Why is it so hard to stay motivated?!

C

clothesminded

Cathlete
Why is it so darn hard to stay motivated to exercise?! It's not like I hate doing it. When I do it, I love the feeling of being strong and sweating it out. It's not like I'm really busy. I don't have kids. I get home at 4. I really should have no excuse. So, why can't I stick with working out longer than two weeks?! I can workout hard on Sat. and Sun. when then after work on Monday I just feel no drive to do it. I always say that I'll just skip Monday, but Monday turns into Tues., and Wed..... then it's Sat. again.

I don't even have to motivate myself to do my job- to meet tough deadlines, grade essays for 8 hours....and I don't even enjoy some of it. I don't set goals for these things. I just DO them.

So, why is it so hard to do something that I KNOW is good for me?!
I just don't get it. Why are some things/tasks easier to find motivation for, even if you don't like them, and others aren't, even when you like them?!
 
I think it is normal for motivation to waver. We aren't always going to be really fired up about working out... we just have to do it anyway. I try to not think about it a lot, to not check in with myself and see how I am 'feeling', or if I 'feel' like exercising. I have a regular exercise time and I just do it without too much forethought. I don't know what your work schedule is, but for me it is much harder to get in a workout if I don't do it first thing in the morning, very early. More excuses seem to crop up as the day goes by. My biggest excuse for not exercising in the PM is that I don't want to take a second shower!

Perhaps you are burned out on whatever your current workouts are? Try something new and different to generate some excitement.
 
It's hard sometimes. Just keep plugging away.

Janie

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The idea is to die young as late as possible.
 
I have no problem fitting it in when it's summer and I don't work.
I can workout around 9 and that seems perfect.
Maybe I'll just have to start working out in the mornings when next school year starts up. But that would mean getting up earlier than the 5:30 current time. I just don't know if I could get up at 4:30. That's crazy!
 
You sound like me!:) BTW, love your user name, are you a fellow clotheshorse?:p

I am sitting here wasting time when I should be doing a leg workout,so I totally understand. I am pouring a cup of coffee and hoping that might do the trick!
I agree with the others, sometimes you just have to "do it". Not every workout is going to be kick butt, not every workout will make you feel great, but its the overall picture you have to look at, your hard work pays off in a healthier, nicer looking body! And you have to admit, it helps relieve stress and stuff too right?:p
 
I used to get up at 4:30 to exercise years ago, back when I worked outside the home. It wasn't pretty, but it was necessary. I experimented with different approaches (morning, right after work, late at night), and the AM workout ~ as crazy as that hour is ~ was the best. Winter time was tough though. x(
 
Tneah- Thanks for the compliment on my username. Yes, I would def. call myself true to that name :)

I just can't seem to figure out what motivates me to do it. I'm slim already. Rewards don't work since I pretty much get whatever I want anyway. I'm not burned out on working out. How can you be when you work out for 2 weeks and then take a month off?! :-( I'm such a focused, organized person in every other aspect of life. That's why this just doesn't make sense to me!

Thanks for the suggestions.
If anyone has any more, I would love to hear them.
 
When I get the the "no workout today" rut I force myself to go straight to the bedroom when I get home and put on my workout clothes. Then I will come here to the Cathe boards and always seem to find the motivation after playing on the boards a bit. Especially the rotations board or the check ins board. All pretty highly motivational.

Very few times will I not get my bootah in gear and just not workout at all.

If nothing else, I feel kinda "dumb" being dressed to workout and not doing it:p

Maybe start posting on the checkin board and it helps you stay accountable.
 
How about working out 3 days a week? That way you aren't forcing yourself to get up at some awful hour every morning. Maybe you could work out on a Wednesday and then Sat/Sun. Once you get comfy with that, your exercise schedule may evolve naturally (meaning you'll see that Wednesday isn't so bad, and it may even feel good, so why not try Monday...). Or perhaps that 3 day schedule will work perfectly for you, and you won't have to change it.

As for motivation, mine has changed over the years. I used to kill myself back in the 80s and 90s because I wanted to stay thin. Even building muscle wasn't appealing to me. Now at 38 I want to be strong, keep my joints flexible, my heart in great shape, my mind clear ~ I want to be in shape for my grandkids. :) I want to still be going to yoga class when I'm in my 70s.

Try thinking about how exercise strengthens your bones, reduces stress and/or your risk of cancer. Stuff like that. Maybe that'll inspire you.
 
I agree with those who say work out in the AM. Also, work out 3 days during the week and Saturday & Sunday. I'm all about working out so my clothes fit - it's all about vanity, so there! I have to do it because I have nothing in my closet that doesn't fit, so I can't gain weight.
 
Funny as I was just talking about this last night with my PT clients. I was telling them how I am doing a new exercise/diet program in an effort to lose body fat because I want the elusive 6 pack abs! One of the gals thought I was crazy for wanting to LOSE anything more. I explained to her that it's a goal. It's something to strive for. I will lose my motivation to work out and eat right if I don't have something waiting for me down the line.

I don't ALWAYS have a goal and I truly find that's when things start to go wayward on me. I rarely blow off a work out but I don't work as hard and my eating gets sloppy.

Try to come up with a goal and then strive for it. It should help increase your motivation to work out. :)

HTH!
 
I'm in the same boat. Hard for me to stay motivated plus I hate dragging myself to the cold dark basement during the summer season when I rather sit on the deck with a book.

I used to workout like mad, but I find life is too short for that. I try to workout during the work week but if I want to do something else or don't have the motivation I don't bother, and I certainly don't sweat it (no pun intended). There is no way I work out on the weekend. That is my time to enjoy my days without having to sweat. I might throw in a leisurely stroll.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Just be certain that you watch your food intake on the days you don't want to workout. At least you won't feel too guilt ridden on those days.
 
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