May I ask how you guys do it?

24

Replies

  • Rayzback
    Rayzback Posts: 73
    I've noticed that I started to really like the satisfaction I get once I've finishd my cardio exercise. That's enough to get me passed the motivational hump just before I start. Not sure if it's routine or actually kind of addicting. I also just recently started working in strength training... and I really like the tightness feel I get from that.
  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    I set long term goals- like a 5K, then a 10K, then a 1/2 marathon. That gives me long term focus. For the day to day (and this is much harder), I have friends I exercise with frequently and that accountability piece is very helpful. Other times, I just have to pull out the Nike ad and..."Just Do It." I have had to tell myself that I only have to walk/run/elliptical/whatever for 10 minutes. I seem to feel like I can do that. Once I get started, I go longer- usually because I would feel stupid logging 10 minutes of exercise.

    Eventually, you don't feel good without exercise, but there will still be days where you feel really whiny about having to do it.
  • CarleyLovesPets
    CarleyLovesPets Posts: 410 Member
    I always have this convo in my head.

    Carley... You should go to the gym.
    I know... I'm just lazy.
    Well stop being lazy and hour isnt going to kill you.
    Ugh... I know I should I just don't want too...
    ...
    FINE I'LL GO STOP JUDGING ME.
  • DangerJim71
    DangerJim71 Posts: 361 Member
    Most days I can just do it. You get up and you know doing the exercise will make you better, stronger, faster.

    The days that I don't feel like it or want to find and excuse like it is too rainy for a run, or too cold for a bike ride I just watch one of several videos that make me say to myself "quit your whining you jackwagon and do it because you can"

    Today was one of those days so i watched this and then jog/walked 5 miles
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax4VIVs-qsE&feature=related

    I like this one when I don't think I am reaching my goals fast enough and I need to pick myself up and keep trying:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdi0hMkinM

    I mean really, despite years of abusing it, my body is pretty much whole. What the hell kind of excuse do I have to not work hard.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    For me, it's not necessarily about motivation, but more about discipline.

    I treat working out the same way that I treat going to work. I don't wake up every morning and think, "Gee, I can't wait to go to work!" but I get up and get ready and go anyway. I know that I need to go to work and do a good job so I can get a paycheck and live the lifestyle that it affords me. Some people choose not to go to work every day, and they live a far different lifestyle than I do.

    Now, I've learned to treat the gym the same way. I don't "want" to work out every single day. I can usually think of other things that might be more pleasant. I go anyway. I don't treat it as an option. I know that I need to workout on a regular basis in order to look and feel the way I do now. In the past, I've chosen not to go to the gym on a regular basis, and I didn't like how it felt to weigh 282 pounds. I would rather go to the gym regularly and watch what I eat and weigh 170 pounds.

    I really did used to think that all the people at the gym were there because they loved it and had fun. I thought that there was something wrong with me because I didn't love it and have fun. Now, I realize that all the fit, healthy people at the gym aren't necessarily there because it's fun -- they're there to maintain and increase their health and fitness.

    Now, I will say that I like working out a lot more than I used to. I try to do different things and have lots of options for my workouts, so if I don't feel like doing one thing, I can just do another that day. I have home workout options and gym workout options, so there's never an excuse to not workout. I will also say that I like having a pre-set routine when I go to the gym. I'm doing New Rules of Lifting for Women, and it is very motivating to go to the gym and have specific exercises with a specific purpose. I don't feel so aimless and am less apt to skip out early. I also love seeing the progress I've made with this program.

    In the end, it really does come down to that old Nike commercial: "Just do it." :-)
  • Larisonlj
    Larisonlj Posts: 426 Member
    How do you guys get motivated? How do you guys get yourself to exercise everyday?
    I'm the kind of person who if I've made a commitment/promise to myself I would be more disappointed in myself for not getting up to workout than for the extra hour of sleep I would get. Gets me up working out every time. There are days that my body tells me I need the rest more, and instead of half-assing a workout and possibly hurting myself I take the break but make sure I walk more that day. Do something enough times it becomes habit and I miss when I don't workout.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    I don't think about it. I just do it. Not doing it simply isn't an option. I make it part of my day and get my *kitten* to the gym even if it's the last place I want to go. Ask my friends here: I can count the workdays where I haven't exercised over the past 15 months on one hand. If I'm not on vacation, injured, or seriously ill, I go. Done.
  • blondie0942
    blondie0942 Posts: 146 Member
    1. I don't give myself the option NOT to do it

    2. I work out HARD for 20 mins at a time. It's a lot less daunting when it's for a short period of time! :smile:
  • sharkfrenzy
    sharkfrenzy Posts: 26
    I always have this convo in my head.

    Carley... You should go to the gym.
    I know... I'm just lazy.
    Well stop being lazy and hour isnt going to kill you.
    Ugh... I know I should I just don't want too...
    ...
    FINE I'LL GO STOP JUDGING ME.

    haha im glad im not the only one!
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    I always have this convo in my head.

    Carley... You should go to the gym.
    I know... I'm just lazy.
    Well stop being lazy and hour isnt going to kill you.
    Ugh... I know I should I just don't want too...
    ...
    FINE I'LL GO STOP JUDGING ME.

