How to get my butt to the gym?

You mean as opposed to skipping it? Do you also skip brushing your teeth or taking a shower so you can sleep in later?

There are consequences for not working out, just as there's consequences for not showering or brushing your teeth. There's no "I don't feel like it" in my house. You do it because that's what you are supposed to do.

i have things set up so that i hit the gym on my way home from work. it's actually a really easy detour, and spending 45-60 minutes at the gym means the worst of the rush hour traffic clears up by the time i'm heading home. there are multiple locations, so even on nights when i have something else going on, there's still a gym i can go to after work.

i keep my gym bag in the car so that no matter what, it's always with me. on the days when i need to do laundry or swap clothes, i'll put the bag right in front of the door so i don't forget it.

it's basically just a matter of building the time into your schedule, and then making sure that going is a good experience rather than one you hate. if you enjoy it, it becomes a positive reinforcement and you're more likely to build it into a habit rather than a once-in-a-while thing. just remember that making the small goals of going each day (or every other day, whichever you're going to do) and accomplishing it makes it that much easier to do it again the next time.

When you want to do it, you just do.

Everyone has their own way.

I would pack and have a bag ready, but I'd always double-check to make sure I had what I needed, so I'm not sure why I bothered packing.

Just start doing it, and eventually it will become routine. I used to go after work, and half of the time I would skip because I had a long day and didn't want to go. I am NOT a morning person, but I recently started going in the morning before work. The first few times I had to basically have my husband drag myself there, now it is just my routine and I never skip morning workouts. Also, not letting yourself let you skip, like someone else said, treat it like a job, you have to go. Don't let skipping happen, and your excuse for skipping is probably not very good, so stop making excuses. Good luck!

If you're really lazy, like me, start small. I mean really small!

When I started working out I only worked out like ten minutes on the treadmill the first week. I even started out at only 1 minute two years ago, for the first two weeks, maybe three! LOL!

Your mind and body may be overwhelmed if you start out too big or think too big.

Good luck!

I agree with the advice above, it was a mental challenge for me at first, I was SO out of shape that the thought of exercising was scary because I felt like I couldn't do anything that was actually going to be a "workout". I got freaked out trying to create a perfect exercise regimen than I didn't do anything.

Pick something, and get going.

it takes 6 weeks to form a new habit. so in those first 6 weeks, you will have to push yourself to do something new. It takes time making something a routine. Just go do it.

I have my gym bag in my car ALWAYS. Packed with all the options, including a bathing suit.

I schedule time on my calendar.

Over time, it will become part of your routine. Heck, you will start to look forward to it.

I have a stressful job, and have found that lifting all the weights in the gym really helps me process my day. It has become to the point that when I DON'T go the gym, I feel sh!tty.

ETA: Set goals for yourself. Small, manageable steps increase your likelihood of success. Goal #1: get to the gym X # of times per week. Do 10 minutes. You will find that you will almost always overshoot your goal this way. Good luck!

I play mental games with myself. If I'm feeling really unmotivated and tired, I make a deal. Well just start the workout...if you feel *really* crappy after 10 minutes...you can quit.

But honestly, once I'm 10 minutes into it, I pretty much never quit. I think the only time I did (in years) I stopped and went to go puke. So...yeah. Probably shouldn't have been working out that day lol.

I do have my workouts on my calendar and I think that helps as well.

I have actually thought of going to bed in my workout clothes so there would be one less thing to do in the morning. Short of that, I make sure I have EVERYTHING ready the night before...down to my keys..water is in the fridge, my little fanny pack I take is ready. My shoes are even untied- clothes are ready to go, coffee is programmed to perk just before I get up so I can have a cup before I go. I go to the gym around 4:30 or 5 in the morning. It works best for me... Good luck!

If you can't go to the gym then make your home the gym. I hate going to gym because I have to bring clothes,walk,change, don't have time to study blah blah excuses so I don't have to go so I just do it at home.