Hello, I'm Bernice in Minneapolis getting ready for a long, cold winter and I'm looking for a community of support around regular exercise. Although I am in WW I have not figured out how to motivate myself to exercise more so I am not really making much progress. I want exercise to as automatic as brushing my teeth. How, I haven't figured out. I had a personal trainer but he moved away and I haven't looked for another. I really want to develop intrinsic motivation. After exercing, I always feel very proud of myself, but I just can't carry it over to regularity. I know there's no magic formula, but how do the rest of you do it? So, I am looking for support and I am willing to give great support to others in the same boat!

Welcome, Bernice,

How do Iiii do it? I guess my only answer is that I like sweating and pushing the ole envelope and even the aches of muscle recovery.

I didn't always enjoy that stuff, but as the years go by, I just seem to enjoy it more and more. Perhaps that's in relation to aging in general, but whatever the reason(s), I'm a happy camper, and--blabbing about it here sure don't hurt none, neither...

I accepted that there are going to be days when I'm going to hate every minute of it, but I have to do it anyway, or I won't get the results I want. There are days when it is as easy as brushing my teeth, and there are days when it's like getting my teeth pulled. Keep in mind what you are getting by doing the exercise.

Read through the forums here too. There are some good motivation tips that might work for you, like the Don't Break The Chain topic. It's one of my favorites, and it's super simple!

Hi Bernice,

I have a quote on my profile page that says, "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." I wonder if these should be reversed sometimes. Do what you need to do to establish good habits. Fill your home with healthy foods, find a plan that works for you. I set out my workout clothes, shoes, etc., the night before , so I'm all set to go in the morning. Making progress helps my motivation.

I also agree with Minu, I have learned to love to sweat and keep pushing it!

First of all, aside from all the obvious health benefits and what not, it feels GREAT to exert yourself in the gym. There are few things as rewarding as putting yourself to the physical limit. It's instant gratification.

Also, I love the feeling of being fit in a nation where the average American's waistline is growing faster than his or her share of the national debt. I enjoy not being one of the countless number of people out there who haven't the slightest idea of the exceedingly simple relationship of cause and effect. I'm referring to all the overweight people in our society who simply refuse to eat properly, who complain that they simply "can't control" their food consumption (as if the food held them at gunpoint and shoved itself down their throats), who then engage themselves in futile efforts at exercise and expect their extra lbs to disintegrate before their eyes, and who then complain that nothing will work for them. These are the same people who try to pass the blame for their self-created problems onto every possible entity besides themselves. They go out and blast the food industry, the government, their friends, their loved ones, and pretty much anything and everyone around them. Their weight problems are never their fault, they say. Personal accountability and responsibility are conveniently ignored by these people because the reality of their situation is too "harsh" or "inconvenient". Instead of facing the true nature of their situation, these people prefer to evade reality and continue to live their lives based on emotional whim rather than on reason and rationality.

My motivation? It's knowing that I'm not one of these people.

This thing I have created, this twitching membrane of flesh, an idling reactor, is something I own. I have created it from nothing but the sweat of my effort and millions of calories, tossed into the fires of my digestive system to be converted into performance.

I posses the right to thank no one for my effort and results, place no warrant forcing me into the subservience of giving any credit to anything but my unending desire to be better than everyone else. I have purchased it out of my own constant yearning, and no one may ever take it from me.

If I am injured or sick, I will recover. If I get bored with lifting, I can excel in any other field I wish. The materials to build my success have already been acquired and do not reside in my muscle. If you strip the muscle away, my desire is still present.

My motivation is knowing that the cost of being the best was something I relished paying for, because it is mine forever.

Motivation is not something you can ask of anyone, or get hints on sustaining it's inevitable retreat. It is something you must develop through the increased awareness that you are the best, and no one will stop you on your climb to the top. Asking for motivation is like begging for alms. I can give you money for you to live on, but it won't bring you the happiness of knowing that you earned it through your own labor.

For me, after 13 years of totally not exercising due to many reasons, it was finding an exercise I love and crave. I started back to my local Y. Oh my, had exercise changed! My friends kept getting me to do a class called "body works" or pilates ( I hated every minute of it). Then they got me into the aerobic workout room - hated it. Finally, I happened into a beginning "spinning" class ( stationary bike class with a teacher). Loved it!!! It gives me the sweatin', heavy breathin, "cleansed" out feeling I had gotten from my earlier running days without the knee and back trouble.
Needless to say, I am now hooked .

