How do you motivate yourself to go to the gym?

[clkim]

I really, really don't want to go tonight but I know I have to

I'm seriously struggling with motivation! How do you motivate yourself to go when you just feel so tired and want to be lazy!?

I went! and I'm really glad that I did now

There you go! It sounds naff but it’s discipline you need, not motivation. I am shit at motivation but I tell myself it’s non negotiable. And I have a never miss twice rule - it allows me the freedom to sack it off once if I’m really knackered or lazy but then I have to go the next day.

I have a pay as you go membership and book on classes I’m too stingy to pay and then not turn up. If I had a monthly rolling membership, it would just get lost in with all my other direct debits and it Wouldn’t feel like I’m really spending money.

I hadn’t considered the fit blokes by the weights aspect I’d gym membership. I shall look into that.

In the words of Tony robbins: "I don't negotiate with myself."

There is not one time I wake up at 6 am and think "I can't wait to go for a run". I just do it.

I do find focusing on the mental and physical benefits helps. Also I like to eat what I want (within reason) and be thin.

@clkim

I went! and I'm really glad that I did now

Bravo!!!!! Try and bottle that feeling and remember it for next time 💪🏻💪🏻

I pay for a PT 3 times a week. After many years of joining gyms and not going that is the only way I go.

Quads.

That's a reason for going to the gym all of itself. My quads (and everything else) were well-buggered with two years of lockdown and remote teaching, as well as the decline due to age (67).

My rheumatologist instructed me to bulk up my quads to take the pressure off my knees, as well as lose some weight. Every kilo of excess weight carries as 3 kilos of pressure to the knee. This was with no ongoing knee pain, just do it anyway.

Having experienced pain walking for different reasons in the past, I don't want to experience what I could head off. And yes, I've got results, much stronger quads, better shape, including calves and ankles.

My gym is easy as it's walkable, women-only, open 6-9 and I'm retired.

I’m mid-40s - my motivation is keeping my body strong and healthy as I’m a single mum, and want to keep my health in check long-term to look after my son. It’s been great for me mentally and I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. It was painful at the beginning but when you see your body changing, it spurs you on to continue.

I find it hard to motivate myself for a run but never regret it once I've been! I find if I don't over think it it's easier. Have your gym stuff ready to go and just put it on without giving yourself a chance to talk yourself out of it! For some reason the getting changed seems to be the worse part. Once I'm changed I'm more in the mindset so just go!

@clkim

I really, really don't want to go tonight but I know I have to

I'm seriously struggling with motivation! How do you motivate yourself to go when you just feel so tired and want to be lazy!?

This is not PC at all but I watch fat programmes on youtube if I'm struggling for motivation.

I watch the cleaning and hoarding ones too when I want to blitz my house.

I workout properly in the morning. The rest of the day is just walking.

I am just reading Atomic Habits which is a book about how to create good habits that just become second nature. Might be worth a read?

@letmesleep123 definitely not alone, i'm the huffy puffy one at my classes, we did a pair workout this evening and felt bad cause i was definitely slowing the other person down. I'm hoping it will get better though, a lifetime ago I used to love it haha

You need to build it into your routine if you are serious about wanting whatever benefit it will bring.

Work out how you’re getting to get there, get changed before and after, and put it in your diary like everything else important that you do.

I can't do evenings

I don't motivate myself - I'm far to weak-willed for that! I instead follow the Nike "Just do it" motivation method and simply refuse to allow myself to question that I go to the gym at the same times every week year in, year out.

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