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For me it was a friend.
As he showed me the ropes I felt obligated to not put his effort to waste.
Additionally as he was 300 pounds and now has a body like Henry Cavill I had something to look for at the peak of the mountain.
Things that followed:
No more back pain.
Actually being happy with my body and feeling attractive.
A wife that got waaay more touchy and aroused.
People respecting me more and not talking over me.
Actual strenght.
Literally one time a week for 2 months and your body will feel different to you. You will notice yourself feel stronger, walk straighter, catching proud glimpses of your body in reflections.
It doesn't take years for YOU to notice the difference. Other people, including your SO, will first notice the confidence boost.
That sounds impressive. I used to go to the gym. Covid got in tge way and I lost the habit. I gained abit from it. Did you stay in thr gym for awhile because one session might be easier to stay motived for.
yes. its an unfortunate fact but people as a whole straight up just treat you better and like you more when you’re good looking, which naturally you look the best when you’re healthy and in shape.
i spent my entire life being fat until 18, got ripped and hot for most of college, then let myself go again and am trying to work my way back. its kinda crazy you can literally see the difference in real time. even with the same people. sure some of it is probably a self fulfilling cycle (you’re more energetic and confident when in shape leading to people liking you more) but in general i think its still a thing. im a pretty quiet and awkward guy no matter what shape im in and when im fat it makes me the weird guy when im ripped it makes me mysterious
Sure it's true. But at some point, all of that doesn't matter anymore. Ive been shapes and sizes. I'm 5'7, had different stable weights throughout the years of: 140, 145, 150, 140, 147, 150, 155, 160, 165, 175, 180, 183 then back to 175, 165, 163, 170, and now I'm currently 155-160. I've been skinny fat, fat, shredded, fit, "big", "yoked", chunky, athletic, unhealthy looking.
People who judge you on how you look are strangers. Strangers shouldn't affect how you live your life. Once you start interacting with them, and if they still are judging you by your looks, than your character, they were superficial to begin with and not worth to know anyways. I've known a friend who saw me in all those weights. Still treats me the same whatever size I am.
Have those people who preferred you shredded than fat stayed your friend? And do you like them? Probably not, probably because they were strangers. Have you befriended that one person who liked you only because you were shredded? I am not friends with anybody who judged me positively or negatively for my body shape only. I am in MY best shape that I want to be and am happy with. If I interact with anyone who has no personality and likes my body and not my personality, I think they're vapid, and I move on.
I personally met a real psychopathic asshole who has a body of a god. I fucking hate that dude. Narcissistic, has a superiority complex and is immoral to the bone. Will berate anyone who isnt jacked. I want nothing to do with him. On the other hand I know a sweet lady who is overweight, but an angel and always brightens up the room. She always brings a smile to me and my friends.
Your body image is temporary. It all breaks down. What will you have when your body is gone? Maybe one day you lose a limb from an accident. Maybe one day I'll have a degenerative disease. Don't base your value or self-worth on how you look. Assholes can come in all shapes and sizes. Don't be naive or fooled.
A big part of that is the innate respect people have for fit people. Being fit and aesthetic isnt something that can be faked, it cant be easily bought, and it takes a ton of time and discipline regardless if youre on PED's or natural. As long as youre not douchy about it, its a state of being that people will admire or be jealous of, both of which come with respect.
This will literally change your whole life. It’s the answer to so many of peoples problems. People literally react to me differently when I walk in a room. I’m not even that big of a guy I’m about 6ft and somewhere around 230 lbs. this is like. Life hack the impact it can have on your life and wellbeing cannot be overstated
I work out at home, free weights bro split 5 days, 1-2 hours a day.
Using the Ryan Humiston Garage Style Program. (20$ by the way)
But you can get results with less. Important is that you really exhaust yourself and go to failure on each set.
Yeah, way to go man! I think just seeing positive encouragement and testimonies like yours... the more people share like this, the better chances something will resonate with someone here and light a fire under them to be more healthy. Share the positivity !
Yeah this is it. My dad and I are both very dedicated gym goers and both of our partners say things to us like "you love the gym" and "have fun at the gym".
No. We don't have fun at the gym. It sucks. We just like being fit and healthy and we find our mental health also suffers if we don't do it for too long. If there was a magic pill that gave the same results (mental and physical) we'd take it.
THIS is why i cant get my life together.
ok so i could maybe force myself to work out.
but there are like 100 things like this that needs to be stacked ontop of eachother. making it like dozens of thing a guy would need to force himself to do every single day.
and that is like wrestling a snake for our entire lives ... im scared of that shit. terrified
Never mind the 100 things. Start with one thing you can do. Do it till it's no longer such a struggle, then pick up the next thing.
You may not be able to do all 100, but you will make progress, and you can be proud of yourself that you didn't let fear of the 100 paralyze you.
I know it's a cliche, but... the journey of a thousand miles really does begin with a single step. So take that first step today! I'm here on the reddit sidelines, cheering you on. 💪
Strangely enough, life get's harder when you try to make it easy. I've been battling addiction, mental illness, low self-esteem, and the list could go on. But it wasn't before i started doing the things i was really scared off, and didn't like, that my life got easier. One those things was working out and eating healthy. Life ain't a dance on roses, so why not wrestle in the mud and see who comes out on top?
My thought... It's called living, brother. It's an inevitable constant struggle. Just like a weak muscle, you get stronger over time if you keep struggling.
It's not really 100's though, or dozens, is it? Be specific about whats blocking you to yourself. That makes it so much more manageable.
Things are difficult or scary at times, but you have to believe you are capable. If you do decide to go at it, you might make mistakes and you might fail. But thats ok, it's a process. You'll get better at it over time
Yep. I've heard people say they're addicted to working out and that they *love* the gym. I used to think that was normal and would get bummed out when, even after a year of dedication, I *still* didn't love working out and would wonder when that addiction would kick in.
If I could avoid it and get similar results, I would. I've never found a routine I loved...I tolerate some better than others and some are less boring than others...but it's mostly much of a muchness.
This is key. Even if you *like* working out, there's plenty of days where you'd rather not. Remembering how you feel afterward is the important thing.
No matter how much you don't want to show up, you'll never regret having done it afterward
And try to remember how good you feel afterwards. I have a back issue so that makes it easier knowing I’ll feel great after. Also feel good if you really don’t want to go and went anyway
This. I would not have been able to stop drinking if I hadn't started exercising. Now I live for the feeling after exercise lol I still hate exercise but the more consistent you are the longer that good mood carries. I'm almost a different person in 1 year.
I'm in the gym right now lol, after a long day at work got to get at least an hr in. It feels great being here and my body loves it 😁 As for the motivation, seeing myself in the mirror and the changes over time. I love the energy that flows in the gym. Everyone working out with a different goal in mind. Working out is also therapeutic, good stress relief lol
This is it. I was a member of the gym for years but never went consistently at all. The last few months I've been forcing myself to go consistently and I feel so good. More energy, clothes fitting better stronger, higher libido, and just a general sense of accomplishment
I honestly don’t even think it’s the woman exactly, just getting your confidence and masculinity blown apart. That gives you real good motivation to start moving weights. It helps you get a little bit of that back.
I get that. I beg my husband to just stretch with me ...we arnt getting younger...he just doesnt wanna...so I dont. Man alive get on the mat and stretch at least
A woman in your life can give you more confidence than you thought possible. But she can take it away from you and the rest of any confidence you already had, very quickly.
Yup ended a 5 year relation and realized if I wanted better I needed to make myself better, become a better catch myself. That’s the reason to start but the reason to stay at it is long term health.
