How can I get motivated?

OK, have bought the gym membership, have gone twice. I know how pathetic it is, but I am just not motivated enough to take my fat a%# in there to do what needs to be done.

What motivates some of you?

an upcoming event..an old picture  that looks great..skinny clothes I used  to fit into...  stuff like that..
do you hve a friend you can be accountable to?  anyone you can exercise with? 

OK, have bought the gym membership, have gone twice. I know how pathetic it is, but I am just not motivated enough to take my fat a%# in there to do what needs to be done.

What motivates some of you?

heart disease

I am motivated by the way I feel after finishing the workout, and seeing the results. I love making a plan for the month and then doing it.

I am motivated by the fact that at the last health check at work, my blood pressure at age 39 was lower than a 20 year old colleague's.

Also, I know I cannot maintain my weight loss if I don't work out.

OK, have bought the gym membership, have gone twice. I know how pathetic it is, but I am just not motivated enough to take my fat a%# in there to do what needs to be done.

You know we bought a membership also (back in January) in a gym, and I was walking religiously three days a week over to the gym and working out, then walking back. However, since it's been so cold for the last three weeks or so, I have not been going. I know I sound like a wuss, but walking approximately three miles in this biting cold (wind) that we have been having just doesn't float my boat. Now everyday, I watch the weather forecast and waiting for that ultimate break, so I can start walking again. I can't believe that it's colder now than it was in January. Aarrgghh!

Buy a c.d. that you've been wanting to listen to, or get a book on tape, and make yourself wait til you get to the gym to listen to it. I used to do that a lot. And it make the time just fly by.

heart disease

That motivates me!  Also, high blood pressure and family history of Type 2 diabetes.

But we do walking, long hikes, etc here - not gyms.

I hate going to the gym...but once I'm there I love it.  And I do love how I feel afterwards.  So what I do is just promise myself that I'll go to the gym - I don't have to do much of anything if I don't want to...just have to get there.  And sometimes all I do is a leisurely 30 minutes on the recombant bike while reading or watching t.v...I try to get there when there is something good on or I'll bring a cool book...and that is a great motivator - to be able to read whatever chick lit I want for 30 minutes!  And then sometimes I feel like doing more...like lifting weights!

So - just get yourself to the gym - that's the hardest part...then do one thing which you might enjoy be it walking, biking, taking a class...read if you need or watch t.v....don't force yourself to do it for too long...but just do something! 

When I went before I started working...the hardest part was getting myself up and going. I was great when I was there and happy after I was finished but actually physically getting up and going...was so hard. I literally had to drag myself lol

good luck...argh i wish I could start up gym again.

I just set a goal, even if that goal is to go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week ( 5 or 6 in my case! ).  I know I will feel dissappointed if I didn't do it, so I just GO.

It's become more habit now, and there are days I'm not sure I really feel like going in, but I do it anyway.  I know that if I don't, it may be easier the next time to just not go.  Also, I really do feel better  once I am actually there, and feel better about myself afterwards.

I also don't weigh myself... well, not often anyway.  I have taken measurements, and do that every couple of weeks or so.  I just don't want to be consumed with the amount of weight. 

My clothes fit a little better, and I just feel better all around.  That's enough for me.

Accountability - wanna be my workout buddy? 

No seriously - it really helps when you know someone is going to ask you how your workout was and what you did (rather than "did you bother going").  And my husband and I promised to get in shape before we see each other next, so I have to restart my workout program.

Anyway - I'm starting tomorrow - PM me if you want to be my buddy.  I'm a good nag.  But I won't be insulted if you don't want to either.   

Carrie

Can I join too? 

I am really looking for a way to incorporate exercise into my life here.  I am just finding it so difficult.  My sister gave me a subscription to people mag and maybe if I decide to only read it at the gym while on the bike or treadmill, that would be enough of a motivator. 

It's just finding a suitable time.  I get home from work and it is the only time I have with my family.  I don't want to take any of that away.  And if I go too close to bedtime, then I can't sleep.  maybe I just have to suck it up and go first thing in the morning but then I'm giving up time with my husband. We have coffee together after the kids are off to school and that is the most valuable together time we have.   

I really have no excuse because I get a super cheap membership through work and the gym is less than a 20 min walk from home. 

This is exactly why I would never buy a gym membership. There are so many things you can do at home for free. I used to find my motivation level was less than zero but really if you do a little something everyday then you actually do have more energy and WANT to do something everyday. I feel right now if im too idle i actually feel a bit shakey. Weird!

For me the only way I'll do it is to have an option that I can do at home. I'm just too lazy to go to a gym.  DH got me a little cheap stepping machine off of e-bay and I get up at 6, turn on the news, climb on for 20 mins. and then get on with my morning. It doesn't eat into any time that I'd be doing anything other than sleeping and I can be as gross looking and bleary eyed as I want.... When it starts getting a bit warmer I might try running again, but this has so far been a great solution. Motivating myself to do anything more than sit on the sofa with a glass of wine when I finally get home in the evening is just too hard....

When I lived in the states, I always worked out at home so I could be near my kids. I sold my workout equipment (treadmill and Total Gym) when I moved over here, and for a few months I tried keeping toned with Winsor pilates DVDs. Then I tried the local leisure centre to get more cardio, but I was frustrated with the 15 minute limitation on the cross trainer and treadmill. The final straw was two days before my driving test, when the leisure centre cut up my provisional license (rather than copy it) to make my gym ID card. So I found a nearby workout equipment store at http://www.gyms4home.com and bought a treadmill. I hadn't realized how much I missed my old treadmill! Now I walk on that for 45 minutes 4-5 times a week and do the pilates DVDs. Having my own equipment means no excuses, no driving, no getting dressed to go out, and I can watch what I want on the TV while I work out. There's nothing like the convenience and comfort of your own home to motivate.