A jewelry box. An apron. A recipe book. A blanket. A mug. Some coasters. Hot chocolate. A topiary. Some ornaments. A wreath. A coffee maker. A camera. Some soap. AND a new pair of sneakers. Believe me, I have struggled a bit with the concept of giving away a new pair of sneakers for April’s 1 For Me // 1 for You. After all, they aren’t necessarily what you’d call pretty. They don’t smell good. And they don’t make for good decoration. But they ARE pretty cool, and they’ve recently replaced my hot pink kicks (the ones I always wore with my bright purple gym pants, to – you know – complete my clown metamorphosis).
The other day, like the countless days before it, I promised myself I’d get back to the gym on a consistent basis. But then my subconscious went all devil’s advocate on me. “What if you DIDN’T go to the gym today? What if you stayed home and played with Sully instead? What if you got a little more work done? Just sit at your desk and ride an imaginary bicycle with your legs! That’s just as good, right?” ;) I then had a revelation: When all else fails to motivate, buy some cute new gym clothes! Step one – updating the sneaks. To Reebok‘s new RunTones to be precise! Cute AND innovative. But more to come on that later. First, let’s review the rules on how 1 For Me // 1 For You works.
- What is it? It’s pretty simple… If I have one of something that I find functional, fashionable, or just plain fun, I send one of you a duplicate!
- Who can enter? Anyone and everyone who reads this blog. Whether you’re a friend, client, past client, future client, or random reader somewhere out there in Internet land, enter away! (Please see the not-so-fine print below for full rules and restrictions!)
- How long do I have to enter? You’ll have until next Saturday, April 9th at midnight CST to enter. The winner will be chosen at random using the random number generator at Random.org and announced the next morning (always the second Sunday of the month).
- Awesome! How do I get my shot at winning? You must comment (and answer the specific question asked at the end of the post) on this 1 For Me // 1 For You post to enter. Comments left via Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere will not be taken into consideration.
- But why? Because I can’t be the only one with waning motivation. At least, I hope not. :)
*Keep in mind that both girls AND guys are welcome to enter. Reebok makes RunTones for everyone. The only prerequisite you’ll need is feet. :) Once the winner is chosen, he or she will have their pick from any of the RunTones on Reebok.com, and there are 20 options. Now onto the pictures!*
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According to Reebok‘s website, RunTones feature “built-in balance pods that create micro-instability with every stride. The athletic-inspired shoe has a lightweight, breathable mesh upper and a low-cut design for added mobility.” The micro-instability is of course intended to make your muscles work harder to stabilize the body while running. I’ve yet to use them for very long, but I can definitely feel the difference when working out. And yes, I got the purple ones. :)
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At the risk of sounding just like the Famous Footwear chick who sold them to me, these sneakers are really so comfortable. It’s seriously crazy.
.jpg "1 For You_Houston Wedding Photographer_03")
And there you have it. My RunTones, and YOUR imaginary RunTones right beside them. :)
Question to Enter: How do you stay motivated? Your answer doesn’t have to involve the gym or exercise, but simply, an explanation of how you keep on keepin’ on when it comes to daily life and everyday tasks. Lists? Rewarding yourself with a cup of ice cream per every quarter mile you run? Let me have ’em.
Gerri Bolen - My kids and my foster kids keep me motivated! I know I have to show them everything in life I can, while they are with me, a ant , a leaf a bird in a tree running in the gutter all the joys of life they may miss out on if they werent placed in a safe foster home. They motivate me and bring me joy
Emily Snitzer - I stay motivated in my small business with the idea of being able to quit my day job…someday :)
stephanie rita - Lysiie! Since I just got some rad new kicks, too, I don’t need to be entered in the contest. But I’ll tell ya how I stay motivated anyways! For running, there’s this website called DailyMile where I can track my miles, and it sounds silly, but just knowing I’ll be able to add to my little tally of miles for the month keeps me running every week! Every month I try to beat my previous months mileage. It’s fun. =) Love you!
