Motivation to get Fit?

[Swiffer]

Question: I need help finding motivation. What are your guys' method(s) to get back into shape and keep going? Especially with outside influences pulling in the wrong direction?

Background: In college I played ultimate frisbee for the university's team, was in excellent shape. Went to the gym couple times a week, walked everywhere, and had very active friends. After college gained a bunch of weight to the point I was bordering 'overweight'. This was because of my 5-6 day, 5-6 hour raids sessions (pre-BC), where my social life was online, and mum's cooking. Also worked 20-30 hours a week.

After I realized that I gained as much weight as I did, I joined a gym and every day after work I went. Lost 25 lbs, gained a great deal of muscle. My social life was very minimal, just hung out with a couple close friends who were gamers now and then. I felt good

I moved states, I got a new job (more career based), working a stressful 50+ hours a week. All my new friends play wow and Diablo3, and regularly go out for food just to do something. Met a girl, been dating her for a couple years now, and her activities are playing SWTOR and going out for food, and she's not active at all (I've tried).

30+ lbs heavier, 28 BMI, I'm finding it hard to stay motivated to go to the gym and cook my own food and avoid all the bad things. I tend to have the urge to go to the gym in the morning, but always have a hard time waking up early enough to do it.

Any help would be awesome.

[Jordaen]

Well, to be honest, I don't think anything anyone here says will motivate you to get up an hour earlier to get some exercise in. I've recently started going to the local gym, 3-5 times a week for an hour a visit. My goal is different, though. Instead of losing weight, I want to gain it via muscle (muscle weighs more than fat, and is healthier than eating McDonalds all day every day.) You have to motivate yourself. Do you want to be big? Do you like the feeling of waking up, looking in the mirror, and not liking how you look? Then change it. If looking in the mirror and not liking what you see doesn't motivate you to change yourself, I doubt anything will. Sure, I could spew some health crap at you, saying how you have an increased risk of <insert a variety of medical conditions here> and if you don't loose weight and get in shape, you could <insert bad thing here>. But you know all of that already.

I don't like how I look, so I'm changing it. My boyfriend supports me by letting me be a few minutes late to pick him up from work (we share a car.) If your girlfriend doesn't share your same views and doesn't support you, why is she still in your life? Surround yourself with support, and things will be easy. If all of your friends want to go out and eat all the time, maybe get another set of friends that's more interested in fitness. You don't have to ditch one for the other, you can have both. You can eat a hamburger with your friends every once in a while. That won't kill you. Back to the girlfriend issue, you say she plays SWTOR, yet you've been with her for a few years. What did she do before that game came out? Is there anything you two can do together? Swimming, taking a walk to the park/beach/whatever is near you? Maybe get a puppy or other animal to run around with.

Basically...you have to motivate yourself. Change who you hang out with, change how you eat, how you think, and you'll get what you want. No one can say "Hey, Swiffer, get out of bed RIGHT NOW and go to the gym!!" and then make you do it.

[Swiffer]

Well, to be honest, I don't think anything anyone here says will motivate you to get up an hour earlier to get some exercise in. I've recently started going to the local gym, 3-5 times a week for an hour a visit. <Snip>

This is very true. I guess my prime motivation would to be able to feel more comfortable and confidant around other people, mainly when I'm out meeting new people. But I forget that around my girlfriend and when I'm hanging around my gamer friends. I need to find a way to remind myself of that feeling on a daily basis.

My girlfriend supports me going to the gym, but continually reminds me that I look good (which doesn't push me to go). We used to play WoW together before SWTORs

[Deleted]

I can only really agree with Jordean - there is no secret recipe...you have to decide what you want and go for it.

I have noticed that once you get in to the habit things get easier - it feels odd if you *don't* go to the gym...you don't really *want* to eat crap etc...but I'm afraid the will and energy to take those first steps has to come from inside.

Are you happy? Will you be happy in 12 months if you don't make a change? If the answer is no, then you can do something about it - but only you.

[Projali]

This is very true. I guess my prime motivation would to be able to feel more comfortable and confidant around other people, mainly when I'm out meeting new people. But I forget that around my girlfriend and when I'm hanging around my gamer friends. I need to find a way to remind myself of that feeling on a daily basis.

My girlfriend supports me going to the gym, but continually reminds me that I look good (which doesn't push me to go). We used to play WoW together before SWTORs

Write down your overall goal. Write down smaller milestones or progress points from your current state to your goal. I've always found it easier to work towards smaller achievements that work towards the larger outcome I want. That's how I stay motivated.

