What's Your Motivation?

[confusedks]

So, basically I'm trying to get motivated to go to the gym regularly. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas to help make me want to go? (I know...I'm kinda looking for a magic wand, that nobody has )

Anyone?

[JNBunnie1]

So, basically I'm trying to get motivated to go to the gym regularly. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas to help make me want to go? (I know...I'm kinda looking for a magic wand, that nobody has )

Anyone?

Ummm... I joined a class and then I felt guilty when I didn't show up. That kinda helped. I'd rather walk around my neighborhood or ride my bike now that the weather's more permitting though.

[Green12]

Other than my expanded backside?

I think it might be more difficult to get started and to stick with it if it is a "have to". If you could find reasons to "want to".

I look at exercise as a part of my protocol (this might be helpful for your case too K), it gets the oxygen flowing throughout the body, stimulates the lymphatic system, moves toxins.

Also, finding something you enjoy doing can make it fun.

[confused]

Well i dont go to the gym, but my motivation to exercise is clothes. I just bought lots of cute bra shirts and tank from victorias secret and i dont look hot in them lol. I need to lose this tummy so I will look hot lol.

I think exercise for you would be great kassandra. It will lift your moods and make you feel great. Give youreslf little rewards every time you make it an week staight or 10 days.

[Mango04]

Donna... :lol: about the tank tops.

Kass. - Maybe if you hate the gym you can go to a yoga or dance studio....or find a nice trail you might enjoy walking or running on. You could find some stairs or a hill near the beach to run up and down. I found a good trail last summer and I always looked forward to getting outside and working out because of it. I think the right location can help.

[blueeyedmanda]

My motivation was getting a gym partner and together we went. Then one day she was going away for a week....but I kept going since after I would go to the gym I felt better about myself. I think that was my motivation and I have not been to the gym in 2 weeks but I have done outdooring excersing instead, long walks/rollerblading.

[Sweetfudge]

I'm kinda looking for a magic wand, that nobody has

If you ever find that...hook me up!!!

My motivation to go the gym is to NOT get asked if i'm pregnant anymore. I was just thinking this morning as I was getting ready for work, "hm, I think I look skinnier." Then a patient had the nerve to ask me if I was expecting! They always default to "Oh, I thought I remembered someone in the office being pregnant"....yeah, 8 months ago she was. Sometimes I just want to be really rude back and say something really smart, but usually I just laugh and say that I'm bloated and out of shape.

I used to be really skinny, so I keep all my cute skinny pants hanging up in the closet next to my non-skinny ones, so I see them every time I get dressed. That's a helpful reminder Also, I like to remind myself that I'm going to go out and buy a sexy swimsuit soon...I hope!

[tarnalberry]

the gym doesn't work so well for me. finding things I like to do - yoga, hiking, running (outside) all work a lot better.

[laurelfla]

TV!!! At my gym, there are 6 different screens downstairs in the "cardio theater", but upstairs each machine has its own screen. One day I found "Friends" on, and I ran 10 minutes longer than I'd planned because I wanted to see the whole episode! The food channel used to be good, but it makes me too hungry to watch anymore. CNN helps me catch up on what's going on. When there's nothing good on, I like to wear my iPod, and I buy songs that I hear on the radio that I think will pump me up and make me run faster.

I just finished my doctoral exams (three weeks writing over 20 pages a week) and so I didn't go to the gym much, and you wouldn't believe the mood swings I've had! Of course, the stress has definitely been a factor, but since I've been going to the gym since the end of January and doing cardio and lifting weights, my body misses it if I don't go.

Good luck! We can cheer each other on here if you want!

[JNBunnie1]

I just wanted to add a little note to all the women that enjoy hiking and biking and running on secluded trails-please bring something with which to defend yourself. And a cell phone. Women exercising are one of the best targets out there, they're alone, they're weaponless, and they're distracted by both what they're doing and usually earphones. Please keep this in mind, especiually for you early-morning runners. Most attacks on women happen between 5 and 8 in the morning, probably for this reason. You guys rock, I don't want to lose any of you!

[tarnalberry]

I just wanted to add a little note to all the women that enjoy hiking and biking and running on secluded trails-please bring something with which to defend yourself. And a cell phone. Women exercising are one of the best targets out there, they're alone, they're weaponless, and they're distracted by both what they're doing and usually earphones. Please keep this in mind, especiually for you early-morning runners. Most attacks on women happen between 5 and 8 in the morning, probably for this reason. You guys rock, I don't want to lose any of you!

I have to admit, one of the things I like most about getting out for a good day hike or backpack is being out of cell phone range. There are obviously important precautions - leave your itinerary behind with someone, and an estimated time that you will get in contact with them when you are done; stay aware of your surroundings (headphones certainly get in the way of doing this!); choose locations where you would be alone wisely; etc.

It's something that's discussed often on hiking forums, and was a very hot topic of discussion in the PacNorthwest last year when a woman and her daughter were murdered during what appeared to be a day hike on a relatively popular trail in the Central Cascades. It's important to look at the statistics for your activity. For hiking/backpacking in the woods, your odds are actually quite low, but preparation never hurt anyone. For running in trails through parks where human predators can count on a high selection of victims, your odds may well be higher. I know that I'd be far more worried, in this area, if I was daily running around Greenlake park at 5 in the morning, than trail running Cougar Mountain in the afternoon, than hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in the Central Cascades, even though the first is *far* less secluded than the second which is less secluded than the third.

Point being - learn the details, location specific risks and history for your area, so you can make educated decisions. It's not like the gym doesn't have any risks for stalkers either. But we all manage the real world we live in, and have fun.