I just can't seem to keep to a workout routine

It's really frustrating.  I always exercise consistently for maybe two weeks and then just... stop.  I'm feeling tired.  Too much homework.  I'll do it tomorrow.  I'm full of excuses but somehow I just still can't keep at it. 

A couple weeks ago I picked up a bunch of fitness dvds from netflix, some yoga and some from a series of DVDs by "Hemalayaa" that were kind of indian-dance themed workouts.  I was actually having a lot of fun with those and enjoyed the workouts and felt better... but then I just kinda stopped.

I don't have a gym membership.  I've always hated gyms after some emotionally scarring experiences being the fat kid in high school gym class and I think I'm just too conscious about my body to feel comfortable in a public gym.

The other problem is that I just can't find a good time to work out.  I'm a full time student.  Two days a week I go to school at 8:30 and don't get back home until 4:00 by which time I'm just way too beat to work out.  The other days of the week I go from 8:30 to 11:30 so I do have time to work out but it's harder to keep it up if I'm on one day, off the next, on, then off again.  And I have the weekends off (except for homework) but then I just want to chill and hang out with friends...

If anybody has some tips about sticking to a fitness program I would be so so so grateful.  I really want to get healthy and learn to love working out instead of just feeling like the same little girl who was picked on in gym class.

Original Post by kristenck89:

The other problem is that I just can't find a good time to work out.  I'm a full time student.  Two days a week I go to school at 8:30 and don't get back home until 4:00 by which time I'm just way too beat to work out.  The other days of the week I go from 8:30 to 11:30 so I do have time to work out but it's harder to keep it up if I'm on one day, off the next, on, then off again.  And I have the weekends off (except for homework) but then I just want to chill and hang out with friends...

 

If I can leave for work at 6:30 am and get home at 5pm, and still get in a workout, so can you. And I'm not even a good example of someone with a time-crunched day - I don't have kids.

If your school's gym offers classes, that might be a way to get yourself going to the gym. Or see if one of your friends wants to be a gym buddy, to force each other to go.

Your first problem is building an exercise habit. It's better to do a little every single day than to do a lot once in a blue moon or 'when you can fit it in.' You need to set an exercise time and commit to it. Every day. No exceptions. No matter how busy you are, you should be able to fit in at least 20 minutes of walking. Make yourself an exercise ticker with a reasonable number of goal minutes and try your darndest to reach your goal by the end of the month. It doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do each day, as long as you do SOMETHING. Seeing those minutes add up is a big incentive to keep on going. Promise yourself some kind of reward when you reach your goal and fill the ticker. If you want to earn the reward you have to do the work. And after enough time, exercise becomes its own reward.

You don't have to workout... You could just try to be more active overall, such as walking more, taking the stairs, parking farther from buildings at school, etc etc.

Also, maybe you can try to work out in the morning if you are deadset on working out? I didn't think I could wake up early (6:30AM or 7AM depending on the day) to work out... but eventually it became a habit. One of the things I realized was that if I worked out later in the day, I'm more likely to make up excuses to not work out. But if I wake up early, I'm still in a dreamlike state and thus, unable to make up excuses...When I first started working out in the mornings, I had class early, too. Althoug I'm out of school now, I still wake up early to work out because it's become second nature to me. Sometimes I forget later on in the day whether or not I worked out because it's become such a habit, and then I remember why I'm so sore...

You really don't need to be in the gym or wherever you work out for long periods of time. Like Kajikit said, it's possible to fit in 20-30 minutes in a day. During my HIIT days, I'm only in the gym for 30 minutes, with 25 minutes of actual exercising. And I also agree with amethystgirl that you can take advantage of the school gym. Honestly, I don't think anyone would judge you if you go... or even really care because they're probably too focused on their own work outs. And on the weekends, 20-30 minutes set aside to work out wouldn't be bad, either. I'm sure your friends would forgive you. And 20-30 minutes to work out may be a nice break if you are doing homework all day or something. Good luck!

You really just have to MAKE yourself do it.  As another poster stated, if only you manage to squeeze in 20 minutes of walking, that will be better than nothing. 

I work in a cube from 8-5 everyday and it is very draining.  It takes everything I can muster to feel like exercising when I get home.  I usually don't "feel like" exercising.  I MAKE myself do it though- 5 or 6 days a week.  No excuses.  That is the only way.

I was kind of the same way.  I would have to get up at 4am to work out and always made an excuse of why NOT to do it.  So, I finally broke down, got a gym membership and I go Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday for 90 minutes or more.

