Motivation for exercise

coco_bee

I've wasted money on unused gym memberships, personal trainer, equipment hire but please could u let me know where I can buy motivation?

ninerbuff

You can't buy it. You either have it or you don't. When it fitness/health becomes a TOTAL PRIORITY to you, and you let no deterrence, obstacles, or non supportive people sway you..................then you have your motivation.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

coco_bee

Thanku ninerbuff u are so right. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wasted money. I wish I could buy motivation.

snha

We all go through times like this. Keep believing this is temporary! You will get out of this slump like you did before. A couple of things that work for me under these circumstances: 1. choose an exercise that works well for you, one that you truly enjoy (mine is running and elliptical); 2. buy an exercise machine you like (mine is a really good elliptical), one that you can use at home--I bought it because I was paying crazy amounts to gyms I never used, 3. use the machine in increments, a five-minute workout is five minutes more of a workout, it counts--that's what I did initially, walk a bit longer (a minute here or there), step on the machine anytime I could, even for a few minutes, etc., 4. most importantly, believe, truly believe, there are no other choices, it's not a luxury, it's not a choice, it's something you need to do like everything else you prioritize--tell that to yourself, repeat it often, write it on pieces of paper and hang them all over your place, etc. Good luck.

ninerbuff

jafa_bunz wrote: »

Thanku ninerbuff u are so right. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wasted money. I wish I could buy motivation.

Intention is one thing and so is desire. No one can really motivate anyone. You can be inspired and encouraged, but again all that means nothing unless it's a priority for you. Most people lack motivation because they fear failure. So your plan should be one where you'll make small successes (however little they may seem) along the way. That builds confidence and it's much easier to continue if one sees success.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Christine_72

Buying a fitbit motivated the the shite out of me! I went from very sedentary to very active. Plus it helps to join challenges where the participants have crazy high step goals.

I wouldn't even bother getting a gym membership, as for me it would be a waste of money as I'd hardly ever go.

quiltlovinlisa

ninerbuff wrote: »

jafa_bunz wrote: »

Thanku ninerbuff u are so right. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wasted money. I wish I could buy motivation.

Intention is one thing and so is desire. No one can really motivate anyone. You can be inspired and encouraged, but again all that means nothing unless it's a priority for you. Most people lack motivation because they fear failure. So your plan should be one where you'll make small successes (however little they may seem) along the way. That builds confidence and it's much easier to continue if one sees success.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Well said.

LULU4178

Logging onto MFP motivates me. Seeing in black and white what I was eating has really made me be conscious of what I put into my one and only body! I thought I was eating a healthy and balanced diet but it was not so---way too many carbs and not enough protein. It also motivates me to look at the graphs to see how active I am. I promised myself to log in everything-no matter what. The best exercise is the one you do (not an original thought but a paraphrase of something I read). Just get started. Do something-anything-other than sit on the couch and watch tv. You will feel so much better!

middlehaitch

Find things that motivate you......

Absolutely killing it in a slinky dress was one of mine.

I also wanted to be able to do all the things my grandson wanted me to. This includes throwing a 5 yr old up in the air.

Being able to build my own patio and arbour, not depend on others.

I want to get old with attitude, not a walker.

.......then commit.

Find your motivators, and make the commitment.
MFP is here, and it will support you.

Cheers, h.

coco_bee

Thank you everyone for your very informative, helpful and encouraging comments, your opinions and support. I will take on board all that is said and follow your advice - thank you! I do feel a bit more motivated now

mwyvr

@jafa_bunz You've got 54 pounds to go according to your profile. For me seeing my number (at the start it was 105 pounds to go) was motivation enough. I was 53 then (still am) and am already down 78 pounds.

Is that not motivating enough? You could be at your goal within a year. Less than a year if you work hard at it, and - bonus - you'll be far fitter and healthier months before you get to your "goal weight" thanks to whatever exercise / diet / fitness regimen you adopt.

Just get on with it.

PS: You might like gyms and memberships and if so all power to you but you don't need to spend money to find ways to exercise. I've spent 0$ on regular fees - the only money I've spent on fitness is a few dollars here and there for new shoes and some running clothes. Money does not equal motivation.

AsISmile

My motivation is that I go to gym classes I absolutely love and are so much fun!
I'm sad when I don't go.

