What Motivates You To Exercise When You Really Don't Want To

Peschuntz
Peschuntz Posts: 270 Member
edited September 26 in Motivation and Support
Everyone has difficulty mustering the motivation to exercise at one time or another. I'm curious as to how you motivate yourself to move during those times when you physically and/or mentally do not want to do an activity.
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Replies

  • hellokittymfp
    hellokittymfp Posts: 21
    I'm at a point now where I feel bad/guilty if I do not exercise my normal amt. So, I just try to get it over with. Once I start it, it's not big deal, but just getting to that point sometimes is the hard part. Also, I remind myself that I can eat more liberally if I exercise. :smile:
  • craftylatvian
    craftylatvian Posts: 599 Member
    I try to remind myself of two things:
    1. How good it is for me and will make me look good/feel better
    2. I can eat more if I exercise!
  • Heather75
    Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
    I don't want to be fat.
  • reese66
    reese66 Posts: 2,920 Member
    Looking a my butt in the mirror is a great motivator. I also post on my page when I not feeling like working out and everyone helps give me the motivation I need :)
  • janemartin02
    janemartin02 Posts: 2,653 Member
    My son``s wedding in june.Before wanted to be an example to my overwt 14 year old daughter.
  • kmac420
    kmac420 Posts: 24
    putting my running shoes on anyway! and thinking about how i can stuff my face when I'm done :)
  • gottabekd
    gottabekd Posts: 46 Member
    I think of the great energy boost I get after I exercise. I usually really don't want to because I'm tired or lazy, but if I get up and force myself to do it I know I won't feel either. Plus, I really love chocolate milk and the only time I let myself drink it is right after working out, so if I find that I want one, I make myself workout first.
  • ppiinnkkmmoonn
    ppiinnkkmmoonn Posts: 418
    dont give it a second thought just do it.
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    This sounds odd but when my body says I don't want to exercise... that's when I get more motivated.

    It's all a mental game. Do with it what you will.
  • Dawntodusk
    Dawntodusk Posts: 262 Member
    For me, it's hardest in the winter. I just want to sleep. I think I'm part bear. But, as soon as the weather warms, there's no stopping me. I haven't found the secret for winter motivation yet - I usually don't workout much in Jan-Feb, but gradually start up again in March.
  • absolament
    absolament Posts: 278 Member
    I put on my gym clothes. Once they're on I feel compelled to go.
  • casey12105
    casey12105 Posts: 293
    I just look down at my stomach lol and remember that I can't wish it away :\
  • Laceylala
    Laceylala Posts: 3,094 Member
    For me, its any time the sun is out that I don't want to go to the gym...so days like today where it is finally sunny here in Oregon I am struggling, and have been for a few hours, about going to the gym and doing even 30 minutes of cardio.

    Honestly, THANKS for posting this. Today, its my motivation to go. 30 minutes is 30 minutes towards a smaller butt, a smaller gut and a more active me!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I always feel better after I exercise, emotionally and physically.

    I wake up with every joint in my body creaking and aching (oh, the joys of getting older!), but after a run, I feel like a million bucks. It's harder for me to take a rest day than it is to find the motivation. It's just part of my routine now.
  • sirphilipe
    sirphilipe Posts: 43 Member
    dont give it a second thought just do it.

    I agree with this statement. If I give my self a chance I will maybe pike. You just have to suck it up and do it... or stay fat. your choice really.

    I am also at the point that when I don't exercise I feel guilty.

    Also think for a second. Is it my body telling me I am injured/slightly damaged and need a rest day to repair or is it I am being lazy...
  • jen2bhottie
    jen2bhottie Posts: 48 Member
    Whether I'm having a bad day, I'm tired, or just feeling pissy, I know that when I'm done working out I WILL feel better...less stressed, more relaxed, etc. Exercising has been very liberating for me this last month...I always hated it before, it seemed like a chore so I just didn't do it. i don't know what's different now except the fact that my determination to be healthy is the driving force behind everything I do. I mean today, I am actually very sick, but I'm not going to allow myself to use that as an excuse, because that's going to lead to me making more excuses, that are less valid, later on.
  • Amairee
    Amairee Posts: 71 Member
    Personally I love the way I feel after a good workout. I love the rush of endorphins, I love the sense of satisfaction, I love that overall I feel healthier every time I do. For me, that burst of energy is what motivates me. :smile:
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    Sheer bloody mindedness. I've made up my mind I'm going to go to the gym on at least Monday Wednesday and Friday and that's the end of it.

    I no longer have a choice about what I do between 4-6.30 on those days.

    I have no idea how I managed to get to the gym the other day, I'd had an awful day, I was miserable and tired and wanted nothing more than to go out and buy a HUGE bar of chocolate.
    But it was my gym day.
    So I went.

