Motivating yourself to exercise?

nicole716

How do you all get the motivation to get off your butt and exercise? I would love some tips or suggestions. thanks

yankeefamily05

Take pictures every month! That is enough motivation right there!!!!

Besides that, I always feel amazing after a good sweat session!

CodyD18

Think about what you want, tell yourself you're a machine, go get it.

Hsanders3961

I enjoy JM 30 day shred. It is only 25 minutes, so its usually not too hard to convince myself to work out for just 25 minutes. However, usually I find that once I get up and movin' I typically dont mind working out for longer, so I normally do the elliptical for around 15-20 minutes after that.

hush7hush

I look at bikini's on PINK or VS websites.
That gets me on the elliptical.

ambermichon

doing it initially is hard especially if out of shape. I hated it at first but kept at it because everyone says do it for 30 days and it becomes a habit I think. I did it for 30 days and its true....I am addicted. I workout 5-6 times a week and have done so for almost 2.5 years now. Also after the first 30 days the results alone kept me motivated and the exercise helps to combat stress. The more you do it the more you will love it!

jarrettd

Always ran out of motivation when it was just for myself. My daughter had a diabetes scare that motivated her to get fit, and I changed eating habits and work out with her to keep her going. So I guess my motivation is in being someone else's motivation! Whatever works!

jarrettd

I enjoy JM 30 day shred. It is only 25 minutes, so its usually not too hard to convince myself to work out for just 25 minutes. However, usually I find that once I get up and movin' I typically dont mind working out for longer, so I normally do the elliptical for around 15-20 minutes after that.

Yep. This exactly.

arotella

Make it part of your daily routine! I go straight to the gym after work. Try to find an activity or class you enjoy doing... then it doesn't feel like such a chore! I actually look forward going to my Zumba classes! Also, once you start seeing results from exercising it's going to make you want to keep doing it!

Kimmer2011

Find one of the fitness challenges her on MFP. Honestly, if I wasn't doing the 100 mile challenge here, I would be slacking off.

d_llopez

I tell myself it's now or never. Nothing will change if i don't get moving.

ChristineM1953

I love the way I feel after I exercise! I feel like I have accomplised a lot, and actually have an increase in energy! I started out with 20 -30 minutes of walking a few times a week, and doing zumba - low impact. Now I walk 3 -4 miles in an hour and my zumba is high impact. I feel so much better after I exercise, and it takes my mind off eating if I am bored (That's when I tend to over eat). Start slow and work your way up - don't try to do too much at once and you will feel more motivated each time.

blockhead922

I schedule in my exercises the night before so I make sure I have a time frame for it

hna84

I just remember how bad I feel about myself when I don't go and how it kind of sets the "tone" for my whole day-good or bad. If I miss it I don't have as many calories to play with and I lack energy throughout the day. Also, it seems like once I have skipped a day it's harder to go back so I just try and remember how happy I will be once I'm done for the day.

I put on my headphones and make sure I have some really upbeat music to run to or whatever. If you have a TV you can just distract yourself from the machine with whatever's on or better yet go outside and appreciate the fresh air and your surroundings.

Get yourself into a routine that you know is realistic for your week. If your not a morning person just do it at night. Or any time of day as long as you get it in. It gets easier to do because you start feeling so good about yourself and you can see the physical changes.

You can also give yourself rewards for going to keep you motivated! Good luck!

ccbloom1

I just do it. Plain and simple. I get up first thing and don't even think about it.

Mkin

Find something you enjoy doing. I used to hate exercising until I joined a boxing gym and do boxing fitness classes, it's so much fun and such a good workout. I tend to miss it when I can't go. Just experiment until you find something you enjoy
Hope this helps

JennsLosing

i have a gym membership, and this gym has child care while you work out. I get some peace and quiet and i get out of the house. Thats my motivation.

Fochizzy

My motivation is the money I am spending, I barely have it and signed a year contract, if I do not go I may as well put $70 in the shredder every month. This addiction everyone talks about I cannot find 5 months in, I still hate it but I am monetarily commited so there you go. Not inspirational but it works for me.

justice1970

honey,get some music!!! listen to your favorite tunes and you will want to move!!...I downloaded pandora on my BBerry and I listen to missy elliott and blackeyes peas!!...awesome exercise music!!!! good luck! hope it helps!!

cabassi

All great answers.

