Getting motivated? how?

C

CollegeGirl808

New member
I have a real big problem with motivation. basicly i just cant get motivated to exercise! its extreemly frustrating and i dont know what to change. anyone have any thoughts for me?
 
ah the motivation problem. I'll try to stay away from the "Just Do It" phrase that everyone loves to throw around when somebody begs for help in this department.

So today, or whenever you read this message, try this...


It's a show about weight loss from PBS. I find watching shows about the weight loss struggle extremely motivating, at least for a while. The fire only lasts for so long. :) Let the show fire you up, and then do 15 minutes of some kind of cardio. Hopefully this will give you a bit of a spark.

Hope this helps. :) Good luck.
 
I have the same issue, i find having a buddy (which i still havent found, lol) helps, and setting a time for exercise a day. I Work out during a fav tv show, i dont even relize i am doing it. I would just be sitting on the couch so i sit on my bike, i feel a bit silly just sitting there, so i cycle. Okay i am rambling. lol :rolleyes:
 
There is no easy answer for motivation. I think you either have it or you don't.

I remember a couple of years ago, when I was at my highest weight. I was just like a junkie, waiting for my next food fix. I had no motivation to do anything about my weight.

Then I started getting scared. And the more I looked into how all that weight was wrecking my health, the more motivated I became.

There were many, many days in the beginning when I really didn't want to go to the gym. I truly dragged myself there. The funny thing is, the more you make it a habit, the more that motivates you.

I wish there were an easier answer. There isn't.
 
I totally agree with Tom....there is no easy answer. Everyone is different.

Everyone is motivated differently. You have to consider what your reasons and goals for exercising.

For me, I find it much easier once I get into a routine. The first few times are the most difficult. But once that routine is established in a week or two, then whenever I get a slight improvement in whatever I'm doing (ie. lift a little more, handle the weight a little easier, make it a little longer, etc) I find that to be an improvement.

If I get home and I sit and think about whether or not I want to get on the bike or go to karate or whatever...it's a coin toss as to whether I'll go or not. But...for ME anyway...if I just get up and start to get ready to go without thinking about whether I WANT to do it or not (i.e. the JUST DO IT thingy) then I get it done. And I feel fantastic afterwards for doing it.
 
Here's what gets me motivated.......I come from a family of 5, the oldest of 3 boys. I'm 49 and the only one still living since everyone else basically died from neglecting and abusing their body for most of their lives. When my younger brothers both died within a year of each other in their early 40's I decided that was enough for me. I got up off my butt and did something about it. On those days I don't really feel like eating healthy or going to work out all I have to do is think about them......and that gets me moving.
 
Yes, I'm with Tom on this too...it's really hard for me to stay motivated and it took me 3 weeks of saying i'm going to join a gym before i actually did. The buddy system is good, but really i havn't found anyone who can keep me as motivated as i'd like. I need someone to say 'shut up we are going to the gym i'll be by in 5mins to pick you up...shut up get your but on that bike and get moving...but usually someone will call and say ohhh i had a long day i don't feel like going'. I think the trick is to find someone that needs as much motivation as you do so on their down days you pick them up and vice versa.

I jump at the chance to go play tennis or squash with someone but i still find my self dragging ass to the gym...I force myself even if i don't want to work out...again that whole 'JUST DO IT!' Sometimes i go for 10-20mins but at least it gets me out.

I have complied a list (a long list) of reasons why i want to lose weight. I made it a rule that when i dont feel like going to the gym i HAVE to take a few seconds to read the list i complied... that usually gets me moving again. I wish it was just as easy to take off the lbs as it is to put them on....Best of luck to everyone.
 
thanks for everyones input. let me know if anyone would want to PM each other and try to be internet motivators. lol. that way we can try to keep each other on track a little bit. something is better than nothing!
 
The only thing that worked for me was to look at myself on pictures and that made me want to exercise. After a while it became a habit and I actually started to enjoy every minute of my workouts wich I didn't do earlier :p Hope you'll find your motivation.
 
Find your body!

CollegeGirl808 said:
I have a real big problem with motivation. basicly i just cant get motivated to exercise! its extreemly frustrating and i dont know what to change. anyone have any thoughts for me?
Click to expand...

Go on the internet find a picture of the body (preferable nude) you would love to have and print it (preferablly) or save the pic (if u don't have a printer). Take a pic of yourself naked and put them side by side where you can see them (on the fridge is a good spot) daily. Its may sound stupid but it helps motivate me. When I look at that pic of what I could look like (or did) and look at the now, I get moving and motivated.
 
Let's start with this. Why DON'T you want to exercise? What kind of things do you associate to the act of exercise?
 
Steve said:
Let's start with this. Why DON'T you want to exercise? What kind of things do you associate to the act of exercise?
Click to expand...

that's actually a really good question... and a great place to start (not that i'm suprised it's coming from you:)

I think too many people associate exercise with being tortured in gym class by the sadistic gym teachers... who really had no business being around kids :D
 
I had that same problem and really couldn't figure out why I wasn't motivated to exercising - I've used every excuse there was, from being too tired.. to being too busy with my kids and work.. yada yada.. So I asked myself.. "Self, how bad do you want this?".. And quite frank, I want it bad and in order for me to get to where I want to be, I've got to make it happen. No one will do it for you, you've got to do it yourself.

So I ask, "How bad do you want this?" - Hope that helps. Good luck..

Oh btw, I just started exercising... :eek:
 
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