| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/4/2008 12:52:54 PM | Turn on the TV. My ego sees some of the bodies on there and knows that I can look like that if I just keep working. 
Or I go to the local little league park and see other men my age with their guts hanging out and that does it for me.  | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/4/2008 9:51:57 PM | I'm enjoying reading all the different replies to this thread. I used to be ridiculously motivated until the last few months. Before I trained 6-7 Days a week and ate very healthy. The results really showed too... but over the last few months something has made me very tired. I feel like my body is forcing me to go into literal hibernation.
I was sleeping 10 hours a day, then 12, now sometimes more than 12 and it's never enough, I always want more sleep. So it's hard to get myself back into a healthy lifestyle when I can barely get myself out of bed. I'm hoping it's a mental thing, not physical so I'm just looking for some different strategies than my own to try and get started again.
Before I made my workouts a priority above everything else as well. School, work, friends, everything came after my work out. Now I'm working a more important job that requires first priority. I never ate junk because I knew that wasted all my efforts at the gym, and I LOVE being at the gym once I actually get my butt there. I just need to break out of this rut. Someone give me a shove! | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/5/2008 7:02:28 AM |
Now I'm working a more important job that requires first priority.
Are you working, as well as working out 6-7 days a week? If so, maybe you're over-stretching yourself.
Like you, recently I found myself extremely exhausted, though I still enjoy getting up to go to the gym before work. I've been through times like this, so I tested my first theory, that is, not having enough nutrients. I went and had a heavy-calorie, trans-fat-laden meal, and I felt much better 
It's great to be healthy most of the time, but a treat helps me motivate me going forward.
Maybe you need to schedule 1 or 2 days off, get your rest; quality rest does work miracles!
Good luck, and keep us posted! | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/7/2008 12:07:40 AM | Hi folks,
I agree with the "results fuel motivation". I work-out everyday, other than if I'm EXTREMELY busy. I've exercised on and off for about 6 years. And too motivate me, if I'm not exercising, I just remember how good I looked when I did. After I start, for me, it's not to hard to stick to it, I look in the mirror and say "damn you're a bad ass"...lol. Not that I'm arrogant in anyway, it's just how I roll. And then of course there is always certain parts of my body I'd like to improve, which motivates me more. Although, if I get in a bad period of depression it destroys it, and I have to start all over. That might be your problem, I don't know, I'm not you.
Peace,
Bob | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/7/2008 2:36:24 AM | | I find having a workout partner really helps. When you don't feel like going to the gym they give you that needed push and vice versa. I also find reading about other peoples successes very encouraging. Sometimes I pull out pictures of when I was in great shape to remind myself that I have been there and can do it again. I was wondering if you have been to the doctor for a physical? It sounds like the symptoms of mono or possibly depression. I'm no expert but thought I would just throw it out there. I hope that you get your motivation back sweetie. Best of luck and keep up the good work. | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/7/2008 9:07:44 AM | dp, your latest picture doesn't have that sassiness in your eyes that is there in the others. Get your iron level checked. Get some bloodwork done. Thyroid. Female Hormones. You're loosing your spark, girl!
After that get some liquid vitamins. Something like geritol or boost.
You're not doing the  vegetarian thing, are you?
Sometimes think they can be eating healthy and they are way off. You always sound more intelligent than most when it comes to health issues and I have always enjoyed reading your posts but even the best can make mistakes.
When I feel run down or stressed I take this b-50 by nature made -- its a timed released B vitamin so its not peed out all at once. It helps.
Motivation? Lately I have bunches of it. Biked around two lakes yesterday and if I wasn't waiting on a call from a date from here so I could be close to home, run home and shower for the date I was supposed to have I would have done a day long bikeride over to the Mississippi River and maybe even through historic fort snelling (steep!) to the Minnesota river... Pike's Island where they converge is awesome.
Did cardio twice the day before that.
Just getting a 60 degree day and some sun, even though the lakes are still frozen, is awesome! Seeing that is motivation enough! I planted another peach tree!
