ZERO motivation to exercise... HELP!

I enjoy Nordic skiing, riding a bike, swimming in wild lakes, hiking, scrambling, and climbing rock and ice. Obviously some of these depend on the season.

No one is going to be able to help you get off your lazy butt, as you put it. Everyone is busy, so saying you're busy is pretty much a BS answer. If it's just not that important to you, then fine, just admit that to yourself. Don't try to say that you're too busy.

Either you want to enough to make the time/effort, or you don't. It's rarely about motivation and more about determination, with some time management thrown in.

Queenisis1976 wrote: »

I currently do no exercise. I am so unfit. I get puffed even doing a gentle walk! I'm a size 8-10 so I'm not too worried about my weight but I do worry about my heart and fitness and muscle wastage. Logically I know how beneficial and essential exercise is but I just can't get up and out of the house to do it! I envy fit people. I get asked to join gyms and mum boot camp sessions and walks in the mornings with the girls but I say no to everything! I don't know why! Maybe because I'm a busy working mum and I resent giving up my free time to exercise? Does anyone have any ideas to help motivate me??? PLEASE HELP ME TO GET OFF MY LAZY BUTT! Thanks in advance.

Then what do you do with your free time now? For me, it's the complete opposite: my workout time is ME time. It is looked forward to and is essential to my health and happiness.

"What's your motivation? " - Feeling good and doing what I enjoy. What DO you enjoy doing? Start experimenting and trying new things. How old are your kids? Can you do activities with them? That would be helpful to all of you.

I have NEVER been active- EVER!! Here I am 37 years old and just now within the last month started doing any physical exercise. I wish I could be one that is just motivated to do things but I'm one that has to be forced.

One thing I find helps is the fitbit, for me its embarrassing to be part of a workweek step challenge and be at the bottom half of the chart. Especially because most on there are my coworkers.

Second, I go on walks with a friend 4-5 days a week. When i'm thinking of cancelling or vice versa we force the other one to go. I never regret a workout

Third when I go to the gym I do the classes , get there early and pick a front spot by the instructor. Then I feel obligated to stay the whole 1 hour class. I'd be mortified if I had to face her as I was walking out (quitting the class) as well as the 30+ people behind me . So I'm forced to finish the class. If I get on the treadmill or anything else and get bored/tired/start coming up with BS after like 10 mins im liable to get off and go home.

**I will say though in the last 5 weeks since I've been doing this i'm actually starting to enjoy physical exercise, maybe even crave it a little bit. I cant believe i'm saying this!

I'm motivated to exercise because it's my zen time when I don't pay attention to anyone else or anything else that needs to get done. I like fitness, and I like seeing the changes it's made in my body over the years.

I used to hate even the thought of it, though - when I was very unfit. In that case, knowing that it was something that would benefit my health and well-being was the only motivation I could scrounge up. You don't have to go crazy with it. Start with 20-30 minutes a few times a week, and build from there if you want. Do some light walking and some bodyweight exercises. Or take a dance class, or cycling, etc. Just find something you don't totally hate and commit to it for a small amount of time -- after a little while, you might find that you even look forward to it.

If you still hate it, pick something else, and try again. Find something you enjoy. It's a tiny time commitment and a huge investment in your health.

Queenisis1976 wrote: »

@pondee629 Hmmm so I either do it or I don't do it. I know they are my options. But... How do you (and others) motivate yourself? What's your motivation?

Motivation is fleeting, determination is forever.

I do it for: General all round fitness; the few/several "races" I enter; the fact that the loss of those twenty pounds or so make me feel a whole lot better; (I like feeling better); the comments "Hey, you've lost weight and look good"; being able to run a Half Marathon in 2:17:10 at the age of 61 (something to said for bragging rights). All help me do what needs to be done.

