Where do you find motivation to work out...?

markymark550

I'm lazy. I haven't consistently worked out since I was a senior in high school (7 years ago). Since then I go through stages where I work out a lot and then just quit for no reason and never start again. Currently, I'm on the stage of haven't ever started working out again. I probably should as I've gained some weight and my cholesterol has started to go up. I think that exercising properly and consistently will alleviate both of those issues, but I'm just too damn lazy to start.....

edpearson

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

...when you don't have ANY of your own?!?

I need to get my ass on the bike right now, but I just don't feel like it.

Not sure of your fitness level, but if you work out religiously, then it's OK to take a day off. So if you "don't feel like it", don't worry about it. I have lots of days I don't feel like it so I rest, but I make sure I don't miss the next day. When you're at a high fitness level, your body will eventually crave that work-out anyway so don't worry too much if you rest a day or two.

On the other hand, if you're out of shape, then it's very hard to find the motivation (and I've been there, too). Just try your best to get on that bike and go. Once you're on, you've succeeded the hardest part -- getting on! The rest will take care of itself. When I was out of shape, my main motivation was making sure I was able to be around for my kids when they're older (they're 5 and 7 now). When my youngest was first born, I was in the worst shape of my life and I didn't want to exit their lives prematurely from obesity, heart-attack, or something to that nature. So that was the motivation for me in a nutshell. I did weigh 220 lbs. back then, and I now weigh 165 lbs. and run a 10K in under 38 minutes (I'm 40 years old). So that motivation has paid off!

Good luck gettin some motivation! I wish you the best in getting fit.

edpearson

One more way to get motivated...

When I was out of shape, I signed up for a 12K race (the annual Bay to Breakers race in SF). I was in terrible shape, but I signed up anyway to force me to get in shape to run the 7.6 miles across San Francisco. Plus, I signed up 3 months in advance so there was plenty of time to get in shape.

Having that event loom over my head actually got me running almost daily. And after that race, I repeated the process by signing up for another race a few months later.

My point is, signing up for an event such as a road race or a bike event or whatever is a good way to get you focused to work-out.

Again, good luck getting fit!

sponger

runner's high

tony vi

Just Think You Are Alive And Not In A Jail In Malaysia ,

facepollution

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

no book can do that because every person is different and every different body performs differently every day.

The basic physiology is the same in every person. The way in which fuel (food) is used by the body is essentially the same, all we can do is manipulate the body to make it burn that fuel faster, or do nothing which causes it to store as fat.

That e-book I was talking about, was written by a body builder - people who know a thing or two about building lean muscle and getting rid of fat. The brilliant thing about the book, is that the basic priciples can apply to anyone. For example, eating 5-6 smaller meals a day will increase anyone's metabolism, the rate at which the body uses up fat. And skipping meals (a lot of people skip breakfast for example) will cause your body to go into survival mode, thus slowing your metabolism down and making it store more of the food you do eventually put in as fat.

Like I said, the world doesn't owe you a decent body, you have to put in the hard work. BUT, with the right information you are far more likely to reach your goals than trying fad diets etc.

Ms. Haiku

Yoohoo! Keep posting! I need motivation at about 5pm, because I just don't want to run now. Send those good motivational vibes that you posted on here yesterday. It worked yesterday!

iluvcats

when I first started gaining weight when I was 31, I had to loose weight and work out.
Back then, our clothes did not stretch like now.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

facepollution wrote:

The basic physiology is the same in every person. The way in which fuel (food) is used by the body is essentially the same, all we can do is manipulate the body to make it burn that fuel faster, or do nothing which causes it to store as fat.

That e-book I was talking about, was written by a body builder - people who know a thing or two about building lean muscle and getting rid of fat. The brilliant thing about the book, is that the basic priciples can apply to anyone. For example, eating 5-6 smaller meals a day will increase anyone's metabolism, the rate at which the body uses up fat. And skipping meals (a lot of people skip breakfast for example) will cause your body to go into survival mode, thus slowing your metabolism down and making it store more of the food you do eventually put in as fat.

Like I said, the world doesn't owe you a decent body, you have to put in the hard work. BUT, with the right information you are far more likely to reach your goals than trying fad diets etc.

Venuto's book? It's good, but it definitely doesn't tell you exactly what to eat and when. He says numerous times that you have to figure that out for yourself because everyone is slightly different.

Brain of J.Lo

tony vi wrote:

Just Think You Are Alive And Not In A Jail In Malaysia ,

random response of the day!

But, you have a point. I am alive, and I am not in jail in Malaysia.

facepollution

Saturnal wrote:

Venuto's book? It's good, but it definitely doesn't tell you exactly what to eat and when. He says numerous times that you have to figure that out for yourself because everyone is slightly different.

Lol, not exactly, but he says about the types of foods you should and shouldn't be eating, and shows you how to work out your daily requirements so you can work out how many calories you should be taking in depending on if you want to lose weight or put weight on.

The point I'm getting at, is that so many people second guess what they should be eating, and get disappointed when they don't see results. If people actually researched the nutrition side of it, they would have a clear idea of what they should be eating and would get much closer to their goals.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

facepollution wrote:

Lol, not exactly, but he says about the types of foods you should and shouldn't be eating, and shows you how to work out your daily requirements so you can work out how many calories you should be taking in depending on if you want to lose weight or put weight on.

