How do people stay motivated to go to the gym

1356

Replies

  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    When I worked full time I used to take my gym stuff in the car and go straight from work, that way I had no excuse to stay home once I got comfortable. If I was doing a class then I did have to go out as they usually start around 7, but classes are more fun in a way, so I'd be less likely to miss one.

    Now I have children and work part time, and the gym is my 'me' time so I can't get there fast enough lol. I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I still go!

    What about trying some classes if you don't feel like the gym? Plenty of men do boxercise, spinning, kettlebells etc at my gym. You don't need to do Zumba or step aerobics :smile:

    Also, don't feel you need to go for 2 hours. An hour is fine.
  • ironrat79
    ironrat79 Posts: 273 Member
    Workout before work! You'll feel better all day
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • jim9097
    jim9097 Posts: 341 Member
    Who needs motivation; I am addicted to the endorphins...LOL
  • mlanders22
    mlanders22 Posts: 140 Member
    What works for me is working towards "something" and that "something" serves as my motivation. Right now, I'm preparing for a mini triathlon at the end of the summer. Easy motivation to run, swim, and bike.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    I just enjoy it.
  • bimpski
    bimpski Posts: 176 Member
    what works for me is sticking to a schedule. I go to the gym on Tuesday, thursday and Saturday. it's like a standing appointment. Tuesday @ 6! Thursday @ 6! Saturday when I finish work. I don't have to think about it so there is no trying to talk myself out of it. it becomes automatic. it also helps to have a plan. I work shoulders and triceps on Tuesday, legs and chest on Thursday, and biceps, back and abs on Saturday, plus at least 30 minutes of cardio each visit. maybe you need to just start small so you are not overwhelmed. maybe aim for a 30 minute visit then gradually add more time. once you get into the habit of going you'll want to do more and more because once your endorphins kick in you'll feel great.
  • harmonanthony
    harmonanthony Posts: 1
    Eliminate all barriers. Here is what I do:

    1. Go to the gym in the morning. It's hard but if it were easy everyone would be doing.

    2. I iron my clothes for the entire week on Sunday and leave them in my work locker for the week.

    3. I prepare / prep food for the entire week on Sunday evening.

    Eliminate the excuses and the barriers and get moving. You also need to establish goals and follow up on them. If you can see progress being made that is motivation in and of it itself. My biggest struggle is diet so I eliminate the "i'll just grab a quick sandwich" thing by being prepared. YOU HAVE TO PREPARE and get moving, if you want your chrome to BLING you have to polish it cause it ain't gonna shine by itself!
  • pattyproulx
    pattyproulx Posts: 603 Member
    1 - Find a buddy.
    Having a gym buddy makes sure you go because you don't want to let the other down. Also, once you're there, it's great to have someone to push you and to talk with, which makes it more fun.

    2 - Follow a schedule.
    Going 'when you have the time' isn't going to establish habits. Set a schedule and follow it. Same days same time every week. We go in the mornings. It's tough to get up at first, but it's never competing with any other priorities.

    3 - Keep you rworkouts short.
    You don't need to go for an hour or two. We go 30-45 minutes. If you have more time or are feeling particularly motivated, stay a bit longer. If you don't do 25-30 mins and get out of there - at least you went.

    4 - Follow a program and track your progress.
    There are plenty of programs out there. Do some reading and educate yourself. Knowing what you're doing and feeling confident that you're getting tangible results is very motivating.
  • juekes
    juekes Posts: 12 Member
    Same problem here - any excuse I can find to talk myself out of going! Over the past month, I've been going regularly 3 times a week, I'm now upping that to four, I find that once I get there I am fine and feel great when I finish. Whats worked for me - I've built up a routine that I enjoy with help from one of the gym instructors, I alternate my routines to include cardio one day, cardio & strength the next and then as a special treat, swimming followed by sauna & jacuzzi - this is my 'me' time, phone is off and nothing interrupts it! I go in the morning before work and once a week take a long lunch to fit in my swimming session and de-stress. My gym bag is ready the night before and my gym times are booked in my diary so I treat it like another part of my working day, it's also great to enter the number of calories you've burned on here and see the progress you're making - motivates you for the following week.
  • jeffininer
    jeffininer Posts: 204 Member
    I have a husband and two kids. I work full time. I get off work, go home, cook dinner for my family, then go to the gym and work my *kitten* off. Yeah I'm losing time with my family, but it's a time for me to be selfish and get myself healthy. Plus seeing my progress in the mirror and how much happier I am now is all the motivation I need!!!!
  • levitateme
    levitateme Posts: 999 Member
    I go straight from the office -- no stopping at home! Pack your gym bag in the morning and you'll already be in the right frame of mind.