Finally, it isn't motivation. It's determination. If you're looking for motivation. you will be waiting forever. Determine to improve your physical fitness and do it. I do it because I want to. I want to because it makes me feel better. I like feeling better, therefore I do it. Don't necessarily want to do it when I'm scheduled, but I go anyway. A lot like going to work every day, doing the laundry, fixing dinner and cleaning up afterward. Not "motivated" to do any of these things, but they get done. It helps to find something you like. If you find that you don't like ANY exercise find the least objectionable and do that. Who doesn't like a walk in the park?

Don't look outside for "motivation" look inside for determination. Or stay on the couch. your choice. We all get the bodies we want. You either want to do what is necessary, or you don't.

Queenisis1976 wrote: »

I currently do no exercise. I am so unfit. I get puffed even doing a gentle walk! I'm a size 8-10 so I'm not too worried about my weight but I do worry about my heart and fitness and muscle wastage. Logically I know how beneficial and essential exercise is but I just can't get up and out of the house to do it! I envy fit people. I get asked to join gyms and mum boot camp sessions and walks in the mornings with the girls but I say no to everything! I don't know why! Maybe because I'm a busy working mum and I resent giving up my free time to exercise? Does anyone have any ideas to help motivate me??? PLEASE HELP ME TO GET OFF MY LAZY BUTT! Thanks in advance.

Your motivation is the parts in bold. If that doesn't motivate you, there's nothing I can say to better motivate you. Spend some time with people suffering from heart or lung disease if you need more motivation, that will bring home reality.

My daily motivation is the energized and accomplished feeling I get after a good workout. As a student I sit in class a lot. When I don't exercise, I feel lazy and unfulfilled. But if i hit it hard at the gym before class then sitting in class is a relaxing and needed thing that I've earned. Give 45 minutes of cardio a shot in the morning and focus on that good feeling you get afterwards. You may not get the same feeling I do - but try and see how it positively effects your day!

I understand this SO MUCH... my motivation is me. I one day stumbled into a zumba class...and before I knew it I bought a pass...then bought a membership. Then it was like one day I was going into other fitness classes, even enjoying these classes! Things came up and I stopped going and then moved across the country. Im back at it.... I started 15 days ago, I walked into to a zumba class and I am right where I was again I was a size 7/8 when I first started and I was LAZZYYY Lazy, I hated even walking up the stairs- so I so get it. Maybe try a class for the hell of it...zumba is fun

Queenisis1976 wrote: »

@NorthCascades - The trouble is I don't find exercise fun. What does everyone else enjoy?

Try different things.... Don't think about the effort, so much as what it will feel like to DO the thing, and go try it. If you had fun... do it again. Don't worry if your muscles are sore.. that goes away pretty soon...

If you had fun the 2nd time.. then try it for a few more weeks. If you are still having fun.. you've found your THING.

The idea is to start EASY.. and let yourself enjoy what you are doing, and as you get better at it, start to challenge yourself as your body adapts.

You don't have to go from couch potato to world cup soccer athlete... you have to go from couch potato to showing up and having fun... that's where to start.

I'm not much of an exerciser. My cardiovascular health is terrible. I'd really rather sit. I recently started trying to go for a walk on my lunch break and that led to walking/running intervals. Walking seemed too slow...lol. I usually go with a workmate who is in similar shape. We motivate each other. Going with someone is definitely more fun for me. I can see the improvement I've made so that motivates me to keep going...and the sun. I am so sick of winter that I'll do near anything to get outside when it is nice. I'm trying to get out and walk my dogs more too. I bought a cheap second hand exercise bike (like $20 cheap) and resistance bands. I know I'm not committed enough for a gym so I just try to add a bit here and there. As mentioned, if you find something you like that will really help. You could start slow too, park your car further away from the store, get off the elevator a few floors early and take the stairs. None of it is easy but you have to start somewhere. If you have kids, play with them. Take them on a bike ride or a walk, play tag at the park. Go for a walk with the girls, you'll end up chatting and you'll forget you're exercising ...well, maybe.