i don't feel like exercising...
help! i really need some motivation to exercise. i've been slacking off for 3 days now. instead of exercising, i just clean the house (scrubbing and sweeping for a good 20-30mins) i sweat though by doing it, but i dont think that's enough physical activity everyday.. i do cook lunch and dinner, which requires a lot of standing, plus i wash dishes. just normal household chores, then i would find myself sitting infront of the computer for 4-6 hours a day..
i don't go to the gym, and i don't intend to. i exercise at home, doing strength training, and cardio by jumping rope or jogging around the house, or dancing in my room..
what to do? any advice??
Think of how great you`ll feel afterwards; plan some reward or treat at the end of exercising, if it`s culinary, make it 1/3 or 1/2 of the burned calories, that way you are tempted to work out more in order to have a bigger allowance. ;)
Also, be careful, this might be a sign you are undereating or depriving your organism of something else. On days when I eat or sleep too little, I find that I get a mental block towards exercising, obviously my brain gets signals from my body that it`s not a good idea to push it so hard when it`s not being looked after properly.
When I really, really don't want to do it, I say, "ok I'll jump rope for one minute. Or, I'll jog for 5 minutes. Don't think of it as you have to work out for 30, just a short time. Once I get started for that first 5 minutes, it gets easier. "Ok, I'll do 5 more", next thing you know 30 minutes has passed and you'll feel great!
If I waited until I felt like exercising, I'd never get off the couch. I'm not one of those people who goes, "Oh Yay! It's time to exercise!" and I never shall be. Waiting until I become magically motivated doesn't work for me. Getting into the habit of exercising does. Instead of waiting until you feel like it, just do it. Make a plan. Think of exercise as a commitment, like a job, the job of getting healthy and spending time on you. Make a schedule and stick too it. I have a gym membership, but most of my exercise is at home or outside. I go to the gym now and again to take classes, just to mix things up. But one certainly doesn't have to have a gym membership to get good exercise. What I find is that once I actually begin, it's easy to do my planned time exercising. So all I need is to make myself start, and the follow through is easy. In the evenings, I've been doing my mini-tramp (30 bucks on sale at Walmart and it rocks) and most nights I have to make myself get on. But after the first couple minutes, I find it easy to keep going for my half hour. Same thing with my lunchtime walk. Some days I just don't "feel" like walking, but I put my music on, get my butt outside, and after the first couple of minutes, I find that I am good to go. I belong to a yahoo group, Weight Loss Buddies, and we had a March exercise challenge. I usually exercise 5-6 days a week, but during March I've exercised every single day! Wanting to have something to post on the challenge board really helps me get started. Perhaps you could start an exercise challenge thread over on fitness, to help get you moving.
The real key is to find exercise that you think is FUN, so that you want to do it. For me, I love going to the gym. For others, its a Yoga DVD or going running or whatever. I really get a LOT out of exercising with others, whether its motivation from the instructor or just having to make that 10am class. The last suggestion I have is to make a schedule for the day or week regarding exercise...its easier than asking yourself every hour "do I feel like exercising?" and answering "NO"...just do it.
my trick is always to go back to what motivated me in the first place, all those years ago... bring an image of your "tomorrow's self" .. and put it in your mind as clearly as you can.... then pop-up some kick-ass music and have a go at it... picture a path to your goal and be convinced that there is only empty air between you and your goal... and that only your mind is your engine... and that, you can control...
lol. sorry for the poetry blitz... one of those moods... lol... I'm house cleaning too and I'd like nothing better to hit the gym... but my body needs the rest...
; )
make it a habit .. a routine.. a normal part of your day...focus your thoughts on the health benefits, how much good it is doing your heart et. My mantra is "its a small part of your day, a large part of your life" , oh and find something you enjoy doing...I enjoy swimming so do that most days...its a great workout , burns loads of calories, strengthens me and leaves me feeling great afterwards
thanks everyone for your advices. big help 
