how I make myself go to the gym even when it's nearly midnight

You and I have both done it. Yes, we have. We, my dear reader, have both sat, stomach slowly expanding with every breath, as we sink deeper into the couch - internally debating, to gym, or not to gym?

We already know the benefits - we could tell anyone who asked. We WILL feel better, we know that. We might not love the exercise, but we love the way we feel after-wards. Walking out of those swinging doors into the night, sweat cooling on our forehead, knowing that we really accomplished something. We'll sleep a better, well deserved sleep that night.

How is it then, that we sit like this debating whether or not to go?

As the Queen of Procrastination, I have developed a few tools to help myself just get up and go! Hopefully, they will help you get up off the couch as well!

1. Plan it into your schedule - something about having exercise time actually calendered into your day helps make it a reality. If you use outlook or a piece of scrap paper, get "gym, 30 minutes" on there somewhere!

2. Plan to go with a friend - and tell that friend NOT to tell you if they are going to flake! Set up a time with your buddy to meet at the gym, and when you get there, wait for them ON the treadmill, not in the locker room! You have to show up, since you told them you'd be there - and if they don't show up, oh well! You made it to the gym!

3. Keep your workout clothes with you at all times! I have a bag in my car with gym membership card, clean socks, and workout clothes for times when I can spontaneously go for a walk on my lunch break, for example. Having appropriate shoes helps cut down on a lot of the decisions NOT to go.

4. Don't go home first - when you are planning on gyming it up a notch, plan to do it on your way to or from something. This goes along with having your gym clothes with you. If you go home first, you know there are about 18 things you'll want to do there - even very important things you probably *should* do there! Cut down on the mental resistance and the magnetic pull of laundry folding and stop by the gym before you even make it home.

5. Don't be boring - tired of the gym? That's fine. Maybe there's a park you haven't been to in a while that you could stop at instead. There are park paths, beach boardwalks, and city sidewalks all begging to be explored.Or, if you still want to go to the gym, try some of those big crazy looking machines you've never used before. They've all got instructions on them! Try the stationary bike instead of the stairmaster for a change.

6. Don't want to leave the house? Develop a home gym! Collect a few workout dvds, a good mat, some dumbells or resistance bands, and you are set. Make yourself a circuit and go for it right there in your living room.

7. Train for something - it's harder to miss a day of working out when your 5k is in a week and a half and you really should be working towards it. Having a goal is a huge motivator!

8. Find external (aka silly) motivators to get you going - such as my incredibly awesome and cute pink running shoes. Yes, I love wearing my running shoes. I look forward to putting them on! You have no idea how much that helps get me going!

9. Write an article like this one about going to the gym, so you'll feel like a hypocrite if you don't! Seriously though, talk to everyone you know about your workouts and exercises, find out who else around you has the same gym membership or the same interests in jogging or swimming, or whatever it is that you do. Having 15 potential gym buddies is a lot more effective than having just one!

10. "If you trip over a step, you don't throw yourself down the rest of the stairs" - aka, if you skip one day, that doesn't mean the week is ruined. Don't think about how long it's been since you last were there, just get up and go this time! This is the one that matters.

If you have any tips to get to working out, or ways that you trick yourself into going and having fun, let me know. We can always add to this list!