The point I'm getting at, is that so many people second guess what they should be eating, and get disappointed when they don't see results. If people actually researched the nutrition side of it, they would have a clear idea of what they should be eating and would get much closer to their goals.

Yea, counting calories/macros does work for sure.

decides2dream

where do i find my motiovation?



if i ever find it, i'll let you know.

JaneNY wrote:

My motivation was I like to look good, and stay slim, be healthy, and have energy.

The thing about 'always listening to your body' is basically not true. If you listen to your body it will tell you to sit around and be lazy. You have to get in the habit of making yourself work out regularly whether you want to or not, AND find something you like to do. .

i want all of the above, so i really need to *find* the motivation for it, b/c that, while i do so desire it...just ain't doing it!


i agree though.....absolutely love to sit around and be lazy. life is finally catching up to me so i truly DO need/want to stay slim, be healthy, have energy. i used to have all that through no efforts of my own......now i NEED to put forth efforts to have all that.

GreenTeaDisease

Saturnal wrote:

Yea, counting calories/macros does work for sure.

but like everyone knows that. that's what I don't get about most of these books. everyone knows about high glycemic foods or what startches and sugars do, what protein does, what fiber does.

although I don't believe in counting calories. I've tried it on several occaissions. It just makes me nervous and makes me eat more. A good guide is a book called "Intuitive Eating." It's very much against calorie counting, instead it focuses on eating for a reason- you have to be hungry, and you have to eat what you are hungry for. You have to log, but you should log as an impartial anthropologist, so you log what you eat, your hunger level, and why you ate it. Whenever I count calories, I spend the whole day thinking "shiiittt, I only have 400 calories left!" or whatever. Instead, it seems to make so much more sense to just have a sense of how many calories you've eaten, ballpark. Like for me, I can't really be upset about myself if I eat somewhere between 1500 and 2000 calories in a day, but if I calorie count, I want to commit suicide if I go one over 1500.

JaneNY

decides2dream wrote:

i agree though.....absolutely love to sit around and be lazy. life is finally catching up to me so i truly DO need/want to stay slim, be healthy, have energy. i used to have all that through no efforts of my own......now i NEED to put forth efforts to have all that.

Well what do you like to do? Do you like to dance, or workout with a group, or are you more of a solitary sort of exerciser? Do you prefer to run or walk, or use a treadmill? My thing was I thought walking was BORING and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I grew up as a dancer, so the program I teach is perfect for me (and quite a few clients - I'm pretty sucessful), though it may not be right for the next person. Also, what I liked about going to class, was everyone was there to do the same thing, and the instructor had put a workout together for us, and we didn't have to figure out what were going to do or for how long to do it.

I really think the key is finding an activity that you like.

Music is also a big motivator for people when they exercise (there are studies to prove it), such that listening to music while you exercise motivates you to work longer.

decides2dream

JaneNY wrote:

Well what do you like to do? Do you like to dance, or workout with a group, or are you more of a solitary sort of exerciser? Do you prefer to run or walk, or use a treadmill? My thing was I thought walking was BORING and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I grew up as a dancer, so the program I teach is perfect for me (and quite a few clients - I'm pretty sucessful), though it may not be right for the next person. Also, what I liked about going to class, was everyone was there to do the same thing, and the instructor had put a workout together for us, and we didn't have to figure out what were going to do or for how long to do it.

I really think the key is finding an activity that you like.

Music is also a big motivator for people when they exercise (there are studies to prove it), such that listening to music while you exercise motivates you to work longer.

absolutely. but more than anything...sticking with it. i find group classes the most motivating b/c they are structured and you *have* to push on through. however, i am never good at sticking with it, and continuing to attned classes. nowadays i walk daily to/from work about 15-20 minutes each way which is awesome and while i don't see any *results* i just know it has to be doing me some good.

there's really no exercise that truly *excites* me...interests me. i used to bike ride, hike a bit.....ski....etc....but nothing with any regularity. i think the hiking and/or biking might happen again, but i like to do so with my hsuband which is now difficult nowadays b/c we have no regular shared days off. as i said, eventually i just have to find something *I* will do...solo...or in a structured class. thing is, saturdays would really be the only day b/c i am NOT an early morning person - so before work is out of the question...and i get home too late weeknites to attend any classes. so weekends would be it for group activities. we shall see.

i really DO want to discover my *personal motivation well* for exercise/living healthy though., i can do it for so many other things, and i REALLY do want to be *healthy*.........so i'll find it, eventually!

TrixieCat

The Victoria's Secret swim catalog came in the mail yesterday.
That is enough for me.

jamie uk

TrixieCat wrote:

The Victoria's Secret swim catalog came in the mail yesterday.
That is enough for me.

That's motivation enough for anyone

TrixieCat

jamie uk wrote:

That's motivation enough for anyone

Is anyone in Wales missing theirs???

jamie uk

TrixieCat wrote:

Is anyone in Wales missing theirs???

Wel I got mine, not sure I can get into any of the outfits.......
but am willing to try.