Vanessa - i LOVE making lists and crossing things off. with exercise, i stay motivated by working out in the morning. it’s the best time for me and i don’t have to think about it the rest of the day.
Mackenzie - my hubby keeps me motivated for sure! i’ve wanted a pair of these for a while but saving for diapers has been the task lately! :)
Imani - Motivation completely depends on the task I’m doing.
When I’m working out at the gym… what often keeps me on that treadmill/elliptical/bike is if I’m listening to a sermon on my ipod that I want to finish, or I’m reading a really good book.. or I’ll admit it, if there’s a really good tv show or movie on the gym TVs. I absolutely have to finish the show, or justify to myself that I can make it home in the time span of the commercial to not miss any of the show. (Law & Order SVU is usually what keeps me going!)
And for homework- I’ll make an ongoing list of sites that pop up into my head while I’m doing the actual homework. Instead of going to them right away, I wait until the end of the hour and spend 15 minutes of free time checking facebook, twitter, various blogs (YOURS included), etc. etc.
Those are just two of motivation tactics :)
Breanna - Gym motivation: I joined two classes, because its like school for me. If i miss a class i feel guilty. So i do Kickboxing and Abs class on Monday and cardio/ Total body sculpt Wednesdays. My wedding is a big workout motivator as well! :-)
Jen - For me, it’s making lots and lots of lists! And on the rare occasion that doesn’t seem to do it for me, my hubby is a great motivator! :)
Kelsie - I am definitely a list person. Crossing it off is just so satisfying! Confession: I’m sometimes guilty of adding things to the list that I’ve already done just so I can cross them off :)
Karina Colorado - Lists help with tasks like work, grocery shopping, packing for a trip…but I HATE working out. So my motivation there is usually for a trip (like our honeymoon) or a special event (WEDDING!). And I take it literally TWO days at a time (“If I work out today and tomorrow, I can be done.”) Then, I do it again for two days. Also, food. If I would out for the next two days, I will have some Golden Oreos and milk. Yum. Thanks for another great one for me, one for you.
Rachel - I HAVE to keep a list and keep it and will keep it forever until EVERYTHING is checked off! That is the only thing that will keep me on task and get through everyday life! See you on Fridaaayyyyy!!!
Weslea - I stay motivated by knowing my bills will need to be paid! My goal is to pay off all my student loans before I die. :)
Brandy - Another reason for spring to show up!
Kaley G - I stay motivated by knowing I have the best mentor everrr! =]
Tiffany - To-do lists! It’s the only way I can keep track of everything and I LOVE crossing things off when I’m done!
Athena - I surround myself with great friends who offer support and words of encouragement. We motivate one another.
Kira - I stay motivated by splitting the big goal into smaller ones and keeping my eye on the prize! So the goal to lose 10 pounds turns into 1 or 2 pounds a week until I get to 10!
Kat - To stay motivated I remind myself of the amazing truth that this life is a vapor and we have to live each day to the fullest! Now, seeing as though I just started tracking my carbs these shoes would greatly benefit me :) I really love this 1 for me//1for you thingy :)
Lauren - Music is pretty much the only way I stay motivated – at the gym, at work, cleaning my apartment. Nothing gets you moving like a good beat and lyrics to belt out.
Kristin - I stay motivated by the help of my friends. We set our goals and if someone starts slacking we help the other one get back on track. It has helped me a lot when it comes time to workout.
Karen A. - I stay motivated by lists and goals. Crossing things off is the best feeling! and keeping your eye set on something in the distance prevents “tripping” up on something. :)
Meghan Stang - I stay motivated by praying daily/worshiping God! My goals become accomplished by keeping to-do lists and such. :)
Aly - My motivation for the gym is definitely the wedding and all the events that go along with it including a certain engagement session this month!!! My motivation for life is hoping to finish my certification and get a teaching job for the next school year! I can’t wait for a job that means something to me and hopefully others :)
Erin - I joined Myfitnesspal.com and have been tracking all my food intake and exercise. Having lost almost 8 pounds already really helps me keep on going. Plus I have a work gym buddy and a gym at work :)
Sarah M - My motivation? I don’t want to be embarrassed when people ask me if I ran or not that day. haha. And I have a specific schedule I follow which makes it easier! And I have to say… my friends and family are awesome, encouraging me to run and stuff so that makes it easier too!
