How do you keep motivated to workout?

I literally fight with myself for about half hour everyday when I am trying to get to the gym. I literally have to force myself to go. What keeps you going?

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

Some of my incentives are:
I like to move & sweat after sitting most of the day
I get more back pain & leg pain when I don't exercise enough
I know I'll sleep better at night if I work out
I want my clothes to fit & not have to go up a size & buy new ones
I want to feel like I can eat normally & not worry too much about gaining
I like trying to meet new running goals for distance/speed
I paid a lot for my gym membership & don't want to feel like I wasted it
It helps me relieve stress

So maybe think about the reasons you want/need to exercise & remind yourself of them when you don't feel like doing it. I kind of have to do that because for me I feel like it's too easy for me to fall into a routine of not exercising and then hard to get back into it.

Message edited 9/19/2010 1:12:22 AM.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

I do an activity that I enjoy, pay a lot for it, and set a realistic goal of how many times a week I can get there.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

1. so I can eat

2. I usually have to sign up for some kind of race to keep up with a running schedule.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

I have several motivators - some are ridiculous, some are not

1 - I do what I love (dance, weights, pilates based work outs). I can't just use the machines because I'll get so bored and never go.

2 - Gym buddies! I think I've become friendly with everyone in my dance classes and am actually friends with 5 girl. If one of us doesn't go, the 'where were you' texts start!

3 - Eye candy Not tons but certainly enough

4 - In the winter I only like beach vacations. Needing to be somewhat beach ready year round is a huge motivator.

5 - I don't love running but I love what it does for me so I look for songs for my iPod that make me want to GO. It helps a lot.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

My motivation tends to decrease as the weather gets cold. I love running outside, but here in Albany, winter weather can be awful. I do not mind running outside up to like 30 degrees - after that I need to go to the gym. I just make sure I pack my gym bag and bring it to work. I go directly after work - I do not even think about going home. At this point, it is more routine then anything.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

Maybe I'm weird but I actually love working out. It's such a big stress reliever for me and I just find it fun.

One thing I would suggest- download some new, fun songs to your ipod and make a fun playlist. Then just get lost in the music.

OR find something new/fun to do at the gym. Maybe you're getting bored with the same routine? I switch it up once in awhile if I get bored.

Re: How do you keep motivated to workout?

I love working out so I may not be the best person to answer this, but I will say that it really just becomes part of your routine. The days that I don't go to the gym I feel like crap. My body is so used to it now that if I miss a day I feel as if I'm dragging.

But as far as motivation goes, I think of how good I will look and feel after working out. Being thin is different then being fit. So even if you lose the weight you want to lose you still need the exercise to feel and look fit.

Keeping up with my kids is another motivation for me. Yesterday my daughter had a rock wall climbing party and I climbed the wall with her all the way to the top. It was an amazing feeling. And knowing that a year ago I couldn't have done it has kept me motivated.