Motivation? Consistency?

Falco · 30-Jun-08, 01:41 AM

I'm making this post for two reasons: One, I really Do want advice; but I also just wanted to put this topic out there and have people share their thoughts. Basically, after a hectic spell at work that got me off track, I'm coming back to my regular workouts, but I'm facing that ever present bummer of having to start over again. Because I work in an office and it gets busy, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that sometimes there will be times when I won't have the time for the ideal workouts I would like. On the other hand, looking at myself critically, I really Don't have really solid excuses-there is a gym at work and I go to 24hour, so I could theoretically go at anytime of the day or night. I guess I just get in a rut sometime. Beyond that, I don't mean to sound shallow but I think a lot of my self-esteem is tied to how regularly I work out, and lately I've been "feeling fat" and its affecting me in that I don't feel as confident out there in the dating world right now. I know I'm not in awful shape, but I don't feel I'm in the right shape for the type of people I want to hit on. Any thoughts or advice on ways I could keep my motivation going or stay consistent?

Caracal · 30-Jun-08, 05:23 AM

Things i've done to boost my confidence and keep me motivated include:

1) Buy a set of scales so you can monitor your weight (and, depending on the scales you buy, your body fat % etc) - that's always a good motivator - when you look back and can SEE your improvements!

2) Spend a little money on some new gear (maybe some new shirts, running shoes or whatever), i found that doing that, gives me another little 'nudge' to get back into the swing of things!

3) Use the 'online journal' section of the forums to keep track of your workouts and (if you're up to it) also post in the 'progress pictures' section - a great way to get feedback and actually see your progression

Overall (for me anyway) - keeping logs and journals have kept me going.. because i dont just 'guess' how im improving (or not). If you look at my online journal (link in my sig) you can see i also use a HRM to monitor my heart-rate during runs, which (as well as being cool! haha) lets me see how my fitness is increasing (or not).

I'm not saying 'go spend loads of money' because that's not the right way to go about it, i'd just recommend tracking your progress, that way you can set yourself achievable goals and track your progress along the way

Hope that's of some help!

30-Jun-08, 10:02 AM

Good advice in the previous post but it all begins with how bad do you want it. If the fire in your belly is not there, anything you start will not be sustainable. You may need to hit rock bottom a little more until you have a serious moment of embarrassment or a health scare. I've read more than once the Daddy who took his son or daughter on a roller coaster ride and was publicly humiliated when the safety bar wouldn't close because he was too fat. That person hit rock bottom and started training with a vengenance.

I suggest a very effective way to motivate yourself, works for both guys and gals.

Go into the privacy of your bathroom and strip down. Grab a hand mirror, now turn your back to a wall mirror and use the hand mirror to get a rear view shot of yourself. If that doesn't motivate you to train, then it is hopeless, go put on your baggy green sweat pants, grab a big bowl of buttery popcorn, and go sit on the couch and watch television and get fatter and unfitter.

CliffA74 · 02-Jul-08, 09:15 PM

Consistency. Consistency is the magic bullet of training. If you are consistent with a sub par program or with the world's best program, you'll still get results.
I find constant change really helps me be consistent. Learn new lifts, new techniques, new breathing patterns, new skills, whole new formats. Lift heavy, lift light, don't lift at all just imagine something heavy. It all works. Your training will remind you of the old Kool & the Gang song, "Fresh."

Motivation.
As for generating motivation out of thin air, Newton's laws still apply, a body in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force.
Get moving to stay moving.

Pierini's mirror trick is actually quite motivating, I've used it before.

Have fun,
Cliff

Laurinsane · 03-Jul-08, 08:02 AM

Hey Falco, great advice from everyone. I can totally related to "feeling fat" when no working out. I think its our body's way of telling that we do need to workout.

It's not uncommon for self-esteem to be tied to working out. When you work out you release endorphins which help elevate your mood.

I would suggest keeping a workout journal for yourself. Write down how you feel when you actually get to work out and how you feel when you missed working out. You can keep this at work with you to read when you are having trouble motivating yourself to get to the gym.

70% of the time I don't want to work out. How many times did I regret working out? NEVER.

Just take it easy getting back into your new routine. Once you make it a habit again it will be no problem. Just find the motivation and drive to get you to that gym.

sweetdream · 03-Jul-08, 09:47 PM

Hello!

Great advice from everyone especially the famous "How bad do you want it" from pierini

It's all true, you seem like you are on the fence on whether or not it's something you are willing to make the commitment to and a commitment is what exercise needs from you in order for it to give you any gains

how much time are you willing to commit? What are your goals, short term and long term? what do you want to work on?
these are also things you can ask yourself to get more insight from yourself on what it is you need to do!

good luck and you won't find anyone on here who says "screw it, don't workout"
you didn't come here because we are lazy, you came here to discuss fitness..so get fitnessing! hahha

westside24 · 21-Jul-08, 06:50 PM

That should be our slogan, and we can make commercials, and you can award me for thinking of it! haha... ok not funny, I do feel like discussing my fitness once im done reading all the old posts.

westside24 · 21-Jul-08, 07:15 PM

ok after catching up with everything, I need to whine and complain now... if you guys are willing to listen.

This is my second week back to 7-3 shift ( my shift ive been working for 4 years) prior to this I voluntarily switch with someone else for a 9-5 for 6 weeks... not so bad, but to me it was, I lost all motivation to workout, I went from a blazing 185 to a 175, and im pretty chubby... which is aweful because like the original poster, its just startin to get to me now, considering 2 years ago I was 145 lbs, and looked like skeletor, now im pretty fat, and the handheld mirror trick just made me really depressed... Also I have not been eating good or enough! like 3 times a day, because I was doing less physical work for those 6 weeks, even eating only once or twice a day on weekends... just because I was too lazy or just wasnt hungry enough, or didnt even think about it! what is wrong with me... and I been eating zero vegetables, zero fruit, plenty of whole grain carbs just because they simply taste good, lots of junk, potato skins with olivio butter ad bacon n cheese n sour cream... I made a big transformation and I dont like it. on top of for those six weeks i have been out looking at house every other day, and talkin with the mortgage lender about the loan type I have, and then any other day I have free I just felt so bogged with chores around my place, and trying to maintain a relationship with my g/f and friends. I know it sounds like a lot of excuses, maybe Im just not good at scheduling out, or maintaining my life.

I know that for me, the first step to gettin back on track is getting on here, just this website alone kept me motivated... not because of the pats on the back, but because of seeing everyone elses results n stories, and the activeness of this place is what kept me motivated...

I hope I can find the strength to get started again.

P.S. Sorry O.P. for taking over thread like I always do... I figured this was a good place to post this, reading your story, and even just the title to the thread really hit me

bodyshop20 · 30-Jul-08, 03:04 PM

Obviously the spark is there, now feed it to a blazing inferno.
Motivation is selt dedication and self punishment.
Champions are made not born

westside24 · 31-Jul-08, 04:47 PM

still havent started workin out... I just got accepted on an offer (house) which I countered to see If I can get 6% back instead of 3% like they wanna give me. but anyways yea, I just havent been motivated to start again... I want to, everyone keeps tellin me, "what happened to you" or one girl said I had man boobs

which I dont really, its just that I have no upper pecs, so the sternum portion of my pecs are all muscular and adding some fat make it look like I have breast. I need someone to work out with.... Every time I try, I have it in my head, Ill do a set or two of something and bam... im outta breathe im outta energy, i feel like I could pass out and go to sleep. Im hoping this will pass when I finally find a home and im all settled down.