If your girlfriend isn't in shape, she may put up resistance to your lifestyle changes. Those closest to us can be dishonest, consciously or otherwise, about body image. A college girlfriend thought I looked fine and didn't understand why I was in the gym 4 nights a week (I was skinny fat ~160lbs, 6'1") and not wanting to go get sundaes every other night. She wasn't malicious about it but she definitely started paying attention to fitness shortly after. One summer, my mom insisted I looked fine and didn't understand why I'd want to keep adding mass (175lbs, ~10% body fat). Your family and friends may not understand what you want to achieve. You may need to branch out your social network to those with goals more aligned with yours.

Limit your eating out to one night a week and choose a healthier option on the menu. Limit the alcohol to a drink or two. Schedule your gym time and prepare some healthier meals to keep on hand. If you have an issue with waking up early to go to the gym, I'm guessing it's because you're playing games into the late night. You have to realize there's only so much time in a day. You also need to realize that you can get a solid workout with ~4 hours a week. You don't need to spend 2 hours a day on the treadmill watching Paula Dean make a butter and donut sandwich (honestly, Food Network should be banned at all gyms). Cardio workouts are much more effective if you use HIIT methods. You don't need to do 2 hours of isolation and cable work in the gym to get results. Pick up a strength program (5x5s of compounds) like stronglifts.com, Madcows, or Starting Strength.

tl;dr Establish your overall goal and steps to achieving it. Realize your friends/family may not be 100% supportive. Limit your calorie splurging and computer time. Set a workout schedule and FOLLOW IT. Most of all, make it habitual.

Depending on where you live, there may be a local ultimate rec league or something. Maybe you'll be more motivated if it's something you're truly passionate about.

[Inay]

When its true that the motivation has to come from yourself and your will to act on to thing, there still are ways to increase your motivation.

First you could get a training buddy. Im sure some of your friend goes to gym or would like to. If you can get training buddy it motivates you to go to the gym so you dont let down your friend. Also it helps to make the training session bit more intense when you can do last reps with a little assistance and have the friend to push you to your limits.

Second thing is results. Results will always motivate you to continue and while you may not see the results in a short time span but you can keep records on a little notebook to notice how your reps/weights are improving. Taking monthly pics to compare later for visible results could also help.

Third piece of advice would be to make it routine. Once you establish routine it makes it much easier to get going. Make a training regimen and try to follow it regularly. Also you could make a little incentive system for yourself(for example cheat meal day if you have hit the gym everytime you should have for week or that you can do something after you have completed certain amount of training sessions)

Also eating healthy and going to the gym will improve your life on many aspects and that solely should be a reason to do so. Im sure you can make the time for it and when you just set your mind in to it you can do it.

[Deleted]

Motivation:
You are fat! You are useless! Stop neglecting your body! Why should your girlfriend or you settle for less, make yourself worth it! (Sorry mods or OP no ill intent is meant; but realising these matters work like a charm for me, so I hope they do for you)

Earn your own pride! Earn it!! No pain, no gain! It is time to leave your comfort zone and get a little sweating done.



Often if you start showing improvements (more energy, less weight, better looking), your girlfriend might be motivated to start her self. I cannot imagine anyone would want to stay behind and remain unhealthy while your surrounding is living proof it can be done!
Avoid going out, it costs money, time and is unhealthy. It's time to chose; do something about your current state or let it go further into the direction in which you think you are going.

[Swiffer]

Write down your overall goal. Write down smaller milestones or progress points from your current state to your goal. <snip>

This is what I did originally when I went back to the gym after college, but I had no distractions at the time and nothing to loose. I think Ill have to put more effort into going back to the gym and doing it weekly. I'm going to set up this white board I have, and put my goals on it, and put it somewhere I can see everyday. Maybe put pictures of my former self to motivate me to get back in the shape I was in.

Eating out one day a week is something I've tried, but I always falll into the same bad habit when I have different friends wanting to go out at different times throughout the week. Ill have to be more strong-willed, and maybe with help from my girlfriend to promote cooking at home (she's been asking to spend more time together, as we don't live together)

As far as an ultimate rec league, I did that last summer, but was only able to make half of the games because of work

First you could get a training buddy. Im sure some of your friend goes to gym or would like to<snip>

I do have friends that would workout with me, but they're so far from me that it wouldn't work out. I need to find a way to meet people that have the same goals as I do. Any suggestions?

