I am not one to lose motivation because, believe me, there are a lot of things I could get out of losing wieght. But what do you do when you just don't have the energy or the motivation to get your workouts in? I know what I have to do, but when I get home it's in front of the tv I go. There's been times when I actually have my workout gear on and the dvd is ready to go, but I just give up after 1 second of playing it.
First of all, I do my workouts WHILE I watch TV - I know being a TV junkie isn't the best, but it was something I was not willing to give up. So I have a Tivo - and I skip all my favorite shows the night before so I can watch them while I work out the next morning. I don't let myself watch them at night, and if I have nothing on my Tivo to watch during my morning workout, I have another program that I really enjoy that I'll watch instead.
If you work in your workouts AROUND the TV (which you enjoy), you'll enjoy the workouts more. I don't sit on the couch anymore to watch TV - I sit on a stability ball, and do crunches or lift weights for upper body in the commercials.
I have gotten over 30 hours of exercise this month, the vast majority of which occured while watching TV. Try different types of exercise that you can do without a video. I have a rebounder (mini trampoline) which I jog on - it cost about $40 and I use it every day. I also have the stability ball, on which I do a strengthening routine every morning before my cardio, again while watching TV.
My perspective is - I am going to be in front of the TV anyway. Why not make it count by being in front of the TV while exercising? Exercising while you watch TV also distracts you from my other big diet pitfall - eating while watching TV! It eliminates both problems.
I have a very hard time working out at home, even though I have some equipment. So I faithfully go to the gym. Once I'm there, it would be a shame to waste the time (and the membership fee). I get a much better workout, because the equipment is more varied.
Sometimes, at 25 below in the winter, it's difficult to get out of the house. After spending ten minutes putting on all the outerwear, there's no way I won't go.
I find that if I wake up early and do it first thing then I don't think about how much I don't want to do it all day. I also got my own stuff at home, I rented a treadmill and was really good about using that until I got an exercise bike. You can get an exercise bike for like 100$, it doesnt make hardly any noise, I ride that for an hour and watch tv, before I know it I am done and burned 500 calories! I really recommed it! I have all the videos and stuff too, but right the bike is the easiest for me! And like I said, I get up and do it first thing, then it is out of the way!
mandalinn-excellent Idea. i think i mite try it tonite. I know my slim in 6 workout almost by heart so I'll try it in front of the tv tonite. thanks for the tip.
nrthrn belle-I know for a fact if I had a gym membership I would definitely not let it go to waste. I can't afford one right now, though, and the gym in my apt. complex sucks big time.
courtnie-u are way stronger than I am. I can't seem to get out of bed in the a.m if it is still dark outside. seems unnatural to me lol. But i'll definitely look into a bike. that seems totally affordable. I used to use an elliptical but it broke down and died
I usually get up about 5:40 - and it is light out here then so it isn't as hard. It was at first but I am getting used to it now. It is just nice to get it out the way. I started doing it because my boyfriend stopped working nights and I wanted to spend time with him but even tho he is going back to nights next month I think I will keep doing it in the morning. Even if I do have to get up an hour earlier at least then I can just come home from work and relax. Or maybe I can get back into my DVD workouts.
Rosario I have had the same problem for the last 3 weeks. I just made me a sign that I am going to put up on the wall in frount of my treadmill....it had a big 25 on it May be if I keep looking at it I will walk my way to my goal...So come on g/f you get up and do some moveing around and we will make it there together!!!!!
Honestly, at times I don't know how I do it. I just tell myself... what do you REALLY want? Do you want to sit home and watch Oprah or do you want to see that 1 or 2 pound loss on the scale that week? It has taken me a long time to finally get to thinking like that.. and I still don't think like that 100% of the time. Just think about what is more important to you down the road.. it will be worth it! Good luck!
I have the same problem. I can keep my focus food-wise pretty easily, but exercise? Fuhgeddaboudit! So far, almost all the exercise i've gotten has been first thing in the morning. If I can just get myself up and out of bed by 5:30, I know that i can get my 4 miles done and out of the way. My exercise goal isn't necessarily about sticking to it, it's about learning to really enjoy it and the benefits it brings me.
Just picture yourself getting skinnier while you work. Visualize!
Oh girl..I feel your pain!! Its hard to get motivated to working out when your tired and all. Lucky for me, Im a SAHM so I can work out all day if I wanna (which I dont) Im with Mandalinn , I workout in front of the T.V. Ive tried doing my stepper with music, I even made a exercise cd, but Its not the same was watching tv. It goes so much faster watching my fav shows! And when I do sit and watch tv, im on my ball also. I also sit on my ball when im on the puter.
Im sure you will find something that works for you! If not, let me know and we will figure it out together!!!
They say if you stick to something for 2 weeks, it becomes a habit. I find that these days it's not even a question. I feel so guilty if I have no real reason not to go. I am trying to work out in the mornings, because once you work out, you forget about it the rest of the day and you can just go home and chill out. Also, last week I didn't work out every day, and I felt like crap. Once you get yourself into a habit, it's harder to not work out than to skip it.
I don't think anyone HATED exercise as much as I did! I joined a aerobics class and didn't go. I bought expensive sneakers for walking and didn't go. I bought exercise tapes that got dusty in the boxes Then I joined a Curves gym and I LOVE it! I've been going 3x a week for 2-1/2 years and have only missed a few times when I've been sick.
I've gained a lot of strength in my arms and have firmed up my legs a lot.
What's great is that my gym is open from 6:30am to 7:30pm so I can go whenever I get a chance. It's much easier to fit into my schedule. I've made some nice friends there and you see every shape, size and age group of women there.
I hope you have a Curves in your town. If you do, I'd recommend you check them out. They let you try it for a week free. It costs $29 per month and sometimes they waive the sign up fee if you wait for a 'special'.
My first "reward" was an mp3 player. I listen to audio books while I work out. I don't let myself listen to them any other time...if I want to find out what happened, I have to work out lol And sometimes I work out longer, so I can listen to the next part! My library has a program where you can down load books to your computer. Very cool!
How do you guys do it??
Then I joined a Curves gym and I LOVE it! I've been going 3x a week for 2-1/2 years and have only missed a few times when I've been sick.