    I totally do this! Lmfao
  • Jenloma
    Jenloma Posts: 77 Member
    I get motivated to fit into a bikini in the summer. I want to dress to impress! AND for motivation to workout 5-6x a week, I make sure to have great music
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    this is the article that i read that finally made it all click for me. check out the video at the bottom of it.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/08/31/is-it-really-worth-it/
  • 13inchestogo
    13inchestogo Posts: 296 Member
    I pinch my fat. Everywhere. My face, legs, arms, waist! And I ask myself if I want this to get bigger or smaller. Answer is always smaller. I work out with images of me wrestling my inner fit girl out of my flub!
  • BodyByButter
    BodyByButter Posts: 563 Member
    I give myself options. I can do cardio, yoga, bike, etc. But, I do something every day. Since there are so many different choices it gets rid of the, "I don't feel like doing x" thing. There's always y.

    After about two weeks of doing something every day, I found myself craving it. It's like my day isn't complete until I do.
  • TXGirl821
    TXGirl821 Posts: 115
    They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, but almost 2 months in, I had a couple of bad weeks where I only went to the gym to meet with my trainer. What got me re-motivated was getting my measurements done and seeing that what I've been doing IS helping and I AM making progress even if it's slow.

    I figure even if I'm going slow, even if it takes me 2 or 3 years to get near my goal weight, at least I'm better off than people who aren't doing anything. We can never give up! :)
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    My motivation is simple - look in the mirror. That's enough to make me get up off my lazy *ss and do something.

    As far as working out - I tell myself to just show up. Even if I only do one set of weights or 5 minutes on the treadmill or whatever, it's better than doing nothing. Of course once I get there and get started, the motivation kicks in and I always end up having a good workout.
  • wgn4166
    wgn4166 Posts: 771 Member
    Set a goal.
  • cbeutler
    cbeutler Posts: 667 Member
    Find a reason to exercise other than to exercise. A class, group, charity run, something physical you love to do.
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    after almost 3 months now of working out for30 minutes a day pretty much 6 days a week...it started out as forcing myself to do it and peptalking myself and getting super pumped up... and now its more of a habit. i only have to peptalk myself on days i'm tired or feeling lazy. it all starts with putting on the workout clothes. once they are on its practically over and there goes 30 minutes a day! :)
  • ThaRealNicki
    ThaRealNicki Posts: 322 Member
    i just do it.....

    I hate sitting around realizing that Im doing nothing to be happier or im doing nothing to work towards where I want to be. I would rather feel like im trying than knowing Im failing myself by not doing anything about it.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    It's just become routine for me, so I just get it done. I keep it fresh so I don't get bored.
  • MFPBrandy
    MFPBrandy Posts: 564 Member
    For me, it came down to giving my body the nutrition (specifically, breakfast & more protein) to work properly. Then I had more oomph, and the thought of dragging my butt over to the elliptical wasn't as bad. Then I did the elliptical every day for a week -- and suddenly I had tons of energy. With energy comes motivation.
  • likemeinvisible
    likemeinvisible Posts: 309
    I pinch my fat. Everywhere. My face, legs, arms, waist! And I ask myself if I want this to get bigger or smaller. Answer is always smaller. I work out with images of me wrestling my inner fit girl out of my flub!

    I used to do that. It has become less effective lately. I simply don't like what I see in the mirror, and rarely do I forget it.
  • lynda155
    lynda155 Posts: 112 Member
    I do it in front of my TV, by the lake, in the backyard, in the pool...:blushing: :laugh: :wink:
    Just do it :drinker:

    It will become a habit !
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    Honestly, there's a guy who works at the gym who is really cool, and I look forward to talking to him. I don't have any romantic interest in him, but I like talking to him a lot. Also, the hope that The Big Bang Theory or Dr. Oz is playing on the TV in front of my machine. For lifting, well, it's just fun! :happy:
  • hkasel
    hkasel Posts: 69
    I actually love working out, I always have. Or rather, I love the feeling I get from working out. because sometimes at the beginning middle or end of a grueling workout it actually sucks.
    My mental clarity is so much better when I work out so I can be a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, aunt.... I feel like it makes me a better well rounded person in general
  • BR3ANDA
    BR3ANDA Posts: 622 Member
    Find something you enjoy doing, for me, its DDPYoga.
  • hooperkay
    hooperkay Posts: 463 Member
    I work in a hospital and see people at 300-600 lbs. I work on a trauma unit so they are usually hurt after an accident. They can't move. If something is broke then they can't even get up. I don't want to look or feel like they do. I don't care about being fit for looks. I want to be healthy. I love the way I feel smaller. I'm not going to let myself gain this weight back again.
  • Savemyshannon
    Savemyshannon Posts: 334 Member
    I just think about how much it sucks being fat. I can't fit into roller coasters, I can't fit into clothes, I can't walk up the stairs without getting winded, I can't get picked up by my boyfriend, I never get hit on when I'm at the bar with my friends, I can't get on the floor and play with my friends kids... so many things I can't do because of my size.

    I CAN however, get up every day and spend an hour on a treadmill or an elliptical or lifting weights, and if those things are going to lead to me being able to do everything I'm left out on now, then it's worth it. :)
  • Miss_Aubrey
    Miss_Aubrey Posts: 23
    my motivation is easy.. I just look at the picture of me that started all this. I was disgusted

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