So, keep trying to find that exercise that you do enjoy --- not just endure!

This thing I have created, this twitching membrane of flesh, an idling reactor, is something I own. I have created it from nothing but the sweat of my effort and millions of calories, tossed into the fires of my digestive system to be converted into performance.

Poignant and eloquent and rich, Adam. Nice post.

There are two keys for me:

1. exercise first thing in the morning. If you want this to be as automatic as brushing your teeth, it has to be as routine as brushing your teeth, meaning it happens at the same time every day. If I try to work out in the middle of the day, something will always "come up." I started getting up before the rest of my family so that I could give myself the gift of that extra hour.

2. measure and record everything! It is hard to keep going when the changes in your body are so gradual you can't see them. But the numbers don't lie. I measure my weight daily, and my waistline and body fat percentage weekly. I depend on those numbers to urge me forward.

Best of luck.

Dutch and Adam, please don't offer me anymore support! Who could ever hope to measure up to godlike individuals like you. I am grateful for the comments of the humans who have shared comments that a mere human like me can use.

First of all, we're not Gods. We're very human.

Second of all, don't hate on me for identifying yourself as the type of person I described in my post. You pointed yourself out -- I wasn't pointing YOU out.

Third of all, why is it considered to be supernatural for someone to not engage in the evasive behavior I described above? What is so inherently wrong with facing life for what it is and dealing with it? Why is it so extraordinary for someone to embrace reality and act in accordance to their rational self-interest?

The very fact that you brush these qualities to the side and automatically ascribe them as belonging to the Gods shows what a $hit show our society has truly become.

Well, it's time to go bust my ass in the gym. Have fun wallowing in your self-made world of mediocrity.

Minne, welcome!

I'm currently in the same boat you are, troubles getting off the ground. I did it a few years back so I can concur with others that once you stick with it for just a couple of months, it becomes addictive - and that feels great!. I remember getting off work and not wanting to do anything except make a beeline for the gym.

Adam, there's nothing wrong with self-determination and taking responsibility for ones self, but this...

...should you ever come to believe you reached this goal, and are in fact better than everyone else, will be a sad day indeed. On the other hand, a desire to be the best you can, now that's a healthy goal.



What's that line from It's a Wonderful Life? "Youth is wasted on the wrong people." Well, at least some of the time.

Regards.

I agree with Zach that it's a great habit to get into doing it first thing in the morning. That way, once you start waking up an hour or so earlier than usual you'll wake up and think 'i can either stay here in bed and try get back to sleep (which if you're like me will never happen) or i can go out and get some exercise'.

Another great motivator is to sign up for triathlon, duathlong or fun run/walk. Then you feel like you're actually training towards something, have goals set and get that great feeling of achievement after doing it.

Done. Sorry to have wasted the effort of expressing my love for exercise and domination of the physical, had I known that it would quake you to such a fundamental level I would have softened my expression so as not to offend you. Too bad this is a forum on the internet, and you'll deal with it anyway.

I love to exert myself. Even more, I love to see tonnage move as a result of the effort and desire I pour forth for hours weekly. If the desire to achieve and become something exceptional is disgusting to some of you, it is result of your premises, do not blame the contradiction that it creates in your mind. Ego and devotion to yourself is the finest thing you can possibly hope to achieve, mostly because it is devoid of other peoples effort. It is your own. You alone own it.

Hi bernice -welcome!
I use the chain idea someone suggested. I hung up a calendar and I "x" off the days I work out. So far, I have x's in all of my boxes and it is a continuous chain. I like coming home after my workout and X'ing it off. I am proud of my chain and i dont want to break it.

By the way, how are everyones chains???

Jenn

Quoting: rurumon: ...my unending desire to be better than everyone else.



Subbing "better" with "fitter" and qualifying "everyone", with "most", might have been a good idea, as not everyone measures worth by the physical--ask Einstein...

Still though, I enjoyed the poetry of that first paragraph.

As for the chain, I don't have one but whatever works, WORKS, so boom.

Good weekend to all,

Hello!

I know what you mean re keeping the motivation going!