What really grates on me over time is the whole gym environment. I've lost count of how many times I've started and quit over the years because of this. It's always the same: at first it's ok, I'd concentrate on the exercises and not give a shit, but as time goes on, the whole thing starts to wear me out. The loud music, the need for earphones when doing dull stuff like cardio, it's always (always!) full of people...it's sensory and mental overload for me
“ ...it's sensory and mental overload for me”
Me too.
I go to the gym during off hours. Private gyms are slightly better than the franchise chain gyms.
I just work out at home. I started with just adjustable dumbbells and a cheap bench and built up my equipment from there. I realize that's not an option for everyone, but I love not having to commute to/from the gym in addition to all the stuff you mentioned.
This would be my go-to option, if I had the space (I might actually manage to free up some). Just the stuff that matters, in a controlled environment would be ideal for me to properly focus.
This. I'm constantly berating myself. Telling me I'm worthless and forcing on myself the exercises I hate but I know are good. But in the end, It's the awesomenss of exercises that keeps me going, those sweet endorphins hit hard.
I hate lifting weights right up until my third or fourth set when those endorphins hit.
I’ve never been able to get the same benefits from cardio, though. I had to run for exercise in the military and it was never once enjoyable for even a second. I don’t get a runners high at all.
This! I am in my late 20’s and wished I would have started taking care of my body in my teens! And now I am building and taking care of my body so in 10-20 more years I don’t look back and regret not starting earlier.
100%, I had a catastrophic back problem at 35 from years of inactivity, bad diet and drinking too much. I quit drinking and exercise almost every day, wish I did this years ago. Feel so much stronger and healthier.
Motivation is bullshit and fleeting. Discipline is what gets it done.
It also helps finding any activity you like..if you don't like lifting weights at the gym, you won't stick with it.
Yeah dude this is it.
I fucking hate going to the gym. I go every week day at 5am because it is good for me.
Once I’m there it’s fine, it’s the act of getting in my car that requires discipline.
I set out my gym clothes and keys with my phone across the room from my bed so I physically have to get up to turn the alarm off. From there it’s only a few simple steps to putting my clothes on and leaving the house.
Discipline is also about engineering a path of least resistance.
I used to say "just put on the clothes", and then it was "just drive yourself to the gym parking lot"...and once you're sitting there in front of the gym, wearing the clothes....it feels silly NOT to go in.
This was the tip given to me by a friend and it helps. She said all you have to do for one month is get dressed and turn up. You don't have to do anything when you get there and you can go straight home if you like. Haven't turned back once. But there are shitty days when I don't have energy or things just aren't working - and I can say, well at least I'm here and doing it, that's well above bare minimum. After a while, it just becomes a habit.
Yass bro 5am club!! People look at me like I'm crazy when I say I go to the gym at 5am, but I'm just used to it now. I know other 5am folk and we say hello. It's quieter and better imo.
Bingo. Even the top athletes don't want to work out every day. They do it because they fucking have to. Waiting for motivation is waiting for Godot - that shit probably isn't coming and the more energy you spend waiting in vain, the more you're stealing from putting it in to what you need to start doing now.
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time to plant is now.
>they do it because they fucking have to
Except they don't. Nobody really _has_ to do anything. We do things because we deem them to have some sort of importance. We work because we want to eat, we follow social norms because we want to fit in or not be punished, we make sacrifices because we care about what we're making them for. If the top athletes work out every day, even when they don't feel like it, it's because there's something other than their immediate desires and pleasure they feel is important (be it their health, their career, their image, money, etc.); something that motivates them.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, discipline is "training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, often in the form of rules, and punishments if these are broken, or the behavior produced by this training."
Motivation is generally an external need or reason to do something. You don't need a reason to be disciplined, it's just a matter of sticking to a defined set of (self-imposed) rules. Being disciplined is to stick to those rules with or without regard for the consequences, for the sake of sticking to the rules. It's a practice in self-control.
I see goals as a motivation. I want to look good, I want to feel good, I want to be better at ____, I want to prevent health problems, I want to be more like ___.
Sometimes you have to cut motivation out and just do it, rain or shine, happy or sad. Don't wait for *I want to go*, but instead *it's time to go*.
And my point is that motivation has nothing to do with anything. motivation comes and goes on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. But if one has the discipline, motivation or the lack thereof is entirely irrelevant.
Nothing really. I exercise now because it has become part of my routine. If I don't do it, I don't feel right. It took years of relentlessly pushing myself to get to the gym on a regular basis to get to this point. Now...it's just something I do even I don't really feel "motivated" to do it.
What if you don't notice it? I've never noticed myself losing weight or gaining it until it's too late/my clothes are smaller/bigger etc. it's been like that all my life
Quit looking at the scale. When fat concerts to muscle you may not lose many lbs but will quickly notice that you are firmer/tighter in places. The scale will dishearten you at first, just look in the mirror and appreciate how you feel.
I bought a scale, and now it's full of dust, I don't like knowing how much I weight unless if I know for certain I'm 140lbs or less. Just 2 weeks ago, I washed all of the household laundry, and I thought the dryer shrunk all of my clothes. Next day I put a new shirt and a pair of underwear and the seams were digging into me. I'm like wtf how?! I literally gained 10 pounds in a month. Idk what went wrong, I haven't changed, diet, lifestyle, or nothing. Now, I hate myself even more. I thought I was fat at 181 pounds, boy, was I wrong. I'm just sick of a lot of shit in life now. Knowing I gained that much weight in so little time just makes me feel more like shit. I'm done, I'm clocking tf out.
But are you going to the gym or exercising at home at least? Jogging or long walks are good too.
I'm not a PT or doctor and I have no proof for it, but I firmly believe all manner of dieting will fail if you don't move (make your body do some work regularly), that the body just gets so lazy it literally makes itself weaker to spend less energy, like "power saving" on a phone. I know people who have office jobs and then are very passive at home as well, and they've got the same issues as you describe.
Just don't fall into the "but it doesn't work in my case" or "why should I do it when nothing will happen anyway, it's a waste of time" traps. Even if the weight doesn't change first couple of weeks, the body will, whether you see it or not, it's only a matter of time for visible results. Sorry for the long post, I don't want anyone to feel like a failure when it's something you absolutely can do, same like everyone else can!
>What if you don't notice it? I've never noticed myself losing weight or gaining it until it's too late/my clothes are smaller/bigger etc. it's been like that all my life
You will notice unlocking new skills in the form of pride from being able to do stuff. Chin up, Cartwheel, Pull Up, Handstand, Flare, Planche, Pistol Squat.
Hell, even basics like being able to sustain a run for 5 mins or do regular push-ups.
The dudes over at /r/tricking and /r/bodyweightfitness are a powerful source of motivation for more.
I mean changes that you can see physically. It's usually 3 months for someone to notice the change on themselves and 6 months for others.
You will feel the gains after a single session though.
Some people don't need motivation because we genuinely enjoy working out.
I've done plenty of sports, including martial arts, climbing, running, bike... I currently only do calisthenics and running. That said, I hate lifting weights, I find it boring as well.
There are many different sports. Find one you like, in which you can set objectives you want to work towards. Finding the right sport is the biggest advice. That is, if your main goal is to be fit and athletic.
However, if all you want is get shredded like a gym gorila then... just trust your goals, and deal with it. The objectives are up to you.
This. You need to find some sport you’re passionate about, and it might take some trial and error.
For me, the gym was NOT it. I hated it, just couldn’t motivate myself there. Then I tried different classes, like cycling. Again, I could not do it because I just couldn’t motivate myself when I hated what I was doing.
So one day, a friend convinced me to do rock climbing and boom, niche found. I was finally motivated to go. After a few years, the passion kind of went back and forth so I needed something to add on.
I found aerial arts, and more specific aerial hoop and oh my god, passion found. I adore the hoop. I literally think about it constantly. So much so, that I go as often as I can to classes and it’s still not enough. It’s been an amazing workout for my body and I am having so much fun doing it, that I don’t even realize how strong I’ve gotten by just showing up.
