What motivates you?
 

I have a motivation problem. I'm beginning to run again, but I absolutely hate it. I'll run a mile nonstop, but during the duration of that mile, I want to stop. I stop immediately after the one mile. I want to keep going, but because of my hatred of running, I stop. I'm capable of continuing the run, but I'm just not motivated to.

What keeps you motivated when running or walking?

you can run a whole mile nonstop? that doesnt sound like a motivation problem.. you should be very proud of yourself! I'm not sure if you're running to lose weight or just to run. Either way you should think of how healthy your keeping your body.

YOu should read the book 'Secrets of a Former Fat Girl', it is motivating for exercise :) You library might even carry it.

Music
Setting fitness goals and rewards for reaching the goals

However, I'm going on another tangent - exercise should be fun. If you continue to absolutely hate it, ditch running and try something else - or alternate running with more enjoyable activities. Life is too short to not enjoy what you are doing!

I kept trying different things until I found activities that "fit" me. Running would never be one of my top 10!!!

Lately its knowing that each mile I run takes me farther away from heart disease, diabetes, etc.. and moves me toward making my healthy habits lifelong. This has helped particularly this week when I've had to run on a treadmill, which is hard for me.

Magazines! I subscribe to Oxygen and Muscle & Fitness.

I'm the queen of hating to do the same thing too many times in a row. The magazines always have something new for me to try.

I work out at the gym I work at. We have a cardio cinema so watching a movie (sometimes all the way through) helps motivate me. They play a lot of good movies that I enjoy.

Running is hard when you first start. It's worth sticking it out for a month or so to adjust, ad it becomes actually enjoyable :). But if you can run a mile or more without feeling like you're dying, but you just hate it anyway, maybe you need a different workout?

I don't know because I actually enjoy running. Do you think you would enjoy rollerblading or rock climbing or anything? Maybe running just isn't your thing.

One time I was on the elliptical...which is my fav...and I usually only do 30 min but when i reached 30 min across the screen flashed "50% complete" and I thought "50%?". I think I can go all the way. Further along the way I felt like I would fall off and then I saw 80% complete. I just kept talking myself into staying on. I was actually amazed with myself when I was done and saw that I had done 4 miles!!!

music and thinking about that bikini i will be wearing in May IF I can continue to workout each day and that pushes me...one day at a time, one day at a time.

I work out on my treadmill at home, and I've found I do better when I'm completely distracted from my workout. I try to lose myself in my music. If I'm busy lip-syncing to a showtune (or whatever I'm in the mood for) the miles fly by a lot easier. Plus, it's more enjoyable and I don't have to work as hard to convince myself to do it. I know I look like an idiot, but no one's allowed in the room with the treadmill when I'm working out. No worries!

Definitely find an exercise that you enjoy first and foremost, specially it sounds like you really hate running, therefore you won't want to stick to it...

I love running, I had a bit of a hiatus, and now I'm wondering why I did that...I'm super happy I'm back at it...

What keeps me motivated is spite. I have always been one to start something but not finish it, or heck most times I didn't even start it. Everything always sounds like a good idea, but making yourself do something is a different story. So about a month or so ago I was once again talking about starting a diet and working out, and my dear husband just kind of snickered. I am sure because he has heard it a thousand times but for some reason that little snicker made me think "I'll show you". So I started about two weeks ago doing cardio in the morning, haven't started any dieting besides no fast food and no cokes. I do still find it hard to make myself wake up early to exercise, when sleep is so much more appealing at 4AM. I guess I need to stay mad to stay motivated.

What kept me moving this morning was the 1000 miles in 2009 challenge I signed up for!! :):):)

Know what's been motivating me lately? Myself. I have a very vivid imagaination and I'm picturing myself in a bikini or a cute top and know that I can look like that...cuz I used to!!! I also know that I can do it cuz I've stuck to this for three weeks with NO cheating...which I have never done before.

sooo, i think i'm a bit similar in that i insist on running even though i absolutely hate it. for some reason i just feel like i get the most bang for my buck this way. i usually find the first mile to mile and a half are the worst. even if i'm going to be running 4 or 4.5 miles, i still already want to shoot myself after the first .25 miles. however, if you do push through, i've found that after the 1.5 or 2 mile mark, i usually fall into a kind of zoned-out rhythm and can just keep going for a couple more miles.
so, i know that a lot of people are going to tell me that this is really unhealthy and bad and i have to agree, but it's worked for me: on days that i'm really struggling to keep going and i haven't yet hit 1.5 or 2 miles zone-out point, i sorta just start mentally berating myself for being fat and if i only go another 3 mins or until that next lamp post or the next .2 miles then everything will be ok. and then when i get to that benchmark i just do it again. self abuse? yes. but for some reason, it seems to work.

I like to watch TV while I excersize. If there is a show on that is full of drama it is very easy to stop thinging about what you are doing.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have been working out on the wii fit and I know a lot of people say or atleast think it's not hard, but that's because they only do balance or yoga or a few cardio games. They steer clear of the strength training.

WELL, the wii fit tracks your progress every day on a little chart for you. You can enter in other activities you may have done that day. Sadly, my little Mii (that's your character on the wii) is obese right now and has a big belly. It makes me so sad to see her because otherwise she looks pretty happy and very cute if I do say so myself. I am bound and determined to workout 30 to 60 minutes on the wii every day, not only for my own beneift, but also so my little mii won't be so fat!!!

Yeah, and I will say that me actually losing weight and feeling less bloated and depressed is also an added bonus. bla bla bla... :)

i think my motivation comes from a lot of different things. for one, my 18th birthday in in early april, i'm moving in june, i'm about to go to germany for a basketball tournament, soccer season is coming up soon!!!!, i'm the junior class treasurer so i get to have a big hand in creating prom this year! and my little sisters. i son't want them to grow up unhealthy like i did. i want them to feel their absolute best when ever they can.

Forget motivation. Make a decision.

My skinny jeans and the fact that I am too broke to buy larger sized clothing. http://www.imageuploader1.info/image/BF/s.gif

For me motivation to exercise (I escape to a gym nearby) is in the form of the testosterone level getting too high at home, my too-tight jeans sqeezing me saying, "hey, ya like that, eh? You like that? hehehe" or looking at the pix my husband took on our vacation (sweet, dumb goof thinks I look hot at any weight! lol).

I spend alot of time walking on the treadmill daydreaming about various things losing myself in my extensive playlist. I feel like a new woman afterward.

Damn, NOW I feel like going and it's 10pm and closed! lol