To be in awe of those who exercise regularly?

[Namila]

Story of my life. I have been wanting to exercise more regularly and have a sporty, healthy lifestyle for the last 10 years at least.

I go through short periods of motivation when I actually exercise a good amount and stick to a good routine. Then I get bored/ stressed with work/ something comes up and I just stop exercising altogether for months. Rinse, repeat

I am in such awe of those people who can stick to a rigorous exercise schedule. Like those who run every morning before work. How do they do it??

I know the benefits of exercise and I know I would feel great if I was more consistent with my workouts, so I am aware that IABU

Why can't I get a hold on my laziness? Anyone else feeling similarly?

I love lifting weights, and I feel motivated to go 4 Times a week, BUT cardio is another matter, I try to force myself to do 10 minutes on the treadmill each time before my weights. It’s not loads but it’s realistic and better than nothing.

Its precious me time for me, and I have come to truly realise that my mental and physical health depend on it, so my core motivation is strong. Effectively I've managed to become "exercise addicted"; if I'm idle too long I feel rotten, sluggish, and depressed, and am desperate to get in a run/HIIT.

Beyond that it's a question of building it into your daily routine and, as PPs say, getting over the initial talking yourself out of it. Telling yourself that you're just going to put on your kit anyway works really well. If all else fails finding a running/gym buddy, someone who is depending on you to show up, works a charm. Goalsetting and tracking is important too, my Fitbit tracks the data and shows me how I'm doing against my friends and family, as well as whether my baseline fitness is going up, down, or stable.

IMHO The secret is not to start too big/ambitious

• On Jan 2nd this year I started with just 5 each of Press ups, Sit ups & Burpees

• and did this every day for a week

• and increased it by 1 more of each per week -

It doesn't sound much at first - (it doesn't take that long either - and no equipment, gym membership or even leaving of the house required) -

I am now up to 55 of each - have lost stones & inches, am back pain free and haven't felt/looked this good in years...Who Knew..?

Try it - just don't go mad - and if it gets too much - drop the qty down again until you are comfortable at that number..

I started a Pilates class in April. I'd been wanting to find a class for ages and was pleased to have found one.

Now I do Pilates, Yoga, Well Fit and three Zumba classes a week and will add some more in the new year. They've finished for Christmas and I really miss going.

Should add that it's been quite a social thing too- going for a coffee now and then, after a class.

Because I crave and enjoy it. Not because if discipline as much (although sometimes it does take some to get my ass out there. N
But I never regret it). I also get a rush afterwards, I feel good.

I really like the idea of writing down a plan. Maybe some structure is what I need to kick my drag my own butt out there and workout.

Has anyone ever tried Classpass? I thought it might push to try new things and perhaps find something I really love.

I have a gym at the office we can use with courses during lunch break but:

1. it is not heated during winter so it is freeezing now

2. I am always in the middlw of something when the lunch break course is starting so I end up putting it off

3. I don't live too close to work so during the weekend I can't go and use the gym as maybe I would do if it was around the corner

I have gone to the gym religiously 4 or 5 times a week for the last 14 years.(this has changed recently though!)

I hate exercise. I had to look on it like brushing my teeth. Something I did without having to enjoy it. I put music on and got on with it.

Recently the perimenopause has kicked in, I put on nearly 3 stone with no change to diet or exercise! This has coincided with a very heavy work schedule with a huge amount of travel.

I am now less motivated to go. I think because I can no longer think "this keeps me looking good". So that is the motivation I think. If you have a slim strong body it keeps you going. So you just need to persevere until you get to that point.

Lack of time is a big thing for me at the moment. But it has proved to me that as soon as you let your routine slip then it is a slippery slope. So as much as possible you have to keep the routine going. It is very easy for me not to go at the moment. I only went twice last week, so now I think "one more day not going wont make a difference". But it does!

I go regularly now regardless of what else is going on in life. I have 3dc, am studying and work PT. Exercise is crucial to me maintaining a healthy mental health so it’s my top priority these days. The weeks when I don’t get to work out I notice a real decline in my mood, energy and motivation. So that’s my motivator.

Following. Yes I'm in awe. I lost 7 stone five years ago and have put 5 back on since having my son 15 months ago. I just lack the energy after work (stressful job) and the ever present and changing night routines. I miss it. And I like eating food

I get sluggish and my sleep suffers if I don't exercise enough.

Setting time slots works. When I was working FT, I often struggled in the week, but enjoyed a 20 min run at 6am if I wasn't already using it for planning/ marking. Both days at the weekend started with a class or run.

Different time slots work for different people. Night runs worked in my C25k days after baby was put down for sleep. These days I'm too tired by the time the DCs are finally settled off. Mornings work well before life gets in the way. Lunchtime is not good as I'm either too hungry/ full.

