Form a habit

Steph1079
Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
in Getting Started
So they say it takes 21 days to form a habit. The habit I really want to form is a morning workout. So, worth a shot right? Let's test this theory!! I've done a 5:30am workout for 2 days now. 19 days to go! Anybody need to form a habit. Wanna test out the 21 day theory with me? I'll add you and we'll keep each other going. Doesn't matter what healtht habit you want to form, just do it for 21 days!!!
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Replies

  • lil_katie86
    lil_katie86 Posts: 73 Member
    Yes you can add me! I've been doing a morning work out every day except one day in two and a half weeks so far:-)
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    66 days so far and it isn't a habit. What gets me going on the workout is filling out my food plan for the day and seeing that I've got a deficit of 900+ and the only way I can get my deficit over 1000 is to start jogging.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    lil_katie86 wrote: »
    Yes you can add me! I've been doing a morning work out every day except one day in two and a half weeks so far:-)

    Awesome! Is it starting to feel like a habit yet?
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    66 days so far and it isn't a habit. What gets me going on the workout is filling out my food plan for the day and seeing that I've got a deficit of 900+ and the only way I can get my deficit over 1000 is to start jogging.

    I definitely agree with the logging. I love how my morning workout immediately gives me a calorie cushion for the day.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Day 3 done! 5:30 am wake up and at the gym by 6!
  • ChaleGirl
    ChaleGirl Posts: 270 Member
    I need to get into the habit of early morning workouts. I'm trying but it isn't happening! I'm definitely going to go tomorrow because it's Saturday! Need to keep it going through next week though!!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    ChaleGirl wrote: »
    I need to get into the habit of early morning workouts. I'm trying but it isn't happening! I'm definitely going to go tomorrow because it's Saturday! Need to keep it going through next week though!!

    I hear ya its so hard. I find if I take more than one day off of getting up early than I'm right back at square one. I'm determined to plow through though!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Day 4 done!
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    It's a myth that you can form a habit in 21 days. The habit of working out is one of the hardest to form. In the end it doesn't matter. You have to start.

    http://audacious-aging.nyc/whole-hearted-habits/
  • jesss98765
    jesss98765 Posts: 6 Member
    edited April 2016
    I believe in the 21 days! Add me and we can see each others progress!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    47Jacqueline wrote: »
    It's a myth that you can form a habit in 21 days. The habit of working out is one of the hardest to form. In the end it doesn't matter. You have to start.

    http://audacious-aging.nyc/whole-hearted-habits/

    I appreciate the post, but with all due respect I'll carry on. And if at the end of 21 days its not a habit, I'll still be 21 days closer to my goal of forming a habit and then ... I'll do 21 more.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Day 5 done! Felt like crap all day and new the only thing to improve my mood was probably a workout. And it worked!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    jesss98765 wrote: »
    I believe in the 21 days! Add me and we can see each others progress!

    Thanks Jess! What habit are you working on?
  • Kullerva
    Kullerva Posts: 1,114 Member
    In psych courses they told us 6 weeks of adherence usually forms a habit (so that would be 42 days...sorry!). However, it is true that the more frequently you do something, the more likely you are to repeat it--but only if you see/feel a tangible reward for doing the activity. I tried this mindset with flossing and it worked. Exercising six days a week came slower, but I think the same rules apply.

    Good luck!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Kullerva wrote: »
    In psych courses they told us 6 weeks of adherence usually forms a habit (so that would be 42 days...sorry!). However, it is true that the more frequently you do something, the more likely you are to repeat it--but only if you see/feel a tangible reward for doing the activity. I tried this mindset with flossing and it worked. Exercising six days a week came slower, but I think the same rules apply.

    Good luck!

    Thank you! It certainly makes sense that it may take longer than 21 days. But I also think that shorter goals are more easily acheivable so I'll just take it 21 days at a time.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Day 6 done! Up nice and early on a cold Sunday morning to hit the gym!!
  • Bostonbee79
    Bostonbee79 Posts: 40 Member
    I'm on day 3 of going to the gym. I plan on going tomorrow, but will do light cardio. My muscles hurt a bit.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Bostonbee79 wrote: »
    I'm on day 3 of going to the gym. I plan on going tomorrow, but will do light cardio. My muscles hurt a bit.