What else motivates me? Stares from the pretty brunettes on the walking path looking at my quads in my canondale spandex biking shorts.  
 Feel the burn!
And when I stop to drink water seeing the older women quickly turn their heads away when my eyes might meet theirs -- They know they shouldn't be looking at some one so young as I and they don't want to get caught staring at my muscular behind. 
Few things are publically bigger strokes to my ego. | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/7/2008 1:29:38 PM | | Fight the negative thoughts, keep positive at all times ( I know it can be difficult). Exercise really helps with this. Set goals for yourself. Sorry to be so cliche! But it's true... | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 12:15:06 AM | | I dont believe in dieting.Diets are incredibly hard to stick with ,so its much more beneficial to set a goal of having a long term healthier lifestyle.I experiement with lots of different food combos,so I dont get bored.Protein is very important for maintaining stable blood sugar levels and helps to stave off the midnight munchies:).Im not a red meat person so I tend to eat a lot of salmon/fish.Veggie burgers are also a tasty /high protein alternative to meat.Fiber is really important to feel full and satiated.Black beans are loaded with it,and also have a lot of protein.I add them to salads and make veggie chilli.Excercise is hard to stick to if it isnt any fun Ive recently taken up kick boxing,do aerobics,and walk.In the summer I love jogging,walking,biking and anything outdoorsy and non snooze worthy.To summarize....my advice is think fruits,veggies,fish,beans and whole grains...As for excercise, think of things you find fun and sometimes make it a social activity with a friend.Good luck:)You can do it!Kat | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 12:55:40 AM | i found it very hard when i first went on a fitness campaign a couple of years ago. watching my diet all the time was making me miserable. then i went on the 80/20 plan. 80% healthy, nutritious food, 20% whatever i want. just needs planning ahead when you're shopping.
exercise was also boring me - there's only so much treadmill/cycle etc. a person can bear before they start to lose the will to live! so i started classes at my fitness first - body pump, body combat and pilates. i love going now and i've made some great mates.
cheers,
chrissy | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 9:15:15 AM | "Protein is very important for maintaining stable blood sugar levels"
No, it's not. You need only a couple net ounces of protein/day. " Incomplete" protein (missing some amino acids) from serveral sources combines into complete protein when metabolized.
Glucose stability comes from eating low-carbs and low-glycemic food.
Where does this protein obsession come from? the US cattle/FDA marketing programs? | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 9:23:52 AM | Just knowing what I felt like when I wasn't in shape is enough to keep me motivated. I also have some injuries that will hurt again without proper regular therapy.
To avoid boredom I engage in a number of activities. I use a gym, walk, hike, lift weights, skate, take yoga, pilates, and various kinds of group exercise classes. I also participate in Race for the Cure, MS Walk and other charity events.
Doing these sorts of things makes for an instant support group through the friends I've developed participating in these activities.
As far as diet goes, I developed a low GI diet that works for me. I don't count calories. I know approximately how much food I should be eating, and if I exercise regularly I eat less and burn more calories. So diet more or less takes care of itself within those confines.
Edit @satx78218: Actually both low GI carb and high protein diet are necessary for optimal glycemic control. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) provide the tools for tissue repair and muscle growth. A high lean body mass to fat mass ratio increases insulin sensitivity. The purported mechanism of action is via the amino acid leucine.
Leucine is now known to interact with the insulin-signaling pathway with apparent modulation of the downstream signal for control of protein synthesis resulting in maintenance of muscle protein during periods of restricted energy intake. Leucine also appears to modulate glucose use by skeletal muscle. While total protein is important in providing substrates for gluconeogenesis (generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates), leucine appears to regulate oxidative use of glucose by skeletal muscle through stimulation of glucose recycling via the glucose-alanine cycle. These mechanisms appear to provide a stable glucose environment with low insulin responses during energy-restricted periods.
