What motivates u to work out?

I am a natural-born couch potato and I hate exercise and working out. However I have recently gained like 30 pounds because of binge eating disorder adn I am now trying to lose 30 pounds. I know without doing exercise I can't lose weight, but I am always too lazy to work out. Even with an elliptical cross trainer in my room and a membership in the gym club, I can think of all kinds of excuse to NOT work out. Sometimes I'd jsut feel so tired after I return from school and just sleep on bed rather than do exercise. I just want to know, anyone hates exercises just like me and manage to force themself to workout somehow?

i have to get up and do it in the morning, otherwise i'd also be too tired at night to do it, just another excuse huh?  try finding an activity you like and work towards a specific goal...for me I've started running and I am working on running a 5k i've signed up for at the end of october the proceeds go to the new mexico cancer center and it's on the aniversary of my grandma's death, from cancer.  I keep that goal in mind all the time when I am working out so I know not only am i doing this to loose weight but also to help a "greater good" it makes my runs more meaningful and the fact that i'm working to accomplish this goal keeps me motivated to get out there and improve.

gettiing stuck in my weight loss was enough for me....butI hate working out too I brought my tredmill inside and watchTV while im working out..takes my mind off what Im doing I also do lunges and squats sometimes ab work outs...TV is a great distraction..  HATE HATE HATE EXERCISE but its either that or flab LOL

there are always a million things I want to do and read, inside sitting down, but I make myself do because I know that I will feel better and have more energy afterward.  It also has a cumulative effect, as you lose weight, and get more active, you feel better and more energic all the time, so it gets easier, the more often you just get up and do it.

Yeah... but everytime I workout I have a goal in mind like, do the elliptical for 30 mins... whenever I start working out the minutes seem to be passing sooooo S L O W L Y.....

I listen to hip hop at the gym, with lots of swearing and talking about hot women.... I would NEVER listen to that stuff at home, but it pumps me when I'm doing my cardio.... (Shhhhh...dont tell)

How about trying something besides the gym? Hiking? The time goes by much faster when you have changing scenery!

hey systo,

honestly?  the prospect of eating motivates me to exercise.  i get up in the morning and think, "go to the gym and you'll be able to EAT! it's not a super healthy mentality, but i'm a hungry person for whom a hard-boiled egg w/yogurt just does not cut it for.  i know if i exercise, i won't gain weight from the food i eat.

Ive got the same issue :)  especially the time problem, even if i mange to force myself to work out, time goes by SO slowly and sometimes I puss out and stop.  TV doesnt help at all... music almost makes it worse because instead of keeping track of time with a clock, I'm measuring it by the number of songs I can make it through and it sure makes songs seem a lot longer than they are, lol.  I enjoy lifting much more than cardio, because you can sort of do it slowly and at your own pace.  Maybe you could try that?  Otherwise, when you figure it out let me know, i could use some motivation too :) 

I do not like working out either. But what gets me motivated is, I love music. So whenever I go jogging, I just listen to my mp3 player and it helps pass the time away. I also love that I can jog for so long. I'm very proud of myself. Also, when I work out I feel like I can eat certain things that I would normally feel guilty about eating. You could always try something fun like dancing or soccer or something. I just recently bought a jump rope and it's pretty fun. Good Luck!

I am interested in what kind of workouts the people who hate working out do?

I think part of the problem is too many people follow the crowd and do what other people do. when in reality different ways you can exercise is limitless.

exercise is not synonomous with treadmills and elipticals. Find something you enjoy and challenge yourself. Your workouts should never be boring, always challenging.

I cant imagaine doing exercise unless I enjoyed it. Just try and find something you enjoy and exercise will become an ends not just a means.  

Working out always makes me feel good.  Maybe you can remind yourself of all the good stuff it does for you.  Even if you hate it while you are doing it, you can look forward to those endorphins kicking in!  Find work outs that you like.   Pick the best time of the day for you and then just do it!  Don't over think it just get in the groove and go!   Your mind and body will thank you!

I lost 50 lbs in a few months just by watching my calorie intake closely & walking 3 miles per day (my doctor recommended the program).  Weight loss results simply when you can successfully use more calories than you take in.  If you don't like to exercise, eat less (don't go anorexic, and if you have any doubts, talk to your doctor).  By eating less, you will have less of a hurdle to overcome when trying to create your caloric deficiency & weight loss.

Also, don't "exercise."  Instead, find an activity that you love that does not include eating, sitting or laying down.  For me, walking is perfect; I don't need any equipment, I don't have to go out of my way to go someplace, and I get some quality alone time.  I have an office job, so I am usually sitting, and walking also gives me the opportunity to see my neighborhood & get some fresh air.  I try to find new paths so that when I go I am getting a new experience & breaking things up.  I would try something that you really enjoy: swimming, hiking, skipping, shopping (endurance style-go to the mall and set a goal to walk the whole thing 2-3 times at a good pace before you get what you came for), etc., or maybe a sport.  The key is to get moving!  Once you do, you'll feel too good to quit!