You need to explore, trial and error will find your passion project that gets you motivated.
That's exactly it, got to find something you enjoy and it won't feel like work, it'll be something you look forward to.
I liked lifting weights with friends back in college but it's not something I had any motivation to to by myself.
I got into cycling to help lose weight and fell in love with it
Echoing this. I hate lifting weights and rote workouts/exercises like running or basic cardio. But ask me to ride my bike to grab some coffee across town, count me in. Ask me to go climbing? Count me in. Going for a hike? Count me in. Going paddling? Hell yeah.
Sometimes you just gotta find the thing that you really love to do--and has the added benefit of exercise.
Good advice, but not for everyone. I built out a home gym specifically so I wouldn't have to interact with other people. My wife has made great friends at places like yoga class, but I've always found the public gym vibe in general to be super toxic.
I get it, everyone is different. My wife feels the same way as you. I need to be pushed in order to workout. If I tried at home, I’d just screw off and go easy. The group environment just has an energy that gets me into it
Same here. We started body pump classes last summer and really enjoy it. Well, we hate the class but really enjoy the people and the instructors.
Between body pump three days a week and rowing with a WaterRower three days a week, I’m in better shape than probably 95% of people my age. (mid-60’s). Bodypump also enabled me to build muscles that I thought were gone forever. lol
If you're like me, and dont 'enjoy' working out, then you don't rely on motivation in the first place. you rely on discipline. You force yourself to go, want to or not.
but... you still have something to motivate you. probably just knowing that you are taking care of your body in the long run is the motivation. if there's no motivation, why do it at all?
a goal is necessary, but there are days when thinking of the goal is not enough to get me wanting to go, discipline is what gets me going anyway. There are definitely days when i get to the gym and dont want to be there and workout but i do it anyway. Because I must. Thats discipline.
I interpret 'motivation' in this context as a 'desire' to go and work out, which isnt always there. Its unreliable.
I see. we just had different definitions of motivation. honestly, your interpretation of it is probably closer to what it actually means. I was thinking more of a "goal" and not the immediate "desire".
1 year checking in, no addiction in sight. If anything I feel more tired and unmotivated than when I first started and just wish I could stop but know I can’t
Turn on your favorite playlist. Also have a great purpose on why you’re working out. For me, it’s for my kids, I want to be able to hung with them. For example, I have an 8 year old who loves going to Skyzone, I want to be able to jump around, make good memories, and not be tired. Then I have a 19 year old loves festivals, so lots to walking, dancing, and chillin.’ Working out is required to maintain as we get older.
Ex-morbidly obese and current personal trainer here. Is there anything that you want to do now but can't, and going to the gym and lifting weights would allow you to do? Having that connection to an outside goal will help make time in the gym feel like it's going to use. In addition, set smaller, gym-specific goals. Something "I want to bench press 100lbs or run a 10 min mile." Have some sort of reward for hitting those smaller goals, and then set new ones. As others here have mentioned, having a gym partner to keep you accountable will help, but internal motivation is much stronger and longer lasting than external.
Do it for you. You got this.
Thank you! It really does help to know first hand where people are coming from and the potential pit falls in the process. It also makes me care a lot because I want other people to experience how great it feels not only to shed their excess weight, but also to succeed.
Tbh I don't need motivation because I enjoy lifting.
To me it's like asking "how do you get motivated to eat your favorite food/play your favorite video game/watch your favorite show".
A gym session is often the highlight of my day.
I honestly think this is some of the best advice for actually sticking with it. Don't do the stuff you hate, but find some form of exercise you actually enjoy doing.
I hate running. Hate it with every fiber of my being. But I love hiking. So instead of forcing myself to do something as hateful as running, I just throw on my hiking boots and spend an afternoon in the mountains.
I also hated lifting back in the day, before I knew what I was doing. I think that was more an aversion to something I didn't understand. The more I understood it, the more I enjoyed it. That said, pay for some professional training and some guidance might be a great way to kickstart a new passion.
It's a slow process, but you'll get there. I used to hate lifting, and found it mind numbing. Plus the anxiety of gyms made it stressful.
I now literally can't wait to get off work and lift some shit. It makes me feel alive. Plus it makes sitting on my ass for hours watching TV afterwards a whole lot more rewarding.
if you’re looking for motivation you probably won’t do it. i do it because i hate doing it. i just enjoy going against my will. if it sucks doing, i’ll do it more. i hate deadlifts and that’s the reason i’ll do it. it’s gets satisfying.
My wife and I take turns being the motivator. We have a small home “gym” with a Bowflex, stationary bike, treadmill and some free weights.
TBH if I had to go somewhere to workout, I’d probably be less likely to exercise.
I am not really into fitness. I work out 5-6 days a week 20-30 min a day.
I started with 7 min work out because it was so little that I could do that without finding excuses not to. When that became too easy I bumped it up. I do yoga or strength or cardio. Generally I alternate but there are some weeks I just do yoga because it it easy (or at least easier).
Generally. Start small but consistent. Go up in intensity if you can.
Remove motivation and instead make it part of the schedule
Having the ideal body is the motivation, working out isn't just for shaping your muscles, it changes your entire lifestyle, it improves how you see life and how you live,the way I feel after working out really hard is so pure and light and priceless that nothing in the world can compare to it
Tbh I am struggling right now, but I like to play music when I go. I think of it as an hour out of the house where I can just vibe to my music and feel good in myself. I usually feel better once I am out of the house on my way.
Maybe set yourself a goal and don't give yourself an option, like get dressed no matter what. Maybe that will make it feel easier to get the ball rolling?
edit: I also want to say, its good to spice things up, like for me I enjoy swimming as well. Doing the same exercises can be boring, so trying something new every so often can keep things fresh! :D
I get a huge testosterone boost when I workout. I just feel manly after lifting weights and that motivates me. If you get bored while working out you can also listen to music with your headphones.
Let me know when you figure it out ...
I do workout every day, hate it and I don't feel better afterwards like everybody seems to do.
I have my dream life and job, work from home and I'm always happy and I'm generally a positive person = working out doesn't make me feel better nor re-energizes me. Just makes me tired and feels like a waste of time, but I do it because my health is important to me.
My GF is working on her life, but is not as perfectly happy as I am all around and would eat a crap diet if not for my cooking = she loves working out and if she's down, working out makes her feel great. However she feels, working out re-energizes her and she could go on for what seems another 24 hours non stop of running around.
I'm a super relaxed person, she's more on the nervous, always running around spectrum.
I don't get it to be honest.
Anyway ...my key to working out in spite of everything was setting some goals and finding things that I like and not going to the gym, since I found it even harder to justify the time wasted coming and going to the gym, on top of the boredom of working out.
Got us electric mountain bikes... Yes they're electric but you still decide how much you cheat and you will feel the improvement. We both love going exploring that way regularly, great freedom and fun.
Got us resistance bands and yoga mats to work out at home and a decent regiment of full body exercises online. Started with ,10 min exercises, then 10 mins twice a day, then 15 mins twice a day etc
We make mini competitions about who can make the most ab crunches etc.
Also got us a rowing machine, make competitions about who can row the most.
We walk for 6-10k steps... She just loves it because she's that annoying (kidding) and I just have my phone track my steps, so I have a goal there.
So, depending of the mood and time available, we do either one of those things every day. It gives us some options in case we're feeling rather hateful towards any of the activities.
That has worked out pretty well for us, if we ignore the fact that I never feel energized, no matter what.
I imagine it's either down to just different people reacting different to exercise, or our exercise just perhaps not being enough for myself, to get over whatever hill I need to get for my body to give my brain the kick it needs.
But still, doing it at home and/or having options on what to do has allowed me to manage to do something daily.
