How often do you exercise/ How do you get motivated?

[WilmaHun]

I really struggle to find any motivation to exercise at all. I just hate any form of workout/run etc. I think because I don't enjoy it I struggle for any motivation. I know I'll sound a right lardy a lazy git but I don't really do any "proper" exercise at all. I do go out for a walk every Saturday and Sunday for roughly 1hr per walk (I struggle to do it during the week due to working full time and studying for a degree outside of work) but I know that's not nearly enough. I have noticed my weight increase over the last 2 years or so, (I was a size 8/10 and now I'm a 12) and I'm worried if I don't start doing something I'll just end up getting bigger!

I thought it would be interesting to see how many people are like me and do little to no exercise vs how much everyone else does!

 

[shayshay]

Honestly... never. I can't even motivate myself to go for a walk in the cold, wintery weather. I love spinning.. and miss it so much but you know... lockdowns and all that. I liked treadmill running back in the good ol' normal days but I can't bring myself to run outdoors. I'll try Couch to 5K when the weather gets a bit better... but at the moment I'm the most unfit (and fattest) I've ever been... depressing really.

 

[Ariesbby]

I really struggle to find any motivation to exercise at all. I just hate any form of workout/run etc. I think because I don't enjoy it I struggle for any motivation. I know I'll sound a right lardy a lazy git but I don't really do any "proper" exercise at all. I do go out for a walk every Saturday and Sunday for roughly 1hr per walk (I struggle to do it during the week due to working full time and studying for a degree outside of work) but I know that's not nearly enough. I have noticed my weight increase over the last 2 years or so, (I was a size 8/10 and now I'm a 12) and I'm worried if I don't start doing something I'll just end up getting bigger!

I thought it would be interesting to see how many people are like me and do little to no exercise vs how much everyone else does!

It sounds like you need to find something you enjoy doing. I know I have to do things at the gym “I like” that’s what makes me go, or workout at home. I’ve found having a boss playlist powers you through a 30 min cardio fairly easily. If you are new to working out I highly recommended the channel Natacha oceane. She has a really healthy mentality when it comes to exercise and eating well.

 

[iloveanimals]

I SOMETIMES do my exercise bike for only 10 mins a day. I do housework every day they say that counts. I was walking around the block until the bad weather arrived. In summer we have our pool up, so its swimming and messing about in their for 30 mins or so. We play soft tennis for 30 mins first, Then in the evening we play croquet, but when its hot that will be accompanied by wine or prosecco ! I am middle aged though and i have got an illness that makes me very tired and painful. x ( early middle aged ) !

 

[mcfeez]

I'm not sure what is being considered exercise? But if walking is then every single day.

I walk at least 1 hour everyday, usually try to make it more when I can fit it in. Its so difficult in the winter with the dark evenings.

Alongside that I do cross trainer in the house for 20-30 mins, 3/4 times a week. I've been trying to get into yoga too but its just not for me I don't think!

 

[Belulah]

Never, ever, ever. And I love it! Rubbish at all sports!

 

[coleywoley]

Around 4/5 times a week. At the moment, mainly spinning and strength. Pre-COVID I did PT 3 x per week which was a mix of strength and conditioning and then usually another once or twice on my own.

I’m not naturally motivated to exercise so I do have to sometimes really force myself, but I always, always feel much better after. I’d feel lethargic and lazy if I didn’t do anything.

 

[Pixipoppy]

I always hated any form of exercise and sports growing up. I don’t think I had seen the inside of a gym until the age of about 21. I was lucky that I found something I enjoy (weights) and it’s just so much a part of my life now I’d feel very lost if I just stopped doing it. I do sometimes go too far and start to feel guilty if I have a break, which isn’t healthy either. I do wish I had motivation for cardio though as my fitness isn’t good, I can barely run a mile and sometimes get out of breath climbing stairs
Ps I selected “every other day” but at the moment it’s more like 2/3x a week

 

[under the ivy]

2-3 times a week with my home weights/exercise bike. Don’t get me wrong it’s hard to find the motivation but it helps my mental health.

 

[Zenchick101]

haven't in months. thanks to covid the only classes i like are gone

 

[Tinkerbell cat]

2-3 times a week with my home weights/exercise bike. Don’t get me wrong it’s hard to find the motivation but it helps my mental health.

Do you follow any online vids for your bike? I have one and just never get the motivation...x

 

[openbook1]

5-6 times a week. Sometimes I do less but it depends.
I used to do Barre pre covid and it got me quite toned and good at cardio.

I tried a few apps throughout covid and it took a while for me to find something I liked.

