How do you get motivated to work out when you're REALLY tired?

If I waited for motivation I'd never work out. Motivation does not have my address, won't call or text and will not willingly knock on my door. I've never met motivation and unsure if I ever will.

Schedule it in like work, make it a habit, and just do it.

For me, I often don't want to go to the gym at the end of the day. OFTEN. So, I drive straight there while chanting in my head: 10 minutes, 10 minutes, 10 minutes. Because I know that after those first 10 minutes, I'll keep going for 10 more, and 10 more and so on...

Getting started when I don't feel like doing it is the hardest, once I'm past that (by force, usually) it's smooth sailing.

I do what a few others on here do. I tell myself just to go and commit to 10 minutes. Plus I remind myself that if I don't go then, I will feel worse later. 10 minutes of anything is better than nothing, right???

Once I get there, I usually get my full work out in. Some a half a$$ed, but some end up being some of my best!

My mantra? "Just DO IT"

Yep first thing in the morning gets it done. I put on my workout gear as soon as I wake up... Than just walk out of the door! Don't think! :-) or if you're super tired and sleep deprived, sleep, then walk out the door :-)

ewhsweets wrote: »

Working out = more energy & getting it done and over with are my motivation.

I wake up at 0400 and workout before my 4 1/2 month old son needs to be up. With B-Feeding a little one and a full workday working out gives me that extra boost I need to make it through to 21-2200hrs. What I tell myself when my alarm goes off and it's still dark out...is that I'll regret going back to sleep all day b/c I'll be groggy...which I will be

Once I'm done I feel great physically and mentally the rest of the day.

Just get it done and over with...

If you need some help friend somebody here!

I get up at 4:00AM as well. I have a 3 year old and a 1.5 year old who need my undivided attention, so this is the only time I have to myself. I don't regret it. As tired as I always am when that alarm sounds, I'm always glad I did it. Every time. And when my kids wake up, I'm ready to give them whatever attention they need.

These are all really great suggestions. I may have to steal a few of them for myself. I find it difficult to get in a really great workout in the evenings because of my kids and how late it is when we all finally get home from school, daycare and work.

marlown wrote: »

You're seldom going to feel like working out BEFORE exercise, if you work long hours and have other pressing responsibilities. The motivation comes with the sense of accomplishment and well being AFTER your workout. Just push through and do it and the determination for the next time will follow. Trying to get a little more sleep would be beneficial, as well as eating to fuel your workouts - low sugar and carbs and enough protein. Just my two cents' worth. Good luck with your journey! You can do this!!

Very smart! I agree.

Caffeine.

megbee617 wrote: »

Hi everyone -

I'm sure we've all been there: you slept 3 hours the night prior, worked a 10 hour day, you're STARVING because you're trying to stay under your calorie goal, but... you have to drag your butt to the gym.

What do you do to stay motivated and work out when all you want to do is go to bed??

Eat a little something. It might give you just enough energy to get started.

I feel overall like this post is looking for permission not to workout and if that's what you need, you got it. Get some sleep push your workout to tommorrow, eat a little.

Otherwise if your schedule just does not allow you to reschedule, here's how I do it when I really don't "feel like it".

I tell myself I"m just only gonna get dressed and then see how I feel.
Then I tell myself I'm just only going to go to where the workout is meant to happen, then see how i feel.
Then I tell myself I'm just only going to stretch/drink/water/prep and then see how I feel.
Then I tell myself I'm just only going to do the warm up, and then see how I feel.
Then I tell myself I'm just only going to do the first 5 minutes, and then see how I feel.
Then the next 2 minutes, 3 minutes, one minute, 5 minutes again...and so on, until at some point I realize. Well I just did my whole workout, which is a good thing, because I TOTALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE WORKING OUT RIGHT NOW! LOL.

Seriously it's like tricking a kid into eating something/going to school/getting a shot/going to the dr's or whatever. Except you are the kid and you are tricking yourself.

:flowerforyou:

But don't leave this app today without reading yoovie's motivation blog that was linked above by JoRocka. It's just for this topic you posted.

I delay having something I want, like a hot bath, or going to the mailbox or calling a friend until I have exercised. THen I exercise with less enthusiasm, but for the required 25 minutes I have set for myself.

Firstly look at how much you're eating - if you're tired and starving then may be you're not eating enough. I'm eating 2000 cals a day and still losing on average 1lb a week (and am 25lbs from target) and despite running 30-35miles a week plus a couple of cross training sessions I've very rarely been starving in the 20months i've been losing weight. As for the training itself - I love the way it makes me feel so its easy to motivate myself 90% of the time and the other 10% I remind myself of the 90%!

I take a different approach. If I'm exhausted, I don't work out. But I do hold myself VERY accountable for making sure I'm not too tired the next day, and the next, and the next.

If you're tired, look at what you're eating, and see if you could be doing a better job of eating for energy, or eating at the right times. Drink a bunch of water. Do EVERYTHING YOU CAN to get better sleep. And then kick *kitten* the next day.

Might not work for everybody... but I know that my tired workouts are usually terrible anyway. I take it as a lesson learned on days I'm too tired, and set myself up for better success the next day.

I try to get a nap in if I have time, if not, I don't work out. Simple as that.

Falling asleep on my feet won't do any good.