Keeping up motivation for the gym

Citygirl1

Hi, I feel I really need to exercise, I am just not fit at all. I have joined the gym twice so far and then cancelled my membership because after the initial gloss has wore off I have stopped going and wasted my money. Once I am there I am fine, I see everyone else exercising and I really get into it and feel brilliant for exercising but then I get unmotivated about actually getting there. I don't have transport so have to get the bus and I find that when I have finished work I just want to get the bus straight home. Its the Council run gyms I join, the one in town is handy but its not as good at the other one which means getting another bus from town after I've finished work (I work town).

How do you all who go to the gym keep up the motivation? Its no use me trying to exercise at home as I can't be bothered to do that either as once I get in I just flop in front of the telly and have no motivation to exercise in my front room.

I want to join the gym again and keep it up. I work full time but my hours are flexi and I don't work at the weekends but do like to go shopping and meet friends then.

elliebobs

One thing that used to work for me was when I was overweight. I took a picture of myself using my camera phone of myself in my underwear or bikini so that I could see the unwanted rolls of fat:eek:. As soon as I started wavering about going to the gym i just looked at the picture and that got me there on the treadmill quicksmart!

A tad unorthodox and obviously make sure that no one else is likely to scroll through your pictures!

faithcecilia

Maybe a gym isn't the right exercise environment for you. Why not try to find out about some community-based classes in your area, or even outdoor fitness? I went to gyms for years, 6days a week for most of the time, but now do outdoor fitness and I absolutely love it, no matter how cold or wet I might get! I have got to know people and become good friends with a couple of them. Knowing I will see these friends and have a laugh whilst working hard is a real motivation for me.

jenniewb

I think the hardest part of any exercise regieme is thinking about doing it. Once your there taking art its easier- not easy, just easier.

Try to remember that and get yourself onto the gym floor as if its not a question: you don't question going to work, you just do it. Take the same approach with the gym, just get there, its only a question of going if you allow it to be a question, if its something you do without questioning weather or not you want to, you will find you go.

Make it a part of your life- a part of the routine, something you do because thats what you do on x day/s at x time/s.

Think about the end as your working out, what you will feel like when your done, how proud you will feel at the end of the month when you can tell yourself you exercised so many days or hours more then you did before, how much of an achievement that is and if you kept up a routine or going to the gym, this is also something to be proud of. Recognise its not easy so feel great for having done something, achieved something you otherwise would not have done.

Try different forms of exercise each 6 weeks. Your body gets used to wahtever you throw at it so keep yourself doing different things. This is the real way to get fit, not by doing the same old workout each time. Try classes, try fitness programmes, try dancing, try uploading as many tracks to your MP3/Ipod as you can and moving to the music.

Get yourself some decent music, take time to look for things you like but can only listen to at the gym. Don't allow yourself to listen to this music any other place but the gym, its a reward for your working hard. I tend to go for DJ mixes (google for DJ Earworm, all legal legit stuff just very very moveable to!) or try some of the ministry of sound exercise mixes from Amazon or Itunes, you can get quite a lot of music for around £5-£10 depending on if you catch an offer or discount, two weeks ago Amazon were offering a 40 track download for £5.99 so keep your eyes peeled!

Try to keep a measurement of what you do. For me, I wear a heart rate monitor, I watch to make sure I am working as much as I can and that I improve, its easy to slack back and do nothing but this shows up as a low heart rate so it keeps me on my toes! Other ideas are watching how many KM you run/walk/cycle etc or how many reps you can do or what weights/level/speed your going...there are many ways. Keep a diary and check back once every 6-8 weeks to clock the difference. If your really into it you could try plotting a graph. Just don't go by the calories mentioned on the machines, they are a gross exaggeration! Even by my heart rate monitors comparisons (which also exaggerates calories- they all do!).

Keep yourself going to the gym 3 times a week for 6 months. Sounds like a nightmare but I swear after this point it suddenly gets easier, it becomes a routine part of your life and you miss it when its not there- its also by this point that you really start to see the visual and exercise level differences, before that point you notice them but they are not so obvious.

Dawning

First I agre that the gym may not be the right environment for you - it worked for me for several years but then it became 'not right' and I found alternatives. Saved a fair bit of money too. That said, I've become very unfit during the past few years so I may join one again, if the finances ever allow!

As for getting into a routine, I think you have to plan your sessions into your diary like you plan anything else in your schedule. if you decide that the best time for you to go is either before or after work, then I'd suggest choosing a gym near your work or one that's on the route home.
That's what worked for me - I wrote down each week what days I was going to the gym that week, and I joined a gym that was on my drive back home from work.
Like others have said, it does eventually become a habit and it gets easier. When you do go, you don't come out thinking 'I wish I hadn't gone', because you feel better. On the nights I wanted to skip going, I'd remind myself how much better I would feel after - more energy, and not beating myself up for not going.

Citygirl1

Hi, thanks for your replies. I think the gym is the best option as I don't like outdoor exercising and can't get motivated at home. Its a good idea to see it as part of your routine like going to work and writing it down in your diary what days you are going to go and sticking to a schedule. Financially it is another direct debit but I only resented paying it before because I wasn't going. I'm not overweight but my stomach could do with toning and I need to get fitter in general and in more shape.

vixarooni

If you can get a friend to go with you that is a good bit of motivation! I tend to only go to the gym if my friend comes with me and vice versa!!

Yolina

As Jennie said, make it part of your weekly routine - you'll just "fall" into it then.

Classes might be best for you as 1) it's on a timetable so no "I'll got a bit later today" excuse and then not go and 2) a good instructor will motivate you and push you that little bit harder. Try all the different classes and find out what you enjoy doing, otherwise you'll see going there as a chore and you won't stick to it. Personally I love the gym and have been going for many years. I know that what I really like is spin and weights - you won't catch me dead in the aerobic-type classes, I hate all that jumping around lol. For variety sake, I throw in an odd circuit, pilates or yoga class somewhere at random every now and then.

Edit: the more you go, the more you'll want to go

angela110660

It might also be worth booking a 1 to 1 session to talk to one of the trainers and get them to give you some inspiration for the gym. Some gyms offer this free - some you might have to pay but it might encourage you.