I am brain washing myself.

I keep giving myself reasons to NOT work out. It's dark outside (we have no street lights), I'm tired, I'm too hungry, I need to do house work, etc, etc!

How do I win a battle against myself?

Choose an activity that is something you enjoy doing.

I had to make myself just do it...  I kept thinking, "I really don't feel like doing this... It's okay if I skip this once..."  But as I was thinking this, I just went and got my clothes changed, put on my mp3 player and started dancing (just around the house, it's light and warm in there LOL).  Pretty soon 10 minutes went by and I'd say "Okay, lets do another 10."

Also, if you need to do housework... Do it!!  Put some music on and dance around a little while your doing it...  You can log housework under you activity log.  It's moving, so it's excercise in my book

On days I *really* don't want to work out, I will compromise and say, okay, instead of 35 minutes on the treadmill, just do 15.  Then when I hit 15 minutes, I usually feel like, okay, I've made it this far, what's 20 more minutes.  Or, if I still feel unmotivated, I'll stop

 

I do the same thing. I'm too tired, I can always work out tomorrow, I deserve a break, its too cold outside, I have errands to run...the list goes on and on. I usually try to remind myself of how great I feel after I work out and if I just get it done I can give myself the day off tomorrow (and the mental battle begins all over again!) Just try to think about the sense of accomplishment you feel after a work out. Even if its only 20 minutes it is better than sitting on the couch. Or, I tell my husband to tell me to get off the couch. He doesn't like doing it because he thinks I'm crazy, but hearing him say "Babe, get off the couch and go downstairs and do your workout" somehow magically works even though I know he wants me to hang out and relax with him.

Unless you're a hard core anti-morning person, morning workouts can sometimes solve this problem. Get in a routine of getting out of bed as soon as your alarm goes, put on your shoes and go do your warmup (drink a protein shake or eat a banana first if you feel like you need some calories to get started).

This can help with the excuses, because morning time is your own - no one or nothing can interfere with your schedule if you set your alarm 30 min early. It also prevents some of those tired excuses, or the "I have to do the dishes, pack the lunches, plan tomorrow's supper - oops, now it's too late!" excuses.

I vote for music and dancing, adding some speedbags and punches in there!

Thank you so much for the kind words and suggestions.

Can you get a friend or family member to work out with you, or even just go for a walk? Sometimes having a partner in crime helps me to be more accountable.

Decide.
do you want to lose weight, or be unhealthy (or whatever your situation is) for the rest of your life? Do you want to improve yourself years from now or start your way to your healthy place now? You really have to decide. Even if you go with a friend you could still try to get out of it.


Just remember that it gets better as you go along. you become more motived after you see results.
but now....Decide.

sorry, double post

I know how you feel as a fellow excercise hater this is how i used to do it before I got into the excercise vibe.

I invested in a decent cross trainer in the post Christmas (eek im fat) sales but if I don't do it in the morning i don't do it at all so I sit my alarm clock on top of it and I put obsticals in the way so i have to work just to get there and by the time i do it up and out of my nice warm bed and as i get my gym clothes ready the night before i just think well i may as well excercise as im up now.

The weird thing is that now i crave my excercise routine even on rest days I want to do it which took about 4 weeks to kick in for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myDYE49KPlQ

 

That Nike ad is inspiring.

 

Someone posted that link on here a few weeks ago.

Original Post by amilojev:

On days I *really* don't want to work out, I will compromise and say, okay, instead of 35 minutes on the treadmill, just do 15.  Then when I hit 15 minutes, I usually feel like, okay, I've made it this far, what's 20 more minutes.  Or, if I still feel unmotivated, I'll stop

 

 I do this too!  Once you're on the treadmill you realize it isn't that bad.

What I do is just "schedule" a time of the day to work out and I just do it.  Just like any other obligation.

Right next to my computer I hung a clipping from a magazine- I think a Nike ad, with a girl and it says

"Reasons why I train #32" and has two SEXY pics of a girl, and says at the bottom- "so I can look good when I strike a pose"

Find something that motivates you! Why do you exercise in the first place? Weight gain? Muscle gain? To feel good? Stress? Trigger that!

Turn ordinary activities into exercise. While your cleaning the house, wear ankle weights. Take the stairs two at a time.

I heard a great quote somewhere.

"Those who do not make time for bodily exercise, will sooner or later be forced to make time for illness"

I think that says it all.

Original Post by amilojev:

On days I *really* don't want to work out, I will compromise and say, okay, instead of 35 minutes on the treadmill, just do 15. Then when I hit 15 minutes, I usually feel like, okay, I've made it this far, what's 20 more minutes. Or, if I still feel unmotivated, I'll stop

I'm that way about running.  I set a goal and then move the finish line.  So far, it's working.

www.stickk.com - put a contract out on yourself.  You can wager real money (or not), and if you succeed, then you get your money back.  If you fail, then you can have it go to a charity that you like, an enemy of yours, or a charity you don't like.  I went with the last option.  I can't stand the idea of $100 of mine going to the Dubya's presidential library, so i have exercised every single day in April, and for me, that's huge.  You can set up other people to be your referee or supporters.  I think it's great.