Good post.

The initial motivation to wake up is my alarm clock. LOL. Then whatever thermogenic I am on takes over.

But, the thing that keeps me going when I don't want to is that I know I have to take the "end of cycle" pictures.

And now that I have a goal (a year away) to compete, THAT will get my butt out of bed/in the gym.

Once I am there, I wouldn't make it through without my MP3 player. It's small, it's loud, and I can swap out any song I am tired of with the push of the "delete" button. Plus, I don't have to shell out the $$ to buy a whole CD for 1 song that I like from a new group. LOL.

When I lift with Fern, we motivate each other. She's a good lifting partner ... motivating, keeps my form in check, but doesn't yell in my face. I never understood that about "hardcore" gyms. LOL.