    Awesome! Good idea to switch things up, keeps you from getting bored too!
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    I've been walking on the treadmill every other day for two months. It really has become a habit. I stress if my days are busy when I know I need to walk that day and night miss it.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    perkymommy wrote: »
    I've been walking on the treadmill every other day for two months. It really has become a habit. I stress if my days are busy when I know I need to walk that day and night miss it.

    Wonderful! Good for you! I can't wait to get that feeling that my body is telling me I need to get up and work out!
  • JemPuddleduck
    JemPuddleduck Posts: 28 Member
    Any advice on how to start early morning workouts? At the moment I can barely wake up by 7, let alone earlier and go to the gym.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    JemPuddleduck wrote: »
    Any advice on how to start early morning workouts? At the moment I can barely wake up by 7, let alone earlier and go to the gym.

    I don't know how others do early morning but a lot of people do. Fortunately I work from home so I do my working out in the mid to late afternoon.
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    JemPuddleduck wrote: »
    Any advice on how to start early morning workouts? At the moment I can barely wake up by 7, let alone earlier and go to the gym.

    I have to do early morning as its the only available time for me. I'm notoriously not a morning person which is why I'm hoping if I push myself to get up at 5:30 for 21 days I'll have formed the habit (or at least adjusted my body clock somewhat). One weird little tip I've aquired is putting my alarm on the other side of my room so I physically have to get out of bed to turn it off. Good luck! Let me know how you're doing!
  • Steph1079
    Steph1079 Posts: 24 Member
    Day 7 done! 5:30am workout date with Leslie Sansone's DVD in my living room!
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    edited April 2016
    Well, it worked for me. Joined my gym 1/25/15. I go very early in the morning before work. I have only missed one day(2/1/15 snow storm) since then. I am now on a 14 month roll. Love having it done for the day and out of the way.
  • 88meli88
    88meli88 Posts: 238 Member
    Just finished reading THE POWER OF HABIT by Charles Duhigg. Habit formation has 3 components: cue, behavior, and reward. So make sure you reward yourself, but also try to create a cue that will trigger your craving for the reward. Eg. always put on your exercise clothes and shows before your morning drink. This will make you crave the good feeling and the calrie cushion you have after your workout and will make it more likely that you will do it. Also, make IF...THEN plans for anticipated roadblocks....IF my alarm goes off and I am very sleepy, THEN, I will just roll out f bed half asleep and not snooze my phone.
  • 88meli88
    88meli88 Posts: 238 Member
    Ah you can also create material rewards, especially in the early stage of habit formation like a nice fruit smoothy after your workout, or a small present to yourself. Once, it is a habit, you can let these go. I have been testing these theories for the past month and it is amazing how well they work once you understand the psychology. I think for me, I need a tangible reward for a big behaviour change for the first 10 or so days, and then as it starts becoming automatic, I no longer need the reward to do the behavior. So yes, i am all about forming healthy habits. I recommend the book very much. It is accessible.
  • Vanessalookingood
    Vanessalookingood Posts: 135 Member
    Good luck! Keep at it and you will succeed!
  • OhMsDiva
    OhMsDiva Posts: 1,073 Member
    I think working out can be a habit. I don't know how long it took to become a habit for me. I used to hate it. I do not love it now, but I feel guilty if i do not exercise when I first get up every morning and then on my off days, I keep going until I reach my step goal for the day. I actually do not sync my workout until the end of the day, but I have such satisfaction knowing that i have done something positive for myself.
  • lgoldfarb
    lgoldfarb Posts: 76 Member
    JemPuddleduck wrote: »
    Any advice on how to start early morning workouts? At the moment I can barely wake up by 7, let alone earlier and go to the gym.

    Same here, 7 seems so early for me, but they like me to come to work, so I kinda have to. I've been doing 2 early morning (6 am -7 am, home by 7:15 to get ready for work) with a personal trainer for 4 weeks now. The only thing that gets me out of bed at 5:30 is know that I'm paying a lot of money to have someone work with me. If I just try to get up to go to the gym and work out on my own it doesn't happen.

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