Let’s talk about falling off the wagon today, shall we? I am going to be 100% honest. I have not worked out regularly in about five months. My last hurrah was my first 5k on October 15th, the day that my workout schedule and my life got turned upside down.

Now things are back to what I am calling “the new normal” and I still find myself struggling to get myself back in the gym/yoga studio like I would like to be. On the whole, I have more free time than I know what to do with once I get home from work, yet I still am not removing myself from more relaxed tasks like making dinner or watching re-runs of That 70′s show in favor of running on the treadmill or twisting my body into the Eagle pose. It’s only been two weeks since “the new normal” has come into effect, and in that spirit, I am giving myself another week of exercising at my whims before I start implementing ideas like these to kick myself into a higher gear:

1. Sign up for a 5k (technically I’ve already done this) and placing financial riders on it with friends, for example, “If you don’t show up to the race you have to pay me back my race entry fee.”

2. Getting an accountability partner. As a lone wolf gym goer, I am considering getting someone who works there to be my accountability buddy. Sound crazy?

3. Not going home before stopping at the gym on designated gym days. My ideal workout time is late afternoon, but this principle can be adapted to fit any preferred workout time. Perhaps not letting yourself have lunch before you get a mile in at the track?

4. Follow a plan. I’ve read a lot of blogs following people’s progress using the Jamie Eason’s Livefit Trainer program. Even a less regimented lifting + cardio plan is a plan as long as it’s one that you can follow.

At the beginning of this new week, I look forward to the possibilities ahead and feel the energy brewing within to go full steam ahead with plans to get super fit and ripped!

Do you have any tips to share for motivating yourself to get back in the swing of life and back on the exercising and eating well wagon?