I love working out now that my body is playing along doing It!

Walked up a really steep hill on the weekend without being totally winded afterwards.

I keep my working out varied. I go for long walks with my weight loss group, do Tai Chi on Saturdays, do Pilates Monday night and work out at the gym three times a week in the morning.

Once the city worker strike is over I will also start swimming again and I definitely want to try Aquafit.

I get my motivation from knowing how good it feels once I am done and this morning my motivation was listening to some of the new work out tunes I downloaded to my MP3. Last week it was my new runners.

I think doing something you like and keep some variety is the key.

what motivates me is simply that it's the only way for me to lose any weight at all, that combined with portion control. I tried portion control alone, and it did not work. I was stable, but I did not lose anything.

I hate working out too and because of my job... it's usually an everyday thing.  (too bad I love my job)  I think I'm the kind of person who would rather chew their right arm off than run.  It's awful.... I found something that really works for me though.  You might think I'm crazy but Rugby is where it's at.  (ergo my name- a hooker is a position, I promise...)  I run with the team at least 2 miles every other day and the girls are all just like me.  Honestly, no one there is under 140- minimum... For the first time in my life someone called me "tiny".  It's not that we're all big sausages either- we're just a bunch of (what I like to call) sturdy girls who love to hang out and have fun together.  Once you get around them (the team) you can't help but feel happy and excited.  I've been playing for two full weeks now and it seems like the more fun I have, the more weight I lose.  Plus, being fairly new to the area I now have a group of professional girls who enjoy the same things I do.  I know it looks scary, but if I can pick it up in two weeks anyone can.  I had no prior experience and penchant for the spazzy. 

 

Ps- If you want to see the team to see what I'm talking about the website is www.jamesriverrugby.com/ 

The main exercise I do is I go on 2 hour walks, 3 times a week. I didn't start out doing this though. I started out doing 15 minutes 3 times a week and then upped it from there. I usually go walking with my roommate which is nice because she is my best friend and we can talk about anything and nothing at all for hours on end. If I can't go with her I get a "book on tape" or CD and listen to it while walking. Having something to occupy your mind really helps. In the last two years I discovered a great sport that helps tone and firm the entire body. Color Guard! (the stuff where you spin 6ft metal poles with flags on them around and throw them and spin and throw battons, rifles, sabres, etc.) Throwing that flag pole is really a workout. At the spring show last year I was toned enough to throw the flag and the pole well above 15ft high. I've also recently started pilates.

It is hard to get up and moving at first, but once you start and you get a routine set down it is hard to stop. Part of the reason that you may be so tired is that you don't sleep well enough at night because, even though your mind is tired, your body may not be all that physically tired.

there have been lots of good suggestions.  i personally enjoy working out, most of the time.  I prefer the treadmill to the elliptical, but because in my head I'm a superfast runner.  I would prefer to actually run outside, but my neighborhood is the pits.  When I do do the elliptical, it's pretty tortuous, and time definately s-l-o-w-s down. 

But experiment with different activities to find one that you enjoy, or that challenges you.  Try aerobics classes, sometimes the group workouts are cheesy but sometimes they motivate me to push past my limits.  (ie I don't want to be the wimpiest one in the class, so I keep going even when I want to stop).  I love spin classes.  But try step, or body pump or zumba or hip hop.  If you like to dance, just go dancing or dance around your house a few times a week.  Try swimming, walking, playing tennis or volleyball or some other sport.  Join a team or group, or find a friend to do it with.

Because you don't have to work out to get exercise, that's the key - just do something active.  Try to incorporate little changes into your life as well...park further away, take the stairs, walk the long way, those are little ways to incorporate some activity into your life. 

As someone else previously mentioned, I too have to workout first thing in the morning, because I can talk myself out of it very easily in the evenings.  I've been waking up at 5:30 every morning for the past 7 weeks, now it is such a habit that I don't even need the alarm.  But experiment and find what works for you, and enjoy yourself!

I used to really hate working out. Hence why I havent done it for years...

I do remember doing Tie Bo (well it was a knock off of it. She called it Tie Box. It was great) and how enthralling it was to kick and punch the air. But after a while my dad didnt care anymore so we stoped going... Oh well.

I really love to lift weights though. It took a bit but I can see the results! I used to flex my arm and it would just wiggle a bit. Now I have Muscles!!! O_O Its amazing.

Also I ride the stationary bike. I found that when I shimmy my but down in the seat a bit it really works on my bum. Its all cute now! Ive never had a cute bum!!!

Other than those positives I dont really like  it, but you have to brainwash yourself to think that you love it. Dont make yourself think 'have to' or else it will become a chore. Think 'want to' and you might end up not hating it as much.

 Also Ive found comming here for support to when I didnt want to go or anything was the best. Everyone is so helpful and motivational!