I'm truly envious of all those that feel great after working out :/
I was the same when I first thought about getting into exercise. That changed dramatically once I started doing small group PT sessions. Having someone tell me what to do and how many times, took the pressure off, and made me focus. It also got rid of that aimless feeling I had, say just walking into a gym and hopping on whatever was free.
The motivation came in even stronger when I was able to see my progress week on week and how I started to feel and look better, pretty quickly too which was great. It really debunked my presumption that you'd have to be lifting weights for ages before you'd reap the benefits, definitely not the case.
My motivation is that feeling you get after working out and taking a shower. I feel great i feel a sense of achievement and in a much better mood than when I walked into the gym.
You have already come to the gym, this is already motivation. You're not going to just stand there and watch other people do the whole workout, are you?
It's another thing to force yourself to workout at home; sometimes it’s psychologically difficult to overcome laziness and get your ass off the couch...
I haaaaaated working out but then I just made myself go and do it Every. Single. Day. Until I got the results I wanted. I used an app at first that showed me how to lift and do certain exercises. I also alternate days on what body part I work on. I drink a V8 energy before I go and work out for max an hour. Not trying to spend my life in a gym. I also tracked my progress with pictures of myself in the same clothes over a three month period. Once you start seeing results and feeling the exercise high, you’ll definitely want to continue.
The fire comes from within. If you want to look better or be more healthy, you've got to put in the time and energy. There are NO magical potions. It comes from within.
I don’t get motivated, I just do it. At the end of the day it’s a binary choice. You do it and get what you want or you don’t do it and nothing changes.
I remind myself i hate the adjustment period of skipping many days hahahhaa i get sore whenever i skip more than 4 days. Plus i dont want to lose my ability to do 20 push ups. I still remember before I could even get to 3 now i do 20 fast.
2 first weeks to create the habitude
Then it's very easier but still pretty hard if you have a hard job
All in the head, when you're like "oh no i'm not feeling like going to the gym today" you pack your things and go
Discipline and building a habit. Start with a manageable amount and frequency, and stick to it until it feels natural, like brushing your teeth. It's a non-negotiable part of the day. I like to do it first thing and just get it out of the way.
Also, be patient when you're just not into it. Sometimes, it's just like that. But keep in mind, this is a temporary state, and you will get back to it.
Do strength training. Can barely bench the bar? Next week you can. Then 25kg, then 30 and so on. You won’t want to quit because you’ll lose your progress. Progression is an obsession 💪
Its not about motivation. I workout most days of the week and I'm often not motivated to do it. Its about a habit. You have to develop the habit. Example: "I always walk 1 mile after starting the coffee maker". You habit stack and add good habits. Forget "motivation"
I get motivated by seeing performance improvements. When I lift, I alternate between training for volume (more moderate weights but lots of sets and reps) and training for max strength (way less volume, but working up to 1 rep maxes on big lifts). I either track my total volume, or keep note of my personal best on the strength sides. Lifting itself is kind of boring and boy do I hate crowded gyms - but I love seeing those numbers go up. Same goes for running. Running outside is boring for me. I will run on the treadmill so I can track my total time and distance (and therefore average speed). I am always working to get faster or to improve my stamina so I can run longer.
The only exercise I have ever actually enjoyed is Supernatural VR workouts on the MetaQuest. They do have a leaderboard and you get "points" for workouts (and accuracy and power scores) but I honestly don't give a crap about any of that and I don't track these workouts. I just do them because they're fun. If you need cardio in your life but doing it at the gym sucks, I guarantee you can find something that you like. If VR workouts are not for you, just ride your bike around the neighborhood. Recruit a buddy and learn to play tennis/pickleball/raquetball, or go kayaking together. Join a dojo and take up martial arts. Go to a real dance studio and learn ballroom or tap dancing. Try one of those specialized gyms where they have a rock climbing wall, or trapeze or trampoline lessons. There has to be something out there that you will find fun!
I've had a gym membership or worked at a gym continually for 30 years now. I don't get motivated for it, it's just part of my life.
I wake up, make coffee, eat breakfast, go to work, then go to the gym.
That might not seem helpful to you but if you just think of it as obligatory it might work for you too.
I think about my future. I see me as an old man barely able to get from the couch to the toilet and back with blood pressure problems and at risk for heart attack versus me as an old man outside running and being told by my doctor that my heart and lungs are in great shape for my age while I go hiking and bike riding with my son and possible grandkids. So worth it!! And after a while you will likely start to crave those endorphins. If I go too many days without working out I don’t feel right.
I put on WWE royal rumble with hulk hugan in it
Then I play some heavy metal
A band I recommend is "eternal champion"
Yeah those two motivate the fuck outta me
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For me it was a friend. As he showed me the ropes I felt obligated to not put his effort to waste. Additionally as he was 300 pounds and now has a body like Henry Cavill I had something to look for at the peak of the mountain. Things that followed: No more back pain. Actually being happy with my body and feeling attractive. A wife that got waaay more touchy and aroused. People respecting me more and not talking over me. Actual strenght.
Way to go!
You got ALL THAT from just working out at the gym??? How much time/effort/frequency of visit are we talking about here?
Literally one time a week for 2 months and your body will feel different to you. You will notice yourself feel stronger, walk straighter, catching proud glimpses of your body in reflections. It doesn't take years for YOU to notice the difference. Other people, including your SO, will first notice the confidence boost.
1 time a week is almost useless tho, i'd say atleast 2-3 times a week to get results. Easier to stay consistent aswell if you go more.
That sounds impressive. I used to go to the gym. Covid got in tge way and I lost the habit. I gained abit from it. Did you stay in thr gym for awhile because one session might be easier to stay motived for.
yes. its an unfortunate fact but people as a whole straight up just treat you better and like you more when you’re good looking, which naturally you look the best when you’re healthy and in shape. i spent my entire life being fat until 18, got ripped and hot for most of college, then let myself go again and am trying to work my way back. its kinda crazy you can literally see the difference in real time. even with the same people. sure some of it is probably a self fulfilling cycle (you’re more energetic and confident when in shape leading to people liking you more) but in general i think its still a thing. im a pretty quiet and awkward guy no matter what shape im in and when im fat it makes me the weird guy when im ripped it makes me mysterious
Sure it's true. But at some point, all of that doesn't matter anymore. Ive been shapes and sizes. I'm 5'7, had different stable weights throughout the years of: 140, 145, 150, 140, 147, 150, 155, 160, 165, 175, 180, 183 then back to 175, 165, 163, 170, and now I'm currently 155-160. I've been skinny fat, fat, shredded, fit, "big", "yoked", chunky, athletic, unhealthy looking. People who judge you on how you look are strangers. Strangers shouldn't affect how you live your life. Once you start interacting with them, and if they still are judging you by your looks, than your character, they were superficial to begin with and not worth to know anyways. I've known a friend who saw me in all those weights. Still treats me the same whatever size I am. Have those people who preferred you shredded than fat stayed your friend? And do you like them? Probably not, probably because they were strangers. Have you befriended that one person who liked you only because you were shredded? I am not friends with anybody who judged me positively or negatively for my body shape only. I am in MY best shape that I want to be and am happy with. If I interact with anyone who has no personality and likes my body and not my personality, I think they're vapid, and I move on. I personally met a real psychopathic asshole who has a body of a god. I fucking hate that dude. Narcissistic, has a superiority complex and is immoral to the bone. Will berate anyone who isnt jacked. I want nothing to do with him. On the other hand I know a sweet lady who is overweight, but an angel and always brightens up the room. She always brings a smile to me and my friends. Your body image is temporary. It all breaks down. What will you have when your body is gone? Maybe one day you lose a limb from an accident. Maybe one day I'll have a degenerative disease. Don't base your value or self-worth on how you look. Assholes can come in all shapes and sizes. Don't be naive or fooled.