My initial excuse was that I couldn't work out in the evenings because exercise gives me extraordinary energy and I was always afraid that I wouldn't be able to sleep.  Boy was I wrong!  I am out like a light by 10pm at the latest.  That work out is just enough to be a great, successful workout and it also helps me sleep.

I have a busy schedule also.  I wake up at 5, from 5-6am I get ready.  At 6am I wake up my daughter, get her ready and get everything ready and out the door around 7:15.  I work from 8am-5pm every weekday.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays my daughter is with her dad from 5-7pm.  That gives me plenty of time for a work out.  The gym I belong to is a non-judgemental gym.  It's not like a body builder gym where you feel uncomfortable.  So, I get there around 5:15 and work out until about 6:45 until I have to pick her up or her dad drops her off.  Great work out in that period of time.  Saturdays are great too because I can do extra with the extra time.

There is always a way.  I know because I am the queen of excuses.  Just think, you are only bettering yourself and your whole life by doing it, even if it is somewhat of an inconvenience in your schedule. 

I hope everything works itself out for you!  Good luck!

There's no way that you're SO busy you don't have a half hour to exercise a day. Something else that might help, is to work out with your friends. Having a workout buddy to hold you accountable is really helpful, and gets you pumped up. Take advantage of the gym on your campus while you're there, and maybe take a weight lifting class or something. As soon as you get in the habit it will become a lot easier.

Hey there,

  I'm a full time graduate student and I have a job, and I find time to work out 6 days a week.  The key for me is a little tough love.  The second I start coming up with an excuse to skip a workout, I tell myself, "Oh shut up and go work out."  An hour later, I'm done and can feel really good about my workout, instead of feeling guilty all day.  I do the Netflix thing too, getting different videos every week.  I also walk to school and back, and walk around campus when I have a break between classes.  You just have to convince yourself that exercise is important to you, and you'll find a way to fit it in.

I am 51  years old and for the last 10 years I have been a couch potato - laying around smoking and doing nothing.  I quit smoking and continued to lay around and do nothing only now I added eating to it and gained 50 pounds.

I was once athletic.  Have been my whole life.  I went from size 3 to 18.  I am the fat girl now.  However, I am not the only one at the gym.

I have found that people respect me in the gym because they see me there consistently and they see me put forth the effort to improve. 

Some days it is really hard, others it is just fun. But I know a few things, 1. I have to go somewhere to work out - that carves out the time and also has solid purpose.  2.  I need to be around other people doing what I am doing - it challenges me and motivates me. 3. If I had not let excuses take over I would not be 50 pounds over weight and I would not be starting where I am i would have arrived.  But since I am starting all over then I am comfortable telling you that if you know it won't work out for you at home then do join a gym.  If the hard core gym is not for you then maybe curves is better and you can get a trial  membership pretty easy. 

If I can do it - so can you.  Take heart - you really can do anything you make up your mind to do.

It takes 21 days to for something to become a habit. Exercise for three weeks straight, and then it'll just be a normal, everyday habit to you. Motivate yourself by looking at pictures of the body type you would like. 

I have the exact same motivational problems (I haaaaate exercise and I get bored of things really easily), and I've got a few things that work for me:

1. If you can, go to your school's gym sometime during the day to workout. I've found that by using a workout as a break from something I'd rather not be doing (school or work) it becomes less of a chore and more rewarding.

2. Mix things up. Don't do the same video or exercise routine more than once a week, and try adding things like going for a jog or running up and down the stairs in your house/apartment building for variety.

3. Find the time of day you feel most productive and try to do most of your exercise then, you'll have more energy and therefore more motivation. I'm a zombie in the morning and night so I always exercise in the afternoon or early evening.

4. Make a weekly schedule and post it on your fridge. Cross off each exercise session as you do it, and write in the number of calories you've burned. It'll be a constant reminder when you go to grab food and it'll be motivational to see your burn numbers add up!

ya know I heard someone on Biggest Loser say that they're excuse was always that they didn't have the time.....but they had time to relax and watch tv, or go out drinking w the boys. You have time if working out is a priority for you. Yea maybe you need to shave some time off of your social schedule or evening routine....but it's worth it! I'm a single mom, work full time, drive a whole lot and have a social life...but I MAKE the time for the gym....because i'm doing it for ME, and everyone needs some me time!

Yea I was self concious about being the fat girl at the gym.....till guess what? I stuck w it, and am no longer the fat girl at the gym. Someone mentioned it above, but you get respect at ANY size or activity level for being there and doing it consistently.

