Motivating yourself to exercise:
First, take a week off of exercise. Don’t do much of anything if you do any kind of exercise at all. Limit yourself to a few arm weight exercises and some squats. Yeah, you hate squats but you will trick yourself into thinking you’ve done something. Make sure if you walk you don’t go over 1/2 mile. If you think you want to walk further, you are wrong. Convince yourself you have something better to do.
Once you’ve gone a week without exercise your body will feel tired, lethargic, and slow. You will question whether you want to do anything at all. At this point your body will feel tight and misused. It will hurt and be unhappy that tension keeps building with no real release. Once you have let the mental and physical tension build until you feel like you are about to break – you are ready to workout again.
Yes, the plan is to let your body skip workouts and reach the point where you finally can’t take it anymore. Once you are in agony because your body needs a workout so bad then you will feel the motivation to go get in some real exercise. Once your emotions are so jumbled and your head is so confused due to lack of exercise that you can’t think then you will want to go workout. Once you realize that life would be better, your mind clearer, your anger gone, your feelings happier, your annoyed at everyone level lower, just because of a good workout – that is when you will finally be motivated to exercise.
At least, that is what I did. And I’m off to hit the gym.
Happy Memorial Day, Americans. Go tell a veteran how awesome a person he or she is.
LOL! It wouldn’t work for me – my body likes no exercise best!
Fat[free]Me’s last blog post..I Need Another Weekend!
I wish my body responded to that!
Good job getting to the gym!
Connie @ Fat2HotMommy’s last blog post..Juice Fast/Cleanse Update
@Fat[free]Me
LOL. Motivation is unique for everyone.
@Connie
I think every one that exercises regularly gets to the point where if they skip workouts there body misses it and craves that exercise. I don’t know what my problem last week was, but my body really, really, really wanted a good workout.
Lol! I’ve just been off sick this past week and every time I read about other people’s workouts I yearn to jump up and do something too. Wednesday I’m hitting the gym! Can’t wait!
Hanlie’s last blog post..Healthy You Challenge Check In – Week 21
This is a very interesting point. You know the old saying absence makes the heart grow fonder….good job getting back to the gym. We all need rest from time to time that is for sure.
kristisummer’s last blog post..Stability Ball Core exercises
@Hanlie
Sorry you were sick! Wednesday is coming up soon! Woot! Get back in the gym!
Kristi
True about the rest, but I was just being silly. Glad to be gymming it up once again.
Heh it’s amazing what taking a little time off can do! Veering off course is what helps me stay ON course.
Sagan’s last blog post..Fit Travels
that is 100% why taking time off can be GREAT for me.
I get that urge back.
too long and I fear Ill never go back but a LOOOONG TIME (took off 5 months once) and Im banging on the gym doors to get in.
hope you had a great workout and THANK YOU for reminding us what yesterday was really all about.
Miz’s last blog post..Tuesday facetime:your questions (video post).
Good article.
In my life experience on climbing mountains, I learned that we need to catch the second wind to continue that journey we set in our life. Stay focussed and give and take with positive like minded family members.
I would like to share some snippets, well.. kind of useful internal guidance for life from real people who succeed overcoming trials in life – Mr Will Smith.
The mantra to success is that you can never afford to give up. You need to keep struggling and keep pushing yourself to the limit, until you reach the goal you have set up for yourself.
Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.
Every once in a while it’s your turn to be broken down. And you wait for the tow truck to come. That’s how I viewed that difficult time in my life
Will Smith had once declared powerfully, “I don’t know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.” It is this constant urge to ‘strive’ and to struggle that has made him one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood. Smith’s inspiring rise to the top in his career only reaffirms the fact that if you are looking for success, you need to have the right mindset to propel you up to the top. You can succeed only when you believe in yourself and your ability to act – like Smith, you need to believe that you are here for “a bigger reason.”
Cheers.
Alexander Paul
great post thanks
i think when it comes to motivation no two people are alike so you need to find what work best for you