Working Out, How Do You Motivate Yourself?

[KamTheMan]

Because I need to put on muscle but have been having serious issues getting motivated to actually workout. To you guys who have struggled with this, how do you motivate yourself to lift?

[bambam]

I used to have a lot of problem with this over the years but I've found better ways to stay motivated now. I have my older brother to motivate me but besides that I've found a few guys on youtube/instagram to keep me motivated- watching their workouts and listening to their helpful tips actually gets me pumped for my own workout. But everybody has their own things that motivate them. Try out a few. Hopefully you find something that works for ya.

[Deborah]

I have done strength training in the past and struggled with the same thing.  The best way I found to stay motivated was to do a structured program that has definable goals for each workout.

The two best I found were Starting Strength and Stronglifts.  These are very similar programs and you will increase weight and strength with every single workout.  Seeing this kind of steady progress does a lot to drive motivation.


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[Polo]

My best motivators are to sign up for competitions or competitive sports: Triathlons, 5k's, Sports Leagues (I did dodgeball last year and it was pretty great).

When I don't have a competition I'm working towards, I find my best motivation is to find/create a workout schedule, buy a day planner for my workouts, and keep track that way. I also write down what I did and how much I did (reps and weight or mileage and speed), and I like going back every once in a while looking at how far I progress.

If you're having trouble motivating yourself, try to identify what is preventing you from doing it:
Is it too far to the gym?
Do you not want to be in public/feel self-conscious?
Do you feel like you don't have enough time?
Do you feel intimidated by the amount you think you have to do?
Do you feel like you don't know enough to get started?

Once you figure out what's preventing you from starting, you can start addressing the specific issues

[beaver]

I tell myself that every buff guy I see at the gym started out where I am, and if I put in the work, I could get to their level one day, or at least close to. I also take pictures of my body once in a while to see the results, and you can really tell the difference. Not to mention, I know I'll never regret taking a trip to the gym, no matter how crap my mood is that day, because I always come out with lots of endorphins and feel happy.

[FriendsCallMeChris]

The endorphins. I do it for the endorphins. I get immediate satisfaction from the stress relief while and after I work out.   It helps that I'm seeing some physical results too.

[Ayden]

I have done strength training in the past and struggled with the same thing.  The best way I found to stay motivated was to do a structured program that has definable goals for each workout.

The two best I found were Starting Strength and Stronglifts.  These are very similar programs and you will increase weight and strength with every single workout.  Seeing this kind of steady progress does a lot to drive motivation.


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Exactly what the Lady says. I have programs I follow and I make a schedule. The programs have certain goals and that helps a lot. I also have a white board with a check list that I check off on the days I work out. Now that I look at it, I'm on my way to not meeting my weekly goal, so I will be fixing that in the morning.

I hate working out, but I love the results. That's how I keep myself doing it and if you have set goals, even something as simple as "by the end of the month I can do XX push-ups" it helps.

[Lostkitten]

Used to be pretty active in the gym (4 a 5 days a week).

Build it up. Start with twice a week for about 45 minutes till you feel like doing another day. Go to 3 days a week and so on. Eventually you will enjoy it or see it as a routine/need. Don't force it though, do not start with 4 days a week head on. It will quickly bore you and you will quit.

Have you ever already worked out so badly that your muscles felt so sore? I do not mean just painful but.. ruined. You want changes and with no pain no gain. Now it is important to let your body rest for a day after you trained certain muscles, but that aside for now. You want changes and if you feel something, you know you are changing.

What helps is (do you easily talk to people?) getting to know others or going there together with a friend. Exercise together. It really helps because you often feel the need to go a little further when you are working out with someone else, and you will lift more automatically then too.

I am rambling and hope I am making sense x_x.

[Marcellow]

I used to fall back on old patterns with fitness but now I just started a fitness journal on Wordpress. I start a serious regiment today with 4 days a week 45 minutes each. Mostly doing cardio with a bit of lifting.

[Maryread]

I used to hit the gym a lot in my younger days. The real trick is having a good program with clearly defined goals, you should always be working towards something. Starting strength by Mark Rippetoe is a great program for building strength/muscle and has you constantly progressing so you don't get frustrated

[Alexthecat]

I stay motivated for the span of two weeks, then I give up.

