What do u tell yourself when u dont feel like exercising?

joowelz
joowelz Posts: 172 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Any motivational advice?
«1

Replies

  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,740 Member
    I know from experience that I am happier on the days I get exercise than on the days I don't. There is both a physical and an emotional satisfaction after a good workout. So, on the days I don't want to do anything, I do it anyway, with the understanding that if I am still not feeling it after half an hour, I can stop. Usually I end up doing whatever I had planned. I may shorten a run or walk or yoga session a bit but I always end up doing at least the minimum I set out to do.
  • LisaGetsMoving
    LisaGetsMoving Posts: 664 Member
    Walking has become my pain reliever, my happy pill, my reset button. Sometimes I don't want to start but I always am glad when I finish. Some days when I don't particularly feel it, I may shorten the walk. Music or a good podcast is something I find helpful to keep me going. Workout buddies or walking buddy are helpful too. Also, mind set! it becomes easier when it's something you tell yourself you love (or enjoy, or can't wait to get to, or whatever self talk you do but DO remember to tell yourself positive things about it). I have a friend who prints affirmations and puts them on her bathroom mirror. It's OK to start small and work your way up.
  • DoubleG2
    DoubleG2 Posts: 123 Member
    To reiterate what others have stated - discipline is the key. For me, it's habit. I work out 6:00 am - 7:30 am M-F because that is the plan.I don't necessarily enjoy beginning my day that way, but I almost always like the way I feel when my workout is finished. Even during lock-down, the plan didn't change; I adapted how I worked out but not the frequency or duration.
  • skinnyrev2b
    skinnyrev2b Posts: 400 Member
    For me it's a case of "ok, so I promised myself to do one exercise related thing every day. What am I in the mood for today?" Lockdown has led me to YT and at home workouts. So I've experimented with dance workouts (for me, great fun). Rebounder stuff (meh. But it gets the steps up and I can do it while watching a film), Resistance band workouts (which will improve my swimming when the pools reopen), yoga (cos I love being flexible) and - cos I've had the time and up till recently, the weather, I've been walking around the hills here. I've fitted it in amongst work/life commitments, and it's basically: if I do x, I can eat a,b AND c, as well as look and feel better. It's a win win!
  • Arralethe
    Arralethe Posts: 222 Member
    I get changed into my workout gear, even if I don't feel like exercising.

    Then I tell myself "Just do 10 minutes, if you still feel rubbish or like you can't do it, you can stop."

    I always finish my full hour's workout, unless I'm actually physically sick.
  • netitheyeti
    netitheyeti Posts: 539 Member
    I give myself permission to stop after I do the warmup - but once I'm warmed up I almost never actually feel like stopping. Exception being if I'm in actual pain or not feeling well
  • SnifterPug
    SnifterPug Posts: 746 Member
    The Nike slogan, usually with a curse word inserted. It's not motivation that keeps you going day after day, it's habit.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    My new thing is exercising 5 times a week. So if I really don't feel like it I don't. But only two times a week do I allow that. I would generally prefer to "plan" for it, like a busy work day with errands after and then read or watch a movie instead of working out. Usually I follow a lot of the others' advice, like getting into workout clothes and then it feels silly to stop after 15 min of exercise so I keep going.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    It depends on why I don't want to exercise. If I just don't, I set out for at least ten minutes. As someone above mentioned, I usually keep going once I get into motion.

    If something hurts, I look for an alternative that will get some movement in, without stressing the muscle or joint that is giving me issues.
  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 410 Member
    I minimize the barriers- have my water bottle filled, my laptop plugged in and ready and I workout in my pjs so I don’t have to change clothes (I workout first thing). Then I don’t engage the back and forth in my head about whether I should or not. My mom voice so to speak - don’t argue with me, just do it.
  • MsCzar
    MsCzar Posts: 1,069 Member
    I exercise on a rebounder (mini trampoline) which offers a full range of effort-expended possibilities. I am far from a perfect paragon of workout discipline. Once in a rare while, I skip a day just because I am busy, simply don't want to or even because I've just done my hair. ;) But usually, I tell myself that I will jump on and give a halfhearted effort for two songs from my playlist (about 7 minutes). I always end up putting in at least 15 minutes - and usually the full 30. Getting started is 90% of the battle.
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    I have two modes.

    Training mode, when I'm getting ready for some event: All the workouts are on the calendar and I try to hit them. It can help to put your workouts on your work schedule, indicating their level of importance.

    Free-run mode, when nothing particular is on the schedule: I try to do something active every day, even if that is just a walk around the block. Remember that every activity counts, including housework and yardwork.

    Sometimes, when I don't particularly want to work out, I just say "well, I'll give it a try and cut it short if I don't feel like it." You never know how you're really going to feel until you start! (And you'll never know if you don't try.)
  • GummiMundi
    GummiMundi Posts: 396 Member
    My inner dialogue usually goes like this:

    Me: I don't feel like exercising.
    Also me: Yeah. But let's do it anyway.
    Me, after finishing the session: Whew, I'm glad I did it. :)

    Unless I have an honest (I mean, really really honest) reason not to exercise (like being ill), in which case I cut myself some slack and exercise the following day instead. Thankfully, those days are rare.
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    I'm a "first thing in the morning" person. I set it up as much as possible so I can just roll out of bed and start, and don't have a lot of prep to think through before I'm fully awake and can talk myself out of it. My clothes are laid out, I have a water bottle in the fridge, and my shoes and earbuds are by the door if it's a running day, or I have the video queued up/DVD inserted before I go to bed the night before.