Getting ready is my barrier. I've been known to commit myself to morning runs by going to bed in gear so all I need to do in the morning is have a small drink and put shoes on!

Realistic goals also help. One of the appeals for running for me is races as targets to train for. Something like plodding off to the same aerobics class can get monotonous and lead to plateaus (alternatively dancing along with mates every week might make that the right exercise!)

So find what you love, and commit a time slot to it!

I feel your pain OP!
I signed up to gyms, classes etc and was good for a couple of weeks then would give myself excuses and not go. Motivation is definitely a problem plus an erratic work schedule and being very tired.

The only thing that has sorted it for me is a 1:1 pt session. She comes to my.house and collects me and we do various bootcampy things in the parks and streets nearby. She isn't terrifying and shouty, just encouraging and I'm far less likely to cancel as I know I have to tell her! It does cost more than regular classes but i book in blocks of 6 and it probably costs the same as a monthly membership to a high end gym for 2.5hrs weekly. I haven't lost loads of weight but have dropped a dress size and feel significantly fitter.

This is a great thread, thanks! I agree with finding something you love. Also a good instructor/set of classes which is what keeps me coming back

Yes, find something you enjoy and that is easy to get to. That’s key.

Then see if you can find a friend to go along with sometimes. And keep those times as protected time so you don’t end up cancelling just because x, y or z came up.

2 things that work for me - I have a busy life with a demanding job and small kids. And I'm lazy. So I got qualified as a group fitness instructor. I have my classes that I need to teach, whether I feel like it or not.

If that's a bit too much, sign up for some kind of race, get yourself a training plan. Like trevor above mentioned, I also find it a lot easier to follow a specific plan than to force myself to go for random runs. And it's motivating if you have your own previous time to beat in your next race.

I think you need to decide what your can reasonably achieve long-term. There's no point deciding you'll go to the gym 5 times a week if 5 times a week is more than your lifestyle can sustain in the long term. All that will happen is you'll go for a few weeks, then get a cold or something, or a night out, and then cancel. After that you'll think well sod it I can't do 5 nights so I may as well quit.

Much better to tell yourself you'll go to the gym once a week. Most people can find time to do exercise once a week. Do it religiously for months, and then you'll find that it's as much a part of your life as showering and cleaning your teeth. Then maybe you can increase.

That's my top tip anyway.

I am exactly the same and would love to be different!

If you’re up for writing a plan, then making some short, medium and long term goals is probably the most useful way. So - long term, “I want to be a stone lighter/run 5k in 30minutes/your actual goal,” then break it down into some medium term goals - I want to have lost four pounds/run 5k, etc. Then your short term goals - these ones are how you’re going to get there, so how many times you can train in a week. That’s really basic but you get the idea.

I think you need to religiously stick to a routine. Have set days and even times of days when you are going to do exercise and stick to it.

I run as it is the most efficient use of time I find, I incorporate it into my commute so try to run part of the way home twice a week by getting off the tube early.

Why don't you run home from work? 30 minutes is plenty of time for a decent run (5k). You would need to come up with a route as it sounds like you only live 1.5 miles from work but maybe you can incorporate an extra loop to lengthen it.

If you do this your exercise isn't eating into your free time, and if you ran 30 minutes 4 times a week that would be plenty.

I leave my clothes at work on my running home days, take a back pack to put phone/ wallet/ essentials in. Then I bring my work clothes back the next day.

When I started, I joined one of the C25K threads and we all encouraged each other. Then I ended up signing up for a 10K & that was a huge incentive.

It doesn't need to be all or nothing.

If you do any exercise in a week it's better than none. 1 workout is better than none.

Don't think that because you haven't exercised on Monday or Tuesday there's no point exercising on Wednesday.

Increase what you do slowly and just do stuff you can fit in.

Planks for example. Start off at 20 seconds and work your way up. If you miss a few days just carry on from where you left off.

The time you've sat thinking of doing the exercise, you could probably have spent doing the exercise.

Don't beat yourself up about it though as that just makes you feel crap. Feel good about what you can do.

Can't recommend a running club highly enough. Seek one out that will do a couch to 5k and it soon becomes habit.

For me it's doing it first thing in the morning before work and general life getting in the way. Plus it gives me such energy that the rest of the day feels so much better.

It's the getting myself there part I'm bad at. By the time I've done supper/bedtime with the children, I just want to go a sit down and watch TV. It's pure laziness really.

things that work for me (regular exercise min 4 times a week)

1. sign up for classes and pay in advance
2. find something you actually enjoy
3. do it with friends so you motivate each other
4. tell yourself it's only 60 mins out of your day and you'd only spend that time sat on your arse
5. when I run and I really don't feel in the mood I bargain for every kilometer that I can stop after the next one IF I WANT - I tend to challenge myself to keep going till the next one!

just do it