Exercise motivation?

Hi, everyone. Longish time reader, first time poster.

I don't know how visible my profile is, but I used this site to count my initial calories to get a feel for how much I ate (so I don't eat that much anymore!), and then tried to tone down my portions accordingly. I started at 250 lbs (female, either 5'4" or 5'5", I don't remember) and so far have lost 15 in about three months -- basically trying to keep my calories at a weekly average of about 1600 and going to the gym 3 times a week for about 45 minutes. I am doing the small changes routine. I don't count calories because I found that it didn't work for me, but I love this site just to read forums of people encouraging one another. It encourages me.

I have a question, though! I keep hearing about how people, after a while, LOVE going to the gym. I wish I could feel that way but I don't. I love LEAVING the gym, not just because I'm done but because I feel so much better and proud of myself. Even while I'm at the gym, I always say "Only 30 minutes" but I always find myself going over to about 45 minutes, because it's really not that bad.

But the act of GOING to the gym... it's like pulling teeth for me. I don't get it, I feel SO good after, and I feel pretty good during, but it's, like, torture, to think about going. While I'm getting dressed to go to the gym I make up every excuse not to go... and I'm ashamed to say that sometimes I manage to convince myself not to go. :(

Obviously, I'm going to go anyway, regardless of how I feel about it, but am I just weird for feeling this way? Is there anyone else who's had this problem and, I don't know, found a way to make getting to the gym not feel so overwhelming? Thanks in advance!

Jess

I can understand this - it's been like that a few days for me, especially when I'm extra tired or we have a heat wave pass through.  What you have to do is really get down to the reason WHY you find it so hard to go to the gym.  Is it the social interaction, is it getting in the car, is it wearing your workout clothes?  What is causing this reluctance to go do something you say you find to be a pretty good experience?

For me, the more of a routine or habit I make going, the easier it is.  I don't even have to think about it - it is just what I do those days.  Keep track of exactly what you are doing each time you work out, so that you can "compete" with yourself to go faster, harder, longer.

you are NOT weird for feeling that way :) I've been going to the gym for about 4 months now and am down 30 pounds, and I still feel that way too. Unfortunetely I don't have much of a solution. I think for me, it's the fact that there are other people there...that can see me...all of me, lol. So I joined a new gym (Gold's Gym) and they have a 'cardio theater' that's basically a dark room with a few cardio machines set up and they play a movie on a big screen TV. I'm not sure if all Gold's has them or not, but it really helps. There usually isn't anyone else in there, and if there is, it's so dark that it doesn't matter. Some days I still convince myself not to go, but I'm getting much better. you kind of just have to suck it up and walk out the door :-/ Good luck, and Congratulations on your loss!

Well for me it's pretty easy problem. There are days I don't want to go to the gym because I feel like a giant lazy butt who would rather stay plopped on the couch. When I feel that way I play this game with myself: just put on your workout clothes and see how you feel

Then I say "drive to the gym and see how you feel"

Ok so now I'm there. I'm not going to leave. I tell myself "go in there for 15 minutes then you can leave" and generally by that point I do my whole work out

Maybe "the gym" isn't the right way for you to get your exercise.  If you enjoy the feeling of having worked out, but not getting to the gym, have you tried other forms of exercise?  Maybe take a long walk?  or start HIIT? or try a video?

I know that for me, finding the right exercise has made every aspect of exercising fun for me, which makes it a good habit, which I can envision doing for the rest of my life.

I have to say, I'm with you.  I don't "love" working out.  But I do love the way I feel when I'm done.  The sense of accomplishment is what keeps me going. 

I feel a whole lot better after a good workout.  It helps me get rid of the stressts and tension of the day, and I feel proud of myself.  If I don't workout, I feel annoyed with myself.  (Of course rest days are good, and I feel equally pround of my resting on these days -- I am an accomplished "rester").

good advice from spirochete. It works. I do the same thing. If I have my work out clothes and shoes on then that's it. I have to do it. I have never - not once - gotten my entire workout clothes together and not gone to work out. Try it. Just make yourself do that. It'll help.

Spirochete has a great point: put on your workout clothes. I find that with just like any other outfit, my type of clothing indicates my mood. If I have my sneakers, mp3 player, and HR monitor on, I find it easier to go.

For me, a routine def works. I rarely workout on the weekends (but try to stay active), but m-f,  I'm at the gym right after work almost each day, or I go for a run/walk. I used to just workout at the gym, but I found that can be pretty monotonous.  Now, I go to the gym for their classes or to swim and other days (like I said) I run/walk, bike ride, garden, clean...basically stay active.  After a while, after you PUSH yourself to go, the gym becomes exilerating and a place I like to push myself to the next level, but if you're bored, you have to change it up.

