Getting Motivated to Workout Everyday
DeservingGirl
Posts: 11 Member
Hi, I have been really good with the food potion of losing weight, but really want to get in the habit of working out everyday. Thoughts on how to get started and motivated? It's harder for me to do it in the morning, but that's really the only time I have for it.
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If you want to do something, you'll do it. Otherwise, nothing will help motivation. Sorry about that. Choose something you love doing.
Research shows that people who use the excuse that they don't have time, have the most trouble. People who work out regularly don't have more time, they have priorities.0 -
Why everyday?
That seems like you would be setting yourself up for failure. Why not say I will work out 4/7 days weekly. Baby steps is the key. Have fun. Plus your body needs a day off to rest.0 -
I too am a proponent of the every day exercise, even if it's something very light or am active recovery or just some stretching. It becomes part of your daily routine and less likely to fall by the wayside.0 -
Schedule it on your calendar, and then treat it like a meeting with your boss (absolutely not allowed to cancel).
Although, I feel the need to add that every day is excessive. I've had great success while hitting the gym three days a week. You may burn out if you try to do too much too fast.0 -
When I was first starting my morning workout routine, I already had my gym bag packed and my exercise clothes laid out (some people sleep in them, but there's no way I'm sleeping in a sports bra). I also set the loudest, most obnoxious alarm on my phone and put it across the room. That way, I was already up and standing early. Any additional sleep I would have got had I gone back to bed would have been sub-par (no REM sleep). And I had made a commitment to myself to put my health first in the day.
But like Jacqueline said, no trick in the world will work unless you truly have the inner desire and drive to make exercise a new part of your routine.0 -
I ride my stationary bike every morning I wake up at 430 with the plan of 30 min if I'm not on it by 445 it automatically turns into a 50 min ride yes an extra 20 min penalty will get you out of bed quick..lol..0
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Baby steps - it takes time to develop habits.
When I first started exercise, my weekly goal was 60 minutes. I logged those minutes in a spreadsheet. You can use a calendar, or whatever makes you accountable. I would break that 60 minutes up, however (6x10, 4x15, 3x20). Once I got in the habit of doing "something" on a regular basis, I added minutes....90 minutes a week, then 120 minutes a week. Pretty soon it becomes routine.
I created a "library" of sorts for different workouts. No excuses, if one DVD/video gets boring...I will reach for another one. YouTube is great for variety. Try new things, and make up a favorites list.0 -
47Jacqueline wrote: »If you want to do something, you'll do it. Otherwise, nothing will help motivation. Sorry about that. Choose something you love doing.
Research shows that people who use the excuse that they don't have time, have the most trouble. People who work out regularly don't have more time, they have priorities.
This. This. This. Either you love it and want to be there...or you don't. Find something you enjoy doing. Don't make yourself miserable.0 -
Do something you like. If I had to wake up and run every day, I'd never do it because I don't like running. Waking up to lift? Still hard (so not a morning person), but I will do it.
And as a previous poster said, if you really want to make a change, you'll do it. There is no picture, quote, etc. that will do it for you.0 -
My "workouts" are what other people use as warm-ups. But I'm seeing slow steady progress in my ability and stamina, so that's my motivation. I walk a mile every day "on purpose". Many days I get outside and walk, but if conditions don't allow for that, I walk in place and/or pace inside. I've used Leslie Sansone's video for walking in place. I also do chair yoga some days (I can't balance well enough to do standing yoga). For that I'm using a free youtube video. You don't need special equipment for either walking or chair yoga (except walking shoes and a chair).
If you need incentive to get up earlier, drink a tall glass of water right before falling asleep! It works!
I'm a slow walker (but getting faster!) so my mile walk takes 25-30 minutes. The emotional and physical boost of those minutes is worth every second. Are you willing to give up half an hour of tv to meet your goal?0 -
I have found that if I get my workout done first I can't put it off later. After several weeks of getting up early it became a habit for me. I now wake up at four AM without an alarm clock and hit the street for a run. If it rains I will skip or just do planks inside. I did start slow and walked until I worked up to running. I used Ingress.com to get into running gradually, goofy but it is what made workouts fun.0
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I don't think in terms of "working out" every day. But I do try to be active every day (NEET). I try to run 3x a week. I try to lift 2-3x a week. I try to do Pilates or Yoga every other day.
I ride my bike and walk most places.
And when I lift or run I try to do it first thing before I find an excuse not to.
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You just have to do it. If it is a priority, you will find a way.
I get up very early everyday and go to the gym. I work very long days, and I have a 45 minute commute to work one way. I joined Anytime Fitness, and you would be surprised at the number of people that are in the gym at 3:00 a.m. It is the only time I can do this. I am on a streak right now of not missing a day since 2/2/15.0 -
Find a way to be active that you LOVE. So that it's a treat, not a burden.0
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Rachel0778 wrote: »When I was first starting my morning workout routine, I already had my gym bag packed and my exercise clothes laid out (some people sleep in them, but there's no way I'm sleeping in a sports bra). I also set the loudest, most obnoxious alarm on my phone and put it across the room. That way, I was already up and standing early. Any additional sleep I would have got had I gone back to bed would have been sub-par (no REM sleep). And I had made a commitment to myself to put my health first in the day.
But like Jacqueline said, no trick in the world will work unless you truly have the inner desire and drive to make exercise a new part of your routine.
This! Preparation is the key! Make it as easy for yourself as possible in the mornings. Make sure you take time the night before to pack after-gym clothes, toiletries, breakfast/snacks/lunches. Everything little thing you will need for the day ahead. That way, in the morning you can just roll out of bed and go.
