What does and doesn't motivates you to exercise?

[timshortfforthalia]

I'll start (Background: I run 3/4 times a week, hot yoga once a week and swim a couple of times)

What does motivate me...

Numbers I love my fitness tracker and my Strava running account. I love seeing how many miles I've clocked and any improvements in speed etc. I'm addicted to seeing how exercise over time lowers my resting heart rate and clocking up my active minutes.

My shower/bath/lazing around after I do most of my running in the morning and I love getting in the shower at 6.15am knowing I've already clocked up 5k that day. Likewise, I love drinking coke and eating peanuts in the bath after a long run. Or the lovely all body acheyness after a swim or yoga. I am very lazy, mainly a stationary kind of human, but the exercise lets me feel like I've earned my hanging out doing nothing.

Exercise itself The quickest way for me to get exercise mojo is just to do some exercise. Just a teeny run, or a swim, or a class, and I'm back on it and planning my next exercise. I reckon my real hobby is making fantasy exercise schedules, and then in real life I'm just doing the bear minimum to allow me to carry on these fantasies!

When I'm exercising, I feel like everything is pointing in the right direction and I've got a life a bit under control. I'll eat better, drink less, go to bed earlier. Sometimes it's hard to be a patient parent, good employee, considerate wife/daughter etc. Rather than over thinking all that stuff and trying to find solutions, I can just do some exercise I am automatically a nicer person. With less hand-wringing and over-thinking.

What doesn't motivate me...

Looking better, getting in shape etc I am proud of the fact that I am better shape now than I used to be, but that would never motivate me to get out the door. It's too abstract and long term.

Enjoyment of the exercise itself I know some people who enjoy running, but really I don't. The best I can say about running is that most of the time I don't hate it. Swimming, well, that's largely just boring. Yoga I probably like the most out of what I do, but even then there are times, like at the start of a Bikram class, when I think about all the stuff I'm going to have to do in the next 90min and I am filled with dread.

Okay, over to you guys....

endorphin high. I don't sleep well anyway, but even worse if I don't exercise. Being hungry so food tastes nice, and I actually feel like eating. I like having a good figure. I like having toned arms.

Gadgets & tracking don't help but sometimes I like a challenge, do a triathlon or similar just to be out of my comfort zone.

Seeing myself in a bikini. I usually get over the urge once I see myself in gym gear

Does
Numbers/ progression- see the improvement in numbers over time is very motivating for me.

Setting an example for my daughter.

It’s mediation for me. I can think of as much as little as I want. I find it very easy to be present and only focus on that moment.

Doesn’t
Motivational videos or social media accounts. Does nothing for me.

I run 3 or 4 times a week, usually 20 miles a week. I walk with a friend for over an hour at least sometimes twice a week.
Exercise keeps me sane. I have stressful job and home life has been difficult over the last couple of years and running helps me process stuff as well as acting as a sort of mindfulness. I don't run with music.
I am also the fittest and slimmest I have ever been which I love.
But biggest motivator is being able to eat what I like.

Having a waist post menopause motivates me. Being able to go hill walking without a struggle. Feeling comfort in my body...

Does:

Feeling strong.
Feeling like myself, especially since having my son.
Maintaining (maybe losing some...) weight.
Setting a good example to my son.
Being able to eat more!
Being in the moment / at peace
Endorphins!

Doesn’t:

• What other people think
• What others do, unless they’re encouraging my to exercise with them

My mental health and feeling strong.

What motivates me - statistics, I love analysing my tracker data and setting myself targets. Seeing my shape change. Confidence, I walk taller and feel stronger and want to keep on improving.

What doesn't - I'm don't enjoy cardio work much, I just watch Netflix whilst I'm doing that but I do enjoy weights as I can see improvements easier with those.

When I'm exercising, I feel like everything is pointing in the right direction and I've got a life a bit under control. I'll eat better, drink less, go to bed earlier. Sometimes it's hard to be a patient parent, good employee, considerate wife/daughter etc. Rather than over thinking all that stuff and trying to find solutions, I can just do some exercise I am automatically a nicer person. With less hand-wringing and over-thinking

I love how you've expressed that, makes perfect sense.