See Dietary Protein Impact on Glycemic Control during Weight Loss. Donald K. Layman and Jamie I. Baum. The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 134:968S-973S, April 2004 (and many other sources). | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 12:05:20 PM | | I have a scale that estimates my body fat % based on biometric impedance. I weigh myself every morning and keep track of my overall body weight and body fat % over time. Watching those numbers both decrease is motivating to me, as is the fact that my pants keep getting looser. As a guy, watching the ratio of my shoulder width versus my waist continue to increase over time is definitely also a motivating factor for me. | |
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katieb
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Joined: 12/29/2007
Msg: 39 | |
| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/9/2008 4:55:22 PM | All fitness instructors actually spend loads of time studying motivation while they are training, well i def did, the endless essays. If you got to a gym then you need to talk to your fintess instructor they really will help, if their any good. My advice tho:
You really need a clear reason as to why you want to diet/exercise, you need to know this reason and be constantly reminding of it. This usually means telling people, form a support network wether it just involves your partner, 1 friend or your whole family and friends, tell them your reason why you want to change, this way if you dont stick to it you begin to feel guily and this alone can actually keep you motivated. It also helps to do it with someone, if you want to diet find a friend and do it with them, decide and create healthy meals together, shop together, encourage either. If you want to get fit then join a gym with a friend...trusts me it works. Time frames work too, dont just say you want to loose weight, have clear goals. I want to loose 9 pounds by mu holiday in June, this sort of goal is realistic a pound of week is acheivable and having a real reason to do it will help. Keep your goals realistic if you set out to do something which is realistic your obviously going to fail and all that will do is discourage you even more which will do the complete opposite from motivate you. Make sure you tell close people too, anyone you live with or will be spending a lot of time with, no point going on a diet and your husband asks if you want chinese is their, pre-warn him/her and they can actually help you too. Another thing that helps people is say, your trying to loose weight, take a pic of yourself now stick it on your fridge, this way your constantly reminding of what your aiming to change, its also a great motivation tool in 6 weeks time cause you will really see the difference by then, and you will be able to see that if you continue you can continue to make a difference. Could go into the stages of motivation and goal setting but thats a tad bit boring.
Good luck | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/10/2008 1:11:29 AM | ^"No, it's not. You need only a couple net ounces of protein/day. " Incomplete" protein (missing some amino acids) from serveral sources combines into complete protein when metabolized. "
"Where does this protein obsession come from? the US cattle/FDA marketing programs?"
Its been my understanding for years that one of the simplest ways to regulate blood sugars is to simply boost your intake of protein, and decrease your refined/prossesed carbohydrate intake . Lean protein helps stabilize your entire system,and is paramount to maintaining a good healthy balanced diet. Good sources would be sunflower seeds and other types of nuts,tofu,soy,beans,lean meat,fish ect.If your protein consumption exceeds 30 percent of your daily caloric intake, it can be harmful and cause a buildup of keytones ,which causes dehydration.Dehydration is a big deal because it puts stess on your heart and kidneys and depletes calcium from your body.Ideally,(according to my understanding:) a persons protein intake should be about 15 percent of their daily calorie intake.A poster above me asked where the protein obsession comes from?...Protein is uber important in helping your system regulate the process of building up antibodies to fight infection,helps to maintain a healthy hydrated fluid balance in your body,helps to synthesize hormones and enzymes,and assists in doing a few other important things too.If a person goes overboard with anything, whether it be protein,carbs,vitamins ect,it becomes unhealthy and will have negative effects on your system.In my opinion, protein is and always will be a very integral part of a healthy and well balanced diet:)~Kat~ | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/10/2008 11:20:57 AM | My ultimate motivation for keeping up with the gym:
I never want to be "that guy", the one who can't see his own d!ck without the help of a mirror. | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/12/2008 1:26:10 AM | There are endless ways and everyone is giving good advice.
As for me:
1) the older I get, the more I feel optimum health has to be for me.
2) I feel that I accomplished something for a day (even if it's a 30 minute workout)
3) There is nothing for me to do where I live and I don't know anyone (I'm pretty shy, lol) so it's great way to pass the time
It's like second nature for me to workout everyday now and I LOVE IT.