Finding a form of exercise you truly enjoy can make it so much easier. It doesn't have to be in a gym either.
Walking, running, biking, trampoline jumping, kayaking, roller blading, surfing, swimming, dance classes, etc.

msf74

Motivation generally comes in two sorts;

• Extrinsic - which is governed by gaining external rewards or avoiding punishment - so gaining people's approval by looking good, winning medals or trophies, avoiding social stigma
• Intrinsic - which is governed by internal enjoyment, the challenge, the love of acquiring a new skill and so on

Both can be good sources of motivation and sometimes you get a mix of the two. The key is finding what makes you tick and you feel pushes your button and tapping into that.

That said, intrinsic motivation tends to secure an interest in something over a longer time frame as it is more within your control and not so dependent on external forces.

michelleellis

snha wrote: »

We all go through times like this. Keep believing this is temporary! You will get out of this slump like you did before. A couple of things that work for me under these circumstances: 1. choose an exercise that works well for you, one that you truly enjoy (mine is running and elliptical); 2. buy an exercise machine you like (mine is a really good elliptical), one that you can use at home--I bought it because I was paying crazy amounts to gyms I never used, 3. use the machine in increments, a five-minute workout is five minutes more of a workout, it counts--that's what I did initially, walk a bit longer (a minute here or there), step on the machine anytime I could, even for a few minutes, etc., 4. most importantly, believe, truly believe, there are no other choices, it's not a luxury, it's not a choice, it's something you need to do like everything else you prioritize--tell that to yourself, repeat it often, write it on pieces of paper and hang them all over your place, etc. Good luck.

This was some great advice :-)

michelleellis

middlehaitch wrote: »

Find things that motivate you......

Absolutely killing it in a slinky dress was one of mine.

I also wanted to be able to do all the things my grandson wanted me to. This includes throwing a 5 yr old up in the air.

Being able to build my own patio and arbour, not depend on others.

I want to get old with attitude, not a walker.

.......then commit.

Find your motivators, and make the commitment.
MFP is here, and it will support you.

Cheers, h.

getting old with an attitude. I like that!!!!

ruqayyahsmum

for me i needed to become functional

the excess weight and health problems left we walking with a stick at the age of 31
im now 170lb down and im able to run now, the stick left my life long ago

middlehaitch

Oh, we'll done ruqayyahsmum!

Functionality was my original goal too, then as mobility and fitness improved, attitude took hold.

Now I am the slim, 62yo nana, with pink and magenta hair, who trecks through tropical forests on horseback, rappels down waterfalls, snorkels with the fish, and zip lines over forest canopies....the list goes on.

Exercise still isn't my favourite thing, but if it helps me continue leading the life I never thought I would have when I was 40, I will keep doing it.

Cheers, h.

coco_bee

OMG middlehaitch you do not look 62, you have a gorgeous figure and you really suit pink hair! Thank you all for your awesome stories, opinions, advice

middlehaitch

Thank coco-bee, blushing the colour of my hair right now. It is a cool lilac in my avatar. Now it is brilliant pink. It is lovely being old enough that you don't care what others think

Cheers, h.

999tigger

Sit down and figure out whether you are willing to commit or not. It doesnt sound like you wnat to get to your goal enough.


What you cna do is read these boards and pick up on ideas as to how to make the diet as simple to follow and as easy as possible to carry out. No need to make it harde r thna it needs be. progress encourages you.

whiteblossom14

My friends on here motivate me and I hope I do the same. My treadmill was a clothes rack now it's a machine I use every day

stevenvj

coco_bee wrote: »

I've wasted money on unused gym memberships, personal trainer, equipment hire but please could u let me know where I can buy motivation?

I have wasted time and money with gym memberships and supplements before. I used to pay for gym memberships and when I would go it would be a lazy session and halfway through I would go home. Eventually when I reached 300lbs I went to the gym and spoke to the Personal Trainer. He gave me an eating plan, an exercise plan and then I paid for 12 sessions with him. After those 12 sessions I didn't look back because the change in my body was enough to give me all the motivation I needed to continue. It is now a little more than a year later and I have gone from 300lbs to around 240lbs but I have packed on quite a bit of muscle as well and my clothes have dropped from an XXXL to a L/XL depending on the cut.

I hit the gym 5 times a week but I also watch my diet. I do cheat and am not strict on my diet at all over weekends as this is a very busy time with family responsibilities, etc and there is just not always time to make my meals.

I know you would like to buy motivation as would we all but your motivation should come from what you want to achieve and the results you see in getting there. Take a picture of what you look like today and find a picture of a fitness model whose body type/tone you would like to have for yourself and put them up against a wall / closet / mirror that you see when you get up in the morning and this will inspire and motivate you to get your butt into gear to make it happen.

