How to motivate a depressed couch potato?

[Merrida]

Without playing shrink, and without stepping boundaries, how would you go about motivating someone who is on the depressed side, somewhat shut in, reclusive, and just needs to get moving and physically active as well as more socially active?

Any comments that include debasement can be skipped, I'm looking for purely constructive ideas here.

Thanks.

[PoorBoyTek]

Well, if it was a friend, I'd spend time with them getting them little by little more active, i.e. going for walks, doing something energetic...
In all honesty, I was much like that once...it takes a lot from within that person to want to do it as well.

[Jackal]

I agree with Tek, you can only do so much to motivate someone.... There has to be a will inside them to want to get active.

[Steve]

invite him to an orgy

[Todd]

Show them what can be accomplished through enhancing their fitness for their body and mind!

[TsiTalon]

Originally Posted by Steve

invite him to an orgy

Hell that would motivate me to do anything you ask.

[DaLinkWent]

I kinda like the orgy idea . . .if you tell him that everyone who's in shape get's to go to an orgy and the more in shape you are the more orgy's you can go to.
Weekends are like a 24 hours monster party~

[Timbers]

Remember your condoms, guys

[Merrida]

Well actually it's a woman and sex isn't going to motivate her. But any "real" suggestions are quite welcome.

[mixtic187]

I agree with poorboy.. i'd just invite and strongly encourage her to come on walks.. even if it's just around the mall.. what does she like? anyway to connect her interests to some sort of exercise? Obviously lecturing doesn't help.. If she's really depressed, she might need to go to a counselor more than to just exercise..

[Trias]

My 2c

You'd be surprised at what a motivation sex can be but anyway the core motivation comes from within. You remember that old saying "you can bring a horse to water but..." Well this lady... she must really honestly truely want it deep down in her heart. You should be able to see that. Not a "I'll start Monday.." or a "I really should..." You will know if the strength within is focused on this task or on something else.

Motivation is actually a result not a cause. You don't take four buckets of motivation and then do things. You actually do things and it shows you are motivated. The best thing in my view for encouragement is 'fun'. Any way it can be arranged make the 'ordeal' fun.

You probably know this women I suppose then you know if the strength within exists for going out there and doing it. It's very discouraging trying to make the horse drink the water and then the motivation is truthfully your control which IMHO is not good.

The best you can do is encourage. So encourage.

[PixlPushr]

I dont know if you can realy motivate someone..
Ultimately it has to be something that they want. You may want to leave a few good fitness magazines laying around.

I know alot of people dont like EAS, but if you can get ahold of that Body-for-life video and get them to watch that.. (the original challenge video)..

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Merrida

sex isn't going to motivate her. But any "real" suggestions are quite welcome.

this is real....put a gun to her head

[PoorBoyTek]

For some reason that made me think of the movie 'Seven' where the guy was force fed until his stomach blew

[Timbers]

Originally Posted by mixtic187

I agree with poorboy.. i'd just invite and strongly encourage her to come on walks.. even if it's just around the mall.. what does she like? anyway to connect her interests to some sort of exercise? Obviously lecturing doesn't help.. If she's really depressed, she might need to go to a counselor more than to just exercise..

I agree with mixtic187.