Fallen out of love with lifting / gym

dazkeirle · May 2014

To cut a long story short, 5 years ago you couldn't get me out the gym. I loved it all, the nutrition, the burn, the fatigue. Loved it.

Then a few years ago I started suffering with Sciatica, I had a week off, turned into 2 and to be fair I never really got my rhythm back.

Since then I've pretty much been forcing myself to go, some weeks 3 times, sometimes once and also had a few weeks off here and there.

I'm 29 now and just had a baby and logistically there are issues, the fact i have no routine probably doesn't help motivation, and I have to stick to FBs pretty much due to the infrequency.

It doesn't help my gym is always rammed too.

Anyhow, scatica hasn't been an issue for sometime now, and I work from home more so I can easily get to the gym after work. Last thing i WANT to do after a day sat at my desk is get up and work out, but i have to to help my diet in shifting this weight and not losing the core strength I've built over time. All the old tricks of looking at beautiful people don't work for me anymore

Anything you guys do throughout the day to help spark you up into the right mindset?

rbiss · May 2014

I have to do it before work or I can easily talk myself out of it. Especially now that's its nicer out. In the morning, I don't think about it, I just go. It's not even an option to skip a planned workout.

dazkeirle · May 2014

I was hoping nobody would say that

Secretly I know this will soon become the only option as the little one will get a bed time.

I'm actually pretty good in the mornings, the commute to a gym and back home (Where I work most of the time) is a ball-ache, generally because I'm actually at home and so it feels wrong to "unnecessarily" leave.

Still, would be quiet too, so that solves that issue also. No rudeboy chavs swarming around the only squat rack in packs of 5+.

lisalsd1 · May 2014

I'm a stay-at-home with 2 kids (3 & 5). So, I "work" from home too...kind of. I love going to the gym, b/c it gets me out of the house. To me it isn't unnecessary to leave the house...it is very necessary.

Having a baby throws off your normal routine; you just have to create a new routine. For me, I like the ritual of going to the gym, maybe stopping and getting coffee, and the break from the kids. I feel like a "normal" person who has something to do, some place to go.

I usually go at the "stay-at-home-mom" time, which is between about 9am-11am. The work people have left by 9, and the lunch crowd starts to show-up around 11am.

DavPul · May 2014

People have it backwards. It's not the motivation that gets you going; it's the going that gets you motivated

I don't have the right mindset. I don't have any motivation. I just have a set time to go workout and when it's that time....I go workout. And then when I'm there, sometimes the right mindset will materialize and motivate me. Or not, but no matter, I'm there so I'm getting my workout on.

If it was an important business appointment you'd make it no matter what mindset you were in. If it was your kid's doctor appointment you wouldn't blow it off. Treat your workout like any other important thing in your schedule and get it done.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · May 2014

Pretty much this. I'm still in the honeymoon period but I definitely have off days where I'd rather sleep. I just don't give myself a choice. I treat it just like my job.

vjohn04 · May 2014

Find something you like and do it. Fitness doesnt always have to be found in a gym or be confined to weightlifting

Galatea_Stone · May 2014

Did you see a doctor about why you are having sciatica at such a young age? There are a lot of things that can mimic sciatica that can be fixed with stretching and strengthening the posterior chain. I spent a long time thinking I had sciatica when what I really had was a weak back and hamstrings, and bad posture.

I have been known to talk myself out of going to the gym, but like DavPul said, you just go and do it anyway.

oregonzoo · May 2014

I deal with sciatica and it's so painful.

Pretty much could be me writing this. But I gowhen I can, even if I have to force myself.

Because it wasn't that long ago pain kept me out of the gym for a year.

Instead of dwelling on not wanting to go...think of how lucky you are that you can now.

gypsy_spirit · May 2014

I agree with all the above posters about motivation. Habits are what make me keep going. But I also love lifting. So, if you really don't like lifting anymore, then find something that you do like. Maybe right now it will be going for a walk with your new baby in a stroller. Maybe you'll come back to lifting later.

