Please help me motivate myself to get my arse to the gym.

[AlexaShutUp]

Joined quite recently, did really well at the start. Haven't been for the last few days as it has been really hectic. Promised myself that I would go today but I'm really struggling to motivate myself. Please give me a kick up the backside...

GET MOVING YOU WORTHLESS MAGGOT!

Well, that told me @Galassia.

Putting my gym kit on... think that might be half the battle.

GO TO THE FUCKING GYM

Just do it.

Been yet? Glowing?

You will feel so much better once you have been. Not just physically but mentally and you will have a sense of achievement.

Work out how much it costs you per day to do nothing.

Thanks all. I've changed into my gym stuff. Just got to get out of the house now. I know you're right, I will feel better once it's done

@Byheckythump

Work out how much it costs you per day to do nothing.

Ha! A fortune! Good point!

Just go for a short amount of time. Don't feel as if you have to be in there for ages. Why don't you just go there and walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes then leave? (Or if you feel energised after that use some of the machines).

I always put off going to the gym but now I tell myself that I'll only go for a short while and that helps me feel it's achievable.

Put your gym kit on, grab a bottle of water, phone and headphones and you're ready to go. Tell yourself you're just going for 15 minutes.

Remember that you'll enjoy it. You'll get that high. Even half an hour and you'll feel better.

Good plan. 15 mins sounds manageable. I'll probably end up staying longer!

i joined SYFO on instagram and do daily exercise at home. However Richie Swan is brilliant at focussing the mind. Set your intentions, get off the couch, get off your phone, dont listen to the nagging doubt voice in your head......MOVE

Ok. Thanks all. Got my trainers on. Going out of the door.

Just go, don't think about it.

Love the gym me, total buzz afterwards.

In the long run book some PT sessions
Then there's no way you can back out and let them down
That's the only thing that helped me stick at it for the long term in the end.
It is expensive but actually it's been well worth the investment vs a wasted gym membership and I have got a lot more confidence and ability to exercise on my own too.
I have a 'shared PT' membership in a small group of up to 3 people which reduces the
cost to being manageable.
It's still a luxury but I think that vs takeaways, alcohol, cigarettes or whatever other unhealthy luxuries I may indulge in its worth it.

I listened to a really good podcast about this recently (I will link if I can find it). Motivation drops around 3 weeks in commonly. Motivation alone is also a really poor way to maintain long term adherence. For doing something long term you need good levels of will power. Understanding why you are doing something is good for keeping the will levels up. Often we have a vague idea that 'it's good for us' but that's not enough. We need to understand what is good and why it is and that's what gives us the will power.

It also depends on the type of personality you have. You might be someone who needs someone to buddy up with to keep you going.

One thing that does work and it sounds mad is this:
Get ready and drive to the gym. Park and then go straight home. Do it every day.
Then drive to the gym, park, go in for a minute and go home. Repeat and then do 5 minutes. Eventually you will want to stay longer of your own accord but if you jump straight in and try and do an hour say, it won't work. Our brains are strange things!

Thanks all. I went and did about an hour. Feel much better for having gone, so I appreciate all of the encouragement. Some good tips here for the longer term too!

I put my sessions in the diary. Great that you went

Well done OP.

I mainly do classes as once you start, you have to finish. But I do go to the gym on my own too. Always feel better once I've been!

Research shows wearing nice gym increases intensity of workout - get some nice kit, preferably expensive ones so you feel guilty not making use of it.

Well done. You are no longer a worthless maggot!

Thanks @Galassia.

I book classes as I find the gym so boring! At least I know if I do a class, I'll work hard for an hour. Also, you have to book them and can't cancel last minute so there's some accountability.

I try to make sure that I don’t leave it more than three days between sessions or I get out of the habit!

Good strategy @Iwouldlikesomecake. I will try to remember that.

@VioletCharlotte, unfortunately there are no classes at my gym. Just a pool and small gym. Classes would be great but I chose this one because it's only 5 mins walk from my house and I figured there would be less resistance to going if it was near!