Dave Cieslewicz
Mayor of Madison
I try to exercise every day ' sometimes just walking up the stairs to my fourth-floor office and walking the dog, and sometimes lifting weights at the gym. After even a 20-minute workout, I come back feeling much better, more relaxed, and with more energy for the rest of the day. I cross-country ski, run and ride my bike on Sunday mornings and to work as possible. To motivate myself I wear a pedometer and shoot for 5,000 steps a day, but mostly I enjoy getting exercise, so I don't need too much motivation.
Hans Sollinger, M.D.
Surgeon, chief of transplants at UW
I try to exercise at least two hours a day. Summer exercise is road biking, and in winter it's roller-skiing and indoor biking. I also do some weightlifting and stretching. I cross-country ski with the goal to make the 'Coureur des Bois,' the most difficult cross-country race in the world, which starts at 8,300 feet at Steamboat Lake and goes into Wyoming. My motivation is that I feel good and do not have to watch my weight too much. A few years ago I had an illness, and since that time Lance Armstrong has become a role model. When I really do not want to go out, I just ask my wife, 'Would Lance go out today?' The answer is always yes.
Ann Heaslett, M.D.
Psychiatrist, multiple USA Track & Field titleholder, four-time USA 100K team member, three-time Ironman finisher
Running is my first love, but due to running-related injuries, I switched to Ironman training over the past two years. Each week I swim three times with a masters swim class, do two spin classes, and weight train with a small group. I tend to be a little shy, so joining different workout groups has been a great way to meet people who have enriched my life greatly, plus we challenge each other to work a little harder. A desire to do well in competitions also motivates me. And working out is a great stress-reliever.
Crackerjack
Mad Rollin' Dolls general manager and coach, and skater for the Reservoir Dolls
Competitive in practice, competitive in a bout. I practice my ass off so I can kick other skaters' butts on game day. Plus, I'll die the day a new girl is faster than me. And, if I don't work hard at practice, I can't eat everything in sight afterwards.
Susan Siman
News 3 This Morning
Working the dawn patrol is a real challenge ' it's hard to find the energy to work out when your day begins at 3 a.m., but it would be impossible to work this schedule without making it a priority. By the time I get home, there's school, family, dinner and activities to deal with, so I have to carve out time for myself. I'm a big fan of yoga and walking. Overall, I think everything is about balance and a positive attitude. And a good night's sleep! Sleep is a miracle cure.
Rob Starbuck
News 3 This Morning
The oxygen boost motivates me to exercise, and it plays a huge role in making my hours tolerable. I have to get up at 1:45 a.m., I'm on TV almost three hours a day, and I have to keep my head in the game and keep that energy going. I have a military background so tend to be old school, using callisthenic-type exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, etc.
I do 'boot camp' exercise with a group in Mount Horeb, using rocks, logs and the environment as a gym. I exercise outside in any weather except when it's lightning. Eating well keeps my energy up, and I don't keep junk around the house.
Cherry Poppins
Mad Rollin' Dolls PR manager, and skater for the Unholy Rollers
Getting motivated isn't easy. We skate up to 10 hours a week, and every time I get in my car to drive to the rink, I think about all the millions of other things I could be doing that wouldn't involve getting beat up. Then I remember that none of those things let me go fast! And none of them make my butt look this good! If I'm really struggling, I remember my team. I never let them down by skipping a practice. I think the 'team' part should apply to everybody ' the decision to work out alone is a ridiculous promise to make to yourself. More than anything else, people are what motivate me to keep coming back, even when I'm tired, busy, sore and just generally dreading getting my butt kicked.
Pam Barrett
The Motor Primitives
Like everybody else, I have to balance relationship, work and play. Working a full-time day job and supporting my rock 'n' roll addiction at night means limited time for health and fitness. I hate gyms, so my bike is my exercise equipment and the world is my gym. I stay in shape by transporting myself everywhere I need to go. Biking is also a stress reducer. And I'm almost never late because I'm never stuck in traffic.
Lori Holder-Webb
UW accounting professor
Madison itself motivates me to stay fit. My challenge is not so much to motivate myself to stay fit as it is to ignore all of the fantastic opportunities to exercise outdoors and enjoy activity and movement long enough to work!
Mitch Henck
Stand-up comedian and WIBA radio host
I've done well with the cardio and resistance training, but I'm still struggling with the food intake. I've found you have to do it today because if you don't, the one day you put it off can become five or 10 years. There are several things that motivate me for health and fitness. My kids. The people at Harbor Athletic Club ' without them I would weigh 400 pounds. And the thought that if I ever hit all my fitness goals, I can go to the Red Shed and maybe actually get somebody's phone number.
**Liz ZÃlandais has finished three marathons, one half-Ironman distance triathlon, and several Richard Simmons videos. She is the author of the book Bodycraft: Creating the Body You Want While Loving the Body You Have.