Friends for motivation? How do you do it?

I'm in the same boat as you! I hate getting up early and I am also tired after work to really want to exercise, so I just have to work up my gumption and make myself do it. Luckily I have a treadmill in my bedroom and I can watch tv while I do it if I want!:happy:

Try parking as far away from the entrances to where youare going. It will give you some extra waling time. Then make the walking a little brisker. If going to work I know you don't want to get sweaty but coming out speed it up. Maybe take an extra lap around the parking lot before going home. Put on dance music in your car on the way home. Any kind of movement, wiggling,etc. does burn calories. Take an extra pair of shoes for after work. Take another extra trip efore going ito your residence. I t doesn't sound like much but I know how you feel about getting up so early and thenwanting to kick back at home. Dance to your favorite music while making meals. Be as creative as you want. Add some light free weights during your movement until you get stronger. I hope thiese little tidbits will help.

First have a workout that you truly enjoy.

I try to workout in the am. I have a workout room at home that helps and my goal is to get a 5am workout twice a week because I truly feel better the rest of the day. I haven't made my goal in the last month :grumble:

I workout right when I get home from work.

There are some days when I don't want to workout and I do just grit my teeth and do it. I have Turbo Jam and ChaLean Extreme videos, so I am able to mix it up. I also make a calendar for the week on what workouts I want to do each day along with a dinner menu. The dinner menu also helps with grocery shopping.

I used to work out at night, after work, but it was so much easier to just go home and watch t.v. and eat on top of that. I got into the habit of lying on the couch and ordering pizza delivery almost every night. One Sunday afternoon I was disgusted with myself and really wanted to do something about it. I told my friend that I was planning to go to the gym at about 5 in the morning before I go to work, she said she was going to join me. We had no problem waking up at 4:30 (I think we were excited about it as weird as it sounds) and had a great workout. We've been doing this since December of 2011 and have not stopped. I've lost 15 lbs since then and I feel better than ever! I actually look forward to my morning workouts and when I arrive home from work, I don't feel guilty for not working out because I already have for the day. I get excited about my morning work out when I put my gym bag together as well as my lunch for the next day. Knowing that I'll get my workout out of the way is what motivates me and the great mood my workout puts me in is what motivates me (I think I'm addicted to morning work outs...lol). Try to find what fits into your schedule and your personality.

Feel free to add me - I also struggle to make myself show up as well. It really does help to use this site, it's so sweet to see someones supportive comment on your post after you log your exercise. The only tips I can offer are similar to those that other people posted here. Find something you enjoy - for me the elliptical is OK but it's not exactly calling my name at the end of the day, you know? So I started just making myself try different classes at my gym. You're going to think, "Oh no, what if I don't know the routines? What if I'm not in good enough shape? What if I can't keep up? What if, what if, what if....?" Ignore those thoughts and just make yourself go. I had all of those thoughts but when I go to a Zumba class at my gym there are new people every time and we all mess up and nobody notices or cares. Once you find something you like you'll actually want to go and it will be something to look forward to, not something to just endure.

Also, I had to accept my limitations on one front: I am not a morning person. I will never, ever be a morning person. So planning to get up at 4:30 and go to the gym before work pretty much just sets me up for failure if I don't make it, and then I feel bad. I don't want to feel bad so I accept that an early morning weekday workout is not happening and I go at night instead. So just plan to go when you'll actually show up, whatever time of day that is. You'll feel so great when you do it!

I know how it goes. I hate!! mornings! I also have to wake up at 5am for work, and I dont get home til around 9pm. If Im too tired to go to the gym (this happens too often lol) I at least try to do a 20 workout of some kind, such as pilates or lifting barbells. Also on days that I know I eont be doing anything, I try to reduce my calorie intake. Do not starve yourself! Just dont eat as if you will be burning away the extras.