For me the way I  feel about any exercising is that it's like a job. I don't like going to work but I want money so I go to work. I don't like exercising at all, (never have probably never will) but I like being thin so I do it. For me the motivation is looking at my fat pictures or thinking about when I used to be fat and how I felt about myself. Even just thinking about that has me up and exercising like my life depended on it. And it does.

It's just sadly something that has to be done if you want to be healthy and look good. If you are one of the lucky ones you can find a sport or something that you enjoy and use that as your exercise. Otherwise I'd say just keep your eye on the prize. try to focus on what you are going to feel like after you work out. I always have this big grin on my face when I am coming to the end of my workout because I think about how much it is going to improve my life. The end result is worth all the pain.

Along the same lines as putting on your workout clothes....maybe try investing some good quality work out clothes that make you feel really comfortable, and maybe even sexy ;)

I LOVE my lululemon pants, they so so comfortable, last forever, and (as my boyfriend likes to point), make my ass look great! So I love putting them on and hitting the gym and feeling "fit and sporty".

You so just described my gym love/hate relationship.  Two things that help me are a gym buddy, if I make plans to meet someone its added motivation. (I actually have 3 gym buddies now so I also know I will have someone to meet up with.) I also invested in some home workout equipment and videos.  That way I have no excuse, its just one room over and I don't even have to look 'presentable' to work out.  My gym buddies are the best though.  I get different types of workouts depending on whom I am meeting.  Nothings fool proof u just have to find what works for u.

Well for me I felt the same way. I dreaded getting out of my bed in the morning to go to the gym, but that was the only time I could really go... first thing in the morning as soon as they opened. But I did feel as though I accomplished something while in the gym and was oh so glad to get out of there. I haven't been to the gym in months now... My roommate recently moved out so I don't have anyone to be at the house with the kids in the morning... Even though most of the time they'll sleep til about 6:30 if I don't wake them, I won't chance leaving them alone while I go get 30 minutes in the gym...

Original Post by karozel:

I have to say, I'm with you.  I don't "love" working out.  But I do love the way I feel when I'm done.  The sense of accomplishment is what keeps me going. 

I feel a whole lot better after a good workout.  It helps me get rid of the stressts and tension of the day, and I feel proud of myself.  If I don't workout, I feel annoyed with myself.  (Of course rest days are good, and I feel equally pround of my resting on these days -- I am an accomplished "rester").

Wow, this is exactly how I feel.  What a perfect response! 

I also feel a bit agitated if i haven't worked out, but even though I'm sweating very heavily and finding it harder to breathe, I agree that looking at how I've improved my endurance, both mental and physical, is the best gift in weight loss.

Try signing up for something.  That way, you have to commit for a certain amount of time.  Just the gym is easy to skip out on since you have no obligation to go if you don't feel like it.  I hated working out and I hated pilates, but when I signed up for a class, rather than just the drop-in ones, I found I was forced to go since the group was expecting me ( I found one in which if I skipped, I would lose my spot)  I have been going twice a week for over a year now, and I've just taken over as second-in-command of a weekly walking group.

yep, it's all about putting on the sneakers. I can sit for hours THINKING about how I should just drag my smooshy butt upstairs and jump on the treadmill (I work from home much of the time), but as soon as I put on my socks and sneakers, I HAVE to work out. lol the other day I found myself debating on whether I should "hide" my sneakers so I wouldn't see them straight off and feel guilty and immediately put them on the following day.

Wow, you guys are so awesome -- thanks for all the advice! And for making me feel like I'm not the only one who doesn't adore going to the gym. :D

Spirochete, I used your game idea yesterday, and once I stepped out of my apartment, it became much easier. So, thanks for that, I am definitely going to use it in the future when I'm feeling like a giant lazy butt. ;)

To answer other questions! I've definitely just started the routine of going to the gym after work, so I'm hoping it gets easier over time. I do the elliptical now (I have gotten hip injuries from running before so I want to lose a significant amount of weight before I try putting that kind of pressure on my joints again), and sometimes I switch it up and walk... but besides that, yeah, I should probably start changing up my workouts so I don't get bored, lol. I'll definitely try it -- maybe adding weight training or classes? -- thanks for that advice! My only gym buddy is my boyfriend, and he's great at motivating me, but sometime he's off studying late or he's too tired and he won't budge (even after all my nagging for him to come with me!), and those are the days that I really need to learn how to push myself.

As far as the psychology behind why it's so hard for me to get to the gym, I don't know. I think it just comes down to my being lazy, but it's sort of an unusual thing for me -- I go to work every day and work really hard, I have no problem doing house chores when they need to be done... but for some reason, my crazy brain puts working out in a different category. I'm guessing it's self-sabotage.

Oh, and I have the worst workout clothes ever, lol. I haven't gone shopping for clothes for a while, so I have ratty XL shirts and baggy sweat pants that make me look fatter than I am. But no worries, I have already made my 25-lb-loss-goal reward a new set of workout clothes. :)