I'm in winter hibernation mode. How to stay motivated to workout during those cold winter nights?
Replies
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sounds like its a problem we all have. Oh how I wish I could crawl under my covers when I get home. But wishing and doing aren't the same thing. Sometimes you just have to push. The more you push, and more often you can forgive yourself for having on OFF day!0
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There have been some wonderful suggestions posted here, and it's had the added benefit to help me get motivated. The only thing I can add is that I use something like my love of reading to also help motivate me. I don't get much opportunity to spend time reading for pleasure, so I take the time when I'm using the treadmill, elliptical or bike to read without any interruption. That is something to look forward to when the thought of exercise isn't enticing.0
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DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.0 -
I often feel this way as well, when it's dark and cold when I get out of work. But like others have said, I bring my gym bag to work with me, pack it the night before and change right before I leave work. Then I'm committed to the gym and i"m glad i went whenever I finish my work out. Then I can come home and relax and feel i've "done something" for the evening.0
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Go right after school, before you go home.0
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Thank you all for your advice and helpful comments! To the people that said "just do it", I wish it was that easy because otherwise I would have the body of a model right now. Unfortunately the weather DOES make a huge impact on whether I am motivated or not and I guess some people react differently to it. I will go directly after school since I'm already outside. I will take my gymclothes with me to school and before going home, I'll make sure I go to the gym and afterwards I'll make dinner before ultimately getting into bed. Thank you all again!
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I might try to workout from home too. The thing is, I have a really expensive gym membership and I want to make the most use of it. But if I realize that the winter months are taking it's toll on me going to the gym, I'll just workout from home instead. Thanks for the advice and suggestions on that as well 0
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I have the opposite problem: I find it easy to train in winters (winters here in Andalusia are very warm) but when summer comes, it´s really hell to go out during the day so training becomes virtually impossible if you don´t want to die on the streets of a heat stroke. I think I enter in a state of "summertation" So unless you live in a tropical place with no stations at all you´ll always find some difficulties with the climate. Adjust your schedule to find better climatic conditions. In winters I don´t really have to schedule but during the most part of the spring and autumm and all of the summer I train very early in the morning or during the night and wear very light clothes. You could just layer up and train when the sun is higher. 0
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Could you go on your way to school? I gym in the mornings and by midday I've forgotten all about it!0
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If you're at school then you're already out and about in the cold, so why not head to gym instead of going straight home? You'll warm yourself up and get your blood pumping, and then you can go home and not need to worry if all you want to do is crawl into bed.0
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bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
This.0 -
bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
Yes, but it takes a while for it to become habit, and until then it's helpful to have something to motivate you. Once it's habit then you do get up and go.
I've always been strong willed and motivated and I'll work for what I want, whatever it happens to be (weight loss, my degree, my job etc) but I appreciate that not everyone is the same, and some people do need an extra bit of motivation. Nothing wrong with that. We can't all be the same.0 -
DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
Yes, but it takes a while for it to become habit, and until then it's helpful to have something to motivate you. Once it's habit then you do get up and go.
I've always been strong willed and motivated and I'll work for what I want, whatever it happens to be (weight loss, my degree, my job etc) but I appreciate that not everyone is the same, and some people do need an extra bit of motivation. Nothing wrong with that. We can't all be the same.
This is why there are successful people in the world and unsuccessful. *shrug*0 -
Go right from school…….stop making excuses. Bundle up get over it
winter is just a few months.0 -
And remember, exposing youself to cold weather improves your brown fat versus white fat ratio, and your body burns more calories just to keep you warm.
'Good' brown fat stimulated by cold, study shows
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278646.php0 -
cantumelia wrote: »And remember, exposing youself to cold weather improves your brown fat versus white fat ratio, and your body burns more calories just to keep you warm.
'Good' brown fat stimulated by cold, study shows
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278646.php
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AlyssaSupernova wrote: »
How do I motivate myself to go to the gym? Please give me your tips because otherwise the gym wont see me till spring
Get on it. The time is now.
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DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
Yes, but it takes a while for it to become habit, and until then it's helpful to have something to motivate you. Once it's habit then you do get up and go.
I've always been strong willed and motivated and I'll work for what I want, whatever it happens to be (weight loss, my degree, my job etc) but I appreciate that not everyone is the same, and some people do need an extra bit of motivation. Nothing wrong with that. We can't all be the same.
This is why there are successful people in the world and unsuccessful. *shrug*
Oh please. I find it hard to motivate myself to do ironing...does that make me unsuccessful?!
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DawnieB1977 wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
Yes, but it takes a while for it to become habit, and until then it's helpful to have something to motivate you. Once it's habit then you do get up and go.
I've always been strong willed and motivated and I'll work for what I want, whatever it happens to be (weight loss, my degree, my job etc) but I appreciate that not everyone is the same, and some people do need an extra bit of motivation. Nothing wrong with that. We can't all be the same.
This is why there are successful people in the world and unsuccessful. *shrug*
Oh please. I find it hard to motivate myself to do ironing...does that make me unsuccessful?!
*shrug* Does it?0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »Try going in the morning. Additionally, if you're going home and going to bed, you might want to look into signs of depression.