I can get in a routine, but the hard thing is to stay in the routine no matter what else is happening in life. I need to make working out and eating right a priority over all else (at least that is what it feels like)

You are fat! You are useless! Stop neglecting your body! Why should your girlfriend or you settle for less, make yourself worth it!

I need my girlfriend to tell me this! hahaha

---------- Post added 2012-05-31 at 05:47 PM ----------

... Schedule your gym time and prepare some healthier meals to keep on hand. If you have an issue with waking up early to go to the gym, I'm guessing it's because you're playing games into the late night. You have to realize there's only so much time in a day. You also need to realize that you can get a solid workout with ~4 hours a week. You don't need to spend 2 hours a day on the treadmill watching Paula Dean make a butter and donut sandwich (honestly, Food Network should be banned at all gyms). Cardio workouts are much more effective if you use HIIT methods. You don't need to do 2 hours of isolation and cable work in the gym to get results. Pick up a strength program (5x5s of compounds) like stronglifts.com, Madcows, or Starting Strength.

What do you think about this workout?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/m...fat-loss/intro

[Projali]

What do you think about this workout?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/m...fat-loss/intro

Kris Gethin's plan is pretty solid, even if the supplement advice is just there to sell you tons of products you don't need.

I typically recommend Stronglifts.com or Starting Strength to people, since it focuses on compound movements, doesn't take a ton of time, and gives you ~3 months of progression at a time.

[Kanx]

I personally make myself feel that bad if i don't go to the gym, that i can't miss it.

It's not worth the feeling of worthlessness that i force upon myself!

Fortunately i'm really enjoying working out at the moment because i'm getting gradual results; when i plateau, the above 'mentality' will kick in.

[Keylogthis]

Try to look at it as a lifestyle change.

Research foods that are healthy for you but at the same time, be able to put down those foods on a daily basis without getting sick of them. Switch it up. Reward yourself with 1-2 cheat meals a week. Eventually after 3-4 months of eating a healthy diet, fall off the wagon for 3-5 days and eat that nasty junk that tastes good, then jump back on the healthy wagon.

As far as a workout goes, find what is convenient for you. I made excuses to not go to the gym after work. I got in the habit of going to the gym in the mornings and I hardly miss a day. It's like brushing my teeth.

There is a ton of free premade workout plans on the internet. I suggest using one of those. If you feel uncomfortable doing a certain exercise, try to find an alternative exercise that works the same muscle. Do something that you won't get sick of and stick with it.

[Deleted]

To be honest, when I started getting serious about loosing weight, was when I stopped going to the gym. I have since lost about 4 stone, (err..to you yanks that is, I used to weigh 224 pounds and now weigh 160-170 ish), thats about 4 stone innit? I just 'did it'. I didnt stop eating crap altogether, but I was doing enough exercise and weight lifting to be able to. I couldn't stick to an exercise plan which is probably why the gym didn't work for me. Right now I'm biking everyday, I eat a quite bad at the moment, but don't seem to be gaining weight, need to get back into weight training though. When it's nice outside I just can't be bothered to stay indoors :<

And just after finishing this post I polished off a whole bar of cadburys dairy milk lol, ah well its a nice change from the oats with water :P

[TheRunningMan]

you just have to want it enough and have some self control to do it.

I justate better and started running, lost almost 60lbs

[Deleted]

In all honesty.....

Heres how my mind works:

IF I DONT RUN THIS IS THE KIND OF GIRL I WILL BE LIVING MY LIFE WITH:




IF I GO FOR A RUN I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SMASH THIS:




That normally gets me out the door

[Deleted]

Posted some pics of myself a month or so again. Motivated quite a lot of people got a lot PM's about it so here goes again.

Before 124kg (September 26th 2011):


After 79,5kg (May 16th 2012) :


Couple of days ago when I went hiking:



If you have a goal it's much easier. My goal was to get back in shape and my body back as it was before I went "WHATTHEFCKBALISTICONFOODANDGOTONANELECTICWHEELCHAIRFAT". I knew I could do it so I went for all or nothing. It all depends what your goals are though. But make realistic goals, don't try to get from what I was to what I am. You can try but your goal should be to be healthy. So do some math, ask your doctor, get a goal weight and DO IT!

