What’s up with me lately?!? I’m just not in the mood to exercise. It’s gotta be the weather, right? Winter just takes the motivation right out of me. Blah. 
This afternoon, my Just Do It method didn’t get me moving like it usually does, so I tried something new. Self magazine suggested a fun way to excuse-proof your workout with a stack of index cards. Here’s what you do: write down your biggest “get-fit barriers” on the front side of an index card. On the back, brainstorm all of the ways you can bust through those blockcades. It sounded like it might just work, so I gave it a try with my two biggest excuses: I hate winter and I’m tired.
(My “Rock Out” playlist is the one that I use to run road races. It gets me movin’! 
)
Even just writing out these index cards made it easier for me to get my be-hind to the gym this afternoon. I’m hanging onto these babies for the next time I need motivation and I really don’t want to exercise.
AND… I had a pretty good workout at the gym (when I finally got myself there)! I did some strength training for my hip, followed by 35 minutes of intervals on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the bike, and 15 minutes doing abs and core work. I would have stayed longer at the gym, but the place really started to fill up.
Dinner
My husband is so funny sometimes. I do all of the meal planning for the two of us, and usually he just goes along with whatever I want to make. He just likes that I cook for him and he doesn’t have to think much about it. However, every once in awhile, he’ll insist that we add a specific meal to our weekly menu. This week it was Hawaiian Pizza– a very delicious idea! 
On the side, I had a small salad topped with balsamic vinegar.
Pizza + salad = one of my favorite meals ever!
(You can see how the Hawaiian pizza scored over on Trading Up Downtown. 
)
For dessert, I had two Sandwich Thins with peanut butter and chocolate chips on top. I will forever and always love this treat!
I’m doing a little work then relaxing and reading in bed. I just grabbed the new issue of the Improper Bostonian this afternoon, so I’m looking forward to reading through it. I wonder what Ezra has to say this week?
Enjoy the evening, blog friends!
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Love the index card idea! great job
Love the excuse-proof your workout idea! I totally didn’t make it to the gym tonight because I was “too tired”. Better get some index cards!
Great idea! Could you share your playlist with us, or some of your favorite songs? I’m always looking for new, fun workout music!
I don’t usually allow myself to make excuses when it comes to working out. Today, however, I allowed it! But JUST TODAY! I am pretty strict with myself when it comes to working out, but today my body is screaming NO WAY!
Hawaiian pizza will forever be one of my favorites. I have to wonder if they actually eat much of it in Hawaii
The index cards are a great idea! I usually do something like that when I have negative thoughts (counteract them with positive ones). Enjoy your night!
I love when I can talk myself out of my excuses! The index cards are a great idea!
It’s totally the weather, I feel the same way. I need to write some cards!!
That is an amazing idea that I’m stealing so thanks, haha
Those are my top two excuses, too. They’re such good ones!
Excuses are never reasons, right? Love your little note cards, so true!!!
It SO is the weather!
I don’t want to do anything but bundle up with a blanket , perhaps a good book , drink and a cute boy errr bf
I have a hard time working out in the winter too!
LOVE pineapple pizza!
I know what ya mean about being down in the winter. I think it’s the lack of sunlight. I actually just wrote a post about this on my blog, too!
Thanks for all the great tips this week about exercise motivation. I had such a fab workout today, in part because your tips “made” me get to the gym.
What a good idea for the index cards! I think we are all feeling the same about winter. All I want to do is climb in my warm bed and drink coffee. I’ve been doing a lot of classes with friends at the gym so I almost make appointments to go. That way I can’t back out of it
Ugh– it’s definitely the weather! I’m feeling the same way!
Love pineapple on pizza! Such a delicious combo!
love the cards! you think of everything
Our meal planning is similar to yours, although at our house whoever gets home first starts dinner. I either leave a cookbook open with the recipe ready or email my husband the recipe.
I’ve been thinking about barriers and obstacles to working out/eating healthy lately too — great idea with the index cards!!
I love that treat too – usually on toast! PB and chocolate chips…droool.
love improper bostonian!! that notecard idea is a great to motivate! I should try this on some of my clients
thanks for showing us!
mmm pineapple pizza!
Tina those notecards are FANTASTIC!
I used to write myself sassy notecards in college to make studying less painful, and this will be a PERFECT workout-excuse-buster at 5 a.m. tomorrow!
Thanks!
Amy
Love Hawaiian pizza!
I really need to try that dessert of yours!!
Jenna
I’m trying to talk myself into some living room yoga at this second…I’m in a bad mood! :<
I wrote my embarassing moment then literally deleted it. I couldn’t show my face here again. It had to do with the gym and what I thought was going to be a fart…
Sad day.
