Motivation

First of all, I would like to take the time to thank all the people who voted in my Wii Fitness Poll. I also want to personally thank the person who posted “Choose the one YOU want.”

I have decided to compromise, and pick ONE of the ones I really wanted to work with, but also received a large amount of votes. So with that out there on the table I wanted to announce that I will be using Biggest Loser for the Wii.





I took the time and set up a profile for each of the systems mentioned in the poll, and I also spend around 20 minutes in each game feeling out how it worked.

It became clear to me very quickly that I was not going to enjoy using the Wii Fit/Wii Fit Plus - Software Only enough to keep me motivated for a full two weeks. The biggest downfall seemed to be the availability of built in workout programs to use. I did like the flexibility of all the games and free play options, and I am aware there is a way to chain them together to create a personalized workout program, but the main issue with me is I want to be told exactly what to do, at least to start.

All the other games I polled had this option so then it came down to a matter of which one received the most votes, and Biggest Loser won it with 19% of the votes. I also get the feeling this will be a fun and motivating one to start with. It seems very versatile, allowing you to manually enter calories consumed and burned as well as calculating calories burned while doing the workouts it selects for you.

I also love the “challenges” and “weigh-ins” like they have in the Biggest Loser television series. I think this is going to be a blast to work with! I’ll let you know more as it progresses along, but not yet!

And here is the catch! I have decided I am going to use this to achieve a weight loss goal for 2010. With all the stresses and yummy foods around during the Holiday season, I know that now is the worst time to start a weight loss program. So January 1st, it’s on!

Do you have Biggest Loser for Wii? If not yet, maybe you can ask Santa for Christmas! And if you do have it, and want to set, track and share your weight loss goals with me, comment below. Let’s take this journey together!

In the meantime however, I am not giving up. I have started making small changes in diet and behaviors. I take the stairs when I have the energy (I work on the 7th floor). I am trying to eat more fresh vegetables and fruit. I am trying to drink more water. I have started attending a regular colorguard group. And, I have instituted an exercise allowance.

What is an exercise allowance you ask? It’s my motivation to get in shape.

The biggest issue with most people when they finally decide they want to knuckle down and get in shape is finding the motivation not only to start, but to stick with it. And so I have devised my very own workout allowance.

The principle is simple. I pay myself to exercise. I base the rates on how much I hate the exercise and reward myself accordingly. Then I allow myself to spend my allowance on things I wouldn’t usually waste money on. I did something similar when I quit smoking over three years ago, and it worked so well I figured why not?

Here is a sample of the allowance schedule I have created for myself:

Stairs Down $0.50
Stairs Up $3.00
Lunch Walk $1.00
Walk the Dog $2.00
Workout > 20 min. $5.00

Actually, now that I think of it, maybe I should increase the rate for the dogs. They have too much energy. Here they are if you are interested...



Of course, the easier it becomes for me to do these things, the lower the price will get on each of them.

To date I have raised $49.50 – it will be $50.00 by the time I leave work.

I have already ordered my new rifle for colorguard.



Works for me!

What about you? What kind of things do you use for motivation?