Anyone try subliminal motivation for exercise?

I am sooooooo frustrated with myself. I continually get excited about working out, then lose the motivation after a few days and don't work out again for a week or two. My diet is under control, thankfully, but the exercise thing has got me flummoxed. In desperation I've been looking into dvds that may inspire me on a subliminal level and help keep my mojo to exercise up. Has anyone tried this? Has it worked for you?

Here are some titles, they use hypnotherapy-style techniques:

Exercise and Fitness Motivation, by Glenn Harrold

Motivation to Move! Hypnosis Exercise Motivation, Trevor H Scott

Slim Forever for Women, Subliminal Self-Help

I know I need to find something I enjoy doing, I know I should make myself move, even when I don't want to and that I'll feel better after. I'm just hoping to find a way to get there without it being a truly painful internal struggle. I'm not looking for a magic pill to lose weight, but it would be wonderful if I could just pop up and work out and then move along with my day. Any thoughts on these dvds?

Research wise - subliminal stuff doesn't work, except as a placebo effect.

If you're losing your motivation after a few days, you may be doing too much, or too little. It's a lot like dieting, the first week you kind of have to force yourself into it, but eventually its a habit. I have to go somewhere to workout (the gym, a track), or else I'll talk myself out of it. On the other hand, if you're over ambitious working out when you do, you're body being tired might be why the motivation slips so quickly. Maybe try something lighter but more regular.

Find someone else who works out a lot, even if they can't always do it with you. My best friend and I work out together about once a week, but we talk about it every time we go and cheer each other on. While she wouldn't be mean if I didn't go, I don't want to be the one who just hears about her workout, I want to contribute my own too.

Too bad about the subliminal stuff, another hope dashed! I quit smoking using a book - which I never thought would work - so I was looking for a similar tool to help with motivation.

Though I wouldn't have thought so, maybe I AM doing too much. Have tried pulling back, but what I do now isn't all that intense. I was in another forum conversation and part of it was about nutrition before and after, because when I do work out I get affected emotionally in a negative direction. Today I tried a little different post workout snack and my mood was better, so I'll try the same thing again and see how it goes. As far as finding a buddy, I'm not one to work out with others, I get too competitive or too distracted and the workout doesn't work out for me. My good friend is always trying to get me to work out with her, but I find her too chipper and "punch-em-up" if you know what I mean. I'm a bit of a loner about some stuff, I hate going to a gym most of the time and now that I have a treadmil at home and a few smaller pieces of equipment, I find it very hard to make excuses not to work out. Neither weather, nor time of day, nor distance, nor missed train can be used as an excuse now :-)

I know exactly what you mean about your chipper friend : ) I've met the type, and i wouldn't work out with them either.

I read that post about the snacking, and intend to try it tomorrow.

I'm the opposite, I can always find an excuse not to work out at home (what? my bathroom needs cleaned?). I own an elliptical machine, and I drive to the gym to use a treadmill : )

One thing that works for me (and possibly no one else), is that I give myself minimum and maximum goals. The mimimum goal is what I NEED to do, the maximum is what I WANT to do. So, for exercise, my minimum goal is to do cardio for 30min 3 times a week. My maximum goal it to do 30min cardio and 30 min weights 5 days a week. Basically, I strive for the maximum, but I don't feel bad about it as long as I'm over the minimum. Maybe my brain is funny, but it just makes it so that 'nothing' isn't on my workout range, and I never feel bad about not being perfect, I just need to hit somewhere between those two goals.

And I've definently found that if I work out too much without upping my calories, I have no motivation for anything.

That's too funny - when MY bathroom needs cleaning, I get on the treadmill!!!

The minimum/maximum goal thing does work for me, at least on individiual workouts. For instance today I was dreading getting on the machine and convinced myself that I'd only have to do a minimum of 35 minutes, just enough to get the heart rate up. At the 35 minute mark, I told myself to go another cycle, what's 5 more minutes? And continued until I finished the 4.5 miles which is my maximum target for the next few weeks. Playing mind games with yourself is so strange, but if they work, why not? Not to be harping too much, but that's partly why I had my sights set on the subliminal, the placebo effect is a mind game of sorts.

I have to say, the higher carb snack today really did help. I hope it works for you too!

I bet most of us have a hard time staying motivated!  I really appreciate the idea of the minimum/maxium goals.

Along that order, I try to remember that when I dont do my routine, I feel defeated, discouraged, down on myself.  And when I do it "anyway," and think about how I will feel "after" I do it - and then do it - my self confidence is up, and the endorphins are kicking in.  I have to think about how I will feel AFTER, not before exercise. 

I just got an email from Health Magazine, about great post workout snacks, and how getting some protein and carbs after the work out, helps you and your muscles recover quicker.  For some of their ideas see www.fitnessmagazine.com.

I've also been reading this morning about "sedentary death syndrome." See if that wont motivate you!!!

I also have an "Eating Well" calendar on my refrigerator for some subliminal motivation in the food department.  Its absolutely beautiful photography of various fruits and veggies. 

Here is one more for you:

35 Conditions that are Caused or Worsened by Inactivity:

Physical Inactivity increases the incidence of these 26 unhealthy conditions:

Angina, heart attack, coronary artery disease
Arthritis pain
Arrhythmias
Breast cancer
Colon cancer
Congestive heart failure
Depression
Digestive problems
Gallstone disease
High blood triglyceride
High blood cholesterol
Hypertension
Less cognitive function
Low blood HDL
Lower quality of life
Menopausal symptoms
Obesity (more difficult time with weight control)
Osteoporosis
Pancreatic Cancer
Peripheral vascular disease
Physical frailty
Premature mortality
Prostate cancer
Respiratory problems
Sleep apnea
Stroke
Type-2 diabetes

Physical inactivity increases the progression of 9 disabilities resulting from conditions such as:

Chemotherapy
Chronic back pain
Debilitating illnesses
Disease cachexia
Falls resulting in broken hips
Physical frailty
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Vertabal/femoral fractures

Those are negative reinforcer, rather than positive ones..  We need to find a way to reward ourselves for the exercise - which really is a "feel good" once we do it, anyway.