Better to find something you love to do and do it, than to sit and let the negative feeling take over. :flowerforyou:

FraggleRockerFitnessLover · May 2014

For me, showing up to the gym is half the battle, but after 10 minutes, I am pumped and ready to rock n roll for 2.5 hours. Get back into it, you'll love the 'gym high' and leave smiling :bigsmile:

FraggleRockerFitnessLover · May 2014

And ^^This. I too deal with chronic pain and hate it so....But be grateful you have 2 legs to walk on and are not bed bound....As a nurse I see so much and they verbalize their will and determination to be independent, yet, they need help. We all have bumps in the road called life, hope you pass yours...

MityMax96 · May 2014

Man I hope I don't lose my love for the gym....
That would be sad....

I find it to be a great stress relief....plus the regulars you see in there help keep me motivated.

Good luck with your goals and hope u can find something that works

LifterDave · May 2014

I agree with this 100% My time is 7:00pm like clock work. Whether I feel like it or not.

OP, with your sciatica, have you been examined by a doctor and maybe scanned by MRI. I had a severely ruptured disk at L5 S1 which left me with permanent damage and scarring to my sciatic nerve. I feel your pain daily.

cwolfman13 · May 2014

^^^That^^^

CyberEd312 · May 2014

Yep this!!!

jennifer_417 · May 2014

Motivation will always eventually fail. It is determination that will get you through...determination to do what is necessary no matter how you feel. Most of the time I don't feel like going to the gym, but almost all of the time I go anyway and every time, I'm glad I did.

VBnotbitter · May 2014

This is very true. I am indifferent at best to formal exercise of any sort and borderline hatred most of the time but if I dont do it I will lose functional capacity so I do it because I have to.

sun_fish · May 2014

I'm going to be another one who quotes this, it's such good advice. I would also agree with others who have suggested that you look into other forms of exercise that you would enjoy more.

DopeItUp · May 2014

Right. Or hell, your job. You go to work every day whether you feel motivated or not. You don't make huge monetary gains in that one day at the job, but over time you make enough money to get by (and hopefully more). Same goes for lifting. You just grind it out consistently and over time you (hopefully) get the results that you want. That's all.

chrisdavey · May 2014

Set a goal with a deadline. If you are just going for the sake of it then it's easy to lose focus and motivation. If you have a set date for a particular goal (possibly performance related) then you will have more motivation to get in there and make some progress.

Miss_james1990 · May 2014

Preach!! That's so true , not many people do get excited abut going to the gym but if it's something you need to do then do it! No one ever comes away from the gym and says " i regret that work out " the only work out you'll regret is the one you didn't do

we all have reasons that try to hold us back but you have to push past them!! Perhaps get yourself a gym buddy

dazkeirle · May 2014

This appears to be the consensus, and I think you're right (confirmed by all the echos here).

When I think on it, when I used to love it, I worked somewhere else, the Gym as across the street so I never had time to dread it or make excuses, I was always there. Now it's the thought of driving there etc that gets me glum.

Many thanks for all the encouragement and advice, I'll keep it in mind to motivate me when I'm looking for excuses (in addition to all your fantastic progress).

As for the Sciatica, yes is the real deal all scanned and diagnosed, from a ruptured disk also. I haven't had "an episode" (what I call it when there would be contact resulting in pretty much paralyses for a week) for about 2 years now. I've learnt all the signs when I;m pushing it and know when to stop. I also rowed A LOT which really helped stretch and strengthen my back. I also sadly don't deadlift or squat anymore as that was a real aggravator (Although I love those exercises).

My favorite favorite exercise in the gym is the military press, I'm tall anyway and so lifting weight 10' in the air looks and feels great, especially as very few do it. The issue is that the rack is always in use, so I haven't been able to stay consistent on that, may be a factor as the competition inside to continuously progress on military was always strong. Perhaps in the morning things will be better.

Gym buddy is gonna be difificult in the AM, and to fit around my crazy sporadic work schedule (sometimes I drive 5+ hours for a meeting), but being in the gym more frequently should help me make some new incumbent friends (all the old ones are now long gone).

Again thanks for all your kind advice, I'll keep this thread updated if I can turn my motivation around. Expect friend requests those who helped me here, it's appreciated.

