How do you find motivation when its cold outside to go Gym?

kristab325
kristab325 Posts: 2
edited November 8 in Introduce Yourself
I find myself having to go after work because the thought of going out into the cold at 4:30 am makes me want to just lay in bed.
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Replies

  • DanZiehm
    DanZiehm Posts: 152 Member
    All of my exercise is swimming, so this time of year is VERY tough to go to the gym. The pool is going to be colder (even though it's an indoor pool) and I know I'm going to be cold when I leave the gym. My daily trip to the gym has just become habit and I know that I won't make my ultimate goal if I don't get my exercise in. I want to see that scale move every Saturday when I weigh in so I force myself to go and just deal with the cold!
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    2 years ago I joined a gym that was a half block from my apartment because I knew I wouldn't go if I had to travel. After a year and a half, I had developed a habit and joined the Y, which is about a half mile from my apartment. I was doing well until I broke my leg.

    Today is my first day being able to go back to classes and I'm planning to leave at 5 for a 7 o'clock class. I'm going to shop nearby until it's time to go rather than wait until the last minute.
  • Archerychickge
    Archerychickge Posts: 606 Member
    I exercise at home. Hate the gym.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    kristab325 wrote: »
    I find myself having to go after work because the thought of going out into the cold at 4:30 am makes me want to just lay in bed.

    Good luck...
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    edited December 2014
    yeah, i went out for my run this morning. i don't know where you live, but it was 30 here in new york city. my alarm went off at 4:30am, and i hit snooze. i contemplated not going. but for the entire ten minutes my snooze was on, i was wide awake. so i went.

    fortunately, i had left my clothes out on the table the night before. three layers for the top; a pair of compression underwear, warm snowboarding socks, and warm track pants for my legs; gloves, and a balaclava.

    i made myself coffee and was out the door by 5:10. home by 6. it was a good run.
  • DoctahJenn
    DoctahJenn Posts: 616 Member
    Easy - I know that while I'm at the gym, I'm going to be WARM for a while, lol. And a remote car starter helps.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    What Capt_Apollo does - I dress for it. Here in northern Canada I've run at -20C (-4F) and lived to tell the tale. Thermal first layer. In my running class a cold weather runner says it is key to have a warm change of clothes ready right after.

    IMG_2151.JPG

    I am new to this whole fitness thing but I find my body craves it's daily run. If I skip I'm "off" for the day. It also helps that my running class keeps upping the ante every week and I want to be darned sure my body is up for the challenge.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    This has been very hard for me as well. I missed swimming all of November as a result. But I did not miss working out. I have lots of work out equipment at home. Its very easy for me to get up and work out. I'm also able to force myself to go run. But the swimming...yeah, I'm having a block on that one. Gotta just do it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,027 Member
    You don't "find" the motivation. You either have it or you don't. People who are committed to their goal, do it. They don't procrastinate, or find a reason NOT to do it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • CoachD34
    CoachD34 Posts: 12 Member
    I workout at home as well! I've always found going to the gym hard. I did it for a while and found it was too strenuous to get to and from the gym. I have lost over 100lbs just working out from home and been able to keep it off. At home workouts have been my life saver.
  • TrishP1961
    TrishP1961 Posts: 9 Member
    I wish I could exercise at home...But I procrastinate and before I know it the evening is over and I never did get to it. So I go to the pool to swim on my way home. I teach and when I have a snow day or am home in the summer, I will use the elliptical I have or the Pilates and Yoga DVDs I own...But during the regular school year, I rarely do. I really need the gym on the way home. Wish I had your discipline CoachD
  • glamgrljess22
    glamgrljess22 Posts: 37 Member
    My livingroom is my gym. I search youtube for videos and own a few dvds.
  • williamwj2014
    williamwj2014 Posts: 750 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    You don't "find" the motivation. You either have it or you don't. People who are committed to their goal, do it. They don't procrastinate, or find a reason NOT to do it.

    This. You won't always be motivated to work out. It becomes a commitment and you have to remind yourself why your doing it. I didn't want to go to the gym today, almost just wanted to stay home but I knew if I didn't go I would really beat myself up over it and the idea of quitting might set in. I've failed too many times and I'm tired of failure so that's why I do it. Plus it makes me feel better in the end so it's always worth going.
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    I hate cold weather! I base all my workouts from home. I run, bike, or walk when the weather is good. I have DVDs and dumbells from 2-20 lbs. so there is no excuse for me. I also have a Y membership which I rarely use because I don't like to waste time driving there.

    The best thing about the cold is it forces me to do my weight training, since I don't enjoy running in the cold. So when it is warm I will sometimes run even on a day I am supposed to do weights, just because is rather run! But the cold weather makes the run unappealing so I grab the weights!

