Last year I was on a roll for a few months waing up early and going to the gym several times a week. It was great! How was I able to do it? My best friend and I decided we are going to be each others’ motivation and met up every morning (often in the freezing cold) to go for a walk, job, did ab crunches and of course, some gossip. It was a great way to start the day and feel good about ourselves! You know, when by 8am I already worked out, showered and had breakfast it made a huge difference. It made me want to make good use of the rest of the day :-)

Nowadays, I am not so good about going to the gym. My friend and I both moved and now I miss my her and our gym time. I wish there was a way to establish a motivation network or database for people who are looking for a gym buddy.

Anyway. Shoutout to my awesome friend who is a great motivator! And of course rocks my world in every way even from so far away.

That’s such a touching story! I know it can be so hard to keep yourself motivated… especially when you are living so far from each other! I’m sure you and your best friend do check in on each other every once in while - but it must not be the same as doing things together (especially with the time difference).

Maybe you and your friend should have some kind of a “competition”. Set a common goal and work your way towards it, keeping tabs on each other on weekly basis? Whoever reaches said goal first pays for the other to fly cross country/ cross ocean to see the other? Hehe!

I know there are several companies that have started these Employee Get Fit programs. You basically form groups within the firm and compete with each other and there usually is some kind of a reward in the end. One company I know has all the employees carrying odometers and the branch which accumulates the highest number of average steps taken by employees in a given time period gets a party and recognition as the fittest branch. :) It’s all about team work!