What motivates you to work out?

The Young Wan

Having a bit of a crisis of confidence with the gym at the moment so I'd love to hear other people's stories of why they get their butt in gear and how they get themselves to the gym on a miserable night in November.

Alf Veedersane

Because I've formed a habit of going on Xday.

Because I enjoy it.

Because I enjoy what I get from it.

Because I want to do more than yesterday.



All of that trumps sitting on my hole at home.

Motivation won't get you too far. it's habit habit habit
maybe thinking of the medium term goals
plus it's a nice mental space - you're there working on you and doing your own thing
and finally because i'll be happier having gone than i would be if i hadn't gone

deadlybuzzman

You decide for whatever your motivation is that you are going to the gym at whatever time and whatever days and that's it, no weasling out or excuses.
And like what was just mentioned there, afterwards remember you were glad you went.
If you do quit then be honest with yourself that you're a quiter, don't bull**** yourself with some "oh I'm tired I'll go tomorrow crap" because one postponed day becomes 2 days becomes.... Etc.

Everyone has to force themselves to go sometimes. It's like lots of things in life, sometimes you just have to make yourself do stuff when you'd rather be sitting on your hole.... As I am right now!

eet fuk

If you really have trouble going join a small private gym. Very expensive but definitely worth it imo (although I’d bet it works out to be less than most people spend on booze every month anyway). I look forward to it every day at this point, it has just become a part of my life.

Pat Mustard

The Young Wan wrote: »

how they get themselves to the gym on a miserable night in November.

Go straight from work before you go home and there's nothing to think about.

Wanderer78

For my physical and mental well being, particularly mentally

DontThankMe

I just think think of it as challenging myself to being able to do more today than I did yesterday and then being able to do even more tomorrow. The motto I use is:
"Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can do what others can't"

mojesius

It helps me with my confidence, spent years hating my body but not doing much about it. But mainly I really enjoy it!

For years, I dropped out of sport after sport, class after class until I found something that I actually enjoyed (running, which led to weekly PT gym sessions and a Pilates class to build strength).

The PT sessions are tough, but the results are worth it. Pilates nullified awful back pain I had for years and desk job discomfort.
The running is my 'me' time, the only time a constant overthinker can stop worrying and enjoy being outside working up a sweat or just going for a relaxing jog.

Heavily pregnant now so a lot of that has gone out the window and I really miss the post workout buzz. Roll on January 😀

Keano

Lunch times were spent eating crap food.

Now I spend them pushing myself and coming back to eat a decent homemade lunch.

But as bluewolf said it's all about habit. It's my habit now.

Mr. CooL ICE

Too many reasons to mention, so here are the big ones:

1) I'm bad at it. I was never a physically strong person, but going to the gym and lifting weights has made me realise how physically weak I am. And I don't like it. And I don't like being bad at something which boils down to a physical trait, so I try to get better at it. Nowadays, I'm still kinda bad, but nowhere near as bad as I was.

2) My dad's side of the family grew up by the seaside. Some went on to work on trawlers while others went on to work on oil rigs or mining. They're all healthy as fcuk. My mother's side of the family went into relatively 'soft' jobs (banking, accounting, typing, etc) and all but one has had some part of them replaced, be it a knee, hip or whatever. Physically, I take after my mother's side of the family. I don't want to have parts of me replaced. I want to make myself as physically strong as I can, realistically, at an age where I can make a difference.

dastardly00

Wanderer78 wrote: »

For my physical and mental well being, particularly mentally

+1
Exact same reason for myself as well.

LincolnHawk

I enjoy it, that's pretty much it.
If I felt I had to drag myself there I honesty wouldn't bother. I wouldn't waste my free time doing something I didn't like.

bladespin

The want.

Figure that bit out and you're motivation is secure.

Triceratops Ballet

It's an hour or so a day to spend with yourself. In other parts of your life you're obligated to others, in the gym you're doing something for yourself by yourself.
It also focuses the mind, and keeps me in the moment, it's hard to be chucking weights up over my head and have my mind elsewhere. It's one place where I can actually forget my worries, because it's more important to focus on where I am and what I'm doing, than whatever is bothering me.
Also I never regret going, but I sometimes regret not going

Alf Veedersane

Also, if you don't train, there won't be enough footage for a montage.

Brian?

bluewolf wrote: »

Motivation won't get you too far. it's habit habit habit
maybe thinking of the medium term goals
plus it's a nice mental space - you're there working on you and doing your own thing
and finally because i'll be happier having gone than i would be if i hadn't gone

I couldn’t agree more about habit. If something is a habit, then motivation becomes irrelevant.