Tina, I’m also a Beantown resident and love your blog! I total relate to this post – it is SO hard for me to hit the gym after a day of work in the winter. I just made my cards. Thanks!
Have you ever considered taking a vitamin D supplement in the winter months? I live in Ohio and some of my running friends (spectacular competitive runners) struggle with motivation to meet us for runs. I don’t know how you feel about extra vitamins, but vitamin D is something everyone needs in proper amounts!
Good job getting yourself to the gym! One of my other trick is keeping a “streak.” I write in my planner what type of exercise I do each day. I let myself record even “Lighter” days like a few weights/abs – so i tell myself if I just get to the gym and do something (stretching, weights – anything)…I can “keep the streak” going! Just a thought….
I LOVE Hawaiian pizza- yum! Great idea with the index cards. What songs on your playlist do you look to to motivate you? I’m looking to update my playlist before my 14k next month!
@Katie O @ Fit to Wed: I need to update these lists, but here’s a start: http://carrotsncake.com/fitness/workout-music
Good for you for making it to the gym. I knew I wanted to run outside today because the idea of the treadmill was just too horrible. The cold make it really really hard to get out there, but I was so happy after I finally got started.
I’m going to check out your workout music – I need some new tunes for sure.
hawaiian pizza is so awesome, i am constantly trying to convince people it’s not gross.
hmm maybe I should try out the Self method. That pizza looks AMAZING!!
I ate the same dessert tonight too!
Love it!
i LOVE hawaiian pizza – especially when the pineapple gets a little toasty on top! glad you were able to get yourself to the gym, that can be SO hard to do sometimes.
Have a great night
My whole workout routine has gone down the shitter this past month! I finally went running this morning at the crack and hope it the beginning of getting back on track. Thanks for the note card idea.
The index card thing is a great idea! I hate the winter too! I need to try that dessert. It looks so good!
Great dinner idea w/ dessert.
I love the index card idea! I get up at 5am to make it to the gym by 6am so I can workout before work…motivation can be a hard thing to come by when it’s still really dark outside. Maybe I should put some index cards by my alarm clock.
LOVE ITT!!! I was struggling going to the gym today to! When it is so cold outside it’s really hard to convince yourself to WALK to the gym.. I have got to keep those motivator cards in mind the next time I try and talk myself out of it.
I love the motivation-the index cards are great. Plus, it doesn’t help that the gym is sooo crowded this time of year! Pizza looks great!
Have.To.Have.That. Dessert!
Thanks for sharing!
I totally did this tip earlier in the year . . . and forgot about it, I think I need it now myself . . . thanks for the reminder Tina
It’s interesting about the excuses thing- and the weather thing! I used to *always* make excuses until fairly recently, when the weather where I live drove me into being super motivated, just because I was starting to feel so depressed. I’ve been living in Seattle for almost 9 years, and while I liked it for a while, the past couple of years have been incredibly difficult for me- to the point where I felt like I wanted to take anti-depressants (though I know I don’t need them and wouldn’t actually take them) But the weather has gotten to me- or the lack of sunlight at the very least , and I realized about a year ago that I’d have to move fairly soon. I’m moving to Vegas at some point in the next 6 months-, and working out is actually what has kept me sane during the bad weather months! I don’t feel nearly as happy or content without it, so I do it every day.
The index cards are such a good idea. Whenever I am unmotivated, I do a little yoga, which somehow wakes me up and makes me ready to take on a workout. Or, sometimes I just do a longer yoga session in place of a typical gym workout!
I love your sandwich thin dessert.
those cards are a great idea!
Those index cards are such a great idea! I have a running playlist, and it makes SUCH a difference. It energizes me, and its always helpful to have something to distract yourself.
Georgia – you have me laughing out loud! Crap ;o) like that happens to a lot of us!!!
You’re dinner tonight is one of my all time favorites! I absolutely LOVE hawaiian pizza. YUM!
I must confess it’s soooooo easy to stay inside where it’s warm and veg! LOL I weighed myself today though and even on the AssistU herbal supplements (which make it nearly impossible for me to gain.. unless I obviously do NO exercise and eat like a pig!…. um.. which is what I’ve done lately) I had a gain!!!!! 3 lbs (yes that IS bad.. I don’t want to start going in that direction again!) So I’m back on the wagon. FULL SPEED! *snuggling under blankies* Oh man.. this is gonna be tough! LOL
mmmm….. Pizza…. Can’t wait until I have one.
Also thanks for the tips. The index card are such a great idea! I seriously need to get back on the wagon. After 3 months of making excuses for myself…
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