How do you get motivated to exercise?

[Pooh Girl 71]

I hate to exercise. Plain and simple lol. However, I know that I need to. I bought a treadmill and use it but it is SO BORING. That's the real problem, I get bored easily.

The funny thing is, when we go to WDW, I walk like a fiend! I walk till we drop, I don't get bored. LOL I think it's the excitement of seeing characters. Too bad I don't have this in my real life lol.

So, what do you do and do you enjoy it? I love to swim but to be perfectly honest the idea of putting on a bathing suit in public horrifies me to no end

 

[TigH]

I used to hate exercise. Now I love it. I think that I have changed my ideas about exercise. It seemed like something hard to do before, like I had to work to fit it into my life. Now I see it as a valuable tool to reach my goals. I feel so much better, I have unlimited energy, I feel like I could run a marathon (if my knees would cooperate).

I was never one for team sports in school. I hated the pressure of having to be the next one up at bat if there were already two outs, or having to serve the volleyball if the other team was ahead of us points wise. So I guess I associated exercise with sports and just thought, 'Not for me'.

Do you listen to music while you are on the treadmill? I used to carry my walkman with me when I started walking and I would listen to songs that got me fired up. It really passed the time! I also started listening to motivational tapes and that was great, it was like I couldn't walk long enough to listen to the entire tape.

You will find something you enjoy and you'll start seeing results and pretty soon you will become an exercise junkie, just like lots of us here!!! Good luck!!!!

 

[KathyFP]

I agree with TigH. I listen to my walkman. You have to listen to something that you really enjoy. I don't think I could keep up the pace or walk as far with out my music.

For my crunches, it only takes a few minutes. I have included my family, so DD will say mom time for family crunches. Her and I will lay down together and do them or take turns counting each others.

I also let my mind wonder and I visualize my next trip to Disney and how much thinner I will be.

 

[cruelladephilly]

try walking in the real world (around your town, parks,nature trails) it is much more fun and interesting- learn about your area's history or natural resources and go looking at them!! in bad weather get a tv near your treadmill and rent movies or watch a great show on tv or listen to your favorite music!! ps==if you also eat less carbos/sugars and see the weight coming off that is incredibly motivating too! good luck!!!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Im a walker and I like to socialize. My .2mile circle has me seeing/talking to lots of neighbors. I usually stay out there 1/2hr (like this morn), sometimes up to an hr. Go out different times too-morning, afternoon and night.

 

[elisebutt]

I put on my new trance/euphoria dance cd at tea time. Put on my wrist weights and dance around like a loony - amuses the heck out of the kids and then practise shadow boxing to get out all the aggro!!

 

[CamColt]

As for indoor exercise, I use a bike(one with a chair seat and pedals out in front). I only do that when the weather is too bad to run or for a short ride when I cant get my walk in. I will usually watch a video from one of our Disney trips while I do that. Its amazing how fast 1/2 hour goes by when you are "in" Disney.

I prefer to jog outside though. I usually get up by 5:00, do some ab crunches and then jog. Believe me, at that hour in the morning in bed there is not much motivation. I just know that if I dont get up and do it then I wont be able to do it until like 6:00pm, and it will be hanging over my head all day. That usually does it for me. Id much rather get it over with when Im half asleep(and barely remember it) than to have to think about it all day.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I hear you on the "hating exercise" thing. It has never been my favorite activity, although I have reached a point where I miss it if I miss more than 2 days.

My approach is a little different. On the days I am on campus I take two 15-20 minute walks. Usually these are inside laps of our large campus building - including two sets of stairs up and down on each lap. It keeps my mind from getting too mushy while I'm grading or working on other projects also. During that time I often just let my mind wander and clear.

On the rest of the days I try to get it out of the way first thing in the morning. Usually riding the stationary bike either in front of the tv or reading a good romance novel!

Sometimes I'll take an outdoor walk with DH or go for a regular bike ride. It is hard some days but I try to remind myself of the benefits AND if I'm good - meaning I get a minimum of 30 minutes in every day I give myself Sunday off!