Carrie Stiles - I am just now trying to start running again & get in shape for summer & these would be perfect! The way I try to stay motivated is by keeping a journal where I list out my goals in detail & then as I journal I check in with myself to see where I am at & if I need to make any changes to get where I want to go.
Samantha - Ok, so these sneakers are freaking AWESOME!!! I start my diet tomorrow actually, the 17 day diet! Your suppose to exercise or walk atleast 17 mins a day. I plan on walking/running alot more then 17 mins. I was suppose to go get me a pair of shoes today, but I got to busy. These shoes would beee soooo very cool to get :) Ok and now the answer to your question, well to be honest I don’t do very good with keeping myself motivated.. But this time I’m just gonna tell myself I’ll be happier and have more energy. I’m thinking ahead and how much more happier I’ll be about myself.
Monica - I have had a really really rough past year or so and that motivates me so much to keep going and to push myself to be who I want to be. I can’t let life get me down, so instead of being down and sad, I lift my head up and move forward. I am on a weight loss journey, and knowing how much healthier I will be when I get this weight off, motivates me so much. (Plus getting to shop for super cute clothes helps)
Kathy - Motivation? What’s that? But seriously, I don’t know if this is as much motivation as it is survival… but I like to put big tasks into perspective. For example, If I’m nervous about a class I’m teaching, I think, “All I have to do is get through the next two hours.” And afterwards I say to myself, “Yes, I made it through the last two hours. ICE CREAM!!”
Jess S - I ask my husband to help keep me motivated. I learned early on in our marriage, though, that any goal I tell him, I better be certain I really want to achieve because when it comes to motivation issues, the man is part drill sergeant! :-)
Kate W. - Philippians 3:14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. This example of how to look forward to eternity teaches me how to work toward my other goals.
Kathy Scott - motivation for me is to remember to live every day to its fullest – and it is okay to take a break (0:
Jill Bogli - A lot of people fear the scale. But that’s one thing that helps me stay motivated. When I see the same numbers on a consistent basis (or less), it gets me excited. “Keeps me keepin’ on”. ;) that and how I pretty much always wear my John 3:16 bracelet. “He loved. He gave. We believe. We live.” love it. It was the best $4 Christmas present ever. And when I think my legs can’t make it to the next telephone pole, I look down at my wrist, and the body God blessed me with. In shape or not, it’s one of the biggest blessings we’ve been given.
Sarah - Accountability! Especially with working out, I have found (after years of working out by myself for all of 2 minutes and then feeling bored and giving up!) that knowing my friend will be there bright and early, sweating like crazy with me helps me to get myself out of bed and to the gym! And you feel so much better afterwards!
Kat - Trying to remember to do less thinking, more DOING! I tend to overthink and get caught in the deathspiral of doubt, just do it!
Sarah Korzun - keepin it fresh- i like to mix it up with doing different work outs like swimming, biking, yoga, pilates, or other work out classes like zumba! BUT the biggest motivator is always a nice sunny, warm day to enjoy outside :)
Jesslyn Amber - Love these shoes! I’m motivated constantly by my family and friends. I always want to make them proud. :) Thanks for being awesome, Alyse!! You’re the greatest! xoxo
Amber - I stay motivated by surrounding myself with friends and family that encourage me to do my very best. With having a photography business, as well as a full-time job elsewhere, I need all the love and support that I can get. Haha! :)
Sarah Jane - One thing helps me stay motivated, although I know it sounds cliché: keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus.
Heather C. - Deadlines! I am a procrastinator. I NEED a deadline to motivate me. If someone says “there’s no hurry, whenever you get around to it” Count on never seeing that project done. :)
AD - I stay motivated by reminding myself what the end goal is (like for exercise: healthier, better fitness, lose weight…). I also don’t give myself a choice, it’s not an option to NOT get up in the morning and do my workout…
Brittany - I love making lists! Writing everything down really helps me to get focused and stay focused.