I exercise primarily for my own mental health. I’ve a very busy life.

harr

I don’t do much weightlifting because of injuries but I love my spinning and the lifting I can do.
Definitely mental health if I didn’t get some form of exercise daily I probably would crack up.
Plus I am a hungry ****er and if i didn’t work out I would be huge, not crap food but am just generally hungry..
Plus confidence, I was once 6 stone overweight and very low self confidence that all changed when I lost the weight.

cloudatlas

A lot of things but lately looking at the pictures of people I went to school with on social media and seeing how fat and out of shape they have gotten makes me feel motivated not to end up like that!

slavedave

I have always tried to participate in some sport. During my 40's, with work and family commitments this became trickier and it took it's toll. I know that my personality benefits from being challenged physically - it is good for me, so I needed to find a pastime that allowed me to do this. When my son needed to get fit for a job he was going for, I joined him in fitness classes and it was tough but great. When he moved out I took up Stronglifts 5x5 and kept going. Without doubt, it has kept my head in a good place and that feeds into the wellbeing of all my relationships because if I am happy it means that I can pour into them healthily. I really look forward to training - I track everything I do so that I can measure if the numbers are going in the right direction. There is a degree of satisfaction from knowing that you are performing an exercise with better form and moving a heavier weight.

Resetting when you hit your limit can be a demotivator, but working your way back up with better form to the point where you are stronger than before is REALLY motivating.

Building routine is really important. If it gets scheduled into your diary it gets done. Setting appropriate targets for the mid and long term also help when you ache and feel that you could skip a training session. Watching other lifters is motivating especially when you see them doing well, hitting PB's or recovering from setbacks / injuries. And in a not so small way, the banter in a friendly gym makes me want to return as well - can't put a value on that element. ( I went to a BD gym for a year and rarely saw the same people twice let alone exchanged a few pleasantries with them).

Support from those closest to you is also key - if your family / mates are always busting your chops about training then that is a challenge. Get a couple of people on board with you and they help you get out of the door each day.

Macy0161

My "before" photo's, and my love of beer.

Cocksy

my personal trainer keeps me motivated

Your Face

I like lifting weights.

saintsaltynuts

Knowing that if i dont go I'l be a right fat bastard.

whippet

I just love it !!

I spent 38 years of my life never being in a gym ... played sports all my life and loved competition when the body finally gave up I put on a shed loads of weight and just wasn't happy in my spare time. Kinda fell in to lifting and was persuaded to enter a competition and loved it. I train with a fairly tight knit group and great coach and the group think means that I will do everything necessary to make each training session ... I organise my diary around getting to the gym .. might sound stupid but with two young kids and a hectic worklife those two hours are where the brain switches off and the world could be falling down around me and I don't care .. much the same as when I was playing football .. the 90min each weekend was where I became someone different and everything else going on in my life was just forgotten about

Caliden

Looking at that video of me struggling to squat 5 reps of 50kg is what motivates me.

I hated recording myself and didn't see the point but looking at it now makes where I currently am so much cooler.
I still look at it from time to time when I've had a **** gym day.

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StereoSound

Me but I also do it for the women....It is what it is.

Meeoow

There's a poster in my gym, "it's not about having time, it's about making time".
I go first thing in the morning before work. It's quiet then, and helps me cope with the day ahead.
I wouldn't motivate myself to go in the evenings.

Cocksy

good music is a good motivator too

beertons

I like the buzz I get when I leave it, feel like I'm walking taller after a session. And I enjoy the break from the house too.

21Savage

Because I'd feel even worse if I didn't do anything. I literally feel terrible after gym and just notice how bad my genetics are(in terms of looks, I'm fast af and strong enough for my size) but yeah it's better than how I'd feel if I didn't go. Scary

Anyway 2018 I might just stay outdoors and do cardio and bodyweight exercises. I feel we are kinda over the whole gym craze. It's all about cardio and chill now. The obession with squatting is coming towards an end I reckon. Lifting is gonna go the way that tanning did in the early 1900's. It will be associated with low class tatted up low iq idiots. People will just embrace outdoor pursuits and calisthenics in next two years.

Blacktie.

21Savage wrote:

Anyway 2018 I might just stay outdoors and do cardio and bodyweight exercises. I feel we are kinda over the whole gym craze. It's all about cardio and chill now. The obession with squatting is coming towards an end I reckon. Lifting is gonna go the way that tanning did in the early 1900's. It will be associated with low class tatted up low iq idiots. People will just embrace outdoor pursuits and calisthenics in next two years.

Well just.... Wow.

joombo

There are many physical and mental benefits from working out but in reality I just want to be more appealing to attractive women.

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Larry SR

For me it's all about habit. And if I miss a couple of days, I find it a huge struggle to get back into it.

2018 I plan on going Monday to Friday with no excuses.