    I hated every minute of the first half hour but eventually the endorphins kicked in, and by the time I left I felt so much happier and no longer felt exhausted. Remembering times like that goes a long way to not letting myself take days off.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    when i was first starting out, i did something like programmed my brain to just do it, and not even bother putting up a fight with myself. on the tougher days, i would tell myself something like "this is what's needed to succeed. if you do it, you are succeeding. if you don't do it, you are failing". nowadays, i tell myself something like "look at how far you've come. these results are from working out hard, not from from postponing and making excuses. keep it up and we'll go even farther beyond"
  • peteyTwang
    peteyTwang Posts: 250
    i think the bottom line is if it didn't feel REALLY good and it wasn't FUN we wouldn't be doing it!

    even those nasty Bulgarian Split Squats with Overhead Presses (which I just tried for the first time today, and performed incorrectly using TWO heavy dumbbells -instead of one light one before my RUN today)... my legs were feeling like I had just had surgery BEFORE I even started running ...and snow in the springtime? What's up with that?

    no matter how much you don't want to get started -- once you go ahead, get out there and do it anyway and get that good feeling you will do it again and again too...absolutely guaranteed... the really important thing is to FIND something that gets you stoked enough to do it in the first place, and then keep switching up your activity list with enough variety so you KEEP getting stoked
    and make your priority "FUN" or whatever else will make it sustainable
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    Looking at my ticker
  • lbetancourt
    lbetancourt Posts: 522 Member
    these days, i excercise to earn more calories.
  • funkyspunky871
    funkyspunky871 Posts: 1,675 Member
    When I really, really don't want to, I don't. I don't force myself to exercise. Because when I genuinely don't want to, I've usually got a good reason for it. For those days that I'm just being lazy, I think about my weigh-in on the weekend. :)
  • MeliciousMelis
    MeliciousMelis Posts: 458 Member
    I totally fake the feeling of being really excited to be going to the gym. I get in the car, drive over listening to loud music, I hop on the elliptical and go hard at a high incline/resistance, and make sure the music is fast, upbeat and before I know it, I'm not faking it any more. It's kind of amazing to me that working out has become such a part of my life, I can't imagine NOT doing it.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    If I don't want to exercise I don't. It's only worth doing something if you want to, or you get negative connotations from it and won't sustain it long term. As I discovered doing the 30 day shred. I didn't enjoy it, so I gave up.
  • LaCubana9
    LaCubana9 Posts: 112
    When I belonged to a gym, I enjoyed classes because of the feeling of power in the group and the motivation I got from the instructor. In my brief move to Miami, I have not joined a gym since I'm moving to Chicago in a month or so. I thought I'd never be motivated to do exercise at home- then, I found Turbo Jam who's powered by an inspiring woman named Chalene Johnson. It's like crack, but MUCH healthier! LOL I say, find something you LOVE. Exercise has to be fun or you won't do it for the rest of your life.
  • Peschuntz
    Peschuntz Posts: 270 Member
    A big "thank you" to all who posted! I was incredulous at the response my question got within such a short time! (I loaded up the dishwasher and came back to these wonderful posts.) I have two activities I want to tackle this evening - so it will either be a kettlebell workout or my trusty NordicTrack ski machine (still a great workout and the precursor to the elliptical). Once again, thanks for your responses and if anyone would like to add to these, I hope you'll do so! Best regards, Faith
  • rjnandjosh
    rjnandjosh Posts: 168
    The mirror:sad: :mad: :laugh:
  • littttlelaurra
    littttlelaurra Posts: 229 Member
    Oh the many reasons to exercise now when I dont wanna, let me count the reasons why!

    To get rid of the things I HATE:

    1. My before photos from 3 weeks ago.
    2. My saggy obese belly.
    3. My flabby arms with wings.
    4. My big bubble butt that has several zip codes.
    5. My double neck , can we say bullfrog, ribbit ribbit.
    6. My cottage cheese jiggling thighs.
    7. My plus size clothing.

    To find the things I would LOVE (again):

    1. A firm flat belly.
    2. Slender toned arms.
    3. Cute round butt.
    4. Noticable colar & cheek bones.
    5. Fit and smooth thighs.
    6. Fun and flirty wardrobe
    7. Being healthy.

    Top 2 reasons:

    1. To never again see instant attraction and then utter digust on a mans face when he sees my face and then my body.
    2. To take my daughter on every roller coaster up and down the east coast summer of 2012 as her college graduation present.
  • doorbouchard
    doorbouchard Posts: 7
    my 3 kids... dont want to miss a moment of their life
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