No motivation for exercise

[Birdsofafeather01]

I have joined a gym and I am struggling with finding the motivation to actually go. I don’t even enjoy it when I’m there. I can manage half on hour on the treadmill or exercise bike and then I’ve had enough. I might enjoy an actual class a bit more but when I used to go about five years ago, I found an hour really hard-going.

I have the time to go today but I probably won’t go. I have put my training gear out ready to change but not done so yet. No excuses just can’t be bothered!

Also I’ve been going two or three times a week for three months but don’t feel any better for it. I would like to see some benefit!

Any tips please on how to motivate myself to go and enjoy it when I’m there?

If you're not a gym person you're not a gym person! Cancel your membership and find something you enjoy doing. If all you're doing is half an hour on the treadmill or bike you're not going to get much benefit from it anyway.

I too hate the gym with a passion. as pervious poster says, find something you like. Personally for me its a class, and i dont even like all of those. If you are only doing half an hour twice a week then that isnt going to make vast amounts of difference to you.

I have to book a lot of my classes, which helps me to attend. I also like something telling me what to do and have people around me doing it.....basically i'm lazy I've also started to get to know people and have coffee after, so its social as well.

main thing is finding something thats ok....doesnt sound like the gym

You need to find something you enjoy! I've never been to the gym in my life, can't think of anything worse. But I enjoy yoga classes, Zumba classes, swimming, cycling and running outside, home workouts on YouTube. Classes might be better as pre booked so perhaps more motivating to get there?

Do 10 mins each of cardio on 3 different machines so you don't get bored. Make yourself some gym playlists...all your favourites from when you were younger for example. Does your gym have a sauna / steam room you could use afterwards for a treat? Or could you reward yourself with a fancy smoothie afterwards?

I don’t blame you for lack of motivation for the gym, it’s boring. Why not get out for a brisk 1/2 hour walk, do a YouTube exercise video or something that you find enjoyable? Try to aim for 1/2 hour everyday of some kind of exercise to feel the benefits

Yes I think I need to find something I like rather than force myself to do something I hate! I can also see I am not doing enough to see the benefit. I would enjoy a more ‘dance’ type class I think although nothing too complicated.

3 times a week is not enough! How much would you have to do then?

The thing with cardio fitness is that the benefits are subtle I think. What I notice when I exercise a bit (never as much as you do!) is that I can keep up with people when walking around town, for example on a city trip, which I couldn't do before.

I'm not a gym person either, but I made a pact with myself last August to 'just go', I go to a weights class 3 times a week and I have been going, mostly, 3 times a week at 6.30 in the morning.

I try, unless I'm away or not well, to never miss more than one class.

So a year of weights - I'm much stronger and fitter and lost a stone and a half (I've improved my diet too..).

It's not very interesting, but it's 40 minutes, I sort of know people there now, and I can swap to an afternoon or evening or slightly later class if I know 6.30am won't work.

I like getting it over and done with, I get up, put my gym stuff on, have half a banana and go. If I leave it till later I'll usually find an excuse not to go.

I don't disagree with people who say gyms are dull, that's why I do a class, which is still fairly dull - I much prefer walking or hiking - but I do that too.

But I feel a lot better for it.

The structure of the weights class suits me. It's free weights mostly, lifting them etc. With a bit of carrying heavy balls about....but I'm still not a gym person.

But...if the gym isn't for you, find something and just do it.

I use the gym for weights but my cardio is done outdoors as I find running in the gym too boring

I never think I’m getting fitter but when I don’t go for a week I notice it!

also people saying that’s not enough, well it depends if you are pushing yourself. If you are just walking on the treadmill or very easy cycling then that won’t make much difference (unless you are super unfit to start with)