    I do this, too. I go to a gym that is closer to my job than my house and always have my gym clothes ready in my car. I tried working out before work but I'm not a morning person and couldn't make a habit of it.
  • JuliRamone
    JuliRamone Posts: 365 Member
    I go to the gym with my BF. We make fix dates when we're going, which helps me not skipping the gym.
    It's a great way to stay on track when you have the "social pressure" of not letting your workout buddy down.
  • GGDaddy
    GGDaddy Posts: 289 Member
    I work out 6 days a week. Every single time I don't feel like going. Every single time after, I fell GREAT and am GLAD I went.

    So when I don't feel like going, I always remind myself how I'll feel after. When it's really bad, I promise myself I can leave after 10 minutes. After 25 years of working out, I've never taken myself up on that offer :tongue:

    Also--never go home from work! I never make it back out when I do.
  • Nancy_hc
    Nancy_hc Posts: 123 Member
    Agree with most other posts here. I CANNOT get up early to go to the gym. But I go straight after work.

    Schedule it in! I have it on my work calendar, I also made a fun calendar at home and posted it next to my mirror so that I see it in the monrin gwhen I get ready. After my work out I check it off and its a good feeling to say "yes I did what I was suppose to do today, or I did more, or I did less so I have to make up that workout some other time in the week".

    Eventually it just becomes routine. You have to schedule it in like its a mandatory appointment at first, but after a while it just becomes a habit.
  • Roadie2000
    Roadie2000 Posts: 1,801 Member
    It's not motivation, it's discipline.
    This. You just have to make yourself do it.

    I've found I can't relax after work and then try to go to the gym. I either have to go on my way home or just grab my stuff and leave once I get home. Once I start doing too many things around the house I'm less likely to go.
  • ejoy77
    ejoy77 Posts: 19 Member
    Like so many people have said, go to the gym straight from work. Nothing makes me lose momentum more than going home after work. At this point, it's just part of my daily schedule to go to the gym or go for a run directly after work. It's expected. It would be weird for me not to do it. It really just has to become part of your routine.

    There are certainly days when I get to the end of the work day and I think, "Ugh. I'm just too tired to work out today." On those days, I make myself go to the gym, change my clothes, and workout for at least 15 minutes. If I'm still too tired, then I will let my body have a rest day. But I think I've only stopped after 15 minutes once in the past 3 years. So, honestly, just making yourself go and start exercising is usually enough to overcome inertia.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Motivation is overrated. It gets you through your first week, maybe your first month. That's it.

    If your goal is to be fit, going to the gym is your job. Treat it as such. Do you need to be motivated to go work? Of course not. You like getting paid so you go every day. If you like being in shape, going to the gym will be the same way.

    this.

    emotions should not drive going to the gym.

    You go to the gym because it's what you do- not because you love it or you don't want anything else. It's just what you do- so you go.

    Not every workout will be amazing- some will suck- actually a lot will suck. A few will be amazing and most will be meh. But you have to learn to enjoy the 'suck' the grind if you will.

    You go because today is Monday- and on Monday's I go to the gym.

    that's how.
  • MagdaSea
    MagdaSea Posts: 78 Member
    Not every workout will be amazing- some will suck- actually a lot will suck.

    Um yeah. That's something everyone needs to keep in mind. Whether it's your third, tenth or hundredth time at the gym, you will still have days that suck for working out. You just go though. Don't think about it. Just do it.
  • thatjosiegirl
    thatjosiegirl Posts: 362 Member
    You have to change your thinking!

    The way I see it, exercise is a necessary part of my life now...just like getting enough sleep and taking showers are necessary items.

    I have a plan set out for the week of what days I will do what things, and I keep those plans. It is a commitment to my present and future self.

    Also it helps if you do different things each day! Change it up, find a few things that you enjoy and make a few friends at the gym to make the whole experience that much more enjoyable.

    Also two hours seems a bit excessive! I usually shoot for a one hour session most days with the exception of Thursdays and Saturdays, those are 2 hour sessions.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Not every workout will be amazing- some will suck- actually a lot will suck.

    Um yeah. That's something everyone needs to keep in mind. Whether it's your third, tenth or hundredth time at the gym, you will still have days that suck for working out. You just go though. Don't think about it. Just do it.

