A Resolution a Week: The Challenge of Willpower When Your Workout Buddy Has None

It was only the first week of my grand Resolution a Week for 2014, and I've already failed. I even got new running shoes, and yet I only ran twice, rather than the three times I had aimed for.

I blame two things:

• My husband
• TV

I know that I'm just making excuses. It's not really my husband's fault I didn't run three times last week.


But it's crazy how when you normally work out with someone, and that someone has had a rough week or is unable to workout with you, that it tends to make it so much easier to not workout yourself.

It's also very easy to get sucked into a TV show. We've been re-watching The West Wing on Netflix lately, and it's so hard to stop watching the next episode. The answer is probably going running as soon as we get home from work rather than wait until later in the evening when we're not going to feel like it. Could it be that simple?

My husband and I have been running together for months. Because it's dark and cold, we head to the local Planet Fitness to run on the treadmill, which is just not as much fun as running outside. Running in and of itself is not much fun. Add in running nowhere and you have a recipe for reduced willpower.

The beauty of a Resolution a Week is I get to start over next week. I have another chance at meeting my goal of three times a week. I'm optimistic I'll get back into the swing of things next week.

What I have in mind for next week's Resolution should help.