Exercise Motivation

is hiring a personal trainer the only surefire motivator out there? has anyone found anything that works as well?

Wed. Sep 5, 3:27pm

Trainers, workout buddies, family support can all help, but it really comes down to you. You want it, so you must be the main motivator. This applies even for strength training. If you are unfamiliar with machines, you should get expert advice on how to them, but for long term maintance, unless you are going for fitness magazine bodies, you can build as much muscle and strength doing outdoor activities and simple strength training yourself.

It helps to find a workout that you enjoy. Initially try a lot of different activities, especially ones you think you would never do =) and give each activities at least 2-3 trys before you say no. If you do want to rely on a trainer, find one that you are comfortable with and trust.

You want something that is sustainable even with our busy workdays, so be realistic with the training regime and hopefully you will have fun doing it too!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 3:58 PM

I got a good ellipitical machine for my home. It's in front of my TV downstairs with my DVR box. I record all my favorite TV shows and only allow myself to watch them while I'm on my elliptical. I get in 45 min a day and don't miss the time at all.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 7:05 PM

Im very much the same - I set DVD infront of stationary bike and do a workout while watching a movie - time flies!!

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 2:17 AM

Rewards

You could set yourself a goal and once you reached this, reward yourself with a treat. For me it's when I've lost a certain amount of weight I'm going to go clothes shopping and treat myself to some new stuff. It could be anything though, clothes, dvds, cds....I find not buying any clothing until I've reached my goal a good motivator as I love clothing and fashion.

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 4:22 AM

a step

tv helps for me too. i put a step in front of the tv -( like a reebok step for step aerobics class) and I put on a dvd and step for an allotted time. its fun because i dont have to worry about following a routine, I just do my favorite moves from class for as long as i want and break a sweat and get a good cardio workout.

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 10:05 AM

10:05, what a great idea, thanks for sharing. I've been trying to think of occasional alternatives to my treadmill and the step aerobics would be great. I'm too clutzy to follow intricate moves in a class, but I could do some simple moves while watching TV. Thanks!

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 1:43 PM

Find some activities that you love to do...not just workout gym stuff...like ride a bike, swim, take a hike in the woods, take up a sport, play frisbee with your kids.....people get locked into boring gym workouts and quit because the activity itself is not sustainable in the long run. You need some intrinsic benefits to the actual activity...like it is fun or you get to experience the beauty of nature.

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 9:53 PM

I used a personal trainer once and it was to learn how to do the exercises properly and how to use the equipment. He was also very good about telling me how to maximize my workout. Once I got that info I had to stop because I didn't have the money. The only person who could motivate you it you. You need to do it for yourself, not for anybody else. And also, take a good look at everyone around you because chances are once you start losing weight and looking good they will start to sabatoging you (unintentionally). You losing weight is going to make others feel uncomfortable with themselves and they'll do little sabotage stuff like inviting you out to eat, bringing unhealthy food into the house, etc. I thought my husband would be supportive as well as his family and I have noticed that once I started losing the weight all kinds of junk food started to be brought into the house (they say it is for the kids but I know better). When I get tired and don't want to go to the gym is he there to say, go get your butt in there, no. I'm telling you it is all up to you. You need to plan your workouts into your day like it is an appointment or something. You need to prepare yourself for sabotaging, because it will happen, you need to write down what you do so you are aware of what you are doing and eating. It is hard, very hard. Everyone around me is fat, except my kids. I need to outlive everyone in my house for the sake of my kids. I have lost 50 pounds and have 50 to go and trust me it is hard and the only person you can count on is yourself. No one feeds you unhealthy stuff but yourself, no one can get you moving but yourself. It is all up to you and you have to believe that you are worth it!

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 10:04 PM

I don't think hiring a PT is a surefire motivator. Maybe it will get you there that one day a week you schedule, but it doesn't always carry over to the other days.

I'm a person who's motivated by kind of a 'no nonsense' approach - asking myself questions like - Would I rather be FAT or can I spare the 30 minutes it takes to get in a good walk or the hour at the gym? Because if I say I'd rather be fat, that just depresses me!

Ultimately, don't wait to be motivated - just get out there and do it.

Friday, September 7, 2007, 8:28 AM

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