[Neocene]

What finally got me motivated to get back into shape was a visit to my eye doctor. He saw that I had very high pressure in my eyes and gave me some medication to get it down. High pressure in your eyes can lead to glaucoma and eventually blindness if not taken care of. Later that day I went home and looked for ways to relieve the pressure without medication. What I found was that exercise can help keep the pressure down if done regularly. So I started back up.
I was pretty active back in college. I went to the gym regularly and walked 4-5 miles a week. After leaving school I had to move back home due to lack of employment and just started freelancing from my room. So add countless hours in front of a PC drawing and not exercising lead me to gaining close to 80lbs in 6 years. This made me very unhappy and my social life pretty much became non-existent. Most of my friends are all working around the country and I rarely see them.
For the past 8 months I've been working out regularly. Doing a combination of weight lifting and cardio. A great book I would recommend is "The New rules of Lifting". Its a great introductory book into getting back into shape and sets up a great program to being with. Since then I've been using AthLeanX body building program to further my goals. I've gotten my sister on track to getting back into shape and have completely changed the rest of my family's eating habits. No more sodas, fast foods, etc. When you can get everyone behind you, it makes the progress go a ton smoother.
Also remember to take time out from your work outs every now and then. Like a week. This gives your body plenty of time to heal and recover.

[Deleted]

Question: I need help finding motivation. What are your guys' method(s) to get back into shape and keep going? Especially with outside influences pulling in the wrong direction?

Background: In college I played ultimate frisbee for the university's team, was in excellent shape. Went to the gym couple times a week, walked everywhere, and had very active friends. After college gained a bunch of weight to the point I was bordering 'overweight'. This was because of my 5-6 day, 5-6 hour raids sessions (pre-BC), where my social life was online, and mum's cooking. Also worked 20-30 hours a week.

After I realized that I gained as much weight as I did, I joined a gym and every day after work I went. Lost 25 lbs, gained a great deal of muscle. My social life was very minimal, just hung out with a couple close friends who were gamers now and then. I felt good

I moved states, I got a new job (more career based), working a stressful 50+ hours a week. All my new friends play wow and Diablo3, and regularly go out for food just to do something. Met a girl, been dating her for a couple years now, and her activities are playing SWTOR and going out for food, and she's not active at all (I've tried).

30+ lbs heavier, 28 BMI, I'm finding it hard to stay motivated to go to the gym and cook my own food and avoid all the bad things. I tend to have the urge to go to the gym in the morning, but always have a hard time waking up early enough to do it.

Any help would be awesome.

When I was overweight I would look at myself in the mirror and talk shit to myself. Definately gave me the motivation to cut down.

[dignaidgnaiud]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSC2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa1j2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2D1R...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0PrT...ure=plpp_video

I watch these every single day. 147 Pounds, 5'10" , 8 Pack, Wrester, MMA Fighter, Football,

[Swiffer]

Posted some pics of myself a month or so again. Motivated quite a lot of people got a lot PM's about it so here goes again. <Snip>

Wow, that is pretty amazing. Took you 8 months to do that? Very impressive, and you're right....that's some good motivation! What was your routine/diet?

I'm starting again today.

Starting with small goals, I am making my own food all week, riding my bike to work (just 2 miles) and making it to the gym 5 days (1 mile the opposite way from my work)

Then I'm apart of a wedding at the end of the week, oye

What finally got me motivated to get back into shape was a visit to my eye doctor. He saw that I had very high pressure in my eyes and gave me some medication to get it down. <snip>

Last time I went to my eye doctor, he said something similar. Said I was borderline high blood pressure. Never told me that it could cause glaucoma or blindness though. That's good to very good to know. And I'll check out "The New Rules of Lifting", never could read while I did cardio... but maybe it'll get me away from my computer when I'm home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSC2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa1j2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2D1R...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0PrT...ure=plpp_video

I watch these every single day. 147 Pounds, 5'10" , 8 Pack, Wrester, MMA Fighter, Football,

These are good. I love Arnold's "I’ve always figured out that there 24 hours a day. You sleep six hours and have 18 hours left. Now, I know there are some of you out there that say well, wait a minute, I sleep eight hours or nine hours. Well, then, just sleep faster, I would recommend."

Best quote ever.

I may have to make these my alarm clock in the morning to get me motivated. Love it.

[Lyriok]

It varies from person to person it can be a number for me, Growing up i was overweight and lost it all in my senior high school year.

Personally for me I got my motivation from going to the gym 5 times a week with a good friend, Girls and most importantly for myself.

Something which keeps me motivated now is going on fitness websites and reading the bodybuilder interviews and transformation storys from everyday people, I find it inspiring, Plus aspiring to join the Police helps.