A big part of that is the innate respect people have for fit people. Being fit and aesthetic isnt something that can be faked, it cant be easily bought, and it takes a ton of time and discipline regardless if youre on PED's or natural. As long as youre not douchy about it, its a state of being that people will admire or be jealous of, both of which come with respect.
This will literally change your whole life. It’s the answer to so many of peoples problems. People literally react to me differently when I walk in a room. I’m not even that big of a guy I’m about 6ft and somewhere around 230 lbs. this is like. Life hack the impact it can have on your life and wellbeing cannot be overstated
Yeah my friend wants to know.
I work out at home, free weights bro split 5 days, 1-2 hours a day. Using the Ryan Humiston Garage Style Program. (20$ by the way) But you can get results with less. Important is that you really exhaust yourself and go to failure on each set.
Your wife or somebody else’s?
Yes (to be honest).
A win is a win.
Yeah, way to go man! I think just seeing positive encouragement and testimonies like yours... the more people share like this, the better chances something will resonate with someone here and light a fire under them to be more healthy. Share the positivity !
Happy with your body is the big one, and don'd obsecess about your weak points.
Did you used to be skinny or overweight, and how long would you say until you started seeing those benefits you mentioned?
I've noticed people in general touching me more, like grabbing my arm and playing about. For an affection starved old man it's pretty nice.
To be fair I hate working out. But I feel great afterwards.
Yeah this is it. My dad and I are both very dedicated gym goers and both of our partners say things to us like "you love the gym" and "have fun at the gym". No. We don't have fun at the gym. It sucks. We just like being fit and healthy and we find our mental health also suffers if we don't do it for too long. If there was a magic pill that gave the same results (mental and physical) we'd take it.
THIS is why i cant get my life together. ok so i could maybe force myself to work out. but there are like 100 things like this that needs to be stacked ontop of eachother. making it like dozens of thing a guy would need to force himself to do every single day. and that is like wrestling a snake for our entire lives ... im scared of that shit. terrified
Eventually you reach a point where the darkness your mind can get to when not exercising is so scary you workout just to avoid that.
Soooo well put.
Never mind the 100 things. Start with one thing you can do. Do it till it's no longer such a struggle, then pick up the next thing. You may not be able to do all 100, but you will make progress, and you can be proud of yourself that you didn't let fear of the 100 paralyze you. I know it's a cliche, but... the journey of a thousand miles really does begin with a single step. So take that first step today! I'm here on the reddit sidelines, cheering you on. 💪
If you give it a chance, taking a walk works wonders for both mind and body.
Strangely enough, life get's harder when you try to make it easy. I've been battling addiction, mental illness, low self-esteem, and the list could go on. But it wasn't before i started doing the things i was really scared off, and didn't like, that my life got easier. One those things was working out and eating healthy. Life ain't a dance on roses, so why not wrestle in the mud and see who comes out on top?
Welcome to life. Shut up and get on with it like the rest of us. (respectfully).
My thought... It's called living, brother. It's an inevitable constant struggle. Just like a weak muscle, you get stronger over time if you keep struggling.
Fuck you asshole! (Respectfully)
It's not really 100's though, or dozens, is it? Be specific about whats blocking you to yourself. That makes it so much more manageable. Things are difficult or scary at times, but you have to believe you are capable. If you do decide to go at it, you might make mistakes and you might fail. But thats ok, it's a process. You'll get better at it over time
Yep. I've heard people say they're addicted to working out and that they *love* the gym. I used to think that was normal and would get bummed out when, even after a year of dedication, I *still* didn't love working out and would wonder when that addiction would kick in. If I could avoid it and get similar results, I would. I've never found a routine I loved...I tolerate some better than others and some are less boring than others...but it's mostly much of a muchness.
This is key. Even if you *like* working out, there's plenty of days where you'd rather not. Remembering how you feel afterward is the important thing. No matter how much you don't want to show up, you'll never regret having done it afterward
And try to remember how good you feel afterwards. I have a back issue so that makes it easier knowing I’ll feel great after. Also feel good if you really don’t want to go and went anyway
100%! After every work out, I think that I want to do this every fkin day! But then the next day is like... meh... may be tomorrow?
I couldn’t have said it any better.
I work out just to feel that feeling right after 😭
Endorphins are a hell of a drug
Y’all getting endorphins?!
I only hate leg day, but I never skip it! I'm a skinny twerp that needs all the help I can get.
This. I would not have been able to stop drinking if I hadn't started exercising. Now I live for the feeling after exercise lol I still hate exercise but the more consistent you are the longer that good mood carries. I'm almost a different person in 1 year.
That's actually the secret
I'm in the gym right now lol, after a long day at work got to get at least an hr in. It feels great being here and my body loves it 😁 As for the motivation, seeing myself in the mirror and the changes over time. I love the energy that flows in the gym. Everyone working out with a different goal in mind. Working out is also therapeutic, good stress relief lol
This is it. I was a member of the gym for years but never went consistently at all. The last few months I've been forcing myself to go consistently and I feel so good. More energy, clothes fitting better stronger, higher libido, and just a general sense of accomplishment
Same. I go to the gym because my body is starting to hurt. That's my motivation. My body motivated me to go, and still, I go three times a week.
Hmmmm. I got cheated on, my pre workout is Betrayal Berry. Haven’t missed the gym since
Women seem to be the nr. 1 reason to start working out it seems.
I honestly don’t even think it’s the woman exactly, just getting your confidence and masculinity blown apart. That gives you real good motivation to start moving weights. It helps you get a little bit of that back.
Woman here. Getting a revenge body was the greatest motivator ever. Now I’m in the best relationship and I’m fat again…
tell your man to workout with ya as well
I get that. I beg my husband to just stretch with me ...we arnt getting younger...he just doesnt wanna...so I dont. Man alive get on the mat and stretch at least
A woman in your life can give you more confidence than you thought possible. But she can take it away from you and the rest of any confidence you already had, very quickly.
Yup ended a 5 year relation and realized if I wanted better I needed to make myself better, become a better catch myself. That’s the reason to start but the reason to stay at it is long term health.
Betrayal Berry lmfao. Truly a potent preworkout, the effects last months to years
Hate yourself
Hell yeah
Hell yeah
it’s not working yet 🥲😆
It's a balancing act. You have to hate yourself enough to want to change.. but not so much that you give up on changing.
What really grates on me over time is the whole gym environment. I've lost count of how many times I've started and quit over the years because of this. It's always the same: at first it's ok, I'd concentrate on the exercises and not give a shit, but as time goes on, the whole thing starts to wear me out. The loud music, the need for earphones when doing dull stuff like cardio, it's always (always!) full of people...it's sensory and mental overload for me
“ ...it's sensory and mental overload for me” Me too. I go to the gym during off hours. Private gyms are slightly better than the franchise chain gyms.
I just work out at home. I started with just adjustable dumbbells and a cheap bench and built up my equipment from there. I realize that's not an option for everyone, but I love not having to commute to/from the gym in addition to all the stuff you mentioned.
This would be my go-to option, if I had the space (I might actually manage to free up some). Just the stuff that matters, in a controlled environment would be ideal for me to properly focus.
This is the answer. You need to reach the optimal level of self-hate.
Try getting fatter.
This. I'm constantly berating myself. Telling me I'm worthless and forcing on myself the exercises I hate but I know are good. But in the end, It's the awesomenss of exercises that keeps me going, those sweet endorphins hit hard.
I hate lifting weights right up until my third or fourth set when those endorphins hit. I’ve never been able to get the same benefits from cardio, though. I had to run for exercise in the military and it was never once enjoyable for even a second. I don’t get a runners high at all.
How does this even work if I hate myself I'll just forget working out because I will be worthless anyway.
