So I took a little hiatus (8 pounds worth hiatus, mind you) over the holidays. This week I am back to getting up at 4 am to exercise....but I am just not into it. I am doing DVD's at home. Would love to be outside, but since it is -22 here today, that is not an option. I am getting up and going to my room to workout, but I am just not into it and can't hardly muster about 20 minutes. How can I get excited about exercise when I hate it so. I just want to stay in bed. My food is in check....is that any consolation????

Why do you hate it so much? Is it difficult to do or do you get bored with it? You need to find what interests you and then you might stick with it. I remember when I started my weight loss journey, I recorded exercise shows like Denise Austin and Gilad and tried doing those. It also helps me to clean and burn off calories that way if it is cold outside. I've even danced around my living room for 10-15 minutes. I looked like an idiot, but it felt good.

Are you a calorie counter? You might be able to just count calories and not incorporate a lot of exercise at first.

It is not difficult at all. I am just inherently lazy I suppose you could say. And yes, its boring. I do have Zumba DVD's but I don't even feel like doing those lately. Maybe I suffer from SAD. Who wouldn't.... living in this god forsaken region?

I don't love exercise either - never have. However, what I have found motivates me is talking to myself and telling myself how GREAT I will feel after I do it - and how GREAT I will look in the future! Today was a hard one for me - I didn't make it to the gym yesterday because of a snowstorm and today at lunch I was thinking up reasons why I didn't want go. BUT - I went and now I feel very happy and proud that I did.

Is it the amount or type of exercise you may be doing? Perhaps you could take it back a few notches - start by doing some brisk walking - it's doing something and it will likely motivate you to do something more in the future.

Good luck!

I hear you...exercise can be boring...I have a hard time doing DVDs because once I've done them and become familiar with them, then they are no longer interesting and I'm just counting down the minutes until the DVD is done. I also don't like walking on the treadmill too much, but there are days that I force myself to do it. And I actually feel a little better when I'm done with it. I would say just try and do a few little things a couple times a day. Even if it is just some sit-ups or leg lifts or something. Make it a habit because then you can expand on it and add some new things in.

maybe find an accountability partner? someone who will call you in the morning and make sure that you are awake and exercising. The act of exercise isnt always going to be fun and enjoyable. and that's okay. imo, its kind of like school. Turning in a million little papers and homework and taking tons of little quizzes. getting up every morning to go to class, go to the library. It all sucks. but i do it because the end of every semester (and eventually my bachelors degree) it what makes it worth it. its my motivation to write a 5 page paper about climate. some classes can be fun, but mostly, its just getting it done.
likewise, exercise isnt the fun part. feeling great in my clothes, enjoying shopping, being able to go up the stairs at school without getting winded, those are the things that make it worth it.
Maybe write out a list of all the things that make your exercise worthwhile. better health. more comfortable in your body. etc. hang them up where you can see them, and when you don't want to exercise, or you want to quit before your routine is up, take a 5 min break and read them over, and then decide if its worth going back to the exercise dvd.
and honestly, once you get back into the routine of exercising, you wont hate it so much. it will just be a normal part of your day that gives you energy and makes you feel great.
sorry my post is so long, ive been working on ways to motivate myself too

I'm glad to find this post and to see how some others motivate themselves. My buzzer goes off at 5 am for me to get up and make it to the gym...sadly, WAY more often than not, it gets turned off and I don't go. Small town, no one at the gym when I'm there and no work out partners makes for not much in the way of motivation. I'm going to try taking 100%'s advice here and forcing myself to look at the bigger picture. Thanks and good luck to the rest of you!