So how is you current motivation for exercise/eating healthily going as we enter into March? I love exercise and looking and feeling well but I still struggle with motivation. There are always so many other things, especially as a mum of young children, to do instead. And if you leave it until the evening you are often far too tired and hey, there is always tomorrow! So here are two things that work for me:

Do something that you really enjoy

If you hate running but are trying to do the couch to 5k program, you have to rely on your own strong internal motivation to keep you going. But if you love swimming, then you are much more likely to to not miss a session, simply because you enjoy it. To you it’s fun! So make sure you include an activity that you really enjoy. For me, it’s indoor rock climbing. It make me feel young and slightly cool if I’m being honest but it is such a great strength and core workout and I am always exhausted afterwards, but I love going so tend to want to do this more than other workouts.

Give yourself a challenge

Giving yourself a specific challenge or goal really focuses your mind on why your exercising in the first place. So that may well be to lose a certain amount of weight or to get into a certain pair of trousers but having a date to work to is quite a strong motivator. So having a wedding, birthday or other event is a good date to work towards.

For me, it is actually entering a running race. I have therefore entered the Surrey Half Marathon and quite a bit later than I probably should have. I wasn’t sure if I was really fit enough following a pre-christmas chest infection so I didn’t enter until the 31 Jan. The race is on 8 March. 5 weeks is not really enough time to train for a half marathon but it really does help to focus the mind. I have done my long runs but not as many short, fast runs as I would have liked but at least I know that I have the stamina back in my legs to get around. I’ve done quite a few half marathons over the years and the challenge is always to go for a personal best time and the last 3 half’s, I have actually done this. And when I start off on Sunday, I will no doubt think that I can do the same again. The truth is I probably can’t this time but the mind if a powerful tool. So the time I will be aiming to beat, or at least get near too is 1.41.46 (I am laughing was I write this as realistically any under 1.50mins would be good considering) After this, I have two more challenges lined up so I can keep up the momentum.

So try finding out what your own exercise motivation is…..