How do you get the motivation to exercise?

You don't have to exercise to lose weight-all that is required is a calorie deficit. I personally love to eat though so exercise "gives" me more calories to eat. Not to mention all those lovely health benefits.

As far as motivation though, it has to come from you. I suggest finding something you like to do. Running, walking, youtube videos, DVD's, join a gym, bike ride, dance-the options are endless. I personally love my spin classes, golf and zumba so they are a joy to do. (I know, weird). I like the way I look and feel after strength training so I make myself do that. Plus-extra calories!

A friend of mine who also works 2 jobs told me she gave up her gym membership because she just couldn't get there but she started doing fitness blender videos on her computer first thing every morning and absolutely loves them. I've never done them, (I HATE to workout at home) but offer them up to you to check out.

Good luck and congratulations on eating the melon instead of the chips! (of course, if you can fit the chips in your calorie goal for the day, you can have those too )

Baby steps is right. I hated exercise and had the lack of time you're describing. You can do it though. If you're walking from your mode of transportation to your front door, you're already in progress. Whether it's 10 feet from a driveway or a few blocks from a bus/train, you can slowly build on that. I started by saying "ok, today, I'm going to walk around the block before going home." I made sure to pay attention to how good it felt to accomplish that and the next day when I had time, I walked 2 blocks. Fast forward a few weeks, walking 3,4 miles a day became a habit I loved/was afraid to disrupt. You can get there, it just needs to start with a tiny push to your brain about why you want to, then 123 GO!

I'd slowly ease myself into it. Find something you like doing and slowly build on it. If you like riding bikes, start by just going for a ten min ride and then increase in time. :-)

I get motivation from my family first and from my own personal desire to feel better, have more energy to enjoy life with my family, and to be quite honest with you I also have this real cute outfit that I want to wear and lood gooood in.

I just take it day by day one small battle at a time. I fianally chose me instead of harmful food.

Good luk to you!

what has gotten me moving is not motivation. I've learned that motivation is tied to emotions. so it falters. it's more a matter of discipline, making myself move my *kitten* when I'd much rather sit on it, no matter what, everyday. I've also set fairly small goals. Ideally I'd like to put in 30 minutes everyday, but I realize that will be hard to keep up with. so I tell myself I have to do 15 minutes everyday. I keep my gazelle set up in the living room so it's nothing to hop on for 15 minutes. I don't sit down to watch tv until I've put in my minimum time and most days I put in 30 minutes or more because the 15 goes by super fast. it's working so far because instead of dreading a 30 minute work out everyday I have more of an "oh 15 minutes is nothing, you can do anything for 15 minutes" kind of attitude. having the discipline to meet this super small goal is motivating in and of itself because I'm meeting or exceeding my goal everyday, which feels awesome!

Fake it til ya make it! Tell yourself you love working out and soon you will! Also start with a leisurely walk,
Even 10 minutes is better than nothing! than do walk/jog, build yourself up in baby steps! (:

I love dancing so for me I choose classes pr videos that are related to dancing, baladi, soca, zumba, etc. If you enjoy your exercises you are more likely to do ghem.

One of the best pieces of advice I got - dont think of it as exercise... think of it as recess! Like when you were a kid and got to go out and play for 15 minutes at school. Find something FUN to you and do it. That could be playing ping pong (which can be a lot of exercise if you do it right ). The main thing is to get your body moving in any form you can, and if it is fun - it is not "exercise"!

My motivation is the opportunity to do new things: Try a bellydancing class, go geocaching or play soccer with some friends. You dont need to spend hours doing something you dread...like running on a treadmill. Pick something new and find what you enjoy. You will be more motivated to stick with it in the end

Honestly, what you eat is 80% of weight loss. Exercise is a nice bonus, but it's not essential.

I work out 5-6 days a week for 2 hours. I LOVE IT. That is why I do it. I love doing something for ME, that makes me feel great, strong, sexy, energized. It feels kind of crazy to spend 2 hours at the gym almost every day, but it's my guilty pleasure.

Exercise is for fitness and health. I do it because I like to still be able to physically play sports and participate in physical challenges that my peers (50 year old men) can't do.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

My motivation comes from the results I get by working out.

Could you walk at lunch? Anybody that can be your exercise bud? I walk with my husband and the dogs twice a day. Although we walk less as it gets really hot in Phoenix this time of year.
I have a hard time motivating to get to the gym but I'm starting to do resistance bands and yoga off You Tube which is pretty nice.
I try to go to the pool at least twice a week but don't always make it.
When I start my new job in August, I'll have a gym nearby and pretty normal hours. I'll be able to swim/lift at lunch.
I also have a water rower, which I love, but it's been in storage while we pack out the house to sell. I'll be really glad to have that again, although I do row on the Concept 2 rower at the gym.
I really like lunch or late afternoon but do find, if I can get started, that mornings do work the best. Plus, I tend to have insomnia, and it's worse when I'm working out in the late afternoon.

Start slowly with something like walking. I was having a hard time getting motivated to work out too, so now I find a show I want to watch and watch it from the treadmill instead of from my couch. I get 4-5 miles a day doing this (watching the world cup now lol). When I don't even have the motivation to do that, I like to do pop pilates...they're free pilates exercise videos on youtube that usually range from 5-10 minutes. It's a good workout, short and sweet, and you can just do your workout on the floor! I find that when I'm not motivated to exercise, part of the issue is that I don't want to change into gym clothes and get sweaty, so then I just do pilates because you can just work out at home, on the carpet, and you don't even have to get changed, or get too sweaty to get a decent work out in

I, too just started working out after an approximate 20 year slump. My motivation? I noticed that I had "muffin top". Somehoe, I'd learned to live with the beginnings of cottage cheese and saddlebags on my thighs....but that spare tire woke me up! Somewhere inside you is your motivation. I mentioned this two some coworkers who introduced me to MFP and that seemed to be my 'missing ingredient' to get my butt up and a'movin'!!!! I think it has to do with being accountable to someone(s) outside of yourself, and of course their returned support. With MFP you have the support to kick start that oompspa! Just do something...even if it's only for 15 minutes and build on that. Good luck! :flowerforyou: