What do you say to yourself for motivation on the days you really don't want to work out?

Question

I'm the type of guy who needs to exercise every day because if I take a day off, it's twice as hard to make myself work out the next day (and four times as hard the day after that). But on those days when I've had a rough time at work, or got home after dark, or when my back's stiff from a high school weightlifing injury, I have to give myself a major pep talk. I'm sure you have days like that as well, when it feels like it would take a cattle prod to get you on the treadmill- so what do you say to yourself?

Answer 1

I tell myself "It time to work", then I take a thermogenic and play my workout music (I prefer Linkin Park or Slipknot). After a couple of warmup sets, I'm pretty feeling no pain and can concentrate on working out.

Answer 2

I tell myself I have to go but I only have to stay or work out for 15 minutes. By then, I usually do a full workout because I'm already there. And if I do end up taking off after 15 minutes, that's better than nothing!

I remind myself how much better I feel when I do work out.

I think what am I going to do instead, watch tv? The thought of just lounging being lazy when I could be active and keeping my body looking good is usually enough to get me to the gym.

Also, I just think if I skip today, i'll probably skip tomorrow, and the next day, and it will turn into a habit to skip.

Answer 3

Remind yourself of how you feel *after* workouts. If you're lazy or moody when you come home, getting on the treadmill is bound to melt away that lethargy. You have to focus on the end result. Exercise has immediate benefits, which include an increase of energy, as well as relaxation. Relaxation spurned by exercise is better for you than relaxation spurned by sitting on the couch and packing in calories.

If you really can't motivate yourself to exercise, stand with your nose to a wall and tell yourself that your choices are to either 1) continue to stand there and do nothing, til you die of ennui, or 2) be active and exercise, which does your body good. I've tried this and believe me, after standing there for a few minutes, you're going to want to exercise.

Answer 4

If it's about once a week, then I remind myself how much my body needs to have a rest day to rebuild lovely strong, sexy muscles.

If it's more than that, then I just have to remind myself how crappy it is to get back into exercising once I've slacked off and lost some of my fitness level.

Maybe, if you're often experiencing lack of motivation, then it's time to do some different exercising. Instead of the treadmill, could you go for a bike ride, or a swim?

Answer 5

My motivation is results, when I see gains.. I push harder. Sure it takes time to see results.. Try this.. take a picture of yourself now, put it away.. eat good food 45 minutes before work out (i'm talking oatmeal, banannas, wheat bread and toast, WATER.. great energy foods) that will elevate your energy.. hit the gym hard! Do it 3 times a week for a month.. at the end of the month take out the picture you took and compare it to now.. take a new picture and start all over again.. See the results & build on them. It's hard building the momentum, but once you do there's no stopping it!! Good luck.. it also helps to have an MP3 player filled with good Rock music to jack you up!!

Answer 6

I have a workout routine that I follow strictly and I just remind myself that if I don't go in and workout today, I'll just have to double up the next time. After reminding myself of how much time I'll be in the gym doing that, it is pretty easy for me to get up and go.

Answer 7

I do excersizes that I enjoy: like playing volleyball,bicycling and swimming. Becuase I enjoy them, Its not as difficult to work with. But when I do have one of those days: I imagine the doctor's face when he says "miss, your weight has fluxuated to a dangerously high level" . Its one thing to work out becuase you want to, another becuase you HAVE to.
And then, I think about how happy i'll be when i step on the scale and see i've reached my goal weight. Just knowing that kind of success might lie before me makes me want to work out even more.
With each step, i remind myself that im burning calories- and every calorie adds up to the magic number 3500.
And thats enough for me.
I've been told im a very self-diciplined person when it comes to working out. :) I just want it so badly-- to loose weight, and to be in shape- I just keep going.
I have 'motivation' . Set yourself a goal weight and try to reach it. Remember, if you dont make it its not a big deal, but.... think of how happy you'll be when you see that you can now lift that whatever and run that fast. Think of the feeling of success, and remember to enjoy it along the way. (find a sport that makes you want to practice, to get better, so you can play and be successfull)

WAIT I FORGOT SOMETHING:
force yourself. you have to do it. You have no choice
btw playing music with varied genre's helps to keep you calm. Its almost as if when you go from heavy metal to a lullaby that you are starting all over again. Then all of a sudden its over-- and your'e like "wow, i cant beleive that went so fast" same goes with varying the exceriszes you do-- go from weight lifting and then running within a 10 min. period... when songs end,

Answer 8

skinny jeans!
mini skirts!
short shorts!
tank tops!
baby girl tees!

Answer 9

i sit there and tell myself that im fat.
and i need to hurry up and get my *** to working out.
and it helps me lol