| MiaPia377
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| I'm into phase two now of this diet and I've been working out right along but i absolutely HATE it. I know that so many people find it relaxing and enjoyable, but for some reason I jut can not stand going to the gym or just working out. I haven't gotten myself motivated to even go for a walk outside yet today! What should I do to get motivated or like make me like to exercise? Is that even possible? |
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Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:59 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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I know that everything written about keeping yourself motivated for exercise says stupid things like, "Choose an activity you enjoy." Well of course, if there were an activity I enjoyed, I would already be doing it!
Anyway, I have never particularly cared to exercise either so I motivate myself by thinking of all the things I can do when I'm fit and thin. Like I can wear cute clothes, go for hikes with my husband (and he won't have to worry that I will die on the trail), garden all day long with no sore muscles, etc. On the days when that fails, I just do it through sheer determination and force of will!
However I will say that I am enjoying it more. When you first start out, you get so hot and sweaty, since your untrained body is working so inefficiently; your cooling system is rusty, your feet hurt, maybe your knees ache, progress is so slow; all these things just combine to suck the motivation right out of you. But once you get past a certain point, it does start to get better. I have been exercising since January 1 and a lot of the aches and pains have gone away, I don't get so hot (because I actually get sweatier - oh, well), I can finally see some improvement AND my body adapts to new demands faster than before.
There's no magic formula that someone else can give you to keep motivated. You just have to determine to stick with it no matter what and then follow through. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:22 am |
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| pookiebear
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Quote: What should I do to get motivated or like make me like to exercise? Is that even possible?
My DH hates to exercise. We bought a Wii. I don't suggest that... ;)
Do you like any sports? Or is there a class you might like taking? (Dance, Pilates, Yoga) Maybe you should start working out at home? I do and it's more convenient for me. Maybe you could get a couple DVD's to do at home?
As far as walking outside, can you walk with a friend? With an mp3 player? A dog?
Honestly, some people don't like to exercise. They just don't. So, you don't have to "make" yourself like it... instead, realize that it's a necessary part of being healthy and a significant key in losing weight. So maybe tell yourself as you start out, "Self. I know you don't like this. But we're going to do this anyway. Not because I like it, but because it's good for me." Maybe as you take small steps, venture out and experiment in different forms of exercise, you might find some that you actually do like. :)
Good luck! |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:24 am |
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| ladybugnessa
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as soon as i find a way to motivate myself i'll let you know.
i even belong to a gym! i rarely go... i can always find an excuse.
i have two big dogs. i spent 3k to build a fence so i don't have to walk them..... i hate moving. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:28 am |
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| mom41
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I've just started to exercise again in the past two weeks.
I STILL hate it! :x
I stayed away from the gym soooo long that they had replaced all the equipment with new stuff. I had to be set up again all over again on the circuit. Although, I was initially motivated again by the new machines, I still hate actually going after work. Especially when I'm so tired from the commute home. I also hate the actual doing of the exercises themselves. after the first set of reps, I just want to stop there, and just go home....Fortunately, I don't, with the consolation that I have a whole day in between before I have to come back to the gym! :)
I have yet to feel the rush, or feeling some people get from exercise.
Even so, I plan to keep exercising. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:30 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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All I can say is, keep at it. The rewards will be huge. I tell myself this everyday and it's starting to work, I don't dread working out so much any more.
I'm fortunate in that I have a lot of equipment at home and I work from home so I can fit my exercise in whenever.
The one piece of advice I do have is, don't overdo it at the beginning or work out so hard that you hurt or are so uncomfortable that you never want to go again. That is the one thing I have done differently this time than any other time I tried to get into exercise. I really mean it! Go so slowly that it's embarrassing; accept that it will take time to make progress. Anything is better than quitting and the last thing you want to do is to exercise in any way that discourages you from going back.
As I said, I have exercised almost everday (I missed 3 days with the flu and one other day when I ran out of day before I ran out of things to do) since January 1st. That is about 4 weeks longer than I have ever stuck with it before and I am seeing results like actual muscles!
Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can, so keep going! |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:57 am |
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| PapaBanucci
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I suppose I "exercise" consistently 6 days a week.
But one or two of the days are "get to" days instead of "have to."
This weekend I had two "get to" days! Saturday I went skiing with two of the kids. Sunday it was gorgeous out and the whole family went for a bike ride (after my nap :D ). Six year old even pedaled 5 miles.
I think some people do exclusively "get to" exercises - walking the dog, something with the family, something with the SO, etc. How is that sort of thing not fun? |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:34 am |
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| ct_indi
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maltby_gardner wrote: I know that everything written about keeping yourself motivated for exercise says stupid things like, "Choose an activity you enjoy." Well of course, if there were an activity I enjoyed, I would already be doing it!
