Motivation to Exercise

You have to schedule it in and plan it. You have to find some things you love doing. Having a friend to keep you accountable is a big motivator. I walk with my mom and when I really don't want to exercise, I call her and schedule a time to walk that day.

If you have kids, they're fantastic motivators! My twins work out with me, doing Leslie Sansone. It's hysterical and keeps us all moving. My teenagers bike with me. Surrounding yourself with active people really helps.

You don't need a gym membership but for some people, they enjoy working out at the gym and it keeps them accountable.

So find what you like, find where you like to do it and make appointments with yourself. For a fitter you, it's worth it.

Set a very PUBLIC goal. I've had a tough time getting motivated lately. Signing up for a half marathon and publicly stating my goal time has down the trick.

If eating healthy and exercise are both new to you, start off with just one. It's so much easier to concentrate on getting eating right under your belt, then gradually adding in exercise. I'm here to tell you, I started off with trying to do it all, never really master either one, and gave up. This time, I've taken my time. I got healthy eating in place and when I felt ready and comfortable I added exercise in slowly. I've gone from no exercise at all to running 2.5 miles 6 days a week.

The hardest part is always getting started. If you have a friend or someone you can meet after work twice a week to walk with you is always a good motivator and a good habit to get into before getting home. Some people once they are home can't seem to get motivated to leave the house to exercise.

I had to start with short workouts so that I wouldn't overdo and regret the pain that came later, lol. It was also difficult at first to be motivated to set aside a big chunk of time for it, so I did an amount of time that was definitely easy enough to fit in with no excuses.

I still have to tell myself I'll just do 20 minutes some days, btw Now I feel like going on once I'm doing it.

And don't jump into something crazy hard and hurt yourself because you haven't worked up to it! I can't tell you how many times I've done that.

Try just walking. If you walk for a couple of weeks then it seems to kinda get the body and mind wanting to do more.
I started by just concentrating on the eating aspect for a couple of months. Then started to walk around the block at the end of the day. Now I try to go a little farther each day!
If walkings not your thing.... try out some other forms of exercising. Keep trying till you find YOUR thing. Then it won't be a challenge or just something you HAVE to do, but it will be something you WANT to do!
Keep up the great logging and food choices! Thats over half the battle right there!
Nix

I just can't seem to get going. I am keeping up with my meals and calories but I just can't get the exercise routine started.

You won't till you really want to.

I'm sorry, but this, this, and this.

I know that poster had a mass of training and experience, but I've had m e g a experience as an out-of-shape exercise dodger with excuse after excuse for decades. This time, I got sick of myself and *I* decided to make changes. *I* don't find the time to run, I MAKE the time. On my days off, I take my son to the bus stop, then come home, get changed & run before anything else. On the days I work (0645am - 7pm), I change in the bathrooms after work & run there before I get in the truck to come home. I run with myself and myself only. Yes, I use an app that connects here to MFP and also to FB, but I know if I want the results, it's up to me. If I don't run, I don't get the benefits. If I do, then I do.