One thing that motivates me is I know I get to eat more on days when I exercise. I stick strictly to the amount of calories MFP says I'm allowed to eat, so when I exercise, I'm rewarded with a treat.

To make exercise enjoyable, I run around a beautiful lake near my house, or I stick my iPad on my elliptical machine and watch TV shows or other videos.

Pebble321

Don't wait to be motivated or you'll never do it.
Plan it into your schedule and get your workout gear on and just go! Like you would for a dentist appointment or pap smear - we don't want to do that either but we know we need to, so we do it.

ladybg81

I was in the exact same position you are in about 3 weeks ago. Checks out my profile for my commitments to exercise. I am now on week 3.5 and I've gotta tell you, I am really starting to look forward to my nightly walk/ runs. Tonight I went running in my neighborhood ALONE (no dogs and no child) and it was so nice to finally let go, relax and push myself. You just have to commit to yourself.

My main reason is that I reached my goal weight and still did not like the person I saw in the mirror. I knew that exercise was the only thing that was going to get me there. So, here I am. And I am really enjoying it.

blm625

tell your self "I have to work out for at least 10 minutes" Once your up and going you might as well keep going or you can allways break it up into three small 10 minute work outs! ALSO I think about how good it feels after I work out. Working out is the best mood lifter and gives you more engergy!

mommyami1

I think of working out as my chance to "get away". I get to go brain dead and not think about anything. I look forward to it everyday now. I found the first 3 weeks really difficult but "they" say that it takes 3 weeks to make a habit. If you can push through those 3 weeks and work out consistently, you might find that it becomes part of your life and it won't be as hard. One thing that helped is that my good friend and I made a plan. We promised each other that we would complete the Couch to 5K and Podrunner First day to 5K. We got on the same schedule with it and started texting each other before and after our runs so we were held accountable. It helped a lot. Now we just do our workouts.

AlyBelden

If I don't feel like working out, I tell myself I'll just go to the gym for 10 minutes. Once I'm there and get started I'm usually fine to keep going for at least 30 minutes. There have been a few times that I got there and still didn't want to do it after 5 or 10 minutes, so I'd either do an easy walk or just leave... but typically just getting there is the battle for me, once I'm there I'm good to go.

Also, since the beginning of this year when I started tracking my calories, I discovered I can and should eat my exercise calories. So knowing I can have an extra snack or a little more at lunch or dinner will often get me moving.

Finally, now that I've gotten into more of a routine of working out, I realize what people are talking about that they feel better when they work out. When I miss several days I start to feel down, cranky, sad, etc. One day back in the gym and I start turning around.

Aly

lclarkjr

Finding an exercise activity or routine that you actually enjoy helps motivate you to actually do it. You will get to the point where you can't wait to do it. If exercise is always a chore, it is a heck of a lot harder to get yourself to do it. Find something you enjoy that gets your heart rate up and then try to do that as much as you can.

kr3851

I try to do it in the morning before work. And days when I skip (like today... oops) the time just DRAGS because I don't have that early morning energy boost. I feel like I've been here for hours and hours and it's only halfway through the day...

cupcakecarnivore

I also do it first thing in the morning.....I have a friend that I meet up with every morning, so I sort of have to go lol! It definitely helps to know she is waiting for me:) Its definitely tough since Im not a morning person, but sooo worth it once its done!

lilRicki

tonight was rough...if I didn't eat over my calories by 116, I wouldn't have went...but when I know I'm over I go and bust my *kitten* until I'm under my calories again

lilRicki

Don't wait to be motivated or you'll never do it.
Plan it into your schedule and get your workout gear on and just go! Like you would for a dentist appointment or pap smear - we don't want to do that either but we know we need to, so we do it.

awesome answer

christine24t

I never want to go, but when I do, I like it because I get to go on Facebook on my ipod, and listen to music videos, and even watch Greys Anatomy on my netflix ipod app!!