Anyway, I have never particularly cared to exercise either so I motivate myself by thinking of all the things I can do when I'm fit and thin. Like I can wear cute clothes, go for hikes with my husband (and he won't have to worry that I will die on the trail), garden all day long with no sore muscles, etc. On the days when that fails, I just do it through sheer determination and force of will!
However I will say that I am enjoying it more. When you first start out, you get so hot and sweaty, since your untrained body is working so inefficiently; your cooling system is rusty, your feet hurt, maybe your knees ache, progress is so slow; all these things just combine to suck the motivation right out of you. But once you get past a certain point, it does start to get better. I have been exercising since January 1 and a lot of the aches and pains have gone away, I don't get so hot (because I actually get sweatier - oh, well), I can finally see some improvement AND my body adapts to new demands faster than before.
There's no magic formula that someone else can give you to keep motivated. You just have to determine to stick with it no matter what and then follow through.
That's a big chunk of truth there Paula!!!
However, I just bought the Dance Dance Revolution "Dance Factory" for playstation 2. My niece has been wanting to try it and my nephew used to do it with his girlfriend. Dance Factory allows you to use any music CD and as I'm 50 I'll be doing some slow new agey music to start. Now all we have to do is get the playstation. lol :roll:
Here's an article on that.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-05-23-video-health_x.htm |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:14 pm |
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| arw80
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I really don't like it either. I have equipment at home(which I'm about to sell), but there were too many excuses and "other" things to do. So I joined a gym and I've gone almost every day since joining. Some days I stay for 30 minutes, other days I'm there almost 2 hours. The gym membership fees are unfortunately my only motivator some days! Sad, but true.
I sometimes feel great and invigorated after working out and other days I'm counting the minutes until I'm done so I can leave. I don't think I'll ever love it, but I'm starting to appreciate what it does and can do for me at least. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:50 pm |
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| oldpjams
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I don't really like working. I mean it's fine, but there are a lot of things I could do with an extra 40 hours a week.
Exercise is the same, ATMO. It's part of life and you're fooling yourself if you think you don't have to move to live. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:29 pm |
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| RaeRae
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I HATE HATE HATE working out too. It's really hard to find the time, motivation etc etc. I fall into the trap of "well if I skip dinner, I won't need to work it off". Not good, I know.
I finally did get an elliptical trainer and set it up in the house. Then I put my old junky laptop on a dresser in front of it and bought 24s Season One. Nothing like a little Keifer to get you moving. I've gone through all of the seasons now and can't wait for the next one to come out on DVD. When I realized it would be a few more months before I could get more Keifer, I switched to The Sheild. Now I look forward to 45 minutes with Vic and the boys from the barn.
Once I run through those, I think I have to move to The Wire. Although that's a whole hour show...
Anyway, I found that the disctraction of a high energy TV show, with building plot lines and tasty men yelling "there's no TIME", that keeps me heading back 4 or 5 days a week.
On days when I'm really tired ad not feeling like it, I just say - OK, I'll just go at a walking pace. I won't worry about getting up to speed. Eventually though, I get so wrapped up in the show, I tend to go faster than I planned.
I know it's not focused exercise, but it works for me. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:49 pm |
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| PapaBanucci
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RR, that's an innovative solution. I too have a TV in front of the treadmill.
The average American now watches 4 hours and 35 minutes of television a day.
Three minutes more than what the average male American marathon finisher takes to run 26.2 miles. |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:27 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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Wow, that's more TV than I watch in a month!
I don't watch TV while I'm working out, but I am sure appreciating the Zune I got for Christmas. What's funny is how I've learned which songs are in synch with my pace at a given speed! |
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:35 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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I've been thinking about this. One thing you all might find helpfult is to stop verbalizing your dislike of exercise.
I speak as one who has been where you are now and is making my own painful journey towards fitness. I know it sounds hokey when you talk about things like positive thinking and positive self-talk, but people continue to say them because they're true. You really can change your attitudes by carefully censoring the things you allow yourself to say and think about a particular topic.
It's worth it to make this change in thinking because if your only motivation is to lose weight, exercising will be another tool in your arsenal fat, your most useful tool, to my way of thinking. The bonus is that there are a lot of other benefits that, if you've never been particularly fit, you don't even know you want yet. So the next time you're working out or having a hard time getting started on a workout, tell yourself, "Wow, I can't miss my workout," or "Oh, boy, time to workout!" and see if that doesn't help make a difference over the long term. |
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Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:09 pm |
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| ladybugnessa
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I've been physically fit. I used to hike. I used to ski I was a good size and shape and I ran and walked 3 miles a day...
i know what fit feels like and while I want to be fit I still hate and will always hate exercise or sports and hated it then too. |
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Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:11 pm |
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