Staying motivated

DustyMan

Help!! I could write books about training, fitness and diet etc I have loads of books, training gear etc etc but I can't stay motivated. I start programs of training but usually stop after a few weeks. I just can't stay motivated. Has anyone ANY advice on how i can stick at a program and stay motivated? Thanks.

Esse85

Whats your goal at the moment?

DustyMan

I don't really have a specific goal, although I'm becoming interested in competing a Triathlon. My goal really is just to stick at a training program...maybe in the past I've set the bar to high for myself and found the going to tough. I just want to exercise regularly instead of starting something...doing that for a few weeks....stopping for a few months...staring a program again for a few weeks...stopping for a few months...starting....etc etc

Glowing

I motivate myself with rewards.

"If I go to the gym tonight, I can veg on the sofa tomorrow (and not feel guilty about it!)"
"If I do 30 mins of swimming plus 2 sessions of weights this week, I'll go out for dinner at the weekend"

.. and so on!

Works for me!

daveywavey08

Well if I did a tough set of squats I'll dl some good Kyrstal Steal porn and squirt one over my keyboard.

DustyMan

Wow...your such a great help (not).

kevpants

DustyMan wrote: »

I don't really have a specific goal

There you go. Problen identified. Whether it's a level of strength, a time in something or a level of endurance you need something to aim for that you can look at yourself each week and say you're closer.

Otherwise what's the point?

Boston

I've no specific goal anymore, I've been at this for over a year and now going to the gym is just one of those things I do. I don't need goals tbh, so much in life is result driven that you miss the simple enjoyment of doing a thing for its own shake. I lift the heavy weight because I enjoy lifting the heavy weight, when lifting that weight isn't as challenging anymore I lift a heavier one. Of course I have mini goals like "Improve technique on the upright row" but no major driver. So at the end of this ramble my suggestion is to stop setting goals and judging yourself on results, just do it.

MooseJam

to stay healthy and keep the fat away

Odysseus

DustyMan wrote: »

I don't really have a specific goal, although I'm becoming interested in competing a Triathlon.

Well if that's what you want to do, make that a goal, pick a tri within a suitable time frame, one that you will have to work hard to achieve, but one that is achievable.

What works for me is I always have my next couple of events planned out so I have to stick to my training if I'm going to do them. Try get a few to do it with you, if not I always found that telling people I was goping to do something, made me more likely to do it. Why not do a tri for charity, the charity get a few euro and you stick to your plan building your training confidence in the process.

DustyMan

Thanks for the above advice folks (except for 1). Yes i need a specific goal and a Triathlon is something I am very interested in. I've previously reached a high level of fitness but I was younger then and really enjoyed the training. I guess defining a goal and not taking it too seriously i.e just enjoy it! will be a major step forward. Your all motivating me already! Ta!

gabgab

Hey,

How fit are you now? There is a tri in brittas coming up, go for it and start up a log. The buzz of finishing one, having being under pressure to know if you could finish it is brilliant, and the date element of it keeps the pressure on to stay at it.

DustyMan

I'm not to fit now, however I'm in reasonable shape otherwise. Probally 1 1/2 stone overweight. Yes for sure now I'm going to have that goal of completing a triathlon within the next 6 months. I'll look in to the Brittas tri. too.
thanks again.

MagicMarker

Hey OP, i'm the same as you, read up a lot on what to do and how to do it right, but loose motivation weeks into a program.

I'm not back in Ireland until the end of next month. But something i've thought about that would help is having a training partner, which i've never had. But if you're interested in a gym buddy let me know! I'm in south Dublin...

Open invitation for anyone else interested.:)

DustyMan

Im down in Carlow myself. Am starting training this week!!