How can I motivate myself to go to the gym?

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Replies

  • skinnyforhi
    skinnyforhi Posts: 340 Member
    Find a gym or studio with classes that you want to try. Set your alarm early enough to go before work- and don't make it a choice, just get yourself there. Once you get to the class it's too embarassing to leave usually. And then it is over bright and early and you don't have all day to come up with excuses or lose motivation. Works for me every time!

    Bonus: you get to feel smug all day because you went to the gym before most people even eat breakfast. And before you know it, it will become a habit you can't live without.
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    look in the mirror naked!.. In other words, just get off your butt and go.
  • _happycats_
    _happycats_ Posts: 105 Member
    The best thing you can do is find some sort of exercise that you like doing! If exercise is fun you definitely won't mind. I took up pole dancing and it's an awesome workout AND the highlight of my week now :) Try some different workout classes or look into something you've maybe always wanted to try but never gotten around to it. If you aren't enjoying it, you won't be likely to stick with it. Good luck!
  • JazyVale
    JazyVale Posts: 27
    Hey. I am one of the old people at the gym.

    haha, i don't mean that in a bad way. there's just not a lot of people my age at my gym, so i always feel out of place.


    *** What truly motivate me when i go to gym is the old ppl with all my respect. THEY HAVE MORE ENERGY THEM ME THAT I HAVE 32 YEARS MAKE ME SMILE WHEN I SEE THEM!!! i push my self harder cuz they are doing it better then me hahaha i LOVE IT!! I SWEAT CRAZY THEN I SAY WOW THANKS TO THEM i push my self. thats one motivation there knowing that ppl that are "old" have the energy to do what teenS dont want to do beacuse millions of excuses.
    second motivation "LOKING THE MIRROR WITH SOME SKINNY JEANS HAHAHA
    3 MOTIVATION JUST BUY MY HRM POLAR FT4 WORKS WONDERFUL AND MAKE ME BURN LIKE CRAZY!! JUST TO SE THE NUMBERS GOING HIGHER EVERY TIME I AM DOING A WORKOUT DVD SPINNING CLASS AND WALK AND JOG OUTSIDE 4TH MOTIVATION I AM GETTING CRAZY BUYING BRIGHT COLOR RUNNING SHOES GOT THEM IN YELLOW BABY BLUE WITH BRIGHT GREEN LASER AND TODAY I GET A ORANGE ONE SO PRETTY CANT WAIT TO GO OUT AND BRIGHT THE WORLD HAHAHA THE END GIRL FIND YOUR MOTIVATION CUZ NO ONE IS GONNA DO IT FOR YA. :)
  • Poorgirls_Diet
    Poorgirls_Diet Posts: 528 Member
    There is a difference between having an interest and commitment. When you were interested you signed up for membership however if you were committed and becoming healthy you accept no excuses, only results! When I started my gym I had the struggles of getting out of the house as I suffer from panic attacks. In the end I stuck up a picture of my start weight at 323lbs in every place in the house with this quote underneath 'You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great' and it motivated me to give it a go. I am the biggest person at the gym as its a small one near me and believe me I did get some 'looks' when I went in but then a few weeks later I actually had people coming over to me, encouraging and admiring me for wanting to make a change. It took me another few months before I went over to the weights section as again I thought I was going to be laughed at but one guy stopped what he was doing and took a general interest in helping me to achieve what I wanted. Believe me I hate to exercise and will use any excuse in the book not to go but I know if I don't I will be in this nightmare for the rest of my life. If you don't want to go to the gym there are other ways and means of getting exercise. Whatever you decide to do it will take determination, willpower, sacrifice and you will have to push your body to the max, no doubt some days you will hurt like hell but when you reach your goals it will be worth it. Good luck
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I joined a gym that is 1 block from my building because I know i won't go if i have to travel.
    I signed up for a six month weight training program with a trainer whom I see once a month so I have to report in.
    I go to a Zumba class at the gym that I love.

    Find things that will motivate you and find exercises that you like doing. Ignore all those people that are old or young or middle-aged - focus on yourself.
  • shinelikethesun
    shinelikethesun Posts: 45
    You know what motivates me to go to the gym? Looking in the mirror. Truly.