Aimee - My greatest motivations are short term goals. Like a trip in a month will get me into gear. Also this year is my favorite cuz’s wedding so I gottas to look fly to be photograph by you. Since starting a fitness boot camp, I have become friends with some great girls who are supported and are always very encouraging. A support team is the best encouragement.
Lynda - The idea of looking like the pillsbury dough boy in my swim suit and summer clothes keeps me on the stairmaster and elliptical! I’m going for sexy not puffy!! LOL. Rewarding myself with shoes helps!! My pants might fit tighter some days but my stilettos will always look good!
Kimberly - Starbucks on the way home from the gym helps!
Jenn - I stay motivated by striving to feel accomplished and productive… whether it’s going to the gym, making good food choices, or just getting up off the couch.
Amy Williams - My best form of motivation is the phrase “keep up and you’ll be kept up.” Basically this means the more you keep going, the more will be available to you in the future. Also when I’m struggling to get up to do yoga every morning I just think about how much better I will feel later in the day if I do it. That usually helps a lot :)
Kristin Nicole - I remind myself that I can accomplish my dreams if I stay motivated.
Jeremy - my love for my wife keeps me motivated every day! and a little kick from a large Mt. Dew never hurts either…
Alison - My sole motivation for the gym is allowing myself some sort of chocolate treat that night! And more specifically right now is to fit in my wedding dress in 2 short months!
Lacey - I stay motivated with lists! I love being able to check things off and feel like I’ve accomplished something.
Nancy - Philippians 4:13!:)
Maniya - My biggest motivator is God. I know that he knows what’s best for me so it’s usually the things I don’t want to do that give me biggest payoff. Paying bills is a big motivator but seeing and making my family proud is definitely at the top of the list.
Rebekah Lyn - I have awesome family and friends who help me stay motivated!
Michelle Lynch - My biggest motivation is my friends. It really does make a huge difference if you have someone working out with you. It works in and out of the gym. We can motivate each other to go to the gym and make sure we get it into our day. Plus when you get there we help each other stay motivated with running that extra mile. Plus I feel like it makes the time go by faster, because I HATE working out. :]
Jessamyn - I think there are times in life that we don’t have a choice… We just keep on because we have to – because its impossible to stop!! But those times are few… I stay motivated by focusing not on the task at hand but on the goal, and by making copious numbers of lists!!! (springpad is awesome!!!)
Angela W, - I stay motivated by thinking about all of my blessings! I am a child of the Most High God, I have the sweetest, most beautiful daughter in the world, I have such a supportive and loving fiance, and my family and friends are outta this world fantastic!
Terri - Depends, I suppose on what I’m trying to stay motivated on. Lists and a {cheap} trip to Target is always motivating. As for exercise, a new pair of pants or t-shirt helps…but more than anything it’s the pair of jeans hanging in my closet that don’t fit and are yet unworn! My sneakers have been through Hurricane Katrina clean-up twice and to the African jungle once…they’re disgusting and in desperate need of replacing!!!
Deborah - Motivation …. well, I find, for myself, that it’s all in my attitude! When you have a good one, you feel you can just about accomplish most anything in your day! A favorite quote of mine on the subject:
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.” – Charles Swindoll
Sara James - I keep motivated by thinking about my future – in terms of exercise, “Do I really want to look like that and have heart disease?” and in terms of education, “You can be a lawyer and help the little guy! Or make tons of money!” My general motivational line that I use to argue with myself is, “But think of how much better your feel!” Either mentally or physically. :-)
Rachelle - Jesse (the hubby) and I keep each other motivated. When one of us is slacking in any area, we just poke fun at each other until we get going again. This usually works, but not always!
Marie Haley - It’s not easy to keep your ‘mojo’ when you get to be 56 years old, but I believe knowing how much I have to live FOR, well, that’s my secret. God has blessed me with an incredible family and the best friends in the world. I want to go to heaven, someday, but I want every minute I can squeeze in right here on earth.
