannot bring myself to eat it though when its hot and muggy out though.
I had a hard time dragging myself out of bed for a run this morning, but I reminded myself how much better I would feel once I had accomplished it. And I was right, I do feel much better now!
I love workouts like that!! I find jumping jacks, jumping rope, and mountain climbers are so great for getting your heart rate up. Perfect for putting a cardio spin on a weight training workout.
@Red Head, Yellow Dog: I’m not sure… I haven’t run in about 5 weeks, so next weekend is the BIG weekend to test it out! Hopefully, it’s better!
Your oats look yummy
To get going…I always tell myself how good I’m going to feel when I’m done. It works! I love the feeling just after you finish working out!!
Thanks for sharing the workout! Tasty breakfast and I love the placemat!
i try to motivate myself by thinking how great i feel after a workout- i also motivate myself for the prize at the END of the road- the fact that I want to be in better shape, lose a little weight etc.
Definitely signing up for a race or event!!! It makes working out not an obligation at all but something fun and challenging that I look forward to doing.
I also just try to remind myself how great I always feel AFTER my workout!
Wow, quite the workout!
That sounds like an awesome, shred-like workout.
I usually just try and focus on how good I feel after when I’m not really in to working out.
Have a great Thursday!
I try to think of how I feel afterwards, it is always worth it!
I have a friend/co-worker who can’t workout due to a herniated disc in her back, so my motivation to workout now is telling myself that she can’t, so I should take advantage of my healthy body and push myself to make it better! It has been working lately since I just started the Insanity DVD program. I need all the motivation I can get!
I have a really hard time with the motivation thing…my hubby isn’t “into” exercising, so he offers little to no support to me when I do it. I try to focus on feeling good when I’m done…buts its hard when hubby just sits around and I want to, too!
Those pumpkin seeds look good! That looks like a seriously tough workout.
Free giveaway: http://healthyskinny.blogspot.com
I force myself to just put my workout clothes on. Once they’re on, I might as well exercise, right?!
When I don’t feel like working out I try to picture how I will feel afterwards and that usually gets me going! I know I will be angry with myself if I skip it.
I always try to make myself walk out the door. That’s the hardest part for me! Once I leave I know I will get at least some sort of a workout in.
That’s the only drawback to summertime mornign workouts. On those smokin’ hot mornigns you feel like you got no sleep! But I’d take that any day – or the winter cold and not wanting to get out from under the warm covers
Nice workout!
I always try to remind myself of how good I will feel if I work out, even if it is just for 10 minutes. Most of the time, that works
I just read this quote in Shape this morning and loved it! It reminded me that I don’t HAVE to do things sometimes.
For me the way to get motivated is to tell someone I’m going and then to give myself small goals during the workout. I tell myself I’ll just do this much and then that much more. Before I know it I’ve done my whole workout. I acutally have to trick myself alot like this in the summer. But it works.
I totally agree with Shape’s sentiments on banishing the word “should.” I find that as soon as I tell myself I “should” do something it takes the “want” right out of it. When I’m truly not feeling a workout, I’ll put on my workout clothes and if I’m still not motivated after that, I just listen to my body and skip it for that day!
I love that motivational tip! I read it too and it stuck with me!
when im not in the mood to workout …i make myself do it anyways and i tell myself…i can either try to enjoy this or i can make it seem like a burden, either way im going to have to do it..so why not make the best of it…usually by the time i start im into it.
When I am not feeling like working out I just remind myself how much better I will feel if I do something. Every little bit counts and even if it is a walk or some yoga or free weights at home. Love your double duty workout!
That’s a great tip, and so true! Whenever I tell my boyfriend “I want to get up at 6:30 with you tomorrow and go for a run” I get excited about actually doing it! If I say “ugh, I should go for a run tonight” I don’t want to do it.
Funny how we can psyche ourselves up for things.
I just try to think about how good I will feel afterwards, plus I remind myself that the pain of exercising is better than being at work! Gotta turn it into a positive
Great tip about eliminating “should”! I will try to implement that, since for me, “should” tends to equal “dread,” and with that attitude, no wonder I end up skipping my morning workouts!
what a gorgeous bowl!!!
those oats look super hardy!
i am not sure how i keep myself motivated. it has never really been a problem for me
i just have my routine, and i do it, everyday, with out fail .. probably even times i really shouldn’t be!
i guess i keep myself motivated because i know what i am doing is food for me, and i just think about how great i will feel once i am done. (and remind myself how yuckie i will feel if i skip it)
correction: i meant *good* for me, not food for me haha
geeze, see what your yummy looking oatmeal pictures do to me!
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