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merkel
06-16-2008, 01:05 AM
You’ve had a long, taxing day at the office and you’re ready to head home and collapse in front of the TV. You promised yourself you’d do a thirty minute workout but feel too exhausted to even think about it. Does this sound like a familiar situation? Two of the most common reasons people give for not working out are lack of time and fatigue. After all, a long day taking care of family or working at the office takes time and energy. Unfortunately, you still need exercise for both fitness and relaxation. What can you do to motivate yourself when you’re too tired to work out?

Too tired to exercise: Have your iron levels checked

If you already exercise and find you’re approaching your daily workout with excessive fatigue and lack of motivation, see your doctor and have your iron level checked. Your doctor can do a blood test called a ferreting level which measures your body’s stores of iron. Aerobic exercise can cause slow depletion of iron levels with iron being lost through sweating and through leakage of small amounts into the gut with sustained movements. Plus, it’s not uncommon for women of child bearing age to be iron deficient. If you’re iron deficient, iron supplementation may make all the difference in your energy levels and your attitude towards exercise.

Too tired to exercise: Exercise when you awaken in the morning

If you feel tired and less motivated to exercise in the evening, try setting your alarm thirty minutes early and get your exercise session out of the way before the day starts. An early morning exercise session can help to energize and motivate you for the rest of the day. Plus, you can look forward to an evening of relaxation knowing you’ve accomplished your goal. This can be a simple solution to the problem of being too tired to work out.

Too tired to exercise: Do it anyway

Sometimes the best cure for fatigue is a vigorous exercise session. Have you ever noticed how you can walk into the health club exhausted but after thirty minutes of motion you feel energized and invigorated? There’s nothing like exercise to get your blood flowing and zap fatigue. If it’s difficult for you to get motivated to make that trip to the club, promise yourself a small reward after you finish your session if you follow through. Just make sure it’s not a jelly donut!

Too tired to exercise: Lighten up your workout

On nights that you’re too tired to work out, follow a lighter, less rigorous routine. To motivate yourself to take the first step, tell yourself you’ll only exercise for ten minutes. After ten minutes have elapsed chances are you’ll feel so invigorated that you’ll want to keep going.

Too tired to exercise: Change your exercise format

If you feel fatigued with a lack of motivation towards exercise on a particular evening, change your workout entirely and substitute something fun. Instead of walking thirty minutes on the treadmill at the club, take your dog for a brisk walk or do thirty minutes of stretches while you watch your favorite T.V. show. You can get back on schedule the next time you exercise and the variety will be good for you both physically and mentally.

Give these tips a try and soon you’ll no longer need the old excuse of being too tired to work out. Plus, you’ll look and feel like a new person.

futureboy
06-17-2008, 08:54 PM
I'm generally liking the philosophy of "I'm too tired to workout, so I'm going to workout." I feel pretty good afterward, so much that I sometimes workout twice per day even though I typically work 15 hour days. I try to wake up and get in 19-22 minutes of HIIT (high intensity interval training) on the treadmill or elliptical.

Around 5 PM I get in a day's P90X routine, and I follow it with a big green smoothie or salad with some avocados and nuts on top. Good stuff! I'm about 10 days into my P90X/raw adventure. Onward!

kaleidoscopeeyes
06-17-2008, 09:11 PM
THANK YOU! I cannot currently exercise in the morning as I get up early enough as it is, but once school's out I definitely will!

maui_butterfly
06-29-2008, 03:18 PM
EXCELLENT post. i'm going to say "hear hear" for DO IT ANYWAY. exercise gives you 10x more energy in your life than you would have without it. you are too tired to exercise because you are not exercising. once you are in the groove, you wouldn't dream of going without it. your body CRAVES movement. will you skip a day? sometimes, probably, yes. but it will be rare.

i wake up 30 minutes earlier now, at 5am. it sucked at first, but i don't miss the extra sleep at all, in fact i am so grateful that i did this, because i have so much more energy for my day. and getting your workout out of the way first thing in the morning inspires you to eat better throughout the day too. why would you undo all of that hard work?

if i miss my morning workout, i am committed, absolutely committed, to not letting my head hit the pillow before doing 8 minutes of SOMETHING. (usually dial up 8 minute abs or 8 minute buns on YouTube). This counteracts the 8 HOURS i spend a day sitting at a desk in front of my computer for work (not to mention the extra hour + i spend doing the same thing for recreation.

Morn
07-01-2008, 01:02 AM
Great post! Now everyone that reads this and agrees should Join July's exercise challenge for some daily fun and accountability!:D

Aleesha Sattva
07-01-2008, 02:02 AM
i agree morn!

*do it anyway*

oceanee
07-07-2008, 08:09 PM
Okay ~ I am joining the July challenge ! Thanks for the kick in the butt :D ~
Oceanee