Erin Haase - I’ve been on a big fitness kick lately, motived by wanting to look super hot in my wedding dress! I finally decided to take a boot camp class, money already spent and seeing my progress is extremely motivating! And now I need new running shoes ’cause I’ve worn mine out!
Michelle Bowman - My son is my motivation. Everything I do in this life is somehow to benefit him :-)
April Islip - Sometimes I find it hard to stay motivated, especially when I have a 2 foot stack of paperwork on my desk to go through, but I just go through it piece by piece. As far as fitness, I am now at my 1 year mark of taking Zumba classes and I am still as much in love with the class as I was the first day! My muscles still ache the next morning after each class and it makes me feel good. I also love the other women I have met and befriended in my class, they have also become my motivation.
Kata - I like to make lists… If I don’t have one, I tend to just play with Henry (my dog) or hang out with friends. I don’t work out much, but I really need to and my favorite thing to help me do that is buy new work out clothes! These would be perfect because I have wanted them for a while!
Heather Davidson - I post all of the thank you cards I have gotten from past couples on the wall next to my desk. When I’m having a bad day or dealing with a less than pleasant client, I’m look over and remember all the friends I’ve made and all teh wonderful memories I have helped create. It’s the best motivation to keep smiling and remember what my job is all about – being a part of the most memorable experiences of people’s lives!
Danielle - I stay motivated by looking at the bathing suits hanging out in my closet until my honeymoon. It does the trick every time I want to skip my run!
Mary Ann B - Since I’m in my ‘upper 40’s’ and have already had a broken hip (when I was 9) and hence, arthritis, all i have to do is think about what I might be like in my 60’s if I don’t get down to my workout on a regular basis. Keeping an eye on the future is always a good motivator for just about anything – especially living a right life – if not just for myself, for the next generation.
Rebecca Miner - My kids keep me as motivated as I am…but like you, I lack it sometimes! I just had my 3rd baby 6 weeks ago and started exercise yesterday…I am sore! BUT, I know in the past I have seen results when I set out to lose weight with exercise and I remember that after the first few days I feel oh so very alive and energetic. So, I am keeping those memories to motivate me…and..the fact that my pants don’t fit yet!!! :( Thanks for the opportunity!
Colette Wilber - I stay motivated by thinking about my health and where I want to be years from now. I’m hoping to start a walking group here in our town with church family members in a couple of weeks to start walking the track and then moving on to doing some 5k’s. Sould be a good way to keep us all motivated and hopefully bring others into the group as well.
Erica M - My pup Charlie motivates me! I walk him for an hour everyday. If I don’t I know he’ll give me sad puppy eyes and paw me while I’m trying to ignore him :)
Jessica - I listen to music. Now, this is if i’m working out. Upbeat music that i just have to move to :) it keeps me moving until i’m done!
Maniya - This is my 3rd attempt to leave a comment :)(my antivirus really works I guess) but my movitation to do anything is trusting that God knows what’s best for me, despite how I feel. The things that are best for me are the things I usually don’t want to do (i.e. eating healthy,exercising, paperwork or doing anything productive for that matter). Aside from that seeing my family, making them proud, and never paying a bill late is what gives me the extra umph to get things done.
Erin Weber - My kids keep me motivated! Their unconditional love even when I’m in a bad “mommy mood”, the sloppy wet kisses, chubby arms around my neck, missed-pronounced words and sheepish looks when they know they’ve been naughty. Even when I have snot/puke/poop (yes, i said poop)/cracker crumbs or apple juice on my shirt or in my hair…when I’m up all night long, when there’s a mountain of laundry, sink full or dishes, and toys covering every square inch of the floor, I try really hard to remember that this won’t last forever. Soon they will be grown and I will miss even the not so nice things. This keeps me motivated throughout every day!
