Motivation- Gym especially

Yes I used to feel very self conscious in a place which I thought was only for 'fit people'. Once you've gone a few times and especially after you've started seeing some progress even a couple of pounds you won't give a care in the world. I find buying new fitness clothes is a great motivator, and also don't worry about the other people.. what weirdo stares at someone in the gym haha x

I also have a membership through my college, and I used to find that being surrounded by my peers made me incredibly insecure! But then one day, as I was working out, I realized no one ever paid attention to me. Seriously, I doubt anyone will pay you mind! And now, being surrounded by others who want to get healthy and in shape actually motivates me to go! Good luck with it and remember that you notice yourself more than people at the gym.

The thing is, it's not about motivation. Motivation will always fail. It's about determination....doing it no matter how you feel.

I told a coworker one day that I was tired. Later I was talking about going to the gym. She asked me why I was still going to the gym if I was so tired? I told her if I skipped the gym every time I was tired, I'd never go. It simply wasn't a good enough reason not to go...well, usually.

Great advice ????

I've given up on things that I thought were important to me because I was simply not motivated and I hated doing them. Eventually you always lose out and give up things you hate doing.

We build habits slowly. If you greatly lack motivation you will likely give up. That doesn't mean I want you to give up but it means you should find a different (slower more gradual) way to build the habits you need to achieve your goals.

Having said that, maybe you should try losing the weight without the gym. It's not essential at all in my opinion. Eating at a calorie deficit will get your weight to where it should be 10 out of 10 times.

Hey everyone!

I have a hard time staying motivated in losing weight. Like I have tried many times, some lasting more than others.. But then I go back to being lazy and eating whatever I want.

I know that no one can give me motivation and that I have to find it myself... So my question is: How do you find the motivation to keep going?

Also, does anyone else feel super self conscious to go to the gym? I have a membership through my college and I feel embarrassed to go workout at the gym where so many other people my age, especially ones who make fun of people my size, work out. So how to I avoid that or find the courage to go anyways?

Most of us have been there at some point - we know we want to/have to make a change but it's all a little overwhelming and the little voice in the back of your head starts saying 'you know you're going to give up, why even start...' and other such crap.

While it's true you must find motivation and determination from within yourself, there are some tools that can help.

Develop a routine. It may be difficult to stick to in the beginning but push through that and soon enough it will form a habit.
Think about why you want to make this change. Is it for health reasons, for your kids, or just plain vanity? It doesn't matter, just write it down and keep it handy.
If you can, find someone else you can latch on to, maybe a PT, or a friend who is looking to make a change also.
Set yourself small, measurable goals. It is ok to have long term goal weight and body etc, but that wont keep you going in the near term. eg Pick a number of gym sessions per week to get to or a calorie goal to stick to... then, if it helps, give yourself a (non-food) reward.
Take photos and measurements. If you stick a current pic up somewhere like a mirror the desire to change will stare straight back at you when motivation is wearing thin. This will also give you a great point of reference to see how much progress you make. This is much more reliable than the scale!

Believe it or not, after a while the results will be reward enough! There will be times that you want to give up. You will fall off the wagon, and that's ok. It's about learning what you should do, and getting the right support and systems in place for the long term. Then there is no doubt whether you can succeed.

Also, with respect to the gym, just get in there! If you are able, ask (or hire) someone for an hour to show you around and make sure you are comfortable with the equipment and set up a basic program for you to start with. Most people I know have never made fun of anyone in the gym. The fact that you are there is proof enough for me that you are trying to get fitter and healthier - what about that can be ridiculed?!?

I'm right there with you right now. I was meeting someone at the gym every day after work and that was what kept me going. Once she moved I fell right off the wagon and it was so easy to just not go. This time around I'm trying to look at going to the gym more of a job. After I'm done with my first job I have to go to my second job. I just have it to do. Right now I'm aiming to go Monday-Thursday in hopes that knowing I have a "short day" on Friday will keep me going. I also started going to some classes at the gym. I try to go early and walk on the treadmill/elliptical before class to get in some extra time. Going to classes helps me with the having to go since they notice when I'm not there.

Easiest answer is.....you just go. If you think there are a**holes that are making fun, put in your headphones, stay on the treadmill and do your stuff. YOu can't hear them. Also, I act like the gym is my own personal place. I don't ask questions. I inform myself on the machines adn watch if I'm confused. I take dumbbells from the rack and find a corner and then put them back. If I need to stretch I find another corner with space and do it there.

However, there is another alternative. Work out at home. The internet has MILLIONS of free, full-lenght workout videos on You tube.

It takes me only a couple of days to get that energy boost. But it takes me about 8 weeks to really start feeling the strengh and stamina building up. Then after 3 month, when I'm not looking, I realize I'm doing a crapload of push ups and I'm actually jogging instead of walking.

It happens but you have to want it. If you don't want it, really want it, it will never happen. Trust me. I'm in recovery three years. If I can stay off drugs and alcohol one day at a time, you can go to the gym and eat better. We all can do it.

DO IT BABY!!!!!

The mistake is waiting for motivation. You just need to act. Some days you will be motivated. Other days you won't be motivated. You need to keep acting in accordance with your goals regardless of how motivated you feel. Obviously it's harder to do things when you are unmotivated, but you just need to do them anyway.

Defiantly this ! I couldn't agree more thats what keeps me going as well.... I was very unmotivated as an example yesterday but I refused to give into temptation and once I got going I as just fine

Well I just make it a part of my life, so there's no option but to do it, just like getting up everyday feeding my kids, taking them to school etc etc