I go before I let myself make up an excuse. And today I went to the gym on one of my 'off' days, just because I felt like a workout. I try to remember how good I feel afterwards, and that helps!

Originally Posted by nikkinouille:
I just give myself a pep talk. I tell myself that the weight is not going to magically come off. I actually have to do something about it. Then I muster up the energy to change into my work out clothes, put my shoes on, get my music ready, & just go for it.

I'm ALWAYS glad I worked out/ran. I am NEVER glad I was too lazy to. :)

I agree with that, 100%!

I was in such a rage-tastic mood this morning (I don't think I slept well), so I made myself go to the gym - and I felt AMAZING and was in SUCH a great mood when I finished. I try to remember THAT feeling. :)

I've gotten to the point where I feel guilty for taking a day off of working out, haha. At that point I just convince myself that I'm not going to lose all my muscle mass or gain fat in one day!

It feels so great to work out that even when I don't want to, as soon as I get started I'm asking myself why in the **** didn't I want to start? On the days where it's really tough to motivate myself, I start with something small (oh, I'll go for a walk on the treadmill...) and then I find myself sweating an hour later after having ran for the past 30 minutes. You just have to move! Echoing what everyone else has said. :carrot:

Pick a workout you love. I do a dance fitness class (similar to Zumba but much more intense) and I LOVE it! The class itself is so much fun, and all of us spend the whole hour smiling and laughing. There are usually 80-100 people per class, and I have made so many friends in there that it's become a social thing too. Now I look forward every day to the gym, and try to make it to two classes a day if my schedule permits (or if my muscles aren't too sore!). So try to find an exercise routine you enjoy, b/c if you don't like it or it bores you, you will eventually slack off then stop altogether.

Originally Posted by CorinneIrene:
I've gotten to the point where I feel guilty for taking a day off of working out, haha. At that point I just convince myself that I'm not going to lose all my muscle mass or gain fat in one day!

Same here. I feel to guilty! Maybe I hate it to start, but when I'm finished with it I'm very proud! :carrot:

The past two days, I haven't felt like going to the gym, but then I kept telling myself how much it's worth it! I always feel really good after my workouts, so I keep telling myself how good you'll feel after! I know this is going to sound really silly, but when I'm say on the treadmill and I'm only half way through my time, I tend to "daydream" it's kind of like a little movie playing in my head about reaching my goal weight and how awesome I'm going to feel and look. I just put my MP3 player on and it gives me that pep in my step to continue.

I go to gym classes (Step, abs/butts/thighs, zumba etc) 4 mornings a week. I've been going so long (3 years) that I know everyone and they know me. If I do not go they would give me **** and vice versa! It's just habit now - yes 5:30 am is early for my alarm but the alarm goes off (I keep it in the other room) and have to get up to turn it off. My husband has learned to sleep through the alarm...

Once it is habit it's a way of life and you do not ever consider not going. Find friends/partners/others who will push you along and will expect you to be there (whether it is a class or running or ?). Once established you will miss the workout terribly if you skip it.

I have to workout first thing in the morning or it just doesn't get done. I have a rule for myself: I must get dressed for my workout, including shoes, before I can decide to skip it. It is weird, but I rarely choose to skip once I am completely dressed and ready to go.

Swimming seems to be a great exercise that you don't even notice your working out while doing.

A couple of days ago we went swimming and I noticed slight muscle fatigue a few hours later when we were just horsing around.