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Original poster

Motivation for exercise

31 replies

rjyoung197823 · 26/05/2023 11:14

Any tips on how to get motivated to exercise when I feel tired all the time as a result of carrying excess weight?

OP posts:
bibbityboppityboo · 26/05/2023 11:24

Honestly, motivation isn't what you need - discipline is! Motivation can waiver and fail, but if you have iron discipline you will make yourself exercise.

Make yourself do it - have an iron will. Set yourself times to exercise, and do it. That's the only way I've succeeded and it's the best advice I have!

Coronationstation · 26/05/2023 13:46

focus on loosing weight first?

Fatkittythinkitty · 26/05/2023 14:07

How I motivated/motivate myself when I took up regular exercise around 10 years ago is:

Try and find something you enjoy. Give yourself permission to not do the stuff you hate. I have a strict no Burpees rule for example.
Make yourself do something, anything - told yourself you're going to have a run but can't face it? Head out for a walk or a run walk instead. Once you're out you'll end up doing more than you thought you would.
Make little habits - do the same thing at the same time on the same day so it feels harder to miss than to do it

Moredarkchocolateplease · 26/05/2023 15:10

Just get up and do it. By 10am it's done and you can barely remember it happened.

I exercise between 5 and 6am as that works really well for me and it's when I am most energetic. By the time I get to work I can't remember what I did.

It's just part of the fabric of my life.

Farmageddon · 26/05/2023 20:09

bibbityboppityboo · 26/05/2023 11:24

Honestly, motivation isn't what you need - discipline is! Motivation can waiver and fail, but if you have iron discipline you will make yourself exercise.

Make yourself do it - have an iron will. Set yourself times to exercise, and do it. That's the only way I've succeeded and it's the best advice I have!

I agree with this, even though it's probably not what you want to hear.

Motivation is a great thing to get you started, but it tends to wane pretty quickly, so it's good to build in a routine and just stick to it. For example I book and pay for classes in advance, so if I don't go then I lose money and feel guilty - works for me!

Also, try to find and activity you enjoy (or at least don't hate) that way it will be easier to convince yourself to do it. I hate running, so I don't do it, it would be a nightmare to try and convince myself to run all the time, I would be miserable - so I do something else.

I never thought I would be a person who enjoyed working out, but I started doing Reformer Pilates a few months ago and I love it. I do still have days where I'm tired, and would rather sit on the couch and eat cereal - but I go anyway because I know I'll feel better afterwards. And I'm starting to feel stronger which I love. I know it's something I will stick to as I actually look forward to it some days.

I think when you are someone who is unfit( as I used to be), it's easy to convince yourself that fit healthy people have some magical ability to love exercise and just have something you don't - but really, most people who workout regularly don't enjoy every minute, and have days where they would rather do something else - but they like the results, and know it's good for them, so they stick to it.

Gymmum82 · 26/05/2023 20:14

I speak as someone who exercises minimally 6 days a week. I am not motivated alot of the time. If you wait to be motivated you will never do it. People say ohh I wish I had your motivation. But it isn’t that. It’s the discipline to just do it even when you really don’t want to that sets you apart from the rest.
Treat it like a job or an appointment that you have to do without question. Once you start the motivation will come from the feeling you get when you are healthy and the results you see.

Temporaryname158 · 26/05/2023 20:16

Yep agree with the above. Just do it.

there’s never a right time, or empty time in the diary. Life just has to be holy round it. Need to go to the supermarket? Ok great, I’ll go after my gym class. Not using needing shopping as the excuse not to go

RayKray · 26/05/2023 21:20

Find what you love. I did and it feels entirely different. I am motivated every time. (For me it's lifting)

Hearti · 26/05/2023 23:18

Do it with a friend. Makes it fun and more of a commitment

Hearti · 26/05/2023 23:19

Yes and do something you enjoy

nachotemple · 26/05/2023 23:21

start small - 1 - 2 minutes, but make sure you do it every day. keep it as your base minimum. Then when you can manage it, do more. You might work up to 10-15 minutes some days. other days you can do 2 mins then leave it!

Another good way is to always record it, keep a record or a spreadsheet to make sure you do your 2 mins a day. So even if you miss a day you will go back to the spreadsheet or diary again then do it again.

lljkk · 26/05/2023 23:36

what are you doing with your time instead that is so much funner or nicer to be doing?

bluechameleon · 27/05/2023 00:27

I agree with all the PPs who say you just have to make yourself do it. I swim three tines a week, and I often don't feel like it, but once I've got started, either it is fine or I actively enjoy it.

