What keeps you going?

I've had a couple of thoughts recently around this theme today.

The first one was when I saw someone at work who lost weight when I did (the first time in about 2002 - I lost 17 kgs and regained about 5 before losing the rest in 2006) but has regained it all. There are a few people around who are in this boat - have lost weight and regained most of it, if not more. I have now basically managed to keep my weight off for 12 months, and I wondered "why the difference". And thoughts are this. One thing that I did differently from others is the development of a passionate exercise regime. Some people walked, but not much else. And as I have struggled to maintain my weight all year, the one thing that helps me stay on track, is the way I feel after exercise. It makes you feel fit and healthy, and want to be fit and healthy, and reinvigorates your desire to eat well. I've found lately that this is one of the real benefits of morning exercise. If I exercise first thing, I am far more likely to have a healthy "clean" breakfast and prepare similar foods for the day, than if I don't. I guess I'm saying I think being in the habit of exercising keeps your mind focussed on being healthy as important. And I wonder if this is what has kept me persistently challenging my eating habits, rather than letting them slide.....

Secondly, I thought I would share the constant battles that are fought in my head in the mornings about getting up to exercise. This morning went like this:
Head: Alarms gone off - time to get up
Body: I am way too tired
Head: But that's why we went to bed early last night - so that we've had plenty of sleep
Body: But I'm still so tired, I've been doing all this new cycling and swimming every morning, and I need my rest
Head: But you've been doing it for a reason haven't you
Body: How about I just get up for the loo and then just hop back into bed for a few more minutes - maybe that will be enough
Head: Ok
Body: Back in bed - It wouldnt be unreasonable to skip the swimming today - after all, its a lot of effort to learn a new sport, and we've done it three days in a row - we need to be sensible about rest for the body
Head: Ok - but .....then all day we're going to be regretting that we haven't followed through with the plan and given the swimming training the best chance of success
Body: B** H*** - damn you for being right.
And up we get.

It took me 10 minutes to convince myself to get out of bed, and I reckon this happens most days (different excuses). But the final decisive straw is usually the same - think how good you'll feel afterwards, and how bad you'll feel if you haven't. (And sometimes - particularly with running - I tell myself "you don't have to run or work hard, just get out there "- and I know once I'm there I'll work hard - I'm just tricking the body)

So if anyone thinks that people who exercise regularly, and love it, like me, find it easy to make it happen - think again. We all go through these regular battles, but have to come up with good "lines" to beat the inner demons of laziness!

PS - day 4 of swimming - despite not wanting to be there - saw more small improvements - managed to have negligible rests between every second lap - basically letting myself rest for as long as I like after every two laps, as long as I turn straight around after the first and keep going.