kate d - so i want these extra extra bad. although convincing you how much i need good running shoes will not help me win them. so MOTIVATION:: definitely lists. lists lists lists. lists on what i have to do today. lists on what parts of the project i need to complete. lists on what i’m bring on my trip this weekend. lists on everything. honestly, i’m obsessive. but they really are my stress reliever. also, i’m a big fan of rewarding myself. work hard for an hour, give myself 10 minutes on facebook. walk for an hour, then buy myself something new. you get the idea :)
Heather - Breast cancer battlers + survivors keep me motivated! Every year, I pledge to walk 26 miles in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. My goal is to complete all 9 cities; and I am currently on city #4. Don’t forget to Save Second Base! =)
Danielle McGee - As a dietitian and counselor, motivation is a constant conversation topic in my office! For me, internal motivation to do things (exercise, graduate school assignments, connecting with friends) stems from an awareness of the fact that I have the ability to do them. Example? I was on the treadmill last week making complaints about being bored and tired of running (after 5 minutes!). Then a news episode came on about a soon-to-be bride. She was injured in a car accident and was spending HOURS everyday in physical therapy so that she could WALK down the isle. Wow! Talk about a change in perspective! So maybe, just maybe, more motivation comes with a corrected perspective on the task at hand and what we have the chance to complete. Leave it to me to make things too deep. ;)
Stef - I try to motivate myself by thinking about how good it feels to have endurance and to be strong… as lame as that sounds. I hate the feeling of huffing and puffing if I work out at random, so I’ve been trying to keep up with it more. And I need music at all times when I go for a run.
Nebris - Well, you see at my age that commercial that says women my age cannot even stay the same weight w/o exercising 1 hr. a day puts FEAR into me. SOOOOO if the running show fits – well run with it :) s o r r y ____ Alyse really:>)
jessica - hmmmm…what motivates me…well, right now this new app on my iphone called MyFitnessPal:) It’s pretty awesome it can look up any food while you’re out, help you keep track of all your calories and workouts…not that i have been working out lately, but maybe the shoes would help;)
Louise - The way exercise makes me feel (and look :) motivates me to keep going back. Also my kickboxing class rocks!
Jessica Knight - In working out, shopping, cleaning, or just plain old life…I have to have a partner. Someone there who can encourage me, give me their honest opinion, and just be there with me. A friend, a husband…even a dog counts!
nivek - My daughter keeps me motivated and also losing all of my baby weight. I want her to look up to me. So doing all I can to support her and give her everything she needs keeps me going day to day. Trying to walk everyday weather it be on the treadmill or out side is helping me get motivated and stay.
Sarah Bramer - Motivation comes in soooo many forms! Results usually motivate me the most though. I lost 5 lbs last month by changing my eating habits. Imagine what I could do by adding excercise! Motivation!
Sarah Casas - First of all, I LOVE your work! I stay motivated because I love the way working out makes me feel. More energetic, and less tired during the day. I always get better sleep when I work out. I hope I win! My sister wants these shoes so badly! If I win, I will give them to her and hopefully it will keep her motivated! :)
Taylor Randolph - What keeps me motivated…hmmm. Those cute pair of jeans…summer…? Did I seriously just admit to that. Wow, I am shallow.lol
Kasey - I stay motivated to exercise/diet by writing everything down! I ‘m a nerd and love lists, so wanting to write down each day that I went to the gym and burned XXX calories, keeps me motivated to go! =)
Aimee - One thing that has always motivated me is having others tell me I’m not capable of doing something. I love to prove people wrong! As for gym motivation, my shorts haunt me as summer approaches!
Amber Jacoby - Music usually helps me in the motivation department! And going to a cafe to get out of the house to crank out some work!
Alyssa - I stay motivated by thinking of what I want to accomplish one day at a time, and how good it feels when I do get things done!
Terri - I stay motivated with a homemade sign on my junkfood cupboard door, it reads “If you eat from this cupboard you’ll look like this.” It has a picture of a very large person. I love cookies, chips, pretzels, popcorn, little debbies cakes, etc…so I work out, then I can eat them. :) It works for me.
Andi S - My husband keeps me motivated. If I don’t think I can get something done, I think about him and know that he would be cheering me on to get things done. It helps a lot. He is a great motivator and I love him for that.