Finding the discipline to work out?

geraldaltman

Here is my story: I have had varying degrees of lethargy over the years. The reasons, real and imagined are just as varied. Much of mine was just laziness or unwillingness to do anything. My lethargy was caused by deteriorating joints most notably my progressively bad hips. My lethargy might well have caused my hips to go so bad. Either way, late last year, I decided I had enough of my pain and lack of mobility and by extension lethargy, so I sought help. I haven't spun my story this way but it applies I think. My surgeon invested alot of his life, time and money studying, learning, training and becoming highly skilled at performing hip replacement surgeries to get me a new chance for a better life. I owe it to him (as well as myself) to bear down in rehab and PT to get better and more mobile (Done!) and to make the most the work he did on me (continuing). My discipline lies in the fact that after so, so long I CAN and the fear, real or unfounded that if I don't I will wind up back where I was a year ago and I have no interest in that. So I go several days a week to fitness center to walk, pool exercise (my PT relocated) and walking in pool. Eventually, I might add some things like swimming.

lemongingertea

I'm always much more motivated to exercise if I feel like I'm working towards a specific and manageable goal. If you're in a bit of a slump maybe choose something you'd like to achieve in a set time period (under 2 months) and plan to commit to it. I like the Pacer 5K app for this, which is 8 weeks of interval training to pick up your running pace. Or at the moment I'm doing one of Yoga with Adriene's 30 Day Yoga challenges and not letting myself miss a single day. I don't do much strength training but I'm sure there are equivalent things you could find if that's what you're looking for.

I find if I set myself a manageable goal that I know I'll enjoy and find satisfying, I'm able to properly commit to it. Plus I often end up doing a load more exercise on top of it just because I feel like I'm maintaining healthy habits. I've had so many days recently where I've thought I can't be bothered to do a 20 minute yoga video, but by the time I've finished it I decide to go to the gym as well because I've remembered that exercise makes me feel good.

That's what works for me anyway. I hope you figure this out and get back to enjoying it!