Can't find my inspiration to work out!!

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Replies

  • Melonpaul
    Melonpaul Posts: 323 Member
    Here's a few things I've learned here:

    Always remember why/where you started.

    Choose a reward for reaching a goal and post a picture of that reward where you will see it at least once a day to help motivate you.

    Ask yourself do you ever beat yourself up for completing a workout?

    If you can’t muster the motivation there is always dedication.

    Surround yourself with lots of supportive people.
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
    Sometimes, inspiration/motivation NEVER comes. That's when Dedication has to take over.


    WOW!! Love it!! thank you!:smile:
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    It's not about inspiration or motivation. It's about determination. You're not always going to feel like doing it.

    Having said that, try switching things up. I finally got bored after I logged about 574253543543 hours on the elliptical machine and started lifting, with less focus on cardio. I like it and it keeps me interested.
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
    Can't find my inspiration to work out!!

    I often feel the same way about doing the dishes, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds, etc...but they need doing so I do them.

    1 - You don't have to workout EVERY day...you should have scheduled rest days

    2 - Do exercise that you like doing...you would never catch me jumping around my living room like some kind of jack *kitten* to a DVD or droning away some random piece of cardio equipment...you will find me outside on my bike that I ride about 60 miles per week...you will find me on the hiking and nature trails around town...you will find me in the weight room usually 3x per week. These are things I enjoy...they aren't a chore. Yes, there are times where I'm really not feeling it, but that's when habit kicks in...and sometimes I sit back an evaluate if I really do need a bit more rest which is sometimes the case if I've really been going strong.

    3 - Healthy habits take time to build...but you have to build them. Motivation and inspiration come and go...habits die hard.

    4 - Don't overdo it...so many people think they need to be doing endless hours of exercise or going until they puke to get a good workout. This is only going to lead to burn out and really not looking forward to your workouts. My rides generally take me about 60 minutes and my lifting sessions generally take me 45 - 60 minutes...that is all...unless I'm actually training for an event I really don't go beyond that 60 minute mark very often and I always take my rest days.

    5 - Establish actual fitness goals, not just calorie burning goals or whatever...when you have actual fitness goals that you are trying to achieve, this helps to keep your motivation up...especially when you start smashing them and setting the bar higher. Just exercising to burn calories gets pretty old pretty quick. Start thinking of your calorie burn as simply a nice bi-product of rocking your fitness rather than thinking of calorie burn as the purpose behind your fitness. Fitness has so many other benefits that go way beyond burning a few calories.


    My problem was that I over did it. I blew myself up. You are so right. thank you!!! I need to calm down and take my time.
  • Brandolin11
    Brandolin11 Posts: 492 Member
    Do you have to be inspired to go to work? Or pick up your kids? Take your dog to the vet? Get the oil in your car changed?

    Usually not.

    Stop waiting to be inspired and just get it done.

    Amen!

    The common denominator among all of your examples are twofold:

    1.) They involve other people/things, and
    2.) If you don't do them there are dire consequences.

    So,

    1.) Start considering yourself just as important as other people and things / Stop devaluing yourself as "not that important"
    2.) Realize/remember that if you don't exercise there are dire consequences.

    Practice elevating the act of taking care of yourself to these levels in your *mind*. Then your actions will follow.
  • cherrilovee
    cherrilovee Posts: 194 Member
    Sometimes it's just not possible to be inspired, if nothing is inspiring you, DO IT ANYWAY. Once you see the pounds shredding and the muscle gaining, you'll be inspired.
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
    Your answers are both honest and inspiring. I have read all and want to than you with all my heart:heart::heart: :heart: :heart: . I need to think about my health first. I know once I start I will feel amazing! Sometimes I need a little push. I got more than that here today! Keep up the good work and keep inspiring us!! :love: :love: :love: :love:
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
    Sometimes it's just not possible to be inspired, if nothing is inspiring you, DO IT ANYWAY. Once you see the pounds shredding and the muscle gaining, you'll be inspired.

    Yes!! I will. :happy:
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
    Do you have to be inspired to go to work? Or pick up your kids? Take your dog to the vet? Get the oil in your car changed?

    Usually not.

    Stop waiting to be inspired and just get it done.

    Amen!

    The common denominator among all of your examples are twofold:

    1.) They involve other people/things, and
    2.) If you don't do them there are dire consequences.

    So,

    1.) Start considering yourself just as important as other people and things / Stop devaluing yourself as "not that important"
    2.) Realize/remember that if you don't exercise there are dire consequences.

    Practice elevating the act of taking care of yourself to these levels in your *mind*. Then your actions will follow.


    AMEN!! thank you!! I should be my own inspiration! :heart:
  • Brandolin11
    Brandolin11 Posts: 492 Member
    I have discovered during my weight loss journey that motivation is HIGHLY overrated. I can talk myself out of anything I don't feel like doing at the moment, and use the excuse of just about anything. Yes, saying I'm "just not motivated", I'm just not "feeling it", is just one big old fat excuse to get away with avoiding a moment of "pain". And we overeaters really, REALLY don't like pain. We avoid it like the plague. So we come up with complex, sophisticated excuses to avoid it like, "I don't waaaannnnaaaaa!" (<==read in whiny baby voice)....