    I plan on capitalizing on this during the winter and having a hot body by summer!
  • sweetest_potato
    sweetest_potato Posts: 53 Member
    You wont be cold once you start working out. :open_mouth:
  • zSandman
    zSandman Posts: 76 Member
    Cup of black coffee or a pwo.
  • HarleyAngel36
    HarleyAngel36 Posts: 623
    Knowing that being cold is temporary and being fit is forever is my motivation... Prepare, and like Nike says.. Just do it.. I never regret it once I am done BUT I do regret if I do not.. Good Luck
  • Valrotha
    Valrotha Posts: 294 Member
    Pics of myself when I was 240 lbs, and the desire to NEVER end up that way again. I don't always make it. However, it does cut down on the off days.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    the thought of my trainer's scathing look
  • fit_mama30
    fit_mama30 Posts: 178 Member
    edited December 2014
    No way I could do it at 4am. I have to go after work... Honestly, it's been freezing here in Montreal for the past 2 weeks and everytime I get in my car after work, I tell myself there is no WAY I can hit the gym... Then I put on some very loud motivating music and 10 minutes later I'm at the gym. It works almost everytime :)
  • Toutoula2
    Toutoula2 Posts: 2
    You will never regret it. I signed up for a gym because they had indoor track. For the winter, that works for me cause i hate using the treadmill. Do what you can, at home or at the gym, or even outside. You will feel great afterwards. :)
  • NoelFigart1
    NoelFigart1 Posts: 1,276 Member
    edited December 2014
    Honestly? I just go. I need to add a certain number of jelly beans to the jar before a big swim I am doing this summer, and so if I don't do them, I might embarrass myself by having to be pulled out of the lake before I am done with the swim. And there's no way I am going to do that.
  • MacCroc
    MacCroc Posts: 50 Member
    Just go after work. There is no point in doing something you hate daily, you will inevitably quit at some point. As long as you don't miss your workouts in the evening, you are fine.
  • irejuvenateme
    irejuvenateme Posts: 96 Member
    Yeah, you just do it and don't think too much - get some music to fill your ears and dress warm - I have a 24 hour gym and it's been great. I actually find it tougher for me to go later in the day - the more time that passes, generally the harder for me it gets.
    If you can do the after work thing more power to you - I can't stand all the people.
  • AllAboutThatPace
    AllAboutThatPace Posts: 151 Member
    First let me say, I live in Florida. So it is not anywhere near as cold as some of you who live up north or in other countries. I actually like exercising in the cold. Florida cold is like 40 degrees. I would definitely feel different if it was snowing or icy, trust me. We have to worry about rain here a lot. We are called the Sunshine State and whoever named us that must have been drunk or high. It can be beautiful, sunny and 80 one minute and then 56 and rainy the next... lol. If it's rainy or too cold, I do something inside. My kids and I have a "dance party." I know that sounds silly, but I put on loud music and we dance as crazy and fast as we can for 20-30 minutes. :)
  • LittleWarriorBee
    LittleWarriorBee Posts: 53 Member
    My biggest motivation lately is thinking about how I will feel if I don't get to the gym. :)
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    edited December 2014
    this morning in Brooklyn, it's like 30 and pouring buckets of rain, everything is in a flood warning. It's 2.5 miles to my gym and I don't have a car. I put on two pairs of socks and jeans over my workout pants and an extra hoodie and my big heavy duty coat. My umbrella snapped inside out and broke all of it's spokes in the 40+ mph winds I was walking headlong into through traffic. (By traffic I mean all these thorough jerks who meanmug and bully pedestrians for crossing the street, struggling in the water and wind to get to where they are going, from the warm, dry, heated seats of their Hondas... and the 18 red lights per mile here in NY)

    I made a promise to myself when I was at the bottom of the darkest pit.

    I promised myself that I would do what I had to do to make my life better.

    I promised myself I would make the outside match the inside.

    I promised myself that things like sleeping in late and be lazy are tiny luxuries that should be scattered about so you can continue to appreciate them instead of deciding they are the default.

    I promised myself that the worse the weather is, the less likely that anyone else will brave the elements - are the days when I will strap on my pink supergirl galoshes and be the warrior that no one sees making her way.

    I promised myself that if discipline and consistency are the only ways to evolve, then I will not be stupid enough to choose to be blind to that fact.

    I promised myself I would change.

    Staying in bed doing NOTHING but breathing won't get me anywhere except stuck in that place.

    That's not change.

    I don't like when other people break their promises to me, so why on earth would I do that to myself.

    I was rewarded with a bench PR this morning.

    Then I went back out in the rain and walked the remaining mile and a half to work.
  • sweetdixie92
    sweetdixie92 Posts: 655 Member
    Well, both my jobs are outside, so being INSIDE to work out is a piece o' cake compared. Although, my gym is at home (simply because I save lots of $$$, time and don't have to share the equipment lol).

    Like a couple others have said, working out is more of a commitment. You're not always going to be able to find motivation, and that's when you need to just DO it.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    backin3 wrote: »
    Like a couple others have said, working out is more of a commitment. You're not always going to be able to find motivation, and that's when you need to just DO it.

    ^ #truestory

  • srcurran
    srcurran Posts: 208 Member
    I was going to the gym early, showering, and then going to work. Didn't like their shower facilities. Now I go into work earlier, and stop at the gym on the way home 4 nights per week. I can then shower at home when I'm done. I work out at home on the weekend days, but occasionally go to the gym if I feel like it. I found a "habit" that works for me.
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