Val,
finally a topic I can actually help YOU with! I LOVE to exercise and I'll tell you how I grew to this point.

First of all in your blog you give a lot of reasons you "should" exercise and "should-ing" all over yourself is never motivating. You then say you "feel so good and look better" after you exercise. So you're using it as a means to an end versus a great experience. So here are the steps:

1) Move from a "should" mindset to an "I DESERVE" mindset about exercise.
You have that trainer becauseyou DESERVE to feel and look your best.
You GET TO move today by choice when so many others no longer have that choice.
I think you get the point. Use more DESERVE statements

2) Try to combine what you naturally LOVE with exercising.
For example for me I LOVE certain shows and so in my workout room I have a treadmill and an elliptical and certain shows I ONLY watch while working out.
Try to get to the root of your exercise "style". Are you a group exerciser?(I get annoyed working out with others so this doesn't work for me)
I think you've mentioned you enjoy walking outside but your schedule is like mine in that you're on the road all the time so that's incompatible with your lifestyle.
Do you love music? Then load up and ipod and only listen to your fav music while working out.
Have you tried workout videos? I LOVE workout videos and take them on the road with me. I pretend I'm leading a large group of women through a great class(see I have some actress in me too)

3)Personal trainers are great but don't think that just because that's the 'in' thing to do that you HAVE to have a trainer. There are great home workout videos out there so check them out. I love www.collagevideo.com because you can return the videos within 30 days. I also love the FIRM videos because all of the instructors also have full time jobs.


4) last thing...If you want this to be like brushing your teeth then you make it non-negotiable -most mornings a week you do it! Note I said MORNING because it's the least likely time to have interruptions/excuses.

I workout at 4:30 or 5 most mornings and it's a great way to start on a natural 'high'.


All the BEST!


Hope

Those are great hope. I am a little confused by Val's blog right now though - why is she talking about Thanksgiving, when it's clearly not?

Hi Val, You are at the same point with exercise as I am. I haven't reached my goal yet but I am struggling with making daily exercise a way of life for me. I used to exercise daily but that was before marriage and kids. I seemed to always have something else in my life that was higher priority. Now, I have come to realize that if I don't make my exercising a priority then my other priorities suffer. Of course, I want to make sure my husband and kids are taken care of and they are actually my top priorities but I'm not around them all of the time so there are other times during the day that I can find for exercise. I'm a Realtor so my schedule is very flexible.

Hope's suggestions are great. But I've come to realize that the key to sticking with a daily or weekly exercise program is to - First, find the type of exercising that you like best. Find what motivates you. If it's walking outside or playing a game of tennis or basketball, then do it. If it's finding your favorite workout video or hopping up on the treadmill in front of the nightly news or popping in your favorite exercise music, then do that. Secondly, and I think more importantly, is to find a time of the day that is usually and more consistently uninterrupted. A time of the day that you seem to have more energy and more motivation. It might be as soon as you get up in the morning. It may be after you've had a bit of breakfast and your morning cup of coffee. It may be after dinner when kids and others in your household have quieted down and you have some time to yourself. Whatever it is, stick with it and make it your daily routine.

For me, I work a lot from 9:00am-1:00pm. My kids are still at school so I have time to go home in the afternoons when the house is quiet and get my workout in and not feel rushed or pressured to finish because I have to get dinner ready or kids to bed.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents for whatever it's worth. Hope this gives you some helpful advice. You are trully an inspiration. Keep up the good work. YOU are why I joined Jenny. Thank you!

Linda

Hi Val:
I think you got some great advice here... and I have another piece of advice to add to it.

I can relate to the idea of hating exercising/ forcing yourself to do it, because I remember a time, back MANY years ago, when I felt like that. I clearly recall being on my high school cross country team and being the slowest and hating that, and forcing myself through the 'runs.' (I did it b/c my friends did.)

In college, I forced myself to exercise and hated it almost all the time... but I continued to make myself do it over time b/c I knew that it was a key to burning calories. Starting with my early 20's, I'd make myself go running-- and over time, I found some enjoyment in that, but I still forced myself to do it.

Then, when I turned 26 in 1996, I decided to run the NYC marathon.

Having a GOAL EVENT changed everything for me and I've never looked back. I worked up to the actual training process that started in July 1997 and completed it and ran the NYC marathon in 1997. Was I super fast? No: I did it in over 5 hours-- but it was the JOURNEY.

The next year I did the Central Park Triathlon, and then I ran various races 5K, 10K etc...

Now: I did have a major exercise blip in my early 30's when I met my husband and got married and gained some happy weight-- here I am JC!!

But, now I'm back to VERY REGULAR exercise with a new goal-- to get a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. So, this time, I'm not necessarily training for a specific event, but with a goal in mind. The training process now is about getting one belt at a time, my next goal is to get my first "dark" or serious belt-- a green belt... and that keeps me going back for more.

The moral of this story is find something you LOVE to do and that has an END GOAL in mind. In the meantime, as you search for something like this: act "as if" you love to exercise. Don't tell yourself you hate it while you do it, tell yourself you're an athlete and that you LOVE to work out.

One day you will believe yourself.

Hi Valerie,
I started Jenny in November 2008 and I have lost 29lbs. so far, I'm like you in having a hard time incorporating exercise in my daily life. I'm getting better walking at least 3 to 4 times a week weather permitting. Also have started using a couple of work out videos. You were a big part of me wanting to do this program and I am so glad that I did. Keep up the good work and I'll do the same. Read the blog from VanessaCG and she has the right idea , thanks Vanessa I do deserve the very best I can do for myself.