What Motivates You?

rskidmore
rskidmore Posts: 212
edited September 21 in Motivation and Support
I'm really having a hard time getting started with exercise. I WANT to do it,but I always find some excuse not to. :( I don't WANT to make excuses because ultimately I'm hindering my progress, but the excuses at the time seem easier. My problem isn't the exercise itself, once I'm there I'm good, it's the GETTING THERE that's the problem. We have a gym in our building, so once I'm out the apartment door I'm good. But motivating myself to put my exercise clothes on, tying up my shoes, getting a bottle of water, etc. is the hardest part. I would like to work out in the mornings, but I end up hitting the snooze until I need to get up. I would go in the evenings, but I'm exhausted at the end of my day.

So what I'd like to know is, what motivates you to exercise? How do you make yourself do it even when you don't want to or are making excuses?

Replies

  • dfwtxmissy
    dfwtxmissy Posts: 102
    My motivation is the rush, losing the weight so I can get off of high bloodpressure pills, the fact I sleep so good at night...Did I mention the rush from the exercise? Also my motivation motivates my husband who also needs to lose about 200 pounds.
  • Fit4Life05
    Fit4Life05 Posts: 11 Member
    I feel your pain. Try not to look at it as an everyday thing, but an every other day thing. Maybe what you're afraid of is the commitment of working out and the time that it takes...plus that it's just plain boring, lol...try switching it up a little. Maybe weights one day, a walk the next...even the little things like parking at the end of the parking lot or dancing around the house to your favorite music. Make it fun, not a chore. I'm having trouble right now too....hang in there!
  • brwneyes71
    brwneyes71 Posts: 89 Member
    My motivation is Looking forward to seeing the new me. So that is what drives me to get up and go to the gym every morning. As I say.( I must, I must , I must decrease this butt..:happy: .) Good Luck.


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  • OnieBee
    OnieBee Posts: 67
    That is how I was in the beginning, but after awhile I found motivation in the fact that I was paying for a gym membership and I felt guilty wasting money when I didn’t go, so I started dragging myself out of my house and comfort zone and into the gym. After a couple of weeks of exercising I started really enjoying how I felt afterward and that is what motivates me now.
  • lisalynn35
    lisalynn35 Posts: 250 Member
    My motivation is usually my family or my health, it has even been something as simple as the support of my co-workers, but when I'm just not feelin' it MFP is my motivation. There have been nights when I spent the entire drive home convincing myself not to go to the gym and I get on MFP and see what my friends have been doing or read a success story and off to the gym I trot. I find that if I find motivation in simple things it's easier to stay motivated. Good luck to you. :flowerforyou:
  • mandikaye
    mandikaye Posts: 72 Member
    Ultimately, I'm doing this for me - because I want to be happy when I look at myself. But I found myself making excuses that exact way you described... until I found the right cheerleader in my corner. I have one friend who is absolutely on my side and supportive and I can't bear to see disappointment in his eyes when I make excuses.

    That is all the motivation I need to get out the door.

    Find your cheerleader. :)
  • cdsledge09
    cdsledge09 Posts: 167 Member
    My motivation is leaving the Plus Sized Clothing behind and finding cute, less expensive, off the rack clothing. My motivation is getting rid of my high blood pressure medicine, or at least not having to add more medication. I am also motivated by the rush that I get after the workout.

    I also love my snooze button, but what I did was enlist a good friend of mine to call me at 5:00 in the morning to talk to me until my feet were on the floor. (She would call back if she even thought I was lying about getting up.) It worked and in about three weeks she didn't have to call anymore because I would just get up on my own. I work out three days a week at 5:45am and I wouldn't have it any other way, now. I have so much more energy during the day after my workouts. My answer may be a little too bizarre for your taste, but the greater point is that sometimes you have to be creative to get the extra push you need. Try a few things and see what works for you. I wish you the best in your efforts. Feel free to friend me if you like. :flowerforyou:
  • hjackson6
    hjackson6 Posts: 30 Member
    The more you get out there and exercise the easier it becomes and the better you feel after doing it. I didn't go to the gym today so I had to go for a walk. I just had to do something. Just think of the good things you are doing for your body, your health. It'll be worth it in the end!!!
  • spaul82478
    spaul82478 Posts: 709 Member
    :bigsmile: My motivation...... Getting Married in two years.... and To be able to buy any clothes I want to and feel good... I love sweets and that is a huge challenge.. BUT I allow my self what I want.. just not to over endulge.. :) I so am not a morning person.. BUT I am trying everyday.. and it has helped a lot THanks for the post:bigsmile:
  • keith0373
    keith0373 Posts: 2,154 Member
    Looking through before and after pictures on this site and realizing that that could be me! I already weigh less than I have since 1998 and want to get down to a normal BMI. Exercise has turned into an obsession for me lately and is the only way that I can eat what I want to in a day and still lose weight. I am an admitted splurger when it comes to eating and I like to be able to go out and eat 2.5 slices of Pizza, have a few drinks, and still be 700 calories under my goal for the day.
  • hawkeye14
    hawkeye14 Posts: 12
    Don't think of it as exercise. Find something you love to do and you will crave it.
    I think seeing my muscles return was a huge motivating factor for me.
    If you don't have time to go do a long workout, break it up during the day.
    I walk with the kids, or take stairs at work, etc.
    Good luck to you!
  • katielouhoo
    katielouhoo Posts: 676 Member
    well, i knew that to have success in weight loss i needed to add exercise.
    it was hard at first (as was getting in enough water)
    i offered myself small rewards for every 10 lbs lost, something that i really wanted to get moving & not cheat.
    i joined a class 3 days a week ( it is sometimes easier for me if i'm not exercising alone)
    for days in the gym, i get books that i only allow myself to read while on the stationary bike or treadmill. once i get into the story, i want to go so i can get my reading done.
    try to challenge yourself to get there twice during the week and increase that number.
    good luck
  • rskidmore
    rskidmore Posts: 212
    My motivation is leaving the Plus Sized Clothing behind and finding cute, less expensive, off the rack clothing. My motivation is getting rid of my high blood pressure medicine, or at least not having to add more medication. I am also motivated by the rush that I get after the workout.

