Can't MOTIVATE!!!

I haven't exercised in about 2 weeks except for a few long walks.  I was doing New Rules of Lifting for Women and making good progress.  With the holidays and move in between, the last time I lifted was Dec 19.  I have been trying to get started again and am having so much trouble.  I have been in my workout clothes since 12:00 today and have found every excuse under the sun to avoid the workout.  I am sitting here with a newly printed training log and I just meditated for 10 minutes.  I'm still procrastinating.  Maybe just writing this will help me motivate.  Help!!

I know the feeling!! I've been having it since September...Promise I'll get in 5 workouts a week but get stuck at the third, if at all

Know that feeling too.

I keep saying I will go and then I don't want to have to drive to the gym and through all the traffic and its so cold outside and excuse after excuse after excuse.

So like you I sat and made a new work out routine...but this time with activities I could do at home! I added a workout DVD, step exercises, Pilates, dumbells...and then I went shopping and bought everything at sale prices.

I dont mind exercising at home, and now I have NO excuse to NOT exercise! Plus with a mixture of my new equipment and adding my bike to the routine, I have spent about £40 in the sales and thats one months gym memership not including fuel! So for the price of one month at the gym I now have a years worth of exercising! In the comfort of my own home!!

I have weights at home too.  I just forced myself to do the workout.  I love the accountability this site creates.  I was very rusty, but I did it and hopefully muscle memory will kick in and I will make up lost ground quickly.  On Monday my husband and I go back to work and the kids go back to school.  Maybe getting back into a routine will help me stick with it.  Happy New Year to all.

Happy New year!

 Rough rule of thumb - one workout to undo the effects of one week of idleness, if you're doing it within - oh, about a year of when you last worked out. Much easier when you have 2-3 workouts to catch up to where you were, than when you have 52, right?

 Keep in mind though, rules of thumb are notoriously unreliable so don't use it as more than a slighly accurate guess at how long it'll take you to catch up to what you remember ;)

Thanks melkor.  Happy New Year.

Sometimes I use the reward system. I might tell myself "ok, after I work out, I'm going to window shop at the mall" Or, "I'm not going to play this video game until I'm done with my work out". Things like that. Of course, it's all mental but it sometimes works.

A good motivator I use is knowing that I never feel regret or guilt after a workout.  I'm never like...oh man, I wish I hadn't worked out today!  It is challenging to find the motivation, but once you do, you'll feel SOOO good about yourself and happy you made the time to do it.  I never regret a workout, but I definitely regret all the ones I miss.  You can do it!!

Think of the amount of calories it will burn, or how much better it will make your body look. I just had that avoidance issue today. I  pulled out the gazelle and had a hard time getting on it, but once I did..... I feel so much better!  One thing I found is that the right music is a motivator for me. I turned on the TV for something to watch and put some High tempo Techno music on the IPOD and just started going.

i was in the same boat you were after i came back from wedding/honeymoon for over a month. the first few times will be hard, you just have to force yourself, bribing works for me at times. a few of our fellow cc'ers had to put up with my whining & moaning for a couple of weeks.

also swearing while walking/driving to the gym helps. maybe even taking it out on your loved ones (i would only recommend doing this no more than twice), they'll want you out of house & will look for interesting ways to motivate you to get lost. or you can pout & have a tantrum as long as you get your butt to the gym.

it took me maybe 5 workouts from taking a month+ off (or so) to get back into it. of course the last couple of weeks ive been sick, so im going backwards again. but we all struggle on at some point, its just not letting it beat you. after a couple of workouts you'll get back into.

i know this advice comes late & hopefully you were able to go.

Octo-luv - yes I remember some of your posts when you were having a rough time.  I'm glad you are back on top of your game.  Hope you get over your illness quickly.

I put in two OK workouts.  I did them at home and didn't work the hardest I ever have, but I have that sore muscle feeling which I like.  I also ate cleanly three out of the last four days.  (Saturday night was ugly - but oh so yummy). 

Thanks for the support.  That is what I love about this site.  I would take it out on my hubby, but he just started a new job and is probably contemplating taking it out on me! :)