I'm glad I came across this post, because my friend is coming over in a few hours to watch tv with me (we have shows we watch together a couple days a week). Whenever I know she's coming over, I get this weird fear of her seeing me working out (sometimes she pops up early). Even though I know it's hours before the show starts and even a couple hours before she would be likely to pop up early. (I've only let my 5 y/o son see me work out, and that's because he does it with me most of the time.)
So I'm sitting here going through every excuse I know, to not get up and work out. My back is injured right now, so the excuses are that much more appealing. The "you only have to do 10 minutes" idea is really great. I hope I won't stop at 10, but even then I've done something instead of nothing.
Thanks for posting, and thanks for the suggestions!
I read somewhere years ago that if you don't feel like working out, go ahead and get dressed and go to the gym (or park or wherever you go to workout) anyway. If, by the time you get there, you STILL don't feel like going inside and working out, then go back home. 9 times out of 10 since you're already there you'll go ahead and go inside.
I find that having a partner helps me as well. I have an AWESOME gym partner and we motivate each other. And, too, it helps to remember that you'll never be at the gym regretting that you're not sitting on your couch. I used that theory when I was camping last weekend. We signed up for a 1 hour long historical hike and almost flaked out b/c we were having a good time just relaxing at the campground. But when we got to thinking about it we said "yanno, we won't be sitting around the campfire later saying 'man, I'm sure glad we didn't go on that hike!'"
I struggle with this. I'm starting to do this again on getting back on the right track. I'm very glad someone posted something about this because it is one of the many struggles of losing weight. I always wanted to be a runner. Even in my dreams I run (though in my dreams I'm a lot more fit to run). But I am also reading advice of lack of motivaton to run. Once I'm out there though, I'm good to go because it's just making myself get out there to do it.
I work out first thing in the morning on the weekdays at 5am. Im too sleepy to talk myself out of it and it makes my day better.
On the weekends, I have a go to the gym by 11am rule. For me, I'd rather workout in the morning vs the afternoon.
Now it's a habit - I actually get pissed when I dont have to workout. The only caveat is I have to have my iPod to listen to music. I usually workout 6-7 days a week so if I skip every so often I dont mind.
It seems that everyone has their own techniques of motivating themselves. I find what works for me is having my workout gear easily accessible. I do my workouts at home in the living room so that's where I put my workout clothes etc. This works by knowing it's easy to set up and seeing it also reminds me that I have to exercise.
Location: Houston, Tx, but Missouri in the summer on the lake.
Posts: 158
S/C/G: 150/148/125
Height: 5' 2"
I will be honest, today was one of those days I just didn't want to work out. I am tired, my legs hurt, I don't feel the greatest, etc etc...Anyways, I read this thread and you guys give some great advice. So I put on my running shoes and decided that I would go for a shorter walk today. Didn't think I had it in me to run. I will admit, going up the first hill was awful, the second not much better, but I got to the top of the second, put on some Pink Floyd and just did the long one. Something about The Wall album that gets me going. I made my whole walk and was able to jog all the flat straight paths. Thanks everyone! This is why I love this site and think I will FINALLY be successful at losing weight.
I was dragging my feet today, and tricked myself out for a shorter walk. I started playing little chance-challenge games with myself: I have to walk enough to make my t-shirt collar damp with sweat, I have to walk faster (or, on better days, jog) through the hot sunny patches of trail, etc. I ended up doing my full walk, too.
My FitBit Flex. I want to see the goals on it all achieved. And I track my food; if I eat too much, it tells me how many more calories I need to burn to get back on track for the day. I like to eat, so I must work out. Like other people, sometimes I just compromise by walking the whole time.
