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How do you stay motivated to exercise?
I have been exercising off and on for a few months now and I just can't seem to keep my motivation going. I exercise for about 3-4 days and have no motivation to continue another day or even the next week. I am trying to get my weight under control because my husband and I will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary later this month and looking to buy house and possibly start talking about trying for a baby in September/October. My cycles have all out of wack and my doctor says that my weight could be the factor. Apparently, wanting to be healthy and have kids it not enough motivation.
I'm just in a rut and want to do better and sometimes my old sports injuries come back and haunt me. And just wanting to sit and lay around watching tv and stuffing my face seems more appealing.
I am just wondering how other people stay motivated.
thanks!
Re: How do you stay motivated to exercise?
If your cycle's are out of whack, perhaps you could have PCOS? I would talk to your OB/GYN about getting your hormones and thyroid tested.
In response to your question, I stay motivated because exercising is my stress-relief, helps me sleep better, keeps my eating in check and a lot of other things. I also exercise 2-3 days in a row and take a break. No one can keep up with exercising every day. Make a schedule and plan your workouts so you have no excuses. Often I try to focus on how I feel AFTER the workout, which motivates me to do them. I also tell myself I will do something for ten minutes and if I still don't feel great, I'll stop. Chances are you will stick it out through the entire workout if you can get your brain on board.
Staying motivated is my primary goal of being healthy. I've been having chronic pelvic pain for 20 months and I'm sick of seeing doctors and getting the "we aren't sure". So I had a laparoscopy and no endometriosis in February.. still no answers.
The following week (still with stitches) I decided I'm done wasting time on doctors. I started going to the gym and clearing my mind before I start the day. I'm about 37 days into my progress and down 6.5 lbs. I'm not so worried about the scale just being healthy.
So far so good, I'm limiting myself to good and bad days. If my hip and pelvis are bugging me I'll do cross training with some like work. Try to mix it up and vary your routine. Don't forget you need to have rest / down time too. So don't over do it. Maybe you want to alternate days MWF at first until you get into a routine. Also, try taking a group exercise class it's a great way to meet people at the gym.
I simply look in the mirror--- no really, although that is part of it, I mainly stay motivated by how great I feel when I am able to keep up with everything I need to do. I was overweight at one point and it seemed like the smallest activity would get me winded and tired. Bending over to pick something up seemed like a workout! I decided that was rediculous and so I started PUSHING myself to work out. I set up times (5 am-6am before work worked best for me) and made myself work out, no questions asked, no excuses, no if and or buts about it. Slowly but surely I got in shape. I make it a priority now. I consider exercise to be like brushing your teeth. It's something you just have to do to stay healthy. I to have sport injuries ( I played soccer growing up and still play in a womens league now) so there are days where I work through ankle pain and shin splins.
I would start by reserving 30 minutes 4 times a week where you just tell your self--- "I am going to make myself sweat." and go for it. I love doing tabata- it makes the time go fast for me.
Good Luck!!!
Committing to a 30, 50, or 90 day program may help. They come with a set calender, and usually two days off per week. There are quite a few programs that change it up enough to keep your interest throughout. Not to mention the results usually keep your motivation up, too. The buddy system also is a great accountability tool. If you either have someone else you're close with, ask them to do a program or just workout with you! There tends to be less, "Well not today, maybe tomorrow," and more, "She'll be here in 10, I better get ready." There is a whole online community of support as well.
Email me if you have any questions or want some support.
A few things that help motivate:
1. Remembering how GOOD my body feels after activity. (after the soreness of course). I just FEEL healthier. My attitude and energy both improve and I don't feel like a slug.
2. Keeping a schedule and seeing it as "me time". I look forward to my runs as it gives me time alone with my thoughts and music.
3. FUN activities. This is huge. You won't work out if it isn't FUN. If you hate running, try swimming or dancing or tennis or biking or SOMETHING that you consider to be fun. Just get up and moving!
4. involve others. take walks with hubby or friends. go on 'field trips' to do fun active things.
5. Easy access - I use the Nike Training Club app for those days when i just don't want to go for a run, or do anything involving a lot of effort (travelwise). I have a set of ankle weights and I use the app's 15 minute workouts (i usually do two). They're awesome, motivating and involve nothing more than my iphone and space in my house! Perfect for winter too...
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I like this motivation! I would put the first photo on the refrigerator too!
What I actually do is make a schedule to exercise at the time when nothing more important could happen, or have a companion.
This is kind of what works for me:
Attainable goal: Choose something realistic and concrete and try to reach it for a specific time frame. Like lose 1lb a week, or fit in those pants you love but don't love you back, or being able to run 5 miles, whatever it is.
Track your progress: Weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, etc. NOT DAILY. DONT GO ON A SCALE EVERY DAY. It will just demotivate you when it won't change.
Pick something fun: I hate going to the gyms like you couldn't imagine. What works for me are programs you can do at home while watching TV on your own. And running early in the morning. But if thats not your thing, then look for something else. Also, something most people don't consider, are joining amateur teams. Soccer? Volleyball? You might not get together to play daily, but knowing you are "training" for a match can also be motivating!
Music: For me at least, this is a HUGE deal. I need music to pump me up, get my blood flowing. I have a playlist for my morning runs, starts out slow and speeds up as time goes by.
Photo: This is perhaps not the healthiest thing to do (mental health) but keeping before pictures help me too cause I know how hard I had to work to get what I have achieved so far.
I'm like you. The hardest part for me when it comes to exercise is convincing myself to get off the couch, actually get in my car and head to the gym. I am currently doing C25K and so far, I Iove it. I haven't really lost weight from it, but I'm definitely gaining more muscle and my diet choices have changed drastically. I really no longer crave sugary and fatty foods as much.
i was diagnosed with PCOS years ago and my doctor always told me that if I lost weight, it would help with the symptoms.
DH and I are TTC so I e finally committed myself to this new lifestyle. I take progression pictures on the same day each week and weigh myself only on those days. It shows me that my body is actually changing.
i remember reading some advice on this board about a year ago when someone told me, "No one ever exercised and lost weight and said, 'I really regret doing that.'" I try to keep the mentality that I'll be more disappointed in myself for not going.
Thanks for all you guy's input! I have been trying to walk for at least 30 min at least 4 days a week. So far I'm going 2 weeks strong but my motivation is beginning to fail again. I do tend to do a little better when I have a buddy but all my friends that live in my area and my husband works first shift. I work second shift, so I have to do it alone. I just wish it wasn't so hard for me to keep it up.
Thanks again