Or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which seems like it could definitely hit someone who's moved to northern Europe from sunny Aruba. If it's SAD, sometimes the best thing is to make yourself get outside. (Trust me, I know from personal experience!) Even on a cold, gray day, there's a little sunshine peaking through and sunshine and movement will help.
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DawnieB1977 wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »DawnieB1977 wrote: »bennettinfinity wrote: »HealthyVitamins wrote: »You don't want it enough otherwise you would 'just do it'
^^This... once fitness becomes a priority, you'll no longer need to find 'motivation' to exercise and weather will no longer be an excuse not to.
I disagree. She asked for help to find motivation, and I don't think saying 'just do it' is helpful.
I'm committed to exercise and fitness is a priority for me (I go to the gym when I've had 3 hours broken sleep because my 7 month has been up most of the night. I went to the gym until 38 weeks pregnant, even throughout the first trimester nausea) but there are some days when I need some extra motivation.
I think of my nice clothes, and how good I'll feel after the workout.
Also, if the op is too cold to cook dinner some days, she's probably not eating enough, which isn't going to help energy levels, and then she'll be too tired for the gym. I find exercise gives me more energy.
Of course you're free to disagree, but I find that 'motivation' is a fair weather friend and tends to disappear when it's too hot / cold / rainy / humid. I mean there are only so many 72 degree / 30% RH days with just the right amount of cloud cover throughout the year. With luck there might even be a few of those that I wasn't too busy / tired / hung over.
Seriously - seeking external motivation might get you through a random day, but you can't count on it. Determination is what will see you through the long haul - that comes from inside - and it doesn't care what the weather's doing.
Yes, but it takes a while for it to become habit, and until then it's helpful to have something to motivate you. Once it's habit then you do get up and go.
I've always been strong willed and motivated and I'll work for what I want, whatever it happens to be (weight loss, my degree, my job etc) but I appreciate that not everyone is the same, and some people do need an extra bit of motivation. Nothing wrong with that. We can't all be the same.
This is why there are successful people in the world and unsuccessful. *shrug*
Oh please. I find it hard to motivate myself to do ironing...does that make me unsuccessful?!
i am never motivated to do the ironing... i do it because it needs to be done... just like my workout...0 -
I agree with those who said to go straight after school. Then when you make it home to crawl under the covers, you can do so guilt free!0
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I'm on the 'just do it' camp and a firm believer that while 'motivation' is nice, the more long-term successful approach is determination to stick to a plan. Intrinsic motivation is really the key there, I suppose -- because anything extrinsic ("think how good I'll look/feel/be") is often overcome by our mood. But a determination based on a reasonable goal is really critical.
When I started - 3x/week workout, no excuses. I knew no matter my schedule (and I traveled 70% of the time for work), I could make 3 workouts a week. And I had sub-goals of my workout. And once that became habit and done and easier to handle, I upped my sub-goals (longer, harder, etc). I now workout typically 6 days a week but my underlying goal is a minimum of 4. So I have a really easy minimum to hit even on crappy weeks. The only exceptions are for injuries, of course, and even then I'm making sure I'm TRULY injured and needing to take a break and I'm making sure I'm not taking a longer break than necessary.
Find the right time to do it for you where you won't make excuses. For me, even though I hate getting up early and I'm much more of a late night/late morning person, it's in the early morning. So I get up at 5 am and go workout then get ready at the gym and go to work. I rent a locker there so all I bring are that day's clothes and makeup. Shower stuff and everything is already there, so no excuses.
If you know you won't get to workout once you get home, then you need to find a time that fits between when you leave the house and when you get back.
Set an easy goal at first and just don't not meet it. It really is that simple. It's not EASY - you have voices in your head saying things like "you worked out harder the other day so that was really like 2 workouts right" or "it's so cold surely today is an exception" or "I just need a 'me' day today".
NO. Hit the minimum no matter what. Just do it 0 -
For the past 2 years, I was out of bed at 5:00 am, having breakfast and heading off to the gym before work. Trying to find the energy to do it after work became difficult with age not to mention a lot of after-work commitments on most days. I don't have a gym membership anymore but I do a lot of walking outside whether it be +25C or -25C. I just do it. I just have to pre-plan a little bit better so that I have my outerwear with me to change into if I decide to walk it home from work like I did yesterday [50-minute walk]. My thighs were red by the time I got home yesterday.
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It's easier to log on to the internet and post that it's too hard to go?
Imma post this here cause someone else just asked how you stay motivated during the winter.
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.0 -
I do cardio in the moring at my house so i have no excuses i drag my *kitten* out of bed at 6:30 so i have enough time to workout, get ready and eat breakfast before i have to leave for work! Yes some days its hard but i find i will make an excuse to not workout after working all day so morning it is!0
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My gym is heated and the lights are on....not dark, not cold.
Go directly from work or school...do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Problems solved...0 -
I'd take the "cold" winter you get in the Netherlands any day over the freezer I live in.
Suck it up, get to it and do it! Don't make excuses, or you'll never be committed.0 -
I giggled.cantumelia wrote: »And remember, exposing youself to cold weather improves your brown fat versus white fat ratio, and your body burns more calories just to keep you warm.
'Good' brown fat stimulated by cold, study shows
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278646.php
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just do it, I had to make myself last night,never regret it. gosh we just want to bad and lazy0
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