the hardest part about exercising
so the hardest part about exercising for me is to actually get my butt up off the couch (figuratively & literally on weekends). i have to half encourage half bully myself into doing it. it can be very wearying. once im doing it i am fine. anyone else have this problem? what do you do to talk yourself into making that first push to get to the gym or where ever you exercise? im running out of things to tell myself.
I have the same problem! What I usually do is tell myself that I have to do say 10-15 minutes then if I really want to stop I can. Often once I've done 10 - 15 minutes I'm actually ready to exercise so I go ahead and do 30+ minutes. If after 15 minutes I still am really dreading the workout then I'll stop and know that at least I did something.
I also try to add small bits of extra activity (dancing to music, gardening, housework, getting up and going to see coworkers instead of emailing or paging them) here and there during the day. It's not much at the time but it all adds up.
Just remember that you don't have to go to the gym or do a set "workout" to burn calories and tone muscles. Everything we do to be active helps. So get off your butt and just move - dance, take a walk, do some housework, do yardwork or garden. Good luck.
I just don't give myself a choice in the matter. Plus, I listen to my dads advice: 'The most important days to exercise are the days you don't want to.'
ok thanks. yes i too would tell myself i'll only do 10 minutes if not i'll stop. only about 3 times did i actually need to stop.
i have actually been doing ok this year, workingout 4-6 times a week, once in awhile a little less. only took about a week's break after finishing a 10k mini-marathon.
but yesterday was so hard to get myself to the gym. i practically had to curse myself. i mean i went there & all, and i was happy while there and after i got home. felt great to do it, but it took more mental energy to get there then it did to actually do the workout.
alle0299, interesting advice, i must try to tell myself that. did your dad say exactly why its the most important days? i just need would like to know because the next time i'll have to reason with myself and sometimes that voice can be a bit stubborn.
I have the exact same problem!! I go about 3-4x a week, and some (okay, so most) of those days I hate getting out of my pajamas and going to work my butt of :/
I try to just tell myself that it's going to help me get to my goal. Some days I even have to tell myself that if I work out, I can have an extra 100-200 calories ;]
I've never regreted getting up and going to the gym, but there's been times I got lazy and didn't go, and I certainly regretted that.
I used to have the same problem, bad! I finally hired a personal trainer and started making 2 or 3 appointments a week with him, which forced me to go with no choice or opportunity to make excuses. Now, on my non-training days, I still go and do cardio. I know that if I go home and sit down on the couch it's all over, so when I leave work, go to my house and immediately change into my work out clothes and head to the gym.
completely! but when i have had a work out i always feel so much better afterwards, especially if i've eaten unhealthily that day as i don't feel guilty then. excercise definitely puts me in a much better mood so i just tell myself i will feel better afterwards and soon i will look better as well. :)
GET A DOG! lol. My dog wakes me up at 6am every morning so even if I try to sleep in, she's there, licking my face telling me to take her for our walk... so cute!
Also, it sounds like you need to stop beating yourself up. Stop looking at your workout as a punishment and instead look at it as a reward. You get a full hour (or half hour or whatever) to yourself. You can focus on you and you only! Isn't that great?
Original Post by la_fadeaway:
I used to have the same problem, bad! I finally hired a personal trainer and started making 2 or 3 appointments a week with him, which forced me to go with no choice or opportunity to make excuses. Now, on my non-training days, I still go and do cardio. I know that if I go home and sit down on the couch it's all over, so when I leave work, go to my house and immediately change into my work out clothes and head to the gym.
i had to make my mother get a trainer. its only once a week but i am hoping like you, soon she will learn to like to exercise.
Original Post by kristinealaine:
GET A DOG! lol. My dog wakes me up at 6am every morning so even if I try to sleep in, she's there, licking my face telling me to take her for our walk... so cute!
Also, it sounds like you need to stop beating yourself up. Stop looking at your workout as a punishment and instead look at it as a reward. You get a full hour (or half hour or whatever) to yourself. You can focus on you and you only! Isn't that great?
ohhh, i would love to get a dog, just love to. but my lifestyle & apartment wont facilitate it as of yet. but soon, soon.
i actually dont look at the workout as a punishment but it's just that on a weekend sitting relaxing on the couch with a book, just so hard to get up from that position.
I usually listen to my mp3 player when I exercise. I'm starting to look forward to my exercise time now because that's when I get to pick the music I'm listening to instead of what my kids want.
I also use that time as strictly "me time" my kids & husband know that is my time and I'm not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary. It helps me to relieve stress & unwind after work that way.
Just a few other ideas that might help.
I have exactly the same problem. All day I do deals with myself....I'll got at lunchtime.....no I'll go about 3ish...no I'll go at 5....I'll go at 7....I'll go tomorrow..definately!
I don't know why because when I actually walk in the door I love it there. And afterwards I feel I could conquer the world.
Today I didn't manage to get to the gym....but i'm definately going tomorrow!
i found that once i started going every single day (telling myself i don't actually have to do anything if i don't want to) it's a heck of a lot easier. i don't have to talk myself into anything at all.
even if i do 2000 m on the rowing machine, it's something... but most days i do a full workout and feel fine.
