It would appear that the big obstacle between me and gym-before-work is needing to get dressed twice.

The biggest obstacle to my plan of hitting the treadmill in the morning is having to get dressed before coffee, feed the cats, breakfast, shower, and getting dressed for real. Note that the treadmill is right here in my office; I don't even have to dress for other peoples' eyes. But instead of just throwing on a robe, it's bra-panties-shorts-shirt-socks-shoes. It's weird, the little things that can throw you off a perfectly good-in-theory plan.

-t, I read The Power of Habit a few years ago and it totally helped me get into the gym before work routine. The gist is that the brain notices a cue-action-reward scenario. Instead of viewing the clothes out as onerous, I began to think of it as a cue. In other words, I put the clothes out in advance as a promise that I was going to swim in the morning. I was also certain to reward myself each time I did it so that the workout became the action in the cycle and there was another reward for the workout. Eventually I stopped needing the reward to go.

See, if I'm exercising in my living room I am fine doing that in my underwear or pajamas, although I might need a serious bra depending on what I'm doing and that can throw me off. I have tried to convince myself that I can drive to the gym in my pajamas and change into workout clothes there, but I haven't actually done it and I don't really think I will. It's a nice idea, though.

Interesting, Kat. My problem with putting the clothes out the night before is mostly that I don't have anywhere to put them. And when, the day before, do I do the deciding of what to wear tomorrow? If I could plan my whole week of clothes the way I do food it would probably do me a lot of good but I haven't figured out how to make that practical.

I don't have much variation in clothes. My skirts and pants are various neutral colors, and my tops are various bright colors. Almost no prints or patterns. So for summer it's some bright colored tank top and a neutral skirt or crop pants. In winter it's a rotation of blue jeans and sleeved shirts in the same colors. When I think about it, I can grab a tank top and put a complimentary shirt on top of it. Sometimes jewelry if I have the brain space for it. Shoes are unremarkable Crocs or sneakers. And somehow I get complements on how cute and comfortable I look.

And when, the day before, do I do the deciding of what to wear tomorrow?

For me, I do it right before bed. I have essentially three outfits -- swim stuff, what to get to the gym in and then my work clothes. I put my work clothes, along with a towel, in my workout bag, then I leave my swim suit and outfit to get to the gym on top of my bag. I put both on the couch right before I go to bed.

This is the piece that is most helpful from the book: [link]

Getting dressed becomes a whole lot easier when all of your tops go with all of your bottoms.

Kat is me (except I don't work out in the morning during the week). I hang my work clothes in the bathroom the night before right before bed. If I'm going to run first, I make a pile of my running clothes. I have a tiny bathroom, but that cue makes a huge difference in my ability to get myself moving in the morning.

Speaking of, I'm about to go to the gym for the first time in months and months to set up some personal training. I need pressure to start working out because I am so sick of being out of shape. Yes, I have good cardio from running, but I need strength training to avoid injuries. I'm also really sick of not fitting into the cute clothes I want to wear.

I did a bit of straightening up in the living room and kitchen just in case I have company over today, and Jackson hissed at me, clearly thinking I had been replaced by an imposter.