47Jacqueline

In the 1950s, Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon, developed a theory that it takes about 21 days to develop a habit. In 1960, Maltz published his thoughts on behavior change in a book called Psycho-Cybernetics. The book went on to become an blockbuster hit, selling more than 30 million copies.

In the decades that followed, Maltz's work influenced nearly every major "self-help" professional from Zig Ziglar to Brian Tracy to Tony Robbins. And as more people recited Maltz's story -- like a very long game of "Telephone" -- people began to forget that he said "a minimum of about 21 days" and shortened it to: "It takes 21 days to form a new habit.

In 2009, Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College London, conducted a study that found it takes more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic -- 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In Lally's study, it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit. (European Journal of Social Psychology).

In other words, if you want to set your expectations appropriately, the truth is that it will probably take you anywhere from two months to eight months to build a new behavior into your life -- not 21 days.

At the end of the day, how long it takes to form a particular habit doesn't really matter that much. Whether it takes 50 days or 500 days, you have to put in the work either way.
The only way to get to Day 500 is to start with Day 1. So forget about the number and focus on doing the work.

coco_bee

I am blown away from all the replies I've received, thank you so much, I feel very grateful. stevenvj thank you for taking the time to tell me your story which is very interesting and has inspired me to feel more motivated. Thank you also 47Jacqueline for your very interesting message. You are all wonderful. Thank you tigger and repsrequired I laughed out loud about the clothes rack - you know, I'm actually considering getting myself another "clothes rack" and actually using it this time! I wont "wait" for motivation - I will use self discipline instead and read all your messages again for renewed motivation

Machka9

coco_bee wrote: »

I've wasted money on unused gym memberships, personal trainer, equipment hire but please could u let me know where I can buy motivation?

You've got to pick an exercise you like.


This is a list of sports ... do any appeal to you?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports

coco_bee

You've got to pick an exercise you like.


This is a list of sports ... do any appeal to you?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports


[/quote]

Thank you Machka9 and I had a look at your list and yes! I used to play squash and loved it. Also badminton. Hey, now that you mention it, I might even return to these sports I also like dancing even tho that is not considered a sport.

ruqayyahsmum

middlehaitch wrote: »

Oh, we'll done ruqayyahsmum!

Functionality was my original goal too, then as mobility and fitness improved, attitude took hold.

Now I am the slim, 62yo nana, with pink and magenta hair, who trecks through tropical forests on horseback, rappels down waterfalls, snorkels with the fish, and zip lines over forest canopies....the list goes on.

Exercise still isn't my favourite thing, but if it helps me continue leading the life I never thought I would have when I was 40, I will keep doing it.

Cheers, h.

Wow your life sounds amazing!
I would love to snorkel with fish, we have 2 tanks at home but would love to see marine fish in their natural habitat

middlehaitch

I waited a long time to get to do all these things Ruqayyahsmum, so you may get to do them yet.
We go on a cruise once a year and snorkel off the islands in the Caribbean. The fish are amazingly beautiful.
Even though you don't need to be able to swim well to snorkel, it did inspire me to learn.

Cheers, h.

cwolfman13

you probably need to broaden your view of "exercise"...find something active that you really enjoy doing and go do it...that's exercise...and when you're doing something you really enjoy, very little motivation is needed.

I personally love cycling...yes, there are occasions where I'm not feeling it, but that's when habit and dedication take over...and those occasions aren't very frequent...I love to ride.

meghrose17

Write down the reasons you want to get fit and look at them every day. Find ways to make it fun - exercise you enjoy, do it with a friend, play your favorite music. Use exercise as a tool to procrastinate on something else you don't want to do, haha. Figure out what you like about working out and every time you catch yourself grumbling about how much it sucks to have to exercise repeat that positive statement - it sounds silly, but if you tell yourself "I love exercise, I always feel so great when I exercise" even when you don't feel it you'll eventually start to believe it!

These are all just suggestions, though - the best thing is to sit down and have a think about what kinds of motivation usually work for you on other things in your life - is it competing, rewarding yourself for hitting goals, having a friend hold you accountable, focusing on your reasons, or something else? You have definitely motivated yourself to do things you didn't want to do before - how did you do it? Try that!

coco_bee

Thank you cwolfman and meghrose for your encouraging comments. I agree with what you say and I am very grateful for your advice which I will follow. For some reason I lost my incentive for exercise for a while there, but it is now gradually coming back because of you guys, thank you!