[FriendsCallMeChris]

Oh, I need to add to my motivation statement.  The gym is a great place to hang out if you are avoiding being home. 

[darkblade]

I always joke that I'm a lazy fitness junkie, but there's probably more truth in that than humor...

I don't have any program, I just make it a point to do some sort of exercise 6 days a week (I've built up to this though). Sometimes it's just a 30 minute jog, sometimes it's 90 minutes of endurance lifting and high intensity cardio. I heavy lift when I feel like it, but its something I'm trying to make myself do more of. Mostly just trying to get fit and loose fat, but also I've learned over the years how much consistent exercise helps with my mood. When I first started going to the gym, I used to specifically go when I felt low, sometimes twice a day if I needed it. Not really the reason I exercise anymore though.

I guess it depends on your goals. I love seeing myself get stronger and my arms get bigger. I probably got into loving bench presses in hope that it'll burn all the unwanted chest fat. A big part of staying motivated is to find something you love though, once you get into the habit of doing something you really enjoy you can then venture into things you're less enthusiastic about. And angry pissed off music, always helps you push through the pain.

[palexander]

think of a realistic goal
find some music that you like (doesn't have to be super upbeat, anything that's pleasing to your ears will work)
start off easy and do what YOU like (whether that be cardio, lifting, etc.)
it's not going to happen over night

pain = it's working

good luck

[ImagineKate]

My biggest motivation is my lab results from my last doctor visit and preparing for transition. I want NO road blocks.

In the gym a good pair of headphones and my favorite tunes work wonders. I can easily do an hour of aerobic exercise on the machines when I'm not listening to the crappy gym music. I mean they play BPM and that's fine for some people but it's not my cup of tea. I like to jam with some reggae or rock out to 80s ballads.

[mylesmt]

I've always struggled with motivation related to working out. Right now I haven't been working out for a while due to an injury taking me out of the game. Now I'm feeling much better and am getting back into fitness.

I found that seeing people's transformations is very motivating. I also found that in order to get into a workout routine I have to just do it even when I don't feel like it. Then eventually working out will be like brushing my teeth.

[captains]

This topic makes me wonder if maybe folks would be interested in starting a group on a fitness app? I'm honestly not so familiar with how those things work, but I was thinking that if there was a place to share workout tips, check in, track stats, etc, it might motivate us and hold us accountable. Or, hell, maybe we could just use this thread.

As for me, I'm both a lazyass sonuvabitch and a person whose body was meant to get a lot of activity. Paradoxical, I know, but I feel so much better when I'm keeping fit on the regular, even though my personality type is way more bookworm than gym rat. Makes motivation kind of tricky sometimes. Sometimes I think my vanity is the only thing that gets me out the door. Really love being able to flex and, you know, actually see muscle.

Making commitments to other people definitely also helps me. I'm way less likely to flake if I know there's someone at the gym waiting for me. Of course, I hate working out in front of other people, so honestly, it kind of sucks at the time, but if you find a workout buddy who's into being ''alone next to you'' it sees to go pretty well.

[ImagineKate]

I also use the nike fuel band... but I am probably going to get an Apple watch when it is released. Keeping track of activity has worked wonders and has been a good motivator. iPhone has it built in the health app now, no extra device required.

[alexclusive]

I wrestle and that motivates me. I'm bumping up 2 weight classes this year, so tryna get big.

Set goals for yourself whether it's in sports, lifting, school, work, hobbies, or life, and focus on those. Get freaking pumped over those goals and proceed with hard ass determination. You wanna look good? Take a before picture and put it somewhere where you're gonna wake up every morning and see it. Get on a consistent workout routine, eat good foods, and give yourself several months. Do it for the after picture. Also do it for yourself to get stronger physically and mentally. Consistency is key.. you're not gonna see results right away and that's ok cause it takes time. Just gotta keep at it brotha.

[Nicole]

With working out and getting motivate, I run just about everyday, some weekends I won't, but if I miss a day I'll make sure its made up over the next few days.

It helps me sleep better, it makes me eat better (I like to cook & eat), it keeps my skin clearer, it means I can shop and not feel fat, its good to get out there and not think about life, it walks the dog.

The hardest thing is at the start, go with a friend and get into the habit, go before work or school, not after when you're too tired, it'll wake you up and who knows, you might even meet some new friends.