    I also go to bed on time with almost no exception.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,590 Member
    Firstly I think it’s easier to motivate yourself if you can find an exercise you really enjoy - or at least that you don’t hate. So maybe have a couple of types up your sleeve. If you don’t feel like going for a run or walk, how about doing Just Dance on the Wii? Or an online yoga workout? Get changed and start - sometimes just telling yourself you’ll start with 5 mins is easier than facing a whole workout. Then if it’s something fun hopefully you’ll keep going. Ultimately there are times most people do t want to exercise, and that’s where the will power and determination to think “it’s only xxx mins out of my day” come in. 95% of the time I feel better after exercise and that really helps when I’m struggling. Good luck! 😀
  • Hooliekom
    Hooliekom Posts: 94 Member
    If I don't feel like exercising (which is very rare, as I love my workouts :) ) I tell myself that if I do it today I don't have to do it tomorrow if I really don't want to... then by the time I'm a few minutes in I'm enjoying myself as usual. I have never, ever finished a workout without feeling better than I did when I started.
  • Jenelle_Lynne
    Jenelle_Lynne Posts: 5 Member
    You just have to go, even if you don't want to, even if you're tired, just go. Don't let yourself even think "ehh maybe I can skip today" because it becomes easier and easier to keep skipping. You just need to make it a routine
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    joowelz wrote: »
    Any motivational advice?

    What does "exercising" mean to you? I exercise in some capacity pretty much everyday, but most of what I do is also my fun/play/recreation time. Riding bikes, hiking, swimming in the pool and chasing my kids around under the water, playing with my kids on the trampoline, going with my kids to the skate park and riding my scooter around, walking my dog, etc.

    I like to play and I'm just a big kid at heart, so it doesn't typically require much motivation and I can lose track of time pretty easily. "Workouts" are another matter...sometimes I'm into it and sometimes I just make myself go do it. "Workouts" are a fairly minimal part of my overall thing though so getting to the gym to lift a couple times per week or doing a structured workout on my bike for training purposes a couple of times per week isn't too big of a deal, even if I'm not really feeling it...
  • durhammfp
    durhammfp Posts: 494 Member
    edited March 2021
    I talk myself into taking little baby steps towards my goal. So, if I don't feel like running, I'll tell myself just to put on my running shorts and then I can decide. Then it will be my shoes, and then I will tell myself to just collect my flipbelt, earbuds, and smartphone... in case I need them. :-) Somewhere in that process, my body takes over in a routinized manner, and soon I find myself all kitted out and walking out the door without realizing it.

    ETA: What helped me in the larger sense was realizing I needed discipline, not motivation, and that I had to make exercise a habit.
  • RunsWithBees
    RunsWithBees Posts: 1,508 Member
    The great majority of the time I look forward to exercising and thoroughly enjoy it, but on the rare occasions I’m not really feeling it then I just take a rest day. Nothing wrong with an extra rest day as long as it’s only occasional and doesn’t become the norm.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    edited March 2021
    Speakeasy76 wrote: »
    For me, I've been exercising for so long now that it's more of a force of habit than anything and feel worse when I don't. I think the key is 1) Finding activities that are actually somewhat enjoyable (Or tolerable) and 2) Finding a variety of activities.

    If you feel like exercise is "punishment" or you must exercise to earn your food (not saying you do), than it will be really hard to stay motivated. Remember, even just going for a walk on a nice day can still be "exercise," even if it doesn't get your heart rate really high.

    I've also heard to just tell yourself to only do 10 minutes, and often times once you've reached 10 minutes you feel like you can keep going.

    This is where I am with it. Even if I somewhat "don't feel like it", I still notice that I've done it by the end of the day because I feel weird if I DON'T do it. Habit is a powerful thing.

    Honestly, I see it as a kick to my mental health too. I can get stressed out or anxious easily, and exercise and activity helps alleviate some of it, even if its just going for a walk.

    One final thing is that with increased activity and weight drop, I've seen my BP improve (I have hypertension). That alone is enough to keep me going! I love seeing that number drop!
  • Whatsthemotive
    Whatsthemotive Posts: 145 Member
    I remember that it is one thing I can control. If the rest of the day throws me curve balls or stressors, I know that I can exercise and take care of myself. Most of my anxiety comes from things I cannot control so it is very soothing to do I can control. Also, I look on all I’ve done to improve so far as an investment. If I don’t keep exercising, I’ll lose the investment I’ve already made.
  • FitAgainBy55
    FitAgainBy55 Posts: 179 Member
    Twice in my life I've gone from fit to fat. Both times I let excuses get in the way and I let one excuse day lead to another. And then one excuse week lead to another excuse week. Then a month. If I never miss a day, it will not be possible to miss a week.

    When I've been successful at maintaining fitness for several years at a time it has required a lot of little sacrifices. Those little sacrifices are ways to not given to common excuses. My 2 most common ones are:
    1. My excuse: I'm too tired. My response: after I workout I'll have more energy and a low energy workout is better than none at all.
    2. My excuse: I'm too busy. My response: I'm always too busy to workout. Successful people don't HAVE time to workout they MAKE time.

    Overall, however, I just give myself one rest day per week. I don't plan that day ahead of time. Once I've used it, then I have no choice -- so motivation doesn't matter at that point :smile:

    Having said that, I'm on spring break with my family and yesterday was our starting travel day and due to planned get togethers I missed my second day this week -- oops. I'm not going to beat myself up too much. It's only the 2nd time I've not met my 6 days per week goal in 3 months -- the other was the Texas SNOVID catastrophe.
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