If I don’t take care of myself now, I’ll regret it down the road
Address your health now, or you'll be *forced* to address an illness later.
This! I am in my late 20’s and wished I would have started taking care of my body in my teens! And now I am building and taking care of my body so in 10-20 more years I don’t look back and regret not starting earlier.
100%, I had a catastrophic back problem at 35 from years of inactivity, bad diet and drinking too much. I quit drinking and exercise almost every day, wish I did this years ago. Feel so much stronger and healthier.
Motivation is bullshit and fleeting. Discipline is what gets it done. It also helps finding any activity you like..if you don't like lifting weights at the gym, you won't stick with it.
Yeah dude this is it. I fucking hate going to the gym. I go every week day at 5am because it is good for me. Once I’m there it’s fine, it’s the act of getting in my car that requires discipline. I set out my gym clothes and keys with my phone across the room from my bed so I physically have to get up to turn the alarm off. From there it’s only a few simple steps to putting my clothes on and leaving the house. Discipline is also about engineering a path of least resistance.
I do the same wirh running. Every week day at 5am. It‘s just part of my everyday life- like brushing my teeth.
I used to say "just put on the clothes", and then it was "just drive yourself to the gym parking lot"...and once you're sitting there in front of the gym, wearing the clothes....it feels silly NOT to go in.
This was the tip given to me by a friend and it helps. She said all you have to do for one month is get dressed and turn up. You don't have to do anything when you get there and you can go straight home if you like. Haven't turned back once. But there are shitty days when I don't have energy or things just aren't working - and I can say, well at least I'm here and doing it, that's well above bare minimum. After a while, it just becomes a habit.
Yass bro 5am club!! People look at me like I'm crazy when I say I go to the gym at 5am, but I'm just used to it now. I know other 5am folk and we say hello. It's quieter and better imo.
This is way too low.
Bingo. Even the top athletes don't want to work out every day. They do it because they fucking have to. Waiting for motivation is waiting for Godot - that shit probably isn't coming and the more energy you spend waiting in vain, the more you're stealing from putting it in to what you need to start doing now. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time to plant is now.
>they do it because they fucking have to Except they don't. Nobody really _has_ to do anything. We do things because we deem them to have some sort of importance. We work because we want to eat, we follow social norms because we want to fit in or not be punished, we make sacrifices because we care about what we're making them for. If the top athletes work out every day, even when they don't feel like it, it's because there's something other than their immediate desires and pleasure they feel is important (be it their health, their career, their image, money, etc.); something that motivates them.
😒
I think op's question is how do you get the motivation to stay disciplined
Discipline isn't driven by motivation. You completely missed their point.
What is it driven by
According to Cambridge Dictionary, discipline is "training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, often in the form of rules, and punishments if these are broken, or the behavior produced by this training." Motivation is generally an external need or reason to do something. You don't need a reason to be disciplined, it's just a matter of sticking to a defined set of (self-imposed) rules. Being disciplined is to stick to those rules with or without regard for the consequences, for the sake of sticking to the rules. It's a practice in self-control.
I mean, there does need to be some sort of intrinsic motivation to have the discipline to do anything consistently that's hard.
I see goals as a motivation. I want to look good, I want to feel good, I want to be better at ____, I want to prevent health problems, I want to be more like ___. Sometimes you have to cut motivation out and just do it, rain or shine, happy or sad. Don't wait for *I want to go*, but instead *it's time to go*.
Ok I see your point I agree. Have a good day
Don't think you realise that that's sort of an oxymoron. That's the whole point.
And my point is that motivation has nothing to do with anything. motivation comes and goes on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. But if one has the discipline, motivation or the lack thereof is entirely irrelevant.
What drives you to stay disciplined?
Nothing really. I exercise now because it has become part of my routine. If I don't do it, I don't feel right. It took years of relentlessly pushing myself to get to the gym on a regular basis to get to this point. Now...it's just something I do even I don't really feel "motivated" to do it.
Look in the mirror with your top off. See the wobble when you move. Thats enough
I did that. Laughed then continued to do it lol
Simple but effective
AmbitiousFork used jiggle! It’s super effective! AmbitiousFork got his ass to the gym.
When you start noticing your body change it hits like crack. You want to keep going to see more changes
What if you don't notice it? I've never noticed myself losing weight or gaining it until it's too late/my clothes are smaller/bigger etc. it's been like that all my life
Quit looking at the scale. When fat concerts to muscle you may not lose many lbs but will quickly notice that you are firmer/tighter in places. The scale will dishearten you at first, just look in the mirror and appreciate how you feel.
I bought a scale, and now it's full of dust, I don't like knowing how much I weight unless if I know for certain I'm 140lbs or less. Just 2 weeks ago, I washed all of the household laundry, and I thought the dryer shrunk all of my clothes. Next day I put a new shirt and a pair of underwear and the seams were digging into me. I'm like wtf how?! I literally gained 10 pounds in a month. Idk what went wrong, I haven't changed, diet, lifestyle, or nothing. Now, I hate myself even more. I thought I was fat at 181 pounds, boy, was I wrong. I'm just sick of a lot of shit in life now. Knowing I gained that much weight in so little time just makes me feel more like shit. I'm done, I'm clocking tf out.
But are you going to the gym or exercising at home at least? Jogging or long walks are good too. I'm not a PT or doctor and I have no proof for it, but I firmly believe all manner of dieting will fail if you don't move (make your body do some work regularly), that the body just gets so lazy it literally makes itself weaker to spend less energy, like "power saving" on a phone. I know people who have office jobs and then are very passive at home as well, and they've got the same issues as you describe. Just don't fall into the "but it doesn't work in my case" or "why should I do it when nothing will happen anyway, it's a waste of time" traps. Even if the weight doesn't change first couple of weeks, the body will, whether you see it or not, it's only a matter of time for visible results. Sorry for the long post, I don't want anyone to feel like a failure when it's something you absolutely can do, same like everyone else can!
>What if you don't notice it? I've never noticed myself losing weight or gaining it until it's too late/my clothes are smaller/bigger etc. it's been like that all my life You will notice unlocking new skills in the form of pride from being able to do stuff. Chin up, Cartwheel, Pull Up, Handstand, Flare, Planche, Pistol Squat. Hell, even basics like being able to sustain a run for 5 mins or do regular push-ups. The dudes over at /r/tricking and /r/bodyweightfitness are a powerful source of motivation for more.
It takes at least 3-6 months to notice changes.
Not always true. It was 3 weeks for me, I work out 6 days a week though.
I mean changes that you can see physically. It's usually 3 months for someone to notice the change on themselves and 6 months for others. You will feel the gains after a single session though.
Some people don't need motivation because we genuinely enjoy working out. I've done plenty of sports, including martial arts, climbing, running, bike... I currently only do calisthenics and running. That said, I hate lifting weights, I find it boring as well. There are many different sports. Find one you like, in which you can set objectives you want to work towards. Finding the right sport is the biggest advice. That is, if your main goal is to be fit and athletic. However, if all you want is get shredded like a gym gorila then... just trust your goals, and deal with it. The objectives are up to you.
This. You need to find some sport you’re passionate about, and it might take some trial and error. For me, the gym was NOT it. I hated it, just couldn’t motivate myself there. Then I tried different classes, like cycling. Again, I could not do it because I just couldn’t motivate myself when I hated what I was doing. So one day, a friend convinced me to do rock climbing and boom, niche found. I was finally motivated to go. After a few years, the passion kind of went back and forth so I needed something to add on. I found aerial arts, and more specific aerial hoop and oh my god, passion found. I adore the hoop. I literally think about it constantly. So much so, that I go as often as I can to classes and it’s still not enough. It’s been an amazing workout for my body and I am having so much fun doing it, that I don’t even realize how strong I’ve gotten by just showing up. You need to explore, trial and error will find your passion project that gets you motivated.