I'm also motivated by that, EVERYTHING feels better after a run or some time in the gym.

My main motivation is boasting rights. Not to others (although it can be nice when someone is surprised that this late 30s slightly plump lady ran a marathon at the weekend!) but more for myself. When I'm feeling weak or useless or Incapable the fact that I've run marathons and even a couple of ultras is cast iron evidence that I am capable and strong. It shuts up the nasty little voice in my head.

I'm very similar to you op. I have a myzone heart rate monitor which tracks effort which I find very motivational.

But also it was a saviour for my mental health at a very low time to have some me time with the added bonus that it helped me feel strong. When I'm exercising I also eat better and am a more patient and nicer person all round too!

I go 6-7am most days. It just sets me up for a positive day ahead and means I still get evenings with DH.

I used to be motivated by vanity, and to some extent I still am. That’s why I started.

But now it’s much more for my mental health - you’re right about the 'everything pointing in the right direction'. I feel as if I’m letting myself down if I don’t exercise now.

I really do love running now though. I live rurally and enjoy the changing seasons, different locations, wildlife etc etc etc

Also I love crisps.

You sound like you have serious self esteem issues.

Calling yourself lazy when you do 5k before 6.15am 4 times pwk??

I don't think it's showing self esteem issues. Since I've got a tracker I've realised that the only way I can achieve the target of 30 active minutes a day is to fit in some planned exercise. On the days when I don't , even walking 2-3 miles a day by pottering around does very little - so on those days I would define myself as lazy, nothing to do with self esteem just a physical reality.

This explains the lazy thing better

love this thread. I have been for my run today (in the rain!) and am loving now the feeling I can be lazy for the rest of the day. Sat with a cuppa and faffing about on MN with no guilt!
What motivates me :

1. I need to loose more weight. I have lost 3 stone since Jan, have 2 more stone to go. I am really, really determined to do this and exercise is helping me achieve this goal.
2. I can eat more if I exercise - also see point 1 above!
3. I also love gadgets. Love my fitbit and love logging my runs and syncing to strava and seeing my pace and distances improve (less so for other exercise)
4. I pay for gym membership monthly and need to attend at least 2, really 3 classes a week to make it worth while!!
5. I am mid 40s and need to start taking my health seriously. I want to be fit and healthy in older age.
6. Buying new running gear!! I love buying new stuff whether its tops and shorts, running shoes or even just a headband!!
7. If I don't do a run/ exercise class I had planned I know I will feel miserable and guilty for the rest of the night!!

What doesn't motivate me:

1. genuine love of exercise. I don't love it tbh. Often (but not always) I sort of enjoy a run once I'm in to it. Spinning and body attack I feel good afterwards but wouldn't really say I enjoy the activity itself.
2. Other people. I can only do this for myself. I am not at all bothered by other peoples views. The only exception to this was when I signed up for a 10k with a friend and that kept me training for the event as I didnt want to let her down!

What motivates me: feeling of achievement as my times get faster and the weights get heavier, feeling stronger and fitter, being toned, sleeping and eating better I like to feel functionally fit and like the fact I can lift heavy objects and can still sprint fairly fast in middle age (was a teenage county athlete).
What doesn't motivate me: looking thin, looking like an Instagram fitness model.

Great thread!

What motivates me:
• My Apple Watch. Sad but true, I'm a slave to closing my rings and achieving my monthly targets

• Seeing my PT. if I don't do stuff in between sessions, I'm both wasting my money, and it will REALLY hurt when I do see him.

• Modelling good behaviour to my kids. I'm doing the right thing by my body, I love my body so I take care of it by (largely) eating well, and exercising it.

• I've become one of those annoying people who gets quite angsty if I've not done any exercise in a day or two. This never used to happen to me, but now I feel both sluggish and guilty if I've not done something even mildly sweaty (a brisk walk will do it).

What doesn't motivate me:
• I would love to say the regular exercise has given me a banging body, but I still have cellulite and a mum tum. Oh well.

• 'Fitspo' on FB, Insta etc. I like looking at people's pics, especially things like Body Coach transformations, but I don't see them ever happening to me. They probably could, but I'm not willing to make further sacrifices to my life and diet to obtain them.