A lot of my experience with exercise comes from the YMCA, so in many of my posts I will use the Y as an example.

I have seen a lot of people start and stop... start and stop... start and stop. I have also seen many people start and stick with it.

For the most part, I can pick out a couple key factors that influenced whether it stuck or not:

1) Did the person find something they enjoyed doing or did it feel like work after work?

2) Did they find a class, group, friends or staff to get connected to?

3) Was there some sort of accountability for them?

4) Did they feel value and have a vision?

A lot of times being successful has nothing to do with how much passion you have about getting healthy. More often than not it has more to do with the connections you make and the support system you build before you even start to work out.

Find a way to get connected with people with similar interests, who like to do active hobbies that you enjoy and hold yourself and the others in the group accountable to sticking with it.

Where can you find these people at... well that is a little harder. Look to Family, friends, co-workers... the people you are around the most! If you don't have that support, I know of a great community hub called... what is it... oh yeah... the "YMCA!" We really try to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities! If you're in the Tacoma area stop by the downtown "Y" 1144 Market St and I'll get you connected!!!

I think getting connected is key... everything is a lot harder to do on your own. Whether it is doing an aerobic class, playing in open gym, or being part of a hiking group... all of those are great ways to get connected.

Now that I am also working at a retirement community, I can see a new population demographic. My original obsevations still hold true. In fact it is even more prevelant. You have to get connected into a group. People who find friends and work out together are so much more successful than those who don't. I'm not saying you can't do it, I'm just saying it takes a lot more self-motivation to go it alone. I think you really have to develop your ability to push yourself with someone who knows how to do it before you go it alone... but maybe that's just me!

I know when I was riding my bike in the mornings at the park, there used to be an older oriental guy jogging I would always run into. Come to think of it, I quit making that ride as often when I wasn't seeing the old man, or really anyone else on the track regularly anymore.

I find myself willing to make the 4 mile bike ride over the Clearwater Memorial Causeway to Pier 60 more often now. I've made a few retired fishing buddies who are pretty much out there every morning and are great to listen to. With summer time coming up I'm sure the beach/pier will be packed with bikinis as well.

I think, without getting too philosophical on us, that we as humans gravitate towards other humans. We have a need for connection, many of us find connections and do a lot to keep those connections. When it relates to working out we often push ourselves a lot harder to keep connections than we would push ourselves to exercise. Connections might give us the motivation we need. We go for the social and get in shape as a by-product.

I used to work out everyday with one of my friends. About 8 months ago she got pregnant and understandably she has canceled her membership and has not been working out with me. I didn't realize how much she kept me to my routine until I haven't been working out with her. I think I've gained 5 lbs since she got pregnant... unless I just gained sympathy weight for her .

Have you found any solution to your loss of a workout buddy yet, Tammy?

Um, yeah, finding someone else to workout with! Well, I only workout with that person about 3 times a week though. I think having that person to workout with at least part of the week, makes me feel like I need to workout on the days though because I need to be able to keep up with them on the days we do workout together!

I think I could manage working out alone... I've done it before, it would just take me a while to get back into that routine. However, from my experience, having someone to workout with and someone to hold you accountable does make exercising more fun and a lot easier to look forward to!

I agree... I think people would go for the social encounter and workout as a by-product.