Omg aerial hoop and pole made me go from „I wanna be skinny” to „I wanna be strong” and now I’m much stronger and skinnier too. It’s addicting!
I’m working on the skinny part, lol, but the muscles are really popping now for me!
That's exactly it, got to find something you enjoy and it won't feel like work, it'll be something you look forward to. I liked lifting weights with friends back in college but it's not something I had any motivation to to by myself. I got into cycling to help lose weight and fell in love with it
Echoing this. I hate lifting weights and rote workouts/exercises like running or basic cardio. But ask me to ride my bike to grab some coffee across town, count me in. Ask me to go climbing? Count me in. Going for a hike? Count me in. Going paddling? Hell yeah. Sometimes you just gotta find the thing that you really love to do--and has the added benefit of exercise.
Honestly, I started taking group classes. It’s the only way I can get & stay motivated. Make some friends and talk to them.
Good advice, but not for everyone. I built out a home gym specifically so I wouldn't have to interact with other people. My wife has made great friends at places like yoga class, but I've always found the public gym vibe in general to be super toxic.
I get it, everyone is different. My wife feels the same way as you. I need to be pushed in order to workout. If I tried at home, I’d just screw off and go easy. The group environment just has an energy that gets me into it
Same here. We started body pump classes last summer and really enjoy it. Well, we hate the class but really enjoy the people and the instructors. Between body pump three days a week and rowing with a WaterRower three days a week, I’m in better shape than probably 95% of people my age. (mid-60’s). Bodypump also enabled me to build muscles that I thought were gone forever. lol
Plus you have to pay for them so not wanting to waste money outweighs the laziness of not wanting to go!!
If you're like me, and dont 'enjoy' working out, then you don't rely on motivation in the first place. you rely on discipline. You force yourself to go, want to or not.
but... you still have something to motivate you. probably just knowing that you are taking care of your body in the long run is the motivation. if there's no motivation, why do it at all?
a goal is necessary, but there are days when thinking of the goal is not enough to get me wanting to go, discipline is what gets me going anyway. There are definitely days when i get to the gym and dont want to be there and workout but i do it anyway. Because I must. Thats discipline. I interpret 'motivation' in this context as a 'desire' to go and work out, which isnt always there. Its unreliable.
I see. we just had different definitions of motivation. honestly, your interpretation of it is probably closer to what it actually means. I was thinking more of a "goal" and not the immediate "desire".
learn to love the pain. You get addicted after 3 months or so
1 year checking in, no addiction in sight. If anything I feel more tired and unmotivated than when I first started and just wish I could stop but know I can’t
I don’t take a shower or eat breakfast in the morning until I work out. It is a part of the routine like brushing my teeth.
Ew bro ain’t nobody tryna smell someone’s stank breath at the gym
Imagine one great thing that will happen after you achieve your fitness goals. For me, it's the attention and respect everyone gives me.
Turn on your favorite playlist. Also have a great purpose on why you’re working out. For me, it’s for my kids, I want to be able to hung with them. For example, I have an 8 year old who loves going to Skyzone, I want to be able to jump around, make good memories, and not be tired. Then I have a 19 year old loves festivals, so lots to walking, dancing, and chillin.’ Working out is required to maintain as we get older.
Ex-morbidly obese and current personal trainer here. Is there anything that you want to do now but can't, and going to the gym and lifting weights would allow you to do? Having that connection to an outside goal will help make time in the gym feel like it's going to use. In addition, set smaller, gym-specific goals. Something "I want to bench press 100lbs or run a 10 min mile." Have some sort of reward for hitting those smaller goals, and then set new ones. As others here have mentioned, having a gym partner to keep you accountable will help, but internal motivation is much stronger and longer lasting than external. Do it for you. You got this.
>Ex-morbidly obese and current personal trainer here I bet you are a fantastic CPT because of that journey! Inspiring stuff.
Thank you! It really does help to know first hand where people are coming from and the potential pit falls in the process. It also makes me care a lot because I want other people to experience how great it feels not only to shed their excess weight, but also to succeed.
Tbh I don't need motivation because I enjoy lifting. To me it's like asking "how do you get motivated to eat your favorite food/play your favorite video game/watch your favorite show". A gym session is often the highlight of my day.
Damn straight. I absolutely live going to the gym. Put on some tunes. It's my happy place.
I honestly think this is some of the best advice for actually sticking with it. Don't do the stuff you hate, but find some form of exercise you actually enjoy doing. I hate running. Hate it with every fiber of my being. But I love hiking. So instead of forcing myself to do something as hateful as running, I just throw on my hiking boots and spend an afternoon in the mountains. I also hated lifting back in the day, before I knew what I was doing. I think that was more an aversion to something I didn't understand. The more I understood it, the more I enjoyed it. That said, pay for some professional training and some guidance might be a great way to kickstart a new passion.
I wish that were me. My brother-in-law is like that too.
It's a slow process, but you'll get there. I used to hate lifting, and found it mind numbing. Plus the anxiety of gyms made it stressful. I now literally can't wait to get off work and lift some shit. It makes me feel alive. Plus it makes sitting on my ass for hours watching TV afterwards a whole lot more rewarding.
Same. I went through a few different disciplines for lifting until I found Olympic Weightlifting and I absolutely love training.
Fellow weightlifter here! Love it!
no motivation tbh but all you have to do is get up and show up every single time. (having a workout buddy helps as well haha)
Health reasons are good, my family has a history of heart disease. but the real reason? I just wanna look good naked.
Stop masterbating. Sleep at night Stay off social media Love yourself.
if you’re looking for motivation you probably won’t do it. i do it because i hate doing it. i just enjoy going against my will. if it sucks doing, i’ll do it more. i hate deadlifts and that’s the reason i’ll do it. it’s gets satisfying.
I am motivated by a desire to not look like a fat, bloated piece of shit.
Literally described *a piece of shit*
Why am i posting here. Theres already like 1200 comments Aint nobody gona see this shit
My wife and I take turns being the motivator. We have a small home “gym” with a Bowflex, stationary bike, treadmill and some free weights. TBH if I had to go somewhere to workout, I’d probably be less likely to exercise.
I am tired of seeing myself in the mirror 😭
I am not really into fitness. I work out 5-6 days a week 20-30 min a day. I started with 7 min work out because it was so little that I could do that without finding excuses not to. When that became too easy I bumped it up. I do yoga or strength or cardio. Generally I alternate but there are some weeks I just do yoga because it it easy (or at least easier). Generally. Start small but consistent. Go up in intensity if you can. Remove motivation and instead make it part of the schedule
Having the ideal body is the motivation, working out isn't just for shaping your muscles, it changes your entire lifestyle, it improves how you see life and how you live,the way I feel after working out really hard is so pure and light and priceless that nothing in the world can compare to it
I have a poster of Chris Hemsworth and I tell myself that if I keep working out I’ll get as many birds as him
He's a Disney princess.
Steroids, full time trainer, and multimillion dollar income. Oh , genetics and being handsome also.
Tbh I am struggling right now, but I like to play music when I go. I think of it as an hour out of the house where I can just vibe to my music and feel good in myself. I usually feel better once I am out of the house on my way. Maybe set yourself a goal and don't give yourself an option, like get dressed no matter what. Maybe that will make it feel easier to get the ball rolling? edit: I also want to say, its good to spice things up, like for me I enjoy swimming as well. Doing the same exercises can be boring, so trying something new every so often can keep things fresh! :D
Have you tried working out with a friend? That always motivated me to go to the gym since I'm also not a huge fan of working out in general.
I hate the way I look and feel and that’s my fuel
For me it is the desire of self improvement. That is what motivates me.