Vailara · May 2014

I agree with the others - you don't need to feel like it to do it. I think of it as a chore that has to got out of the way

. I do wish I could enjoy it more, but sometimes it's not so bad when I'm actually doing it. I do one ballet class a week which is for fun (but has the benefit of being good exercise) and I'd recommend finding something like that you enjoy. It could be dance, or it could be an activity like badminton, but something you actually look forward to and enjoy. For the rest of the time, I do have some home weights, and do some bodyweight exercise and DDP yoga. I like the DDP yoga videos as you can choose a shorter workout if you really can't face a longer one, and there is a countdown on the screen so you know exactly how much is left to do: I find that to be motivating. (Of course, you've got to find something that works with your sciatica history).

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · May 2014

What about getting a cheap bench and some weights on craig's list so you can workout at home? I also dread the drive to the gym (it's 20 minutes away, which adds a chunk to workout time). We bought a bench that doubles as a rack, weights, a pull-up bar, and adjustable dumbbells, and it's been awesome to get to lift at home. We spent about $300 but demand is high here (military area) so you might be able to spend less. I know one person who spend $30, which makes me hate her a little.

gregpack · May 2014

I know how you feel. Going to the gym can be pretty boring. There is a ton of stuff I'd rather do than go to a gym. Gym visits don't have to be 2 hour ordeals. Go to youtube and search Doug Mcguff or read his book "body by science". He's got a program you can do in less than 15 minutes per week that should yield some great long term benefits. Any weight training is better than nothing ( and more than most people do), especially over the longer terms. Just one weekly 15 minute visit to a gym for the next 40 years is better than the typical 3-4X a week routine for a couple of years until you're burned out, then nothing afterwards.

As others have mentioned, I find for me the hardest thing to do is walk in the door at the gym. If I don't want to go, I change into my workout clothes and promise myself "I'll just do something-even one thing" Once I get going it usually turns into decent workout. Remember- this is about the long term

LifterDave · May 2014

Truth. What does not get measured, does not get done.

JoRocka · May 2014

this.
so much of this.

It amazes me how many "how do you stay movitvated to go" posts we get on here.

Remove the emotion from going- and the feel good you get from going.

You go because today is the day you go and therefor you go. I train on Monday's- and no matter how good/bad/indifferent I feel- I go. And after that- I go to dance class. Sometimes I have great lifts and great dance- sometimes they are miserable- but the success comes not from how good I feel- but by sheer force of will that I continue to show up day after day.

And because I show up day after day- I get the results that I want AND I feel good about my hard work.

AsaThorsWoman · May 2014

I feel this, unfortunately.

I used to love going to the gym. I loved the way I had exact control over how far I pushed myself, when I added another 5 lbs, when I ran another mile or two. It was the ultimate math game, and essentially I also got to pick how sore I was when I was done. I love the motivation of everyone else working out at the same time around me!

Alas, my lovely boyfriend whom I love very, very much likes outdoor park workouts, Parkour, Primal Movements, Centurion Method (like crossfit/ Military style drills), waster practice. And let me tell ya, you do not need a gym to get a good workout.

The outdoor workouts hurt so bad I dread working out. I never know how some new movements are going to effect my ability to walk or sleep for pain. The landings make my feet so sore. The Military style drills are fun until I've told him a dozen times it's too much and I can't take anymore of it. And he keeps pushing and pushing me beyond the limits I'm comfortable with.

I understand fitness is about pushing yourself, but he does NOT understand that:

1) I'm not a marathon runner (he is) I'm a fat lady

2) I haven't been practicing martial arts and Parkour for years and years (he has)

3) When he gets a good workout from lifting a barbell, when I have to lift with the same amount reps and weight I'm dying afterwards, literally can't move. And I have to go cook while he sits on his butt playing on the internet after our workouts!

I miss the gym because I didn't dread my workout when I went there!

I still have my membership, but with these crazy workouts I do the absolute bare minimal because I know when I do workout it's going to hurt unbearably.

Now he's complaining that we don't work out as much anymore and he wants that part of our relationship back.

Can someone tell him there's a reason for that?

That it's possible to have a good workout without being in pain for days afterward?

PikaKnight · May 2014

Maybe you should start your own thread so you don't hijack the OP's

PikaKnight · May 2014

^This needs to be quoted in every "I need motivation" type thread on here

Fallen out of love with lifting / gym

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