Lost my exercise motivation...

For the last week my motivation to exercise has gone! I've been stressed about a job interview I had and then my family came to visit. I've managed to keep to my 1200 cals but haven't been exercising and now I'm finding it hard to get back into it. Any advice on getting my motivation back? I only have another 8lbs to lose as well...

Replies

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,551 Member
    Go for a nice, casual walk at lunch. Just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
  • ajc1309
    ajc1309 Posts: 255 Member
    I find walking doesn't help me lose weight though. I usually do 45 minutes on a stationary bike, I was losing around 1.2lbs a week doing that.
  • slideaway1
    slideaway1 Posts: 1,006 Member
    It's not the best advice in the world, but you just have to make yourself do it for the first few sessions even if your hearts not in it properly. Soon you will get back in to the routine and eventually it will feel strange when you skip exercise. I've just got back off holiday, so in a similar position. I will just make myself go to the gym and commit to it.
  • Mezzie1024
    Mezzie1024 Posts: 380 Member
    The only way I know of is to just do it. I always feel better after a workout, even if I didn't want to go at first. Maybe get up a little earlier and exercise in the morning before you have time to talk yourself out of it.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,551 Member
    edited September 2015
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    I find walking doesn't help me lose weight though. I usually do 45 minutes on a stationary bike, I was losing around 1.2lbs a week doing that.

    The nice casual walk isn't particularly for weightloss purposes, it's just to get moving again. Do that at lunch for a few days ... maybe add a stroll to the park after work for a few days, and then see if you feel like doing something more. Maybe back to the stationary bike ... maybe something different.

    I posted this in another recent thread as well ...
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports

    You might also try picking something off that list, and do that this weekend. Again, something different from the stationary bike.

    You can always return to the stationary bike again, but sometimes it is helpful to take a break and do something else for a little while.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    edited September 2015
    Use exercise to cope with stress and improve your fitness.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited September 2015
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    I find walking doesn't help me lose weight though. I usually do 45 minutes on a stationary bike, I was losing around 1.2lbs a week doing that.

    Quite sure I lose more weight walking than on my stationary bike (which gives me a sad 220 calories an hour).

    But yeah, it doesn't take any time to pop on the bike if I want to watch TV. I'd just sit on my butt otherwise. Might as well be productive during that time.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I agree with posters above ^^
    The only person that is going to help you exercise is yourself. I don't particularly enjoy exercising and if my progress wasn't so important, I'd probably skip the gym here and there. The fact is - it can be hard to feel motivated but you kind of just do it regardless. It's go to the gym and burn some calories and work on your goals or stay at home and achieve nothing. That's the way I look at it. Sometimes you need to give yourself a great big mental push! Of course it's okay to skip it once or twice - we are only human, but when you feel yourself making a tonne of excuses, you need to get tough with yourself! :D
  • jessathemessa
    jessathemessa Posts: 65 Member
    If you can find an exercise you enjoy, or at least don't hate, that will help a lot. I've found I really love walking, especially with friends, though that doesn't burn a huge amount of calories. I also really enjoy kickboxing and I've started up classes. Some days I feel lazy, but I still go because the instructor will definitely call me out on it if I don't show. That's something I kind of need to be consistent.

    Everyone is different, though, and you have to find your own motivation. Good luck, you can do it! :)
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    Any advice on getting my motivation back?

    Yes.

    Stop yakking and just go out and do it.

    Once you get back into the habit of it you will be fine.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    slideaway1 wrote: »
    It's not the best advice in the world, but you just have to make yourself do it for the first few sessions even if your hearts not in it properly. Soon you will get back in to the routine and eventually it will feel strange when you skip exercise. I've just got back off holiday, so in a similar position. I will just make myself go to the gym and commit to it.

    I agree with this, you just have to do it, make it part of your routine. I miss working out when I don't go, but it has been a 5-6 day habit for the last 6 years.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    Motivation is overrated.

    Do I always FEEL like exercising? No. But I do it anyway because I know that I should. Because I know that I'll feel better afterward.

