How do you motivate yourself to exercise when you hate it?

[Madamedeluxe]

I have barely done any exercise for a long time (single parent, young dc) and I am completely out of the routine. Fortunately I have a bit more time at the moment to start doing something a few times a week.

There is a class on tomorrow morning at my local gym but I am already making excuses to myself not to go. I will be glad when I’ve been but getting there is hard. I feel I will have to drag myself there and it seems so much effort.

How do you motivate yourself when you really don’t feel like it?

Find an activity you do enjoy.

Some people love running, I hate it so go hiking instead.

There are lots of ways to exercise, swimming, videos at home, groups and clubs, just try different things until you find what you like.

Yes I need an activity I would look forward to. I have never liked running but I could try different classes as I give up too easily on my own.

I.don't particularly enjoy the class.i go to but it is an all over workout so feels really worthwhile & I go with a friend so we never bail on each other without a good reason.
Plus I pay 4 weeks up front & lose money if I don't go. I hate losing money!

I just don't think about it, I do it on auto pilot and look forward to the adrenaline rush afterwards.

Don’t think about it - just do it!! Honestly, that’s how I used to get myself to go. I made it non-negotiable for myself - I WAS going and that was that. Plus knowing that it was setting me up for a day of feeling really great. I’ve been going for about a year now, at least 3 times a week and it has become habit so most days I don’t even consider not going. It has done wonders for me and I feel great, so it’s well worth it! Good luck OP, just know you won’t regret going, but you will most likely feel rubbish about chickening out!

Can you get a friend to go to a class with you? Maybe if you make an arrangement to do something together, you’d feel bad if you cancelled on them at the last minute.

If you have the money, I’d highly recommend getting a personal trainer.
The ONLY reason I’m motivated to go to the gym is because I’ve already paid my trainer for quite a few sessions upfront, plus he’s absolutely incredible. Even one session a week can make a difference.

Definitely find something you like, and then find people you like if you can.

I HATED exercise, I started going to a class and happened to make a group OF really, really lovely friends there, I've been going twice a week for the last 3 years, not really for the exercise , but for the people, so the exercise becomes less noticeable because you're having fun.

It’s so difficult at the start. I follow a few fitness blogger types on Instagram and see the quote come up often that it isn’t motivation but habit that develops an exercise routine. This has definitely become the case for me- I hated exercising when I first started and constantly made excuses. Now it is like second nature as I’ve made it a habit.

Another tip which helped me was to not focus on what you’re trying to lose (weight) but instead focus on what you are gaining- the endorphins from exercise, the strength, the long lasting health benefits.

It’s so vital to find something you enjoy which gives you that ‘feel good’ feeling from the endorphins- for me it’s running but it’s so different for everyone.

Good luck OP! It is horrible getting started but once you get into it it’s so incredibly rewarding

Instead of torturing yourself, do something you actually like and enjoy. My exercise is walking now because it's free, easy and I can fit 45 minutes into every day at lunch I never skip it because it's my break from the office. Even at weekends, I can drag the kids along for a trek round the woods etc.

You do need to find something you enjoy, or you won't do it.
What classes are your local gym offering?

I love zumba, yoga, both fun exercises and walking.

Even with exercise you like/enjoy, sometimes it's a struggle to drag yourself there. We all have those days when we're tired or preoccupied or would just rather be doing something else. On days like this, I remind myself that to get the results - and I love the results - consistency is key. The only bad training session is the one you don't do. So I drag myself there and I grind through the exercise hoping/waiting for the endorphins to kick in. And I remind myself that these are the days when you really make the gains.

I would definitely be motivated by doing something with a friend but don’t know anyone who can come in the daytime.

I agree about the habit. I will probably be fine when i have started doing something regularly but getting to that stage is the tricky bit.

I don’t like anything slow like yoga or Pilates as I find the hour goes really slowly and I keep looking at the clock.

I prefer jumping around and getting out of puff.

Hate it and have yet to find a form of exercise I like . Have just completed couch to 5K and the onky thing that made me do it was doing it with a friend. We forced each other to get out and do it and so many nights I turned out because I didnt want to let her down.

I don't enjoy it but really like the conditioner available in the changing rooms at my gym. The thought of that actually motivates me to go 😂 (and the gin at the bar afterwards)

Don’t think about it - just do it!! Honestly, that’s how I used to get myself to go. I made it non-negotiable for myself - I WAS going and that was that.

Definitely this!

I think "motivation" can be really overrated and waiting to feel it just stops any progress.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow, I am hating it a bit at present, but I will go because if I don't I won't get paid and would ultimately get sacked, plus I'd be letting down my clients, colleagues and employer.

I figure I owe myself at least as much as I owe them so I get on and exercise even if I'm not really feeling like it.

Good luck!

Do it for health reasons.

I had to find an exercise I enjoyed. I hated the gym - it was just exercise for exercise's sake. But I loved doing a martial art as I was learning a skill and the exercise was a by-product almost. Even though it was very good exercise

I am going to read everyone’s comments again in the morning before I put my trainers on!

I got an Apple Watch and gamefied it. Don’t like breaking my streak!

Do something you enjoy is always best, but I’ve always found that just being mindless about exercise is best. Just go when the clock says you should go, and no further thought (I always find I can talk myself out of it).

Besides, I hate dragging myself out, but I never regret going once there.

I tell myself I only have to do 10 minutes of my chosen exercise. If after 10 minutes I want to pack it in, I can. Most of the time, I’m totally into it at 10 minutes and continue on to the end. A few times, I did decide to stop. I congratulated myself for getting to 10, hitch is better than nothing.

I listen to audiobooks in the gym. It makes the time go much faster and is much more enjoyable.