Remembering how good we feel at the end!

Three and a half years ago and six stone heavier I would never have contemplated walking anywhere, let alone cycling or running. At the beginning of my journey, persistence, determination and motivation existed in abundance; leaving me feeling healthier with every pound lost and fitter with every extra minute I kept running.

This short introduction is an attempt to contextualise the rest of this blog.

Some people I know have adopted a "continuous healthy lifestyle". However, it seems that the majority of us will feel the need to loose weight and get fit; and for a while we do exactly that. Then an event, holiday or an illness interrupts our routine and although we have good intentions to return to exercise, I wonder how many people struggle to do so?

Suddenly, excuses emerge - my excuses tend to be around not having enough time and too much to do. Realistically though this is not the case, the long and thin of it is I just can't be bothered! All of a sudden clothes start to feel a little tight, pounds creep back on and there comes a day when there is a shift in mental attitude. I decide enough is enough and I feel motivated enough to reign it back in.

Google tells me that motivation is "the general desire or willingness of someone to do something?" So, what keeps me motivated, is it as simple as wanting to do something? The one thing I do not want is to go back to wearing tents and getting out of breath going up the stairs. So, for that not to happen, I have to adopt a "continuous healthy lifestyle". By no means do I deny myself, but if I indulge in a chocolate bar, I will exercise that little bit more to compensate for it.

There are times before a class or a run that I wonder if I can be bothered. At these moments I force myself to visualise how good I feel after activity and focus on what I do not want!