How I keep motivated is by targeting myself for a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a minimum of 5 days a week and keeping a record of it (then when I feel 'lazy' or unmotivated I can look at the spreadsheet and think, "well I don't want to break this really good chain of exercise!"). I keep an .xls spreadsheet and working week by week and highlighting green all of the weeks I've done well and marking red the weeks I haven't managed it all!

(I've just re-read this post and thought "Oh dear, I sound like such a pathetic person keeping spreadsheets of my exercise!!") But if it works for me...!

Oh almost forgot! Another thing I've done is book up for things I've always wanted to do - ice skating and dancing lessons and pay in advance so I have to go or I'm wasting money.

Hope this helps!!

sarah-i think thats great. if it works for you, it isnt at all pathetic and shouldnt matter what anyone else thinks. i love looking at my calendar on my closet door. it looks ridiculously stupid on my door but i pass it by when i walk in the door and it makes me feel happy!

jennifer

Wrong, Jeff. Dead wrong.

Judging from the endless amount of crap that circulates daily through this haven for underachievers, I'd reverse your pathetic excuse at an attack and say this:

"LIFE is wasted on the wrong people."

Instead of celebrating man's pursuit of his utmost potential, this "community" praises people who continually and knowingly flounder under their own failures. Rather than respecting the true level of effort, dedication, and drive it takes to be in shape, this forum abhors it. The moment an individual who is fully engaged in this pursuit enters Traineo, he or she is met not with admiration, but with acute jealousy. Jealousy that is aimed at not what this person has achieved, but at what has allowed him or her to achieve it, namely unflinching willpower and an insatiable thirst for personal success.

Go ahead, Traineo. Continue your utterly pointless and hapless existence of coddling people who refuse to embrace reality and who, at the same time, want and demand the most out of it. Continue to "motivate" and give "hope" to those individuals who are not only bereft of both purpose and reason, but who also hate on people who possess and operate under both.

Thank you for your services, Traineo. You have done absolutely nothing except provide a platform for those whose existence is predicated not on a love for life, but on an aversion to those who possess it.

I don't entirely disagree with Dutch's points here. The problem is the approach.

I'm going to go ahead and sound Dr Philish for a second...
"is what you're doing WORKING?"

No, you're scaring people away.

Where is Dean G?

OWWWWWWWWWW! MY EYES! Too many rays of sunshine!

So why do you hang here, Dutch? Seems to be more of a source of frustration for you than anything else.

And, "jealously"?, "acute", no less? You can count me out on that one.

I reckon that if even one person manages to turn their life around in terms of fitness due in some part by spending time in places like this one, then the world is a better place by their example and so on, and so on...

Not to mention making some downright cool connections with other humans out there. Both pluses in my book.

I gotta go broil up some chicken breasts...

Peace,

M.

I just want to thank Zach for his comment yesterday about exercizing be "a gift to himself." I'd never thought of it that way. To me it was a chore, but today armed with that new concept I did my thirty minutes with more joy. Thanks, Zach!

Minneapple

Working out in the morning has really been great for me. I recommend trying it. If you get it out of the way early, then you won't have to think about doing later on in the day or evening. It's also a great way to wake up!

Keeping track of the days that you workout is also a great idea. It'll make you really think about it when you consider skipping a day and you will also be able to see all the hard work that you've done over time.

And of course if you still need an extra push, we're here

Go Dutch, go! I'm speechless. How did this post get started again? Oh ya, someone asking for support at a site designed to give others support. How screwy is that?

Minu, I come to appreciate you more every day, and Minne, hats off to you for focusing on the positive.

With all Dutchness aside, I'll second what Zack and Veronica have suggested by working out first thing in the morning, especially if you have a job. Your energy is high and you don't have time throughout the day to make up excuses for not working out. Most people feel good after working out so it sets a positive tone for the rest of day. Plus, you can carry around that sense of accomplishment all day long.

Super-duper, double-quadruple Cheers!

I agree, Jeff. Time for some more bran-humor relief again or something!

Ahhhhhhh, blow it outchyer a--- Wait, wrong thing, wrong place.

And I'm outta freakin' ALL BRAN, too!

Anyone wanna ship some Fiber 1 to France? Collect even?

BON WEEKEND, Everyone, may it be active and fun for us all.

Hey! I've just been upgraded to a Traineo Fanatic! They're certainly not looking at my charts. I need to get back on the stick!

Minu, Amy and I desire some humor. Have anything for us today? I have jokes, but they're very wordy.

Cross post. Thanks!