    Just realizing I'm playing this game of drama with myself is a powerful tool to "snap out it". But even then, I sometimes simply can't seem to just "make myself" get out there and do it.

    Here's how I overcame that:

    The moment I start feeling the pressure coming on of not wanting to work out, I "confess it" out loud here on MFP, on my wall. I say something like, "I really really really really really really don't want to run tonight. But I really really really really really really NEED to run tonight. I really really really really really really need you guys to tell me to run tonight."

    And guess what? People start coming out of the woodwork!

    "Go Bee!"
    "You can do it!"
    "Think about how good you'll feel!"
    "Never say die!"
    "Write us back when you get back and tell us how good you feel!"

    Suddenly - I WANT to work out. I catch their excitement. I don't want to look like a baby in front of them and come back later and say, I didn't do it, you guys, sorry. :ohwell: They KNOW now that I need to go. It'll be a little humiliating to not do it, let's face it. I also don't want to take advantage of their good graces - they took the time to encourage me, the least I can do is follow their advice.

    And you know a cool side effect is? Some of those people who encouraged me felt the SAME WAY. But they saw that I was doing it, encouraged me, and caught their own encouragement. Or, other friends who didn't comment might have read everyone's support as well, and felt that "second-hand support", if you will.

    Its' just a good situation all around. Try it - you'll like it! :happy:
  • TheWorstHorse
    TheWorstHorse Posts: 185
    when you have a case of the WTFs with regard to diet and exercise, you might ponder some of the side effects of being overweight and unfit:

    diabetes.
    heart disease.
    metabolic disorder.
    congestive heart failure.
    edocrine dysfunction.
    coronary artery disease.
    high blood pressure.
    osteoporosis.
    decreased cognitive function.
    premature death.
  • MeRoHa
    MeRoHa Posts: 95 Member
    I take a pair of jeans out that were tight when I wore them last July when I was 110 pounds heavier. I tried that last week and actually fit in one leg of the pants. When I feel bummed out and do not want to stick to my nutrition or exercise I look back at where I was and do not want to go back. It is amazing how inspirational that can be. When we see ourselves in the mirror everyday it is hard to see the day to day changes. But those jeans do not lie.

    I even surprise myself when I catch myself in a full length mirror. I have not adjusted yet to the new improved me. Many people are telling me I am at the right size now and should stop losing. But my doctor and I set a goal that is about 20 to 30 pounds less than I am now. That will put me well within the healthy normal weight range for my height and build.
  • beertrollruss
    beertrollruss Posts: 276 Member
    Three things really help me to stay motivated.

    1. Fear of becoming diabetic. I really don't want to have to poke my fingers every day.

    2. I joined a great gym. I also started working out without music so I could make some friends and give myself another reason to look forward to going to the gym.

    3. Having friends on MFP who work out regularly. Seeing other people posting their exercise helps motivate me to stay on the right track with my diet and get my butt to the gym. Now that I've been good for a while, I don't want to let anyone down.
  • Fsunami
    Fsunami Posts: 241 Member
    I have discovered during my weight loss journey that motivation is HIGHLY overrated. I can talk myself out of anything I don't feel like doing at the moment, and use the excuse of just about anything. Yes, saying I'm "just not motivated", I'm just not "feeling it", is just one big old fat excuse to get away with avoiding a moment of "pain". And we overeaters really, REALLY don't like pain. We avoid it like the plague. So we come up with complex, sophisticated excuses to avoid it like, "I don't waaaannnnaaaaa!" (<==read in whiny baby voice)....

    Just realizing I'm playing this game of drama with myself is a powerful tool to "snap out it". But even then, I sometimes simply can't seem to just "make myself" get out there and do it.

    Here's how I overcame that:

    The moment I start feeling the pressure coming on of not wanting to work out, I "confess it" out loud here on MFP, on my wall. I say something like, "I really really really really really really don't want to run tonight. But I really really really really really really NEED to run tonight. I really really really really really really need you guys to tell me to run tonight."

    And guess what? People start coming out of the woodwork!

    "Go Bee!"
    "You can do it!"
    "Think about how good you'll feel!"
    "Never say die!"
    "Write us back when you get back and tell us how good you feel!"

    Suddenly - I WANT to work out. I catch their excitement. I don't want to look like a baby in front of them and come back later and say, I didn't do it, you guys, sorry. :ohwell: They KNOW now that I need to go. It'll be a little humiliating to not do it, let's face it. I also don't want to take advantage of their good graces - they took the time to encourage me, the least I can do is follow their advice.

    And you know a cool side effect is? Some of those people who encouraged me felt the SAME WAY. But they saw that I was doing it, encouraged me, and caught their own encouragement. Or, other friends who didn't comment might have read everyone's support as well, and felt that "second-hand support", if you will.

    Its' just a good situation all around. Try it - you'll like it! :happy:

    MFP tear forming here...this was frigging beautiful.....

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