Deb

 

[bicker]

For me, exercise isn't negotiable. It doesn't matter if I like it or not. It's part of my life. I wouldn't consider not showering, so I wouldn't consider not exercising.

Motivation is another issue, of course. Doing exercise I enjoy (Yoga Viniyasa, The Firm work-outs, etc.) help, as does doing exercise that I get a really big chunk of satisfaction completing (cycling to work, etc.) Focusing on exercise as a parameter of my life to be managed helps. I specifically challenge myself, some weeks, to achieve some level of exercise that I haven't recently: Either a personal high (in terms of number of calories burned in a week, or perhaps in just a day), three consecutive days at over 400 calories burned, seven days straight without any "zero" days, at least six days out of seven with at least 300 calories burned, two bouts of exercise in the same day, etc. Sometimes the challenge is more a matter of quality instead of quantity: Do some new type of exercise -- something I haven't ever done (in the past, this included kayaking; next time perhaps I'll try pilates), or haven't done in a very long time (like perhaps roller skating), or reaching a new level of performance (like getting to work in less than 40 minutes, finishing all the push-ups in The Firm workout, etc.).

 

[CEDmom]

I'm like bicker, exercise is also part of my life. I actually feel physically bad if I miss a few days. It's also one of the few things that I do completely for me. To keep myself motivated I mix things up. I belong to a gym so one day I might take a spinning class, another I might run on a treadmill or go on a stairmaster. I use headphones and hook into the individual TV monitors on the machines. Some things that can make the time go faster are to change the pace during a commercial break or change the incline during each segment of a show. Most days I have a good workout but I've had days that after 15 minutes I've left because I just couldn't get into it. Good luck.

 

[Princess Michelle]

I actually don't mind exercising but I'm often so tired I just don't want to. There is no motivation I just simply make myself go do it.

I listen to cd's or the radio while I'm working out and I also use the time to think and reflect. The time usually just flies by before I even realize it.

It's a necessary thing for me, I have to do it, motivated or not. For a long time I neglected it and I've paid for it. Now that I've started again I have no intentions of stopping.

 

[blanq]

Richard Simmons says: "Do you eat everyday? Then you need to exercise every day too". He is so right! I used to hate exercise too, but now I really love it. Sometimes it is hard to get myself going, but once I do I feel great. Also, I always feel wonderful when I am done.

The key for me has been finding something that works without cutting into my family time. I work full time, so going to the gym gives me the guilts as I feel like I should be spending time with my family.

Anyway, I started using my lunch hour at work as exercise time and it was what really converted me into an active lifestyle. I was able to find coworkers who want to be healthy too, so we motivate each other. We walk 4 miles, if the weather is good, or we do a workout video (aerobics or light weights) in our work conference room. When we walk, the time just flies by because we are chit chatting the whole time...I can't imagine ever getting bored with that!! There have been some side benefits to this too: I no longer spend money shopping at lunch, or add calories/spend money eating lunch out of the office!

On the weekends, I get up early, before everyone else, and usually will do an exercise video. Then my exercise is done and over first thing, and I have the rest of the day to enjoy with my family!

Try:

1. Enlisting an exercise buddy
2. Finding exercise time that fits into YOUR schedule
3. Varying your exercise type

Linda

 

[Liz]

I'm another one who hates to exercise. Ugh!!! I think if there was some exercise video that involved the parks and made it look like you were walking through them or something, it would make a fortune! I know I'd buy it!!

When its hot its even harder to exercise. The other day I did my exercises at 4 AM! I had to get up to let the dogs out and while I was waiting for them to come back in I mulled the idea over in my mind. I figured it was cooler at that hour and the likelihood of me doing it later when I woke up was slim so I got it over with for the day then went back to bed. I was so glad when I woke up and realized it was done!

Good luck to you! I really have to focus my mind on anything other than the thought "I hate this, I hate this" while I'm exercising.