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I know…I know.  Sometimes, its much more relaxing after a hard days work to grab a bite to eat on the way home (if you’re a single guy/gal) and just VEG till about 9pm, which by then you either want to go to bed or your friends are calling you to go out and have a drink or 3.

BUT WAIT!

What you need is a little kick in the arse.  A jumpstart to make sure you actually make it to the gym.  Here’s you primer to get you butt to the gym and stay there.  These tools are ESSENTIAL to make sure you make…it…there:

1. IPOD w/ Sleeve Holder - Yes, an IPOD is soooo incredibly important.  I had this girlfriend that said if she didn’t have updated music, then she’d never go.  Well, let’s just say she spent a couple hours at my place and she was going 3 times a week after I hooked her up with the latest and greatest songs. I love P2P.

2.  Water Bottle - This can also be just a box of waters you bought from the store.  I hate waiting in line for water.  It sucks.  When I want a drink, I want it NOW.  So go to the store and grab waters or go to GNC and grab a water bottle (old company picnic bottles work wonders for this too - thanks boss!).

3. Pack Your Things in the Morning - Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.  If you have your workout attire in the car with you on the way home, you have NO EXCUSE.  Let me say that again, NO EXCUSE.  I’ve even gone as far as changing in the bathroom, putting on my workout gloves and shoes at work (also opens the doors for conversation to the ladies: “Hey, where you going? Me: “To the gym” - SCORE!).  Getting dressed before is a constant reminder when you’re driving that you’re driving to the gym.

4. Protein Bars and Shakes - Always a good idea to have a box full of protein bars and shakes at your office.  Since you don’t want to go home just because you’re hungry, grab a bar and make yourself a quick shake.  This will give you just enough energy to do a good set of cardio, pump the weights and get home to make a nice dinner for yourself (No, it doesn’t mean that you should stop in at McDonald’s afterwards since you worked out).

5. Catch up on Reading - Bring a book or magazine.  Confession: I hate cardio.  It’s boring, lonely and just plain sucks, but I need it. I, unfortunately, don’t have the body type where I can run around the office all day and have a good metabolism to just lift weights.  I need a good 20-30 min cardio set to burn off all the Halloween candy and late night snacks I eat.  Having said all that, the time flies when I bring a book.  It makes cardio enjoyable and since I really don’t read that often, it makes me smarter too.

I don’t know about you, but for me, these are the essentials I require to make it to the gym and stay motivated while I’m there.  Of course, I want to look good for my lady on-lookers, but sometimes I get into lazy mode.  These 5 “motivators” help me get past…me.