    Exercise is just something I do, regardless of how I'm feeling that day.
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
    edited September 2015
    Harsh as it may sound, don't rely on motivation, and you won't have to worry about finding it or losing it. Summon your self-discipline and let that you're going to do it whether you "feel like it" or not. Treat it as if it were school or work or taking care of your kids or anything else that you wouldn't (often) blow off, and pretty soon it will become the same sort of habit, plus you'll want to do it because you won't have forgotten how good it feels.
  • ErinV1974
    ErinV1974 Posts: 21 Member
    I find it helpful to say, okay I'll just get on the bike for five minutes, and then I'm done. Once I do the five minutes, more often than not I'm motivated to stay on. But it helps get my butt on it in the first place.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    You could just watch your calorie intake on the days you don't feel motivated to exercise....I always workout out as that means I get to eat more. Its about personal preference. Even on days I don't feel like it I'm always glad I pushed myself on. In the past two years I could count on 1 hand the days I've taken off from exercise! its a habit now and its not going away, which is how I like it :smiley:
  • ashleesaid
    ashleesaid Posts: 50 Member
    You could just watch your calorie intake on the days you don't feel motivated to exercise....I always workout out as that means I get to eat more. Its about personal preference. Even on days I don't feel like it I'm always glad I pushed myself on. In the past two years I could count on 1 hand the days I've taken off from exercise! its a habit now and its not going away, which is how I like it :smiley:

    Same here. I exercise 5 days a week so I can eat. If I don't exercise, not only do I feel listless but i tend to feel like I have no flexibility in my calorie intake that day.
    The hours will pass anyway, you can sit on your *kitten* and dwell on how you don't want to work out, or you can stop the mental game and go work out. Do it!!
  • ashleesaid
    ashleesaid Posts: 50 Member
    ^ lol, it bleeped @$$
  • ajc1309
    ajc1309 Posts: 255 Member
    Thanks people.
    I did it, got on the bike for 60 minutes.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    Thanks people.
    I did it, got on the bike for 60 minutes.

    Kick *kitten*.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    use upbeat music. helps a lot imho
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    How badly of you want to lose the last 8 pounds? That's your motivation! B)
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    How badly of you want to lose the last 8 pounds? That's your motivation! B)

    And there it is. We all get the bodies we want. You want to lose? Eat less exercise more. Don't want to put the work in? You won't get the body you'd have if you did. Want to lose those pounds/kgs?
    Do what you know you need to do. Cher once said; "If it came out of a bottle, we'd all have great bodies." Your motovation is you. If it was easy we wouldn't have these conversations.

    To quote Nike; "Just do it."

  • Jimmy_Jack
    Jimmy_Jack Posts: 12 Member
    My advice. Go above 1200cal for a few days. Eat 2000 for three days. Bump up the metabolism, get some energy back into the body and then hit it hard. I dont know your exact situation...but 1200 cal every day and the gym can make for a long haul. Give your body a break, eat fatty foods(healthy fats) and get the hormones up to speed. It may sound silly...but I dounbt youve done that.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    Thanks people.
    I did it, got on the bike for 60 minutes.

    *cheers*
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    Happened to me, too. I was a treadmill addict all spring and summer but then I went on vacation. When we got back, it was, like, BAM, summer was over, school started, my job picked up pace at an insane rate (work from home) and I was lucky to get in a couple of leisure miles on my treadmill a day or two a week. Finally, today I have a break and I found myself sitting on the couch wanting to go back to bed when the kids left for school.

    Instead, I forced myself up the stairs and into my workout clothes and I just finished my fourth mile of the day. I still don't feel into it but I feel better.
  • looneymom
    looneymom Posts: 39 Member
    I usually change up my exercises so I dont get bored with them. I have a wii board and play different games instead of the boring exercise.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    Any advice on getting my motivation back?

    Yes.

    Stop yakking and just go out and do it.

    Once you get back into the habit of it you will be fine.

    pretty much

    and 1200 is pretty low. I started out at that number and was hungry and mean. LOL i found i could eat more and still lose at the same rate. add in exercise and you get even more.
  • ErinV1974
    ErinV1974 Posts: 21 Member
    ajc1309 wrote: »
    Thanks people.
    I did it, got on the bike for 60 minutes.

    Nice work!!