    I also love my snooze button, but what I did was enlist a good friend of mine to call me at 5:00 in the morning to talk to me until my feet were on the floor. (She would call back if she even thought I was lying about getting up.) It worked and in about three weeks she didn't have to call anymore because I would just get up on my own. I work out three days a week at 5:45am and I wouldn't have it any other way, now. I have so much more energy during the day after my workouts. My answer may be a little too bizarre for your taste, but the greater point is that sometimes you have to be creative to get the extra push you need. Try a few things and see what works for you. I wish you the best in your efforts. Feel free to friend me if you like. :flowerforyou:

    It would be fantastic if I had a great friend like yours to wake me up in the morning. Unfortunately like me all my friends are night owls. In February I was on a kick and got up at 6am every morning and went to the gym and it was fantastic! My day was so much better when I did that. It's incredibly hard for me to get back into a rhythm once I've broken it though. If I take a day off I find it so hard to keep going.
  • rskidmore
    rskidmore Posts: 212
    :bigsmile: My motivation...... Getting Married in two years.... and To be able to buy any clothes I want to and feel good... I love sweets and that is a huge challenge.. BUT I allow my self what I want.. just not to over endulge.. :) I so am not a morning person.. BUT I am trying everyday.. and it has helped a lot THanks for the post:bigsmile:

    I hope to get married in two years! My boyfriend and I have been together for just over six years and we've been thinking about it for a long time. I want to look killer in my dream dress: mermaid style! I need those long lean curves to do it! That's a good motivator to add to my list, thanks!
  • rskidmore
    rskidmore Posts: 212
    Don't think of it as exercise. Find something you love to do and you will crave it.
    I think seeing my muscles return was a huge motivating factor for me.
    If you don't have time to go do a long workout, break it up during the day.
    I walk with the kids, or take stairs at work, etc.
    Good luck to you!

    I was on my high school wrestling team and had fantastic muscles at the time. I'd LOVE to have them back.
  • rskidmore
    rskidmore Posts: 212
    Thanks everyone for your fantastic motivators! You're all an inspiration! Keep up the good work and I can't wait to get motivated tomorrow to go get some exercise! Off to bed early for me so that I might actually get up and start my day right for once!
  • SarahEllis28
    SarahEllis28 Posts: 37
    My motivation may not help you, it's my disease. My health is really all I can control and I'm going to do everything I can to insure that my body is as healthy and as strong as possible if anything should go wrong. I guess anybody should feel that way but when you have a crappy diagnosis, it tends to jolt you in th right direction.

    A tip: When I know I'm not in the mood to workout, I usually put my workout gear on and just wait till I get motivated again. For some reason it's easier for me to get going when I'm already dressed. If your workout clothing is comfortable enough, maybe you can go to bed in it so when your alarm goes off in the morning you're ready to go.
  • rskidmore
    rskidmore Posts: 212
    My motivation may not help you, it's my disease. My health is really all I can control and I'm going to do everything I can to insure that my body is as healthy and as strong as possible if anything should go wrong. I guess anybody should feel that way but when you have a crappy diagnosis, it tends to jolt you in th right direction.

    A tip: When I know I'm not in the mood to workout, I usually put my workout gear on and just wait till I get motivated again. For some reason it's easier for me to get going when I'm already dressed. If your workout clothing is comfortable enough, maybe you can go to bed in it so when your alarm goes off in the morning you're ready to go.

    Hmmm....that's a good idea. Although I think part of my problem IS my workout clothes. For one, my cat tends to sleep on them and getting the lint roller out every morning is time consuming. Two, I really need a new sports bra because the one I have is so uncomfortable I dread putting it on. I guess I need to go shopping.
  • david1956
    david1956 Posts: 190 Member
    I can be really honest, I am almost always psyching up and looking forward to the gym every day.

    Everyone's motivators are different - for me although I've always quite liked pushing weights, my real motivation began with a personal trainer. I love the fitness aspect of say boxing, but I think my real personal vision is a curiosity as to where I can take my physique. My trainer is stepping me through programs that change every five or six weeks, not randomly simply to shock me into change, but progressively. He can see a potential and is taking me on a journey to see what that might be. Some of what he comes up with is diabolical at first, but the human body's ability to adapt is phenomenal and I start getting a hunger for the next step.

    I think what I'm saying is... whether one secretly wants a really good physique, or wants to break some level of the beep test, or pass some really tough fitness test... at some level I think it is useful to be working towards something. We won't be Mr Universe or an Olympic sprinter, or anything grand.. but it's our own personal achievement. To say, "Wow, I wouldn't have thought I'd get to this point."

    Just me, I don't think I'd have the same motivation if I was simply doing the same old week in week out. I've got to have something more difficult in front of me all the time, and you start to get that glimmer... "if I've got far better results than I imagined in X amount of time, I wonder what is possible in another three months, another six, another year..." In our own humble little way, but satisfying at our own level. Just me. Love it.
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