Really though, you just have to push through the first month or so and MAKE yourself go...and an every other day routine is great! Do it right after class on your short school days, then it's done and over and you have the rest of the day. I MAKE myself do it before anything else after work. Then it's done and out of the way and I have no time to make the excuses! And everytime I DONT want to workout but do anyway, i feel 10 times better about myself and so proud!

Vicki- I just looked at your profile and I must say, you are your daughter are both gorgeous!  And good for you for doing so well!

when i'm too tired to workout after a long day, i just tell myself to do some light cardio at a completely comfortable and managable pace (you mite want to invest in an exercise bike for this which can cost as little as $200)

after about 5 minutes of a nice warmup, i suddenly have enough energy to do a full on workout.

i realized that my tiredness was just a product of my expectations (after a long day of work/school, i should feel tired) and not really a physical state. ur probably just stressed out, not physically tired, in which case exercise would be extra beneficial because it relieved the cortisol (aka- belly fat poison) from ur system.

check out denist austin M-F at 7:30am (EDT), you can record it and do it anytime you want, but i am gotten in the habit of doing it every morning.  i love the different sessions. it's like you have your own personal trainer.  i have my DVR to record all sessions and i just delete the ones that i don't like and protect the keepers.  good luck.  you just need consistently and a REGULAR habit of working out.  it comes natural to you after a while and you actually feel bad if you don't workout, physically.

Thank you all so much for your advice :) Particularly hearing about how others who are much busier than I am still make time gives me motivation to get off my butt.  I think I will try to make sure I have a specific weekly goal or a calendar to mark off and I'm going to look into a local gym

Hey there, I'm in a similar boat as you. Fortunately, my schedule is a little bit more consistent, but even so, I find myself making excuses. I know what I need to do to lose weight and one of those things includes working out at a set time each day. Work out after class on Wednesdays, go before dinner on Fridays, do whatever you can to jump into a weekly routine. I agree with Specca, even if you feel tired, push yourself to get there, and once you're there, I bet you'll have the energy once you get started.

As far as not joining a gym! There is no need to feel self conscious. I must admit, people do notice others at the gym, but it's no more than noticing someone at the grocery store or the mall. Getting there is a huge step and it's worth it- once you set into your routine, see the same faces, use the same machines, it's so much easier to keep on track, and you'll see results. you'll feel results. Point is, don't be afraid of the gym.

Oh, and once you get comfortable with the gym, it opens the door to all sorts of new fitness activities... I started jazzercising, and it's absolutely amazing. I lost 17 random pounds that I was planning on having forever, wasn't even trying to lose them. The women at jazz are so friendly, we're like a big family, that happens to do some super cardio, stretching, and lifting... On second thought, forget the gym, start jazzing! Stick with it for just a month and you won't regret it. Good luck!

If you keep having trouble doing a workout on your own, you might want to think about something structured, like a martial arts class, a strenuous dance class that meets at least three times a week, or a fitness class.

Personally, I can bike around 'til the cows come home, but I just can't stick to strength-training or any kind of organized cardio program without some kind of external structure.  A class offers built-in workout buddies and accountability, and can help you set goals and so forth if, like me, you're not great at that.  You might even be able to do one through your school -- I did Tae Kwon Do for course credit, and as such the class was designed to fit into the class schedule at my school.  A lot of schools also have martial arts clubs and so forth that are really affordable (sometimes even free) and built around class hours.

A lot of dojos have pretty open schedules, and you can usually go to class several days a week.  Adult classes at martial arts schools, especially, are usually in the early evening, since many have kids' classes during the 'after school' hours (usually 3 PM - 5PMish).

I'm also going to have to agree with the folks who have been saying that the people at your school gym will probably be preoccupied with their own workouts, unless your school has an ultra-professional gym with personal trainers and so forth.  The bodybuilder types generally want more than most school gyms offer.  OTOH, my gym is host to some professional competitors in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, all of whom are so fit it's scary -- and they're all actually really cool people.  Instead of being judgemental of new people, they're happy you're there and glad you're interested in the things they're passionate about.

Oh, and like lovinmylife24, I have found that an evening workout (at a reasonable time -- any time between 6 and 8, maybe, but not 10 PM, when you have to be up any time before noon, LOL!) makes for a better night's sleep and an early morning the next day.

lovinmylife24...aww thanks, I'm blushing! It's been hard work, but TOTALLY worth it!