    LOL HA! I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT! THAT WAS THE TRUTH RIGHT THERE! LOL

    Seriously, if you want to get motivated you just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say,"This is NOT me." You're gonna have to force yourself to go. If you force yourself to go and like one lady said get a really great playlist, you'll find it's not that bad and you'll feel a lot better afterwards.

    Ain't nothin to it but to do it! =)
  • skinnyforhi
    skinnyforhi Posts: 340 Member
    There is a difference between having an interest and commitment. When you were interested you signed up for membership however if you were committed and becoming healthy you accept no excuses, only results! When I started my gym I had the struggles of getting out of the house as I suffer from panic attacks. In the end I stuck up a picture of my start weight at 323lbs in every place in the house with this quote underneath 'You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great' and it motivated me to give it a go. I am the biggest person at the gym as its a small one near me and believe me I did get some 'looks' when I went in but then a few weeks later I actually had people coming over to me, encouraging and admiring me for wanting to make a change. It took me another few months before I went over to the weights section as again I thought I was going to be laughed at but one guy stopped what he was doing and took a general interest in helping me to achieve what I wanted. Believe me I hate to exercise and will use any excuse in the book not to go but I know if I don't I will be in this nightmare for the rest of my life. If you don't want to go to the gym there are other ways and means of getting exercise. Whatever you decide to do it will take determination, willpower, sacrifice and you will have to push your body to the max, no doubt some days you will hurt like hell but when you reach your goals it will be worth it. Good luck

    Great post- and the part about pushing yourself is spot on. Improvement happens when you're out of your comfort zone.
  • notenoughspeed
    notenoughspeed Posts: 290 Member
    I find the gym boring. I'm there mostly for cardio. I will take my iPad 2 tethered to my One X 4g lte phone, connect my plantronics Voyager Pro HD headset to my iPad 2, and watch my favorite shows while I run, or do elliptical.
  • belben22
    belben22 Posts: 17
    You've just got to know that once you're done you will feel better...Put your shoes on and go even on the days you don't feel like it. If you go 5 days a week consistently for 2-3 weeks you will find it becomes a habit and you just naturally want to go...Gymming it is so much fun..
  • Randyamc
    Randyamc Posts: 365 Member
    Motivation... that's what it comes down to right? Fact of the matter is that's why we do anything in life.

    So, how do you find yours... day in and day out? Especially when it's not something you've "Grown to like" as they say.

    Think of all the reasons Why you want to do it. Attach those feelings to your goal and focus on it. Remember your Why and think of it every day and how it will make you feel once you achieve it! When you Why is strong enough, the How will come much easier.

    I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it. ~ Unknown
  • Poorgirls_Diet
    Poorgirls_Diet Posts: 528 Member
    There is a difference between having an interest and commitment. When you were interested you signed up for membership however if you were committed and becoming healthy you accept no excuses, only results! When I started my gym I had the struggles of getting out of the house as I suffer from panic attacks. In the end I stuck up a picture of my start weight at 323lbs in every place in the house with this quote underneath 'You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great' and it motivated me to give it a go. I am the biggest person at the gym as its a small one near me and believe me I did get some 'looks' when I went in but then a few weeks later I actually had people coming over to me, encouraging and admiring me for wanting to make a change. It took me another few months before I went over to the weights section as again I thought I was going to be laughed at but one guy stopped what he was doing and took a general interest in helping me to achieve what I wanted. Believe me I hate to exercise and will use any excuse in the book not to go but I know if I don't I will be in this nightmare for the rest of my life. If you don't want to go to the gym there are other ways and means of getting exercise. Whatever you decide to do it will take determination, willpower, sacrifice and you will have to push your body to the max, no doubt some days you will hurt like hell but when you reach your goals it will be worth it. Good luck

    Great post- and the part about pushing yourself is spot on. Improvement happens when you're out of your comfort zone.

    Thanks :) Once I get in I am happy and enjoy pushing myself that little bit extra every day. I wouldn't go as far and say I love the gym but I am loving the new 'me'

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