Can't find my inspiration to work out!!

I need these same suggestions. I too am in a funk and dont want to go workout today. Didnt want to go yesterday but went anyway and only did the bare minimum. How to get my enthusiasm back?? Cant wait to get suggestions!

Sometimes, inspiration/motivation NEVER comes. That's when Dedication has to take over.

When this happens to me I go outside and casually stroll around in the nice free vitamin D sunshine. It's not really exercise but it's healthy and burns a few calories and it beats sitting in my chair 24/7.

I just get up and do it.
I'll feel better afterwards.

Sometimes you just need a little tough love and a kick in the *kitten*.
Or maybe a little Pinterest. Just make sure to actually workout after reading all the motivational quotes.

Can't find my inspiration to work out!!

I often feel the same way about doing the dishes, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds, etc...but they need doing so I do them.

1 - You don't have to workout EVERY day...you should have scheduled rest days

2 - Do exercise that you like doing...you would never catch me jumping around my living room like some kind of jack *kitten* to a DVD or droning away some random piece of cardio equipment...you will find me outside on my bike that I ride about 60 miles per week...you will find me on the hiking and nature trails around town...you will find me in the weight room usually 3x per week. These are things I enjoy...they aren't a chore. Yes, there are times where I'm really not feeling it, but that's when habit kicks in...and sometimes I sit back an evaluate if I really do need a bit more rest which is sometimes the case if I've really been going strong.

3 - Healthy habits take time to build...but you have to build them. Motivation and inspiration come and go...habits die hard.

4 - Don't overdo it...so many people think they need to be doing endless hours of exercise or going until they puke to get a good workout. This is only going to lead to burn out and really not looking forward to your workouts. My rides generally take me about 60 minutes and my lifting sessions generally take me 45 - 60 minutes...that is all...unless I'm actually training for an event I really don't go beyond that 60 minute mark very often and I always take my rest days.

5 - Establish actual fitness goals, not just calorie burning goals or whatever...when you have actual fitness goals that you are trying to achieve, this helps to keep your motivation up...especially when you start smashing them and setting the bar higher. Just exercising to burn calories gets pretty old pretty quick. Start thinking of your calorie burn as simply a nice bi-product of rocking your fitness rather than thinking of calorie burn as the purpose behind your fitness. Fitness has so many other benefits that go way beyond burning a few calories.

Everything I do is fun to me. No need for inspiration or motivation to have fun.

Also, I've noticed certain "cycles" during the year. Common ebbs and flows and this time of year - late, lazy days of summer - are generally the worst! Cut yourself some slack. Be active but don't make it miserable or regimented and believe in yourself that the motivation will return. It has peaks and valleys just like our weight fluctuations, our food choices, etc.

Incorporating it into your daily routine and habits so that it doesn't feel like a "chore" or something you have to do is best I think. For example, walking can be great exercise, so why not ask a friend to take a long walk with you? As for motivation to get started, find the thing that is driving you to lose weight, for example mine is my health, and use that as a motivator. It's really a mental thing to start, and then once you do and make it part of a routine I think it's easier. Find workouts and exercises that you enjoy doing.

Also, determine if there isanything holding you back from working out. For example, I was nervous to start going to the gym again but once I went and broke the ice its fine!

I've been there too; I think the majority of us regular folks all hit slumps every now and then when it comes to going to the gym. I went from going 5 days a week to once a week for a few months. Now, I'm back to going 5 days a week. I didn't kick myself for it because I stayed active over the course of weekends by doing some walking and kayaking. My inspiration is that I'm not getting any younger and I know how I feel after working out.

So here's what I do. I go to the gym but give myself permission to work out for only 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes, I'm just not feeling it I leave myself the option to give it up. I mean, 10 minutes is better than nothing right?

So far, I've never quit after 10 minutes. Once I start, I'm okay. It's the starting that's hard.

Are you doing something that you enjoy? Something that challenges you? Something you want to do better/faster next time?

I get up at 4:30 to go to the gym and am happy to do it because I like lifting weights. I also know that I would never set foot in my gym after work (it is nightmarishly crowded and I have to drive around for 10 minutes just to park), so I can't sleep in and do it later. But the biggest motivating factor for me: if I miss a session or 2 I will probably have to take a step back in terms of my strength gains, so I don't like to do it. I have a standing appointment with myself MWF every week, no excuses.

You have to find your own motivation. If none of that helps, if exercising just really isn't your thing - you can still lose weight without it.

I'll tell you what helps me best. Everything is a game. I count steps and I'm included into weekly challenges but I'm not content to just beat my opponents oh no! that won't do. If they do 5k steps I'm doing 10k!

If you ride a bike, get on Strava. See someone has set a time that you reckon you should own? Take it!

My feeling is if you want to help yourself then why not make damn sure you are letting everyone else know that you are going to go that extra mile?

Help!! Please share. What do you do to keep motivated and exercise everyday? I was ok 2 months ago and now it seems a bit hard to start.

:frown:

Inspiration and motivation are finite resources. What you need is discipline. Pick a time, put it on your calendar and go. No excuses.

More details here.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/usmcmp/view/discipline-688522