For some, like yourself, maybe have a workout partner that shows lots of enthusiam.
good luck! | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/12/2008 8:31:59 AM | Motivation for exercise beyond the obvious:
In the mind's eye, I've looked down the hollow tube
Found a ring so far from here
That I try to see what's causing it
and find myself in a whole new realm
where others look at me
and are engorged with envy
for I'm the one who set my own reality
and changed for the better.
When you've taken that time,
pounded out the stress of life
Not worried about anything
nor cared about what anyone else thought
because it's you that worked so hard
to be what you are,
there is not a thing called motivation anymore
as there is called
'living life'.
Keep it real and glow with goals.
~A~ | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/24/2008 5:06:01 AM | | I find that nice gym clothes go a looong way.... not necessarily something expensive, but a few outfits that just look really good and make u feel good when u go to workout.... | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/24/2008 11:57:50 AM | Results do fuel Motivation. When i started doing Hapkido 9 months ago i would miss an avg of one class a week (only 3 a week). The master would always call me and id make an excuse as to why id didn't show.
Then i started forcing myself to go even when i didn't feel like it, and it's slowly become my routine. Last night everyone started coming up to me and making a point to tell me how much weight ive lost and how much better i looked then when i 1st (not sure what brought it on, but it was nice).
I also think external input is important. You're not always the best judge of how results are turning out cause you just have the scale and the mirror, and since you see yourself every day you may not visibly see the changes as much as others will.
One final advice i can say is read on the subject. One of the best books i've found so far is called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle" By Tom Venuto. While he does have his "plan", the book mainly contains good information on a whole about the whole subject, and dives in deep on a few subjects including psychological motivation, Protein and Ammino acid infomation, etc..
Knowledge is power, this includes power for you :) | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/24/2008 4:45:57 PM | Trying something different...
Going on a treadmill at the gym is physically stimulating but mentally boring.
Going for a run in the countryside is mentally and physically stimulating. | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/25/2008 4:36:13 AM | I make myself look in my full length mirror every morning -- B*** nekkid! And from several angles!
If I DON'T like what I see -- I am "motivated".
If I DO like what I see -- I am "inspired".
(but not kidding!) | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/25/2008 8:04:37 AM |
over the last few months something has made me very tired. I feel like my body is forcing me to go into literal hibernation
I get the same feelings in December, March, and October. In Canada the sun is noticeably shifted and the weather gets colder. Don't feel awkward, it happens to us too.
I was sleeping 10 hours a day, then 12, now sometimes more than 12 and it's never enough
You are sleeping too much. Start weening yourself off the sleep and it should get better. Take a nap in the day if you really need it. Remember your body is healing itself when your inactive. If it continues, you could have some medical issues that need to be looked at.
Good luck. | |
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| How do you stay motivated?
Posted: 4/25/2008 7:19:41 PM | I always go with a friend that helps the most. A friend who shares similar goals like to loose wieght, get big muscles, or fit into that outfit. You have to make it part of your routine. Like if you go to school choose a time where the both of you can go to the gym and workout. Choose something reasonable and allocate enough time to complete your workout. Make sure you know what days you can't make it or make an agreement not to go to the gym during exams/midterm times for example.
Find out what your goals are that should be somewhat reasonable, measurable, achievable and you can mark your progress.
Find the best route possible in terms of your goals. Like if you want to loose wieght cross train, if you want to get big wieght train, if you want to have fun do aerobics.
Make the commitment before you start to say "ok I am dedicating myself to the gym, I will achieve what I want" this is done for mental preparation.
Dont make the gym to be a chore because its not. Its really enjoyable once you get into the routine and you will feel soo bad when you don't go.
Im not trying to say im the most fit guy but just have fun with it and the belief and you have 90% of it done.
Im a procrastinator and can't seem to follow through on anything!! But I followed these guidlines and it worked wonders for me in the gym.
recap****
Go with a friend
know your goals
find a good workout plan suitable (cross fit.com does a good one for that for wieght reduction - alot of girls do it to)
Pick your availability mutual to you and your friend (be realistic allow yourself to still have your life)
HAVE FUN the results will come | |
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