The Hubz and I have been feeling a little bit of the winter blues and bored with our current workout routines as well as a lack of motivation. With summer around the corner we are getting excited for hiking and gardening but until then we need to get ourselves in tip-top shape so 15 mile hikes don’t make us feel like we were hit by a truck the next day. In addition to changing up our routine we are also working on an incentives program to help motivate us to stay on track.
For our incentives program each month we have a set of goals to help us stay on top of being active as well as to track our workout progress.The incentive part of it is that at the start of each month we will each be eligible for $50* of fun money, to be paid out on the last day of the month IF we accomplish our goal. The goal:
- Work out 80% of the days in the month OR 70% of the days in the month and 1 hour for everyday missed from the 80% (example: March 80% plus Hours goal–>Must workout 25 days and Total of 15.5 hours OR 70% plus Hours goal–>Must workout 22 days and 15.5 hours PLUS 3 hours for the 3 missed from the 80% days so total of 18.5 hours)
AND
2. Work out an average of 30 minutes per days in the month (October-May) and work out an average of 60 minutes per days in the month (June-September)**
March 2011 Goals
- Must workout 25 days
- Total of 15.5 hours
OR
- Must workout 22 days
- Total of 18.5 hours
So far this month I am on track with the 80% however since I only have 1 off day left I may be turning to the 70% plan this month…..we’ll see. This is where I am at as of yesterday:Today:
- Days:
10/2511/25 - Hours:
6 hours 7 minutes/15.5 hours7 hours 12 minutes/15.5 hours
Currently my workouts include yoga, walking, elliptical, weight training and most recently Insanity- have you tried this with Shaun T? What did you think? As soon as the sidewalks and bike path clear out I am determined to start the Couch to 5k again as well. What do you do to keep active? How do you stay motivated?
Lastly I’ll leave you with my current workout playlist (it’s a work in progress):
What are your workout tunes?
*In case you are wondering why cash? Well Neil and I have a tendency to not spend money on ourselves even when we need to. This money that we earn will be $50 we can use guilt free towards whatever we want. Originally we were going to set a specific item/service as our goal but then decided that for us it just din’t make sense. It works better for us to make a decision when the time comes based on what we need then. Additionally the money allows us to save up for more expensive items such as Lululemon clothes or hiking gear.
** June-September is the time of the year that we do hiking, biking, gardening and (hopefully) running so there are days that we may be active as many as 8-10 hours on a hiking trip that is why there is the increase of total hour goals.
* Update (Sunday 3/20/11):
- Days: 14/25
- Hours: 8 hours 42 minutes/15.5 hours
- Thursday: Yoga
- Friday: Day 4 Insanity
- Saturday: walked with Hubz
- Sunday: Off
I really like the way you are looking at making sure your average activity is 30 minutes or 60 minutse per day based on time of year!
I think I will work that into my monthly plan for workingout as well.
Awesome way to think about it! I love the idea of earning money to spend guilt-free. I stay motivated by going to my favorite yoga & spinning classes – good instructors & good music keep me coming back. I’m so excited for hiking weather!
Today I went along to the gym with my hubby (he has a membership but I don’t). When I felt whiny this morning, him waiting for me motivated me to go, and I felt better for it at the end. I also got to put off doing my hated laundry for a few more hours. =D
What made me go is my desire to build up my endurance for the soccer league I play in on weekends. I’m tired of feeling out of shape!
Thats a great incentive plan! Fitness is like my second job, sometimes staying motivated is difficult, but I try to think ahead to my race schedule and know that what I do now helps me out then. Most of the time that works for me (that or a cookie after a hard workout!)
Hmm I’m not active as frequently as I want to be so I think I could be active more frequently if I planned it into my schedule but I couldn’t ever go two weeks without working out–I’d go crazy because I’d miss my running therapy!
you have such great goals! so organized!! i love to run and do strength training.. esp the 30 day shred
and then i always walk everyday with my dog!
Good goals you have. Keep up the great work. I have been doing exercises in the pool 5 days a week at least and hour. Getting my knee in shape.
Love the incentive idea! That’s kind of brilliant. Good luck with meeting your goals 🙂
Now that I have joined hot yoga I am obsessed! Derek also has been begging me to go to a climbing gym with him, so I have started that as well. I will do yoga twice a week, climbing twice, and a workout DVD the other days (Sometimes on top of the yoga/climbing) It prevents my workouts from getting dull as I am always changing it around. I actually look forward to my exercises now!