    I find I have better long term success if I have more workouts that don't suck than those that do. But kudos to you guys who don't need motivation to outlast the sustained suck, though.
  • spara0038
    spara0038 Posts: 226 Member
    1. Packing workout clothes before work and changing at work on my way out.

    2. Keeping my "wakeup call" picture posted in my house.

    3. ... along with pictures of WHY I want to lose weight (positive motivation)

    4. Finally, I'm a cheapskate. My gym costs $40/month, and only going once or twice a month makes each visit expensive. If I go 20 times in a month (about 5x/week), then it makes each visit only $2. Going once a week (about 4x/month) raises the price per visit to $10!! Would you pay $10 for a gym visit? It doesn't work for everyone, but again, I'm cheap lol
  • laureneliset
    laureneliset Posts: 50 Member
    This won't work for everyone but I bit the bullet and raided my savings to pay upfront for 20 personal training sessions with someone who was recommended as a good trainer.

    He turned the way I approached exercise on its head. I used to spend 90 mins in the gym (one hour cardio machines, 20 minutes strength, 10 mins stretching). I now spend max 30 minutes there (HIIT) on top of two 60 minute heavy weights sessions with my trainer.

    I'm not going to lie, for the first 2 months I still had that "do I HAVE to go to the gym" feeling at the end of the work day, but if I cancelled at the last minute I'd lose the money I spent on that training session, which was motivation in itself to go. After 2 months I started to really enjoy what I was doing, so I found myself looking forward to going to the gym.

    Now - I love going to the gym and there's my motivation right there.
  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    If I had the money to pay for a gym membership, that would be all the motivation I'd need. I wouldn't be able to pay for something and not use it. I hate throwing money away.

    ^^^This, plus it gets me away from my nagging kids for an hour. Don't get me wrong, I love them to death but c'mon...enough is enough somedays.
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I do things that I enjoy, so 'motivation' is not an issue.

    This! Going to the gym is my favorite part of my day (well, I say "gym" loosely because I go to CrossFit, a gym to swim and also do yoga once or twice per week at a study I really like). I lift, swim and do yoga at the gym. Occasionally I use the treadmill, but I don't do a lot on the cardio machines. When I was doing Couch 2 5K on the treadmill, I loved working on my progress. Right now I am doing Wendler series on several of my lifts. I think if you choose progressive programs you can do while at the gym, it helps keep you motivated.

    I was always one of these people who went late at night when I worked a day job. I loved being there when it was less crowded and since I only live about 8 blocks from my gym, it really wasn't a pain. I feel better at the gym if I've eaten first, so I always ate dinner and then went.

    Another tip: Get rid of your TV. If you are watching TV, you have time to go to the gym.
  • mochapygmy
    mochapygmy Posts: 2,123 Member
    At the beginning I had to set a gym schedule. Not just knowing when I was going but what I was doing at the gym. M/W/F I go to a strength training class and T/Th/Sa I run. That's my plan and I stick with it. Before when my plan was this week I'll do 3 running days and 2 classes and a day of yoga at home I would waffle around and miss a lot of workouts since I didn't have a firm plan. It took a while for me to find the strength training classes I liked and get committed to this plan but now the plan is set in stone.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Not every workout will be amazing- some will suck- actually a lot will suck.

    Um yeah. That's something everyone needs to keep in mind. Whether it's your third, tenth or hundredth time at the gym, you will still have days that suck for working out. You just go though. Don't think about it. Just do it.

    I find I have better long term success if I have more workouts that don't suck than those that do. But kudos to you guys who don't need motivation to outlast the sustained suck, though.

    you learn to love it.

    and you have a long term goal to press to. It's very helpful.
  • spfldpam
    spfldpam Posts: 738 Member
    I try to go right after work if I can. Paying $43 a month motivates me to go 2-3 times a week or more also. I feel better when I go and workout. Somedays I don't wanna go but once I get there and workout I feel so much better!!
    You have to make it a priority in your life!
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    I pay money to go to the gym, that is all the motivation I need.

    I really like my money, so I am not going to waste it!
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Not every workout will be amazing- some will suck- actually a lot will suck.

    Um yeah. That's something everyone needs to keep in mind. Whether it's your third, tenth or hundredth time at the gym, you will still have days that suck for working out. You just go though. Don't think about it. Just do it.

    I find I have better long term success if I have more workouts that don't suck than those that do. But kudos to you guys who don't need motivation to outlast the sustained suck, though.

    you learn to love it.

    and you have a long term goal to press to. It's very helpful.
    Yep. Goals are important. They keep you moving forward even when you don't want to go.

Categories