How I Stick with My Fitness Goals

I have this favorite pair of jeans. They fit me "just right" and I love wearing them. I have about 10 other pairs of jeans, but I really only want to wear that one pair -- why? Honestly, its because my love handles do not show up as easily on them as they do with all the other pairs of jeans.

I try to work out four days a week, one hour a day, but I never seem to make it unless I use little motivators to help me along the way. The mirror is my biggest motivator. I know how each and every pair of pants I own "should" fit, and each time I begin to notice that my curves have outdone themselves, I know its time for a little extra work at the gym.

I once read an article that that told me the best way to loose 2 pounds was by doing 360 minutes of exercise per week. It could be cardio, but weight training needed to be added in as well. This equals an hour a day of exercise, six days a week. This lasted one week. I wanted to loose 8 pounds, which meant 4 weeks of six day-a-week routines. I was exhausted.

I have come to realize what my limits are, and playing within my limits has actually helped me reach more realistic goals. I can work out one hour a day, four days a week. This usually means Monday through Thursday after work for an hour. This is attainable - and, according to that random article, it means that I should loose a pound a week, right?

I have also learned that eating like a kid who has been left home alone for the weekend is not going to be condusive to me having the type of dating and sex life that I feel I so deserve. This worked in college, but has yet to work afterwards.

I attempt to keep my diet in check by not having any meals with meat in them at the house. All of my meat eating happens in restaurants. Plus, I try to keep my restaurant meals to just the weekend. This way, I do not add unnecessary calories to my intake with their large portions.

So, to keep myself in check - I try on those jeans when I want to skip the gym or eat at McDonald's. If my sides begin to show their "muffin top" self, I head to the gym!