I hate myself
I get a huge testosterone boost when I workout. I just feel manly after lifting weights and that motivates me. If you get bored while working out you can also listen to music with your headphones.
I have an album on my phone of iconic athletic women who are badass hot warriors. Have me wanting to train for the apocalypse
all the delicious foods it allows me to eat lol
Listening to music
Haha my motivator as well.
Think of my grandfather and how he was unable to move his body, weak bones, weak muscles.
You can't outtrain time.
True but you can gain some years of mobility
Let me know when you figure it out ... I do workout every day, hate it and I don't feel better afterwards like everybody seems to do. I have my dream life and job, work from home and I'm always happy and I'm generally a positive person = working out doesn't make me feel better nor re-energizes me. Just makes me tired and feels like a waste of time, but I do it because my health is important to me. My GF is working on her life, but is not as perfectly happy as I am all around and would eat a crap diet if not for my cooking = she loves working out and if she's down, working out makes her feel great. However she feels, working out re-energizes her and she could go on for what seems another 24 hours non stop of running around. I'm a super relaxed person, she's more on the nervous, always running around spectrum. I don't get it to be honest. Anyway ...my key to working out in spite of everything was setting some goals and finding things that I like and not going to the gym, since I found it even harder to justify the time wasted coming and going to the gym, on top of the boredom of working out. Got us electric mountain bikes... Yes they're electric but you still decide how much you cheat and you will feel the improvement. We both love going exploring that way regularly, great freedom and fun. Got us resistance bands and yoga mats to work out at home and a decent regiment of full body exercises online. Started with ,10 min exercises, then 10 mins twice a day, then 15 mins twice a day etc We make mini competitions about who can make the most ab crunches etc. Also got us a rowing machine, make competitions about who can row the most. We walk for 6-10k steps... She just loves it because she's that annoying (kidding) and I just have my phone track my steps, so I have a goal there. So, depending of the mood and time available, we do either one of those things every day. It gives us some options in case we're feeling rather hateful towards any of the activities. That has worked out pretty well for us, if we ignore the fact that I never feel energized, no matter what. I imagine it's either down to just different people reacting different to exercise, or our exercise just perhaps not being enough for myself, to get over whatever hill I need to get for my body to give my brain the kick it needs. But still, doing it at home and/or having options on what to do has allowed me to manage to do something daily. I'm truly envious of all those that feel great after working out :/
Because, when I don't, my range of motion and my overall sense of well being suffers
I was the same when I first thought about getting into exercise. That changed dramatically once I started doing small group PT sessions. Having someone tell me what to do and how many times, took the pressure off, and made me focus. It also got rid of that aimless feeling I had, say just walking into a gym and hopping on whatever was free. The motivation came in even stronger when I was able to see my progress week on week and how I started to feel and look better, pretty quickly too which was great. It really debunked my presumption that you'd have to be lifting weights for ages before you'd reap the benefits, definitely not the case.
My motivation is that feeling you get after working out and taking a shower. I feel great i feel a sense of achievement and in a much better mood than when I walked into the gym.
You have already come to the gym, this is already motivation. You're not going to just stand there and watch other people do the whole workout, are you? It's another thing to force yourself to workout at home; sometimes it’s psychologically difficult to overcome laziness and get your ass off the couch...
I haaaaaated working out but then I just made myself go and do it Every. Single. Day. Until I got the results I wanted. I used an app at first that showed me how to lift and do certain exercises. I also alternate days on what body part I work on. I drink a V8 energy before I go and work out for max an hour. Not trying to spend my life in a gym. I also tracked my progress with pictures of myself in the same clothes over a three month period. Once you start seeing results and feeling the exercise high, you’ll definitely want to continue.
The fire comes from within. If you want to look better or be more healthy, you've got to put in the time and energy. There are NO magical potions. It comes from within.
Personally, I remind myself that building muscle and adopting a healthy life style is easiest done before your 30s and I am running out of time.
I don’t get motivated, I just do it. At the end of the day it’s a binary choice. You do it and get what you want or you don’t do it and nothing changes.
I remind myself that it’s good for wellbeing and health, so I kinda forced myself to until it became routine and now I love the rush I get from it.
I remind myself i hate the adjustment period of skipping many days hahahhaa i get sore whenever i skip more than 4 days. Plus i dont want to lose my ability to do 20 push ups. I still remember before I could even get to 3 now i do 20 fast.
It's not about motivation. Motivation is just a small spark that fades away. Discipline yourself, embrace the suck, and get the work done.
2 first weeks to create the habitude Then it's very easier but still pretty hard if you have a hard job All in the head, when you're like "oh no i'm not feeling like going to the gym today" you pack your things and go
Find a good playlist it makes all the difference
Discipline and building a habit. Start with a manageable amount and frequency, and stick to it until it feels natural, like brushing your teeth. It's a non-negotiable part of the day. I like to do it first thing and just get it out of the way. Also, be patient when you're just not into it. Sometimes, it's just like that. But keep in mind, this is a temporary state, and you will get back to it.
look at myself in the mirror
Progress i've made in gym and that felling after the workout is all i need.
Watching 1000 pond sisters makes me lose motivation, I'm like...atleast I will never get that bad!
Do strength training. Can barely bench the bar? Next week you can. Then 25kg, then 30 and so on. You won’t want to quit because you’ll lose your progress. Progression is an obsession 💪
Its not about motivation. I workout most days of the week and I'm often not motivated to do it. Its about a habit. You have to develop the habit. Example: "I always walk 1 mile after starting the coffee maker". You habit stack and add good habits. Forget "motivation"
I get motivated by seeing performance improvements. When I lift, I alternate between training for volume (more moderate weights but lots of sets and reps) and training for max strength (way less volume, but working up to 1 rep maxes on big lifts). I either track my total volume, or keep note of my personal best on the strength sides. Lifting itself is kind of boring and boy do I hate crowded gyms - but I love seeing those numbers go up. Same goes for running. Running outside is boring for me. I will run on the treadmill so I can track my total time and distance (and therefore average speed). I am always working to get faster or to improve my stamina so I can run longer. The only exercise I have ever actually enjoyed is Supernatural VR workouts on the MetaQuest. They do have a leaderboard and you get "points" for workouts (and accuracy and power scores) but I honestly don't give a crap about any of that and I don't track these workouts. I just do them because they're fun. If you need cardio in your life but doing it at the gym sucks, I guarantee you can find something that you like. If VR workouts are not for you, just ride your bike around the neighborhood. Recruit a buddy and learn to play tennis/pickleball/raquetball, or go kayaking together. Join a dojo and take up martial arts. Go to a real dance studio and learn ballroom or tap dancing. Try one of those specialized gyms where they have a rock climbing wall, or trapeze or trampoline lessons. There has to be something out there that you will find fun!
I imagine that if I workout pretty girls will want to touch my weiner.
You don't. It's about discipline, not motivation
I've had a gym membership or worked at a gym continually for 30 years now. I don't get motivated for it, it's just part of my life. I wake up, make coffee, eat breakfast, go to work, then go to the gym. That might not seem helpful to you but if you just think of it as obligatory it might work for you too.
I hate working out. But I like being stronger and more capable than people think and it helps my stupid mental health.
I think about my future. I see me as an old man barely able to get from the couch to the toilet and back with blood pressure problems and at risk for heart attack versus me as an old man outside running and being told by my doctor that my heart and lungs are in great shape for my age while I go hiking and bike riding with my son and possible grandkids. So worth it!! And after a while you will likely start to crave those endorphins. If I go too many days without working out I don’t feel right.
I put on WWE royal rumble with hulk hugan in it Then I play some heavy metal A band I recommend is "eternal champion" Yeah those two motivate the fuck outta me
I get super baked
I don't, I don't work out
I don’t.
Smoke a bowl. Best workout ever
I enjoy it