How do I find a passion for working out?

Question

I have a great deal of weight to lose and I can't find a reason to feel passionate about working out. I know you're supposed to work out to become healthier or because you love yourself, etc, etc. But I need something more than that.

I already know the activities I enjoy doing (strength training, power walking, yoga, pilates, kickboxing). Yet enjoying those activities still doesn't get me fired up. Setting goals such as doing so many workouts per week doesn't do it either.

You know how some people want to lose weight because they want to look good at a reunion or in a wedding dress or something like that? Or, you know how people decide they want to run their very first marathon and they become obsessed with training for it? I want to find a reason that means so much to me that I am motivated to work out first thing in the morning, in the heat, twice a day, or do whatever it takes. Can anyone suggest how I can find that passion?

Answer 1

You could also do the training for a marathon...you could pick a charity that means a lot to you. Such as breast cancer or something like that...especially if you know someone who has breast cancer.

For me, I had to force myself to do it...about 2 months in, I started seeing a huge difference in the way my body looked and felt, and was enthused to get up every single day to go to the gym at 4 a.m.

Answer 2

To me, just wanting to lose the weight is motivation enough. If you see the weight start to come off, that can make you passionate about continuing to do what made that happen. I don't think you need a specific event to motivate you. You'll look and feel great! What's better than that? And I say this as someone who's lost and gained back the same 50 lbs. at least 4 times now. When I'm really into it, nothing motivates me better than watching those numbers on the scale go down and buying clothes in smaller sizes!!

Answer 3

Finding something you enjoy that is good exercise is the first and often hardest part, and you've already got that done.

If you're finding it hard to use those things for motivation, then just do them for fun. Maybe you just need to stop waiting to feel a "passion" to come along and just do it because you want to.

If you mean that you need more passion or motivation to actually get up and do them, I would suggest an "accountability partner".... someone to go and do those things with you. It may be a friend you can spar with in strength training or kickboxing, someone you can walk with, or someone that you can just use to make sure that you are doing your "workouts" and that they are doing theirs. It's easier to find someone that lives near you, of course.

I know of quite a few people that have someone they go walking with daily, and just have a nice long chat while they walk.

Or if getting off the couch is the hardest part, you could try taking an energy supplement. I know of some people that used energy pills to give them enough energy that they actually felt like they HAD to get up and do something.... but that's not for everyone.

Answer 4

I hate to work out too... as a matter of fact, I just had a baby 2 months ago and started working out this week. I am so sore I can't even hardly walk!!!

When you start to see the results from your hard work you will want to see more and more... get excited with the results of the way your body is changing for the better if weight loss is your goal. Soon you will make it a habit and it wont be such a struggle to get up and do it.

Good Luck I feel your pain... literally

Answer 5

i don't know how anyone can help you find passion. i can suggest some things that might make you feel passionate about yourself. take a minute and just close your eyes and imagine yourself feeling good about yourself, feeling alive, more energized and fit. i suggest that if you do something everyday for 30 days it will become a habit. post motivational pics or sayings within eye view to help keep you on track. write down 5-10 things that you want to accomplish within 1-3 months then make sure you achieve those things. I was like you and felt unpassionate about life. I started doing aerobic strenght training and found that it was a great combo of exactly what I needed. i have 10lbs left to lose and i keep telling myself just a little bit more. challenge yourself to make yourself gratifide. everyday is a challenge and you have to commit to a life changing experience and being healthy is just that. look into purchasing THE FIRM series. it really works. take a vitamin everyday and make smart food choices and i guarantee you will see results.

Answer 6

Just keep telling yourself that to exercise is better for you in the longrun. For example, you'll feel less tired, have more energy + lose weight gradually because even little everyday activities such as a walk or climbing stairs will burn some calories.

Answer 7

get a workout plan and just do it for 30 to 60 days. there were studies done along time ago that stated that if you do anything for at least 6 weeks it becomes a habit. i fully believe in this for the good and the bad. so just sit a time to drop everything and go do your thing and sooner or later you will start to see some results and then you will become hooked. good luck.

Answer 8

so you need a motivation on "why to work out" everyone has their own. My motivation is keeping my young looking body.

You have to want it bad enough to do it and stick with it. Don't be discouraged cause you have a great deal to loose.

I went from 125lbs to 265lbs due to pregnancy. It took 1 year to get back to 125 lbs. My motivation, my whole family got fat after having kids, I wanted to prove that weight is not genetic.
and I did.

Ask yourself, why do you want to lose weight? Do you want to loose it to find the perfect lover? or Maybe because you want to be healthy, or prove to your family, friends or yourself, you can do it.

Look inside yourself and find your reason. If you can't find one, your not ready and it will fail, its like people who stop smoking, you have to be ready.

Answer 9

Imagine how you want yourself to look and feel and don't stop working out till you get there. Your mind is very powerful and I heard once from that celebrity fitness guy that if you keep imagining yourself fit, you will eventually get there because you will stay motivated to make your fantasy turn into reality.

Answer 10

you only have one life, one body, why not make it the best it can be? isn't that motivation enough? at first, you may not see the results you want, but once you make it a routine, you'll gradually see your body start to change. the more it changes, the more motivated youll be to get out there and jog, or walk, whatever you do for exersize.

so make the only body you have GREAT!