As for getting out of bed, that's mostly on you. Although the alarm clock across the room trick works pretty well! Make sure you are getting enough sleep. There aren't enough alarm clocks in the world that can get me up for a workout if I go to bed too late the night before.
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If you aren't sure what you like join a gym for a month or two to play with all the equipment. I'd bike, jog, and row ten min each day for a week. See which you like best then stick with that for a month. Try the classes too. And the weights. Once you figure out what you like the most you might do it at home, be it DVDs or jogging or whatever.0
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Some strategies I have employed:
- Join a class (or plan to meet a friend); it's harder to sleep in when someone else is waiting on you
- Schedule your workouts for the week ahead of time, day by day. I specifically schedule 1 or 2 days off, too, because otherwise I burn out.
- Tell your friends (on MFP or otherwise) what your workout for the day will be. Have someone check in with you later to see how it was - it can be very motivating to simply not want to say "I didn't do it after all"
- Make friends on MFP who work out frequently. Scroll through your feed and decide you want to post an exercise status, too!
Good luck! :flowerforyou:0 -
DeservingGirl wrote: »Hi, I have been really good with the food potion of losing weight, but really want to get in the habit of working out everyday. Thoughts on how to get started and motivated? It's harder for me to do it in the morning, but that's really the only time I have for it.
Don't wait around for motivation.
Just do it!0 -
DeservingGirl wrote: »Hi, I have been really good with the food potion of losing weight, but really want to get in the habit of working out everyday. Thoughts on how to get started and motivated? It's harder for me to do it in the morning, but that's really the only time I have for it.
You actually have to just start it, I started with 30 day shred, it was horrific, I was unfit but have never regretted it or looked back now
Good luck you can do it. Have a look at fitness blender.com and find something that suits your level or you can just go for a long walk0 -
Pick goals for yourself and work towards them at every session. Can't do a pushup? Then do kneeling pushups until you can. When you reach that milestone, you set a new goal. You could do this with exercises, weights, or time spent running/walking/jumping rope. Once you get a taste of accomplishment and improving yourself little by little, it'll be hard to stop you from working out.0
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DeservingGirl wrote: »Hi, I have been really good with the food potion of losing weight, but really want to get in the habit of working out everyday. Thoughts on how to get started and motivated? It's harder for me to do it in the morning, but that's really the only time I have for it.
One thing to consider is how you get to work or school each day ... can you make that part of your workout?
For example, I take the bus, but I have to walk a minimum of 1 km/day in addition to that. And quite often I get off the bus early to make it a bit longer. That's not much, but it is a start to incorporate daily activity into your life.
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I found joining classpass really helped me. I really enjoy doing different things and I've gone from someone who hates exercise and finds it boring to someone who works out 5x a week. Varied music playlists helps me too. Now working out is the main time I listen to music and I clear about an hour a week to run and listen to new tunes.0
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I started working out before I loved it. I am not allowed to put food in my mouth until I have walked my 5k's....that got me out of bed every morning!
I'm now about 5-6 weeks in and have added strength training. I am now enjoying the walking and waiting for the lifting to become enjoyable.
Sometimes it takes time before you enjoy it.0 -
I also vote baby steps. I think it makes it easier to stick to. I started out working out 3 days a week and eventually moved up to 4, and really 4x a week is as much as I have averaged for the past several years. I don't think you need to work out every day and I don't think it's realistic that most people will stick to exercising 7 days a week.
Like others said, motivation is fleeting. 95% of the time you just have to go to the gym even when your brain wants to do literally anything else. It's kind of like going to work- you just have to do it. Once it becomes a habit, it does become much easier.0 -
Expatmommy79 wrote: »Sometimes it takes time before you enjoy it.
& sometimes you never really get to enjoy it.
I have been doing it every day for the past 3 years, but I honestly can not say that I truly enjoy it. I know I have to do it, and part of the motivation for getting out of bed and going to the gym very early, is because I know I will be done for the day. Plus, I will NEVER go back to where I was before 3/12/12, that is very strong motivation.
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To echo what everyone else has said - find something that doesn't feel like it is some chore you HAVE to do. For me, running every day sounds awful. If I told myself I HAD to do it, it would never be anything beyond a chore. But powerlifting? It is not just a chore to me - I love it and I look forward to learning more about it and beating my own personal records. I compete in meets and get excited to train for those. It is a hobby that happens to keep me active, not a chore. When you find that thing that you love and changes your mindset from "I HAVE to do this" to "I LOVE this and WANT to do this," you won't have any issues finding that motivation, I promise.0
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47Jacqueline wrote: »People who work out regularly don't have more time, they have priorities.
Couldnt agree more!
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snowflake930 wrote: »Expatmommy79 wrote: »Sometimes it takes time before you enjoy it.
& sometimes you never really get to enjoy it.
I have been doing it every day for the past 3 years, but I honestly can not say that I truly enjoy it. I know I have to do it, and part of the motivation for getting out of bed and going to the gym very early, is because I know I will be done for the day. Plus, I will NEVER go back to where I was before 3/12/12, that is very strong motivation.
am with you. so when people say find something you enjoy i would still be searching
but i dont want to go back so keep at it.0 -
summerdaze120 wrote: »47Jacqueline wrote: »People who work out regularly don't have more time, they have priorities.
Couldnt agree more!
i agree with it now, didnt before ha.
i used to say i didnt have time but i work from home everyday.0
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