Diana Chaloux’s Bodyblog

I was thinking about motivation during my cardio session this morning. I was looking around at all the other people in the gym and wondering what their true reason for being there was. I’ve always loved the gym, I love everything about it, I love how I feel when I’m there, I love how strong and fit my body is because of what I do there. But despite all of that there are always the days when it is hard to get motivated.

 So here are my tips for getting and staying motivated. The first step is to discover why you want to work out. What is your ultimate motivator? Is it to compete? Is it to get your weight to a healthy level? Is it to be able to fit into cute clothes? Is it to set a good example for your children and family? Is it to improve your health? Is it to improve your energy levels or your confidence? It is different for everyone, but it is important to identify your true motivator so that you can overcome the obstacles that may come in between you and your fitness goals.

Step two is to write down what your motivation is. Don’t hide it in a drawer either, put it up someplace where you will see it on a consistent basis and constantly be reminded of why you do what you do. Pictures are powerful too. When I started training for my first show a couple years ago I took before pictures of myself in a bikini and put them right next to my bed. Every morning when I woke up at 5 a.m. for my cardio session I looked at those pictures and then remembered that my butt was going to be up on stage in front of judges and that was all it took for me to get out of bed and get in gear!

Step three is to just do it. Your mind can be such an obstacle to your success, what I find works is telling myself that I just have to do a short work out. If I’m tired I tell myself just to get to the gym even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes. I’ll tell you what, I always end up getting a better work out than I thought I would. I think that getting in there and doing something is better than foregoing your work out completely, if you are supposed to do 45 minutes of cardio and you are dreading it change your mindset. Tell yourself  you just have to do 15 minutes. By the time your body is warmed up and the blood is pumping you will be able to continue on and you KNOW you will always feel better after you get that work out in!

Well, there is my little sermon for the day:) I am now offering photos for sale via my website in an effort to raise money for my training and competition (I will be competing with the WNSO a new organization for me! My first show will be in November 2007) Any and all support is greatly appreciated and all proceeds go directly to my competition and training expenses! Visit www.d2bfit.com/Dphotos/Dphotos for photos available!

 Diana Chaloux

www.dianachaloux.com

www.destined2befit.com

I just got back from a week in my home state in Vermont. One of the reasons I love going home is because it adds such a spark to my workouts. Cardio is so invigorating when it entails running on a back country road or hiking up through the breathtaking Green Mountains. With the distractions of bubbling brooks, lush greenery, wildflowers, and cows….. my morning runs go by so quickly and I didn’t even need my ipod music to keep me going.

 There is a little gym in my home town that I love to work out at. The only thing that I don’t like are the locals who insist on interrupting my workouts and saying things like… "That’s a lot of weight for a chickie"… I’m not even kidding:) It’s kind of funny actually because all I can do is smile and go "yep". (That’s what you say up in the Northeast:) It’s so much fun to be in a different gym with different people and different machines to try out though.

 I spent a couple of days on the coast of Maine there and I get the same invigorating work out there as well. Oddly enough I couldn’t wait to get to sleep at night so I could wake up at 5:00 a.m. get out and watch the sunrise on the beach, jog along the "Marginal Way" ( a great little path that runs right along the cliffs in Ogunquit, ME), and get in some peaceful morning yoga and stretching on the sand. I even took a Power Yoga for Athletes class yesterday morning which was great:)

 It is good to be back home, but it was great to just get away for a week and enjoy a little diversity in my workouts while spending some quality time with the family:)

 On another note! I’m competing with the WNSO in November in Miami, FL. YAY! I’m selling pictures on my website to raise some money to help  pay for competition expenses…. SOOOO if you want to show some love and support my training efforts it would be GREATLY appreciated!! This is the link to the pictures page ( www.d2bfit.com/Dphotos/Dphotos ). Have a fit and healthy day!!

Diana