Colinorpercy · 27/05/2023 00:44

Find something you enjoy and then it doesn’t become a chore. Mine is exercising in classes, it’s social and we motivate each other. I can see the progress as I lift heavier weights and that’s what keeps it enjoyable.

Original poster
rjyoung197823 · 27/05/2023 20:42

Thanks all. I used to cycle quite a bit when I was younger. I bought a turbo trainer during lockdown but just never seem to have the time or energy to use it.

OP posts:
MistySkiesAreGone · 01/06/2023 00:15

My current tip is get out of bed and go straight to the exercise! Before the brain has a chance to realise what you are doing! Get stuff ready to go night before. I've stumbled into this and it works a treat as you get a boost of dopamine from doing it, and it creates a habit.

Lottapianos · 01/06/2023 01:01

'Give yourself permission to not do the stuff you hate. I have a strict no Burpees rule for example.'

Same here! They're so undignified 😁

OP, I agree with everyone else - it's discipline, not motivation! I go to the gym several times a week, first thing in the morning. How often am I bouncing out of bed raring to go at 6.30am? Never! I tell myself I don't have to like it, I just have to do it. It's so worth it

Bubbles254 · 01/06/2023 08:36

I find a really engaging podcast or book I want to listen to and only allow myself to listen to it when exercising.

justsaxy · 01/06/2023 11:59

Another one for first thing in the morning.

I find that if I don't do that, life just gets in the way.

So... up and at 'em!

nachotemple · 03/06/2023 10:04

In ref to the PP suggesting early morning - great if you can do it!!

Weirdly morning exercise doesn't suit me. It makes me super exhausted for the whole day. So for some people afternoon is better for example. Follow your body.

Wishona · 04/06/2023 22:37

I’m not a morning person at all.
I’ll do 8am classes at the weekend. Or 9.30 in my day off after the school run. Can’t do before work though!

I can exercise any time between 5 and 10 though, and do every day. Sometimes I’ll do 2 hours.

brownbin · 04/06/2023 22:42

rjyoung197823 · 27/05/2023 20:42

Thanks all. I used to cycle quite a bit when I was younger. I bought a turbo trainer during lockdown but just never seem to have the time or energy to use it.

I bought a second hand peloton months ago and have been on it every day since. I find that seeing a physical person helps a lot. I would definitely recommend!

Something poignant that I read is that the time will pass anyway. So if you don't get up and do it, 6 months down the line you'll be in the same position when you could be very different physically.

This is what's keeping me going!

fellrunner85 · 05/06/2023 07:28

Discipline, and mornings, is the key - as others have said.

The truth is, nobody wants to get up at 5.30am for a run. Not even super-fit marathon running types who have been doing this for years. I'm well aware that's probably what I look like to passers-by when I'm doing my morning runs, but the reality is I'm still having to peel myself out of bed in the same way as when I did c25k all those years ago. I'm just disciplined and know that if I don't get it done in the morning, it'll never happen, as evenings are a chaos of kids/dinner/jobs/kids clubs/etc. I lay out my kit the night before, up and out after a coffee, and am back in time to sort everyone out for the day ahead.

Also, discipline. You just make yourself do it. I've coached c25k courses before and the ones who finish it and go on to be runners aren't the ones who look like "natural" athletes - they're the ones who come out on the rain, or in the heat, or when they're tired, or when they're busy. They keep showing up. The ones who have excuses never finish; and that's because we could all have excuses if we wanted to. People who exercise daily aren't less busy than anyone else - they just prioritise it.

Finally, don't exercise with a friend, or at least not all the time. You're halving your chances of success if you do, because if they cancel then you'll be tempted to cancel too. Make this something you do for you, and you'll be more likely to stick at it.

Yetisrus · 05/06/2023 07:46

Could you get a personal trainer? I have one (well when I can afford him) and it's great as it means I actually have to go to the gym at a certain time and have someone there telling me what to do. It helps my motivation to go other days.

Is there a sport you like? I like tennis so took up tennis classes a few years ago (had to stop due to covid and never signed up again as I got into the gym).

I've lost motivation recently mainly injury (tennis elbow) and a poorly cat but i went back this morning and it felt good even though I had to drag myself there.

SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc · 08/06/2023 17:45

Hey – Its completely normal to feel demotivated when starting exercise and what may work for someone else, may not work for you. So having some acceptance around that and not beating yourself is important!
May I ask – what is your motivation to exercise?

I say in your responses that you enjoyed cycling when you were younger. What was it about cycling that you enjoyed?

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