I realized I hate workout videos where the instructor is talking (lol). My favourites are when the instructor shows a preview of the exercise, just music playing with a countdown for each exercise and % bar showing how far along you are.

My go to YouTube channels are: Heather Robertson, Caroline Girvan and Growingannanas. If you are a newbie I would start with Heather's challenge (12 weeks I think). Caroline is quite advanced.

I don't think I will ever pay for a gym again.

 

[Bluelipstick]

If it wasn't for my PT it would be not often. But I have 2 sessions with him a week, via zoom at the moment. I try to walk a couple of times a week too but that is really more for mental heath for me. I don't really do any cardio now I can't go to dance classes

I should probably do some cardio classes on YouTube or something.

 

[birdiefly246]

when I lived at home I went to a gym class everyday. I was one of those dickheads that woke up at 6 on a Sunday to go to a bootcamp class. Since pandemic maybe once a week if that. I just hate it at home! I've started doing MadFit (on YouTube) 10 minute toning workouts and that does help. Normally once I've done one I will do another

 

[mochibean]

5 days a week. I do 16-18000 steps a day at work, plus heavy lifting so that is more than enough for me.
I don't workout at home, can never get motivated.

 

[Blakelycakey]

I’ve always hated sport and exercising as a kid would refuse to join in PE. I’ve joined the gym every other year in January as a quick way to lose some lbs but as soon as I’ve lost I’ve quit as I hated it. I started couch to 5k in the last lockdown and it has changed me. I was so unfit before but now I actually can run and not get breathless but not just that I really enjoy being outside listening to music having some time to myself. I think the key to motivation like others said is it shouldn’t feel like a chore you need to enjoy it to keep doing it x

 

[CherryAcid]

I cant talk because I exercised for the first time yesterday since before xmas. I find short workouts best anything over 35 mins and I talk myself out of doing it. Back when I was really fit I worked out 6 days a week, I dont think im in the right frame of mind to do that again. I try to aim for 3-4 times a week now. Try and find something that you like and it will soon become a habit.

 

[lemonlime]

You probably would prefer advice from people who are more regular with it but here it is anyway. I just try to block the "do I want to do this or not?" thinking phase. If I leave it to myself, I don't really want to do anything, including the things I enjoy so blocking that train of thought and refusing to spark a discussion with myself whether this is optional or not helped the most. I just pretend it's something to be done, end of. I think of something else as I get up to dressed to go on a walk. (Or do a short workout, whatever you want to try.) Brain is a toddler ready to throw a tantrum in my case and once I give up dominance by deigning to negotiate, it's a lost cause. And 9 times out of 10, actually starting to do it is the challenging part. Once you begin to do something, you can carry on as long as you're comfortable. As you keep doing that, that initial resistance becomes weaker and weaker until it really finally becomes something you just do and the mind doesn't protest at the thought of doing something unusual. It just becomes normal.

It also helps to break the activity down to the absolute bare minimum. Don't sit and think "I should do a workout/go on a walk". Just say to yourself, you'll turn on a workout video and stand up. That you'll put on a coat and step outside the door. That you'll stretch your back. Once you get that done, again, most of the time the initial resistance breaks and it is easider to carry on. If you still don't feel like it, break it down to the next smallest step you can imagine. Walk to the corner and return. Do the first 2 minutes of a workout. Do 5 crunches. Whatever you feel like. As you build, you'll find it more managable to "just do it".

 

[watermelon sugar]

I go for a long walk everyday with the pram unless it's raining

I've decided that on the days it is raining I'm gonna do at least a half hour work out. I just don't know what doing? I wanna lose my baby belly though

 

[Shaunaftw]

In my early 20s I went to the gym five times a week doing spin classes for two of them then normally weights for the other three, I was pretty fit and in good shape (you don't realise at the time do you?) I then bought a house and for the first two years put most of my evenings/weekend in to renovating. I'd say I've probably put on a stone and a half since being at my lightest but some of that is definitely muscle weight as I have a physical job anyway. I filtered on and off the gym over those two years but never really got in to the swing of it as I am someone who needs routine and I just couldn't work a way to fit it in to life. Now my reno is coming to an end I've got time again so I've slowly been building up some kit for a gym in my garage, it's very expensive atm so I haven't got a great deal but I picked up a bargain spin bike on market place and I've used it every day since Saturday
For me I think the hardest thing was coming home from work, getting changed, going back out in the miserable weather to go to the gym to then come home to a cold house (I'm tight with my heating as I live alone ) but now it's all in the garage I don't feel like that, I just come home from work and get it done!
I mean we all get days where we don't want to do it but I always think a rubbish work out is better than no work out!