How to get self motivation to work out?

A

allenkim

0
Hi,

I'm a recent college grad bombarded with full time work. I used to workout maybe 1-2 times a week when I was in college, but once job started, I never found myself time to go to the gym.

How do people keep themselves motivated to workout? I tried using smart phone trackers, but easily I forget to use them. I don't know if any website fitness services help. How do they even work? (like weight watchers or daily burn). Do you actually go to the website before you workout?

I loved working out with friends back in college. But now I can't seem to do that. I get somewhat intimidated to workout in the gym with how I look and don't know where to start. I NEED SELF-MOTIVATION!!!!

HOW DO YOU GUYS DO IT??? What keeps you going and get fit?
 
i believe that motivation comes down to how badly you want something. think hard about what you want to accomplish and how badly you want to do it. once you have figured out what you want, start working on it and get into a routine. who cares what guys at the gym think? everyone has to start somewhere
 
I can't stand going to the gym and I can't stand to do much work while I'm there (though actually this started to change a bit once I started getting fitter, I do extra work at the gym now).

But basically I needed help - cardio classes, for me it's Les Mills BODY ATTACK.

It's affordable, gives me a schedule - a day and time I have to be at the gym at - and I have the hour of the workout already planned by the choreography/instructor.

There are all sorts of classes and groups you can join. Sports (soccer, basketball, whatever), cardio like Body Attack, circuit training, HIIT plyometric stuff, boxercise, martial arts, etc. etc.
 
Only Advice I could give you is this :) from my personal experience.

beginning a workout session is always the hardest part. You wonder, why do I have to get so tired now and demolish myself?

You just have to beat the brain messing with you at the beginning. When you start and get going, it will vanish, and you'll keep going till the end. And when finished, you'll feel tired, but your body feels strong and warm, and that's rewarding.

Also, as a motivation, I simply think of something that makes me angry. Anything that pissed you off or ****s with you, think about it and start pushing, and the muscles will follow the brains adrenaline rush ^_^
 
Just one idea-Every time I need motivation I buy something cool that will use at the gym.Fitness clothes,earbuds for the treadmill or anything I will enjoy at hte gym.
 
The best ingredient to get motivated in workout is to love it. If you love what you are doing, you are enjoying it and you never get easily tired. Having friends that always accompany you would also help to get really motivated.

You can also think that you need to workout for your self satisfaction or you need to workout so that you can have a better love life.
 
I recently work out in the mornings - they make me feel good! As long as you do it in a pace that leaves you a bit breathless, you can boost your metabolism. Cleaning the room first thing in the morning is excellent!
 
I workout in my room, and I agree with Sinus, it really helps to have a clean environment, the floor nice and clean.

Another tip, just think that for that extra repetition you do that may make your arms or whatever muscle you're working, sting, it will be gone few seconds of rest later, but it will pay off later, don't stop and keep pushing :)
 
You may want to loo for new workout buddies to make it more fun and exciting. Sometimes when you exercise alone, it will bore you and you have the tendency to quit.
 
On the contrary, I Think Self discipline and Lone work is the best. No one to count on if not your will to make it for yourself, nothing else to help your ego.
 
One thing that kept me motivated, was to watch videos with the people you are either trying to look like or the people you want to go after… When I was single. Before going to the gym, or during, I would have videos with physically buff men playing with my favorite music. This kept me going when I looked in the mirror in comparison. On the down side when my parents found the videos on my I-phone they became a little worried.

I also used videos with the kind of women I was trying to attract again, with my favorite workout music playing. This was definitely a boost and kept me going longer and harder. However there was one drawback to it. If you get carried away thinking about the video and you are in the gym, the longer and harder part of you(r workout) mat show.

Now that I don’t have access to a gym I try to workout at home. I don’t have the opportunity to work out every day because my daughter takes up a lot of my time so I have to keep myself motivated. I joined Karate classes to get in shape and that keeps me somewhat motivated but watching videos of people doing the same things on my PC, like Bruce Lee, MMA, Ninja stuff definitely keeps me motivated (The videos of girls still works too!)

All the best;
Noguchi
 
I think having a schedule can help and keeping your workouts fresh - nothing is more boring than going through the exact same exercises with each gym session. You can find yourself a training buddy as this may help you to stay more motivated.
 
The hardest part is definitely the first step - so if you can get motivated just to begin the workout (i.e., changing your clothes), you'll be able to find the motivation to finish the workout. So one thing I always recommend is to plan your workout for a time when it's easy to change clothes (like first thing in the morning, or immediately after work, etc.). Then just have your workout clothes ready to go to make it even easier.

Another motivation key is to have a solid training plan - if you have a plan, it is like having your workout "appointment" scheduled for that day.

- Sara
:)
 
Personally I am very sad and love training with an all-consuming passion. I also have a set of minimum standards I insist upon and refuse to let go of.
Day to day motivation can be tough but overall I just have a serious issue about wanting to be fit forever. This comes at least in part from being told I couldn’t be good at everything when I was useless in PE at school but top of the class academically. At the time this knocked my confidence, but I pushed back as an adult and have been pushing ever since.
As Sara says the first step can be the hardest. Once you are there it's on and you get into it. It can be tough to look out of the window at freezing rain and go for a run, but once you are there it feels great and you come back glad. After a while the fact you know you will be glad becomes your motivation to start and once you start you love it.
Don't try forcing yourself to love a type of training you hate. If your passion is socialising, running miles alone is not for you, while running with a group or playing football would be. If you don't really like people, train alone and use music to get rid of them. Find the activity and style that is right for you.
 
Motivation comes down to standards.

How good is good enough?

How lean is lean enough?

How much $ is enough?

And so on...

My advice?

To stay motivated, think carefully about the kind of person you want to be. How you behave, act, look, talk, and so on. Let that image of you being your best self drive your own improvement.

Once you decided to actually do this, everything changes and life is never the same. It's a commitment to mastering yourself.
 
CrazyOldMan said:
Personally I am very sad and love training with an all-consuming passion. I also have a set of minimum standards I insist upon and refuse to let go of.
Day to day motivation can be tough but overall I just have a serious issue about wanting to be fit forever. This comes at least in part from being told I couldn’t be good at everything when I was useless in PE at school but top of the class academically. At the time this knocked my confidence, but I pushed back as an adult and have been pushing ever since.
As Sara says the first step can be the hardest. Once you are there it's on and you get into it. It can be tough to look out of the window at freezing rain and go for a run, but once you are there it feels great and you come back glad. After a while the fact you know you will be glad becomes your motivation to start and once you start you love it.
Don't try forcing yourself to love a type of training you hate. If your passion is socialising, running miles alone is not for you, while running with a group or playing football would be. If you don't really like people, train alone and use music to get rid of them. Find the activity and style that is right for you.
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Man, I Feel ya... I'm so Alike.

I only train as I want to win against my own self. I want to say to myself, **** that lazy part, workout hard, I like to get to the point my arms shake and my heart is screaming silently.
And I only do it out of Pride, somehow and to abide to my own high standards, set by me. Like I just could not skip a workout, or eat junk food, without ever feeling guilty, all I want is to get stronger in time, and never regress. Plateau at the most lol
 
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