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

[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!

 

[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 arse 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.

 

[WilmaHun]

After reading all your replies I decided to give a youtube workout a go last night. Lasted 10 mins before giving up. Partner was laughing at me. Dog thought it was a fun game and kept trying to jump on me. Could see a bag of giant wotsits out of the corner of my eye and that was me done

Today is a new day and I think I'll take myself off to the beach this evening on my own where noone can laugh at me, the dog won't be invited and there'll be no wotsit distractions and try for a little run.

 

[LittleMy]

Does playing Just Dance and chasing after your children around the park count?

I move a lot in work for 12 hours a night and go for walks with the kids on days off (not much lately due to awful weather and mood). At my healthiest I used to go to gym for an hour at least 3 times a week and also some fitness classes in between. One of my best friends is an instructor, which motivated me.

 

[Milliehaha123]

Biggest tip I’ve got and what others have said is find something you like.
I honestly fucking hate running and for a long time blamed my lack of exercise on how much I despised it. I hate the looks, the fact people can get in the way, how boring it is, how it made me feel etc.

I discovered body by ciara about 10 months ago and honestly never looked back. Her classes are hit / body part focused but also has loads of other options like Pilates yoga etc. I’m a stone and a half down and haven’t changed my diet. I honestly love it, plus it makes you feel amazing (a feeling which is pretty rare these days!)

 

[skvallertant]

Do any of the runners have any tips for getting over running in public? I love to run and when I lived in the countryside I could run for hours and not see another soul. Now I live in the city and even at 5am there's people about and I really don't like the thought of people seeing me out running. I know it's pathetic, but I just don't like it

Edit. In the spirit of the thread, now that I "can't" run, I just do lots of step ups using a chair, sit ups and press ups. I try to do at least 20 minutes every other day or so.

 

[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 arse 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.

 

[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".

 

[HideTheHunter]

Pull ups!! We have one of those, they are really hard. I am trying to build up muscle and strength so I can do them properly, lol.

Haha! I was thinking of lift because you have to *lift* your body, forgetting that you actually pull yourself up! Yeah I want to flatten my tummy. I used to do kickboxing years ago and did situps with medicine balls being thrown at me. God, I had abs of steel back then now I feel like a flump

 

[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

 

[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

 

[Zenchick101]

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

 

[Meh]

I mentioned this over in the covid thread earlier so sorry if you’re reading this twice. I’m mega mega overweight but have found that I’m making myself do 60 mins of exercise daily is having such a big impact: oh my mood, sleeping, skin condition and my body as I can notice I’m losing weight round my gut and getting some definition back to my legs.

As I’m big I’m just focusing on doing 10,000 steps daily minimum so I’ll pop on music videos and step away, jog, use my step board and follow step classes, dance (can burn a lot of calories grooving - more than I thought!) I’m working on building some dumbbells in when I’m stepping/dancing. Also trying to add in some stretches / yoga. Bought a decent thickness exercise mat and loving it.

I’m the same - don’t think I’ll pay for a gym again. Finding it easier to stay consistent at home. My Fitbit keeps me tracked and motivated.

 

[no-no]

Do any of the runners have any tips for getting over running in public? I love to run and when I lived in the countryside I could run for hours and not see another soul. Now I live in the city and even at 5am there's people about and I really don't like the thought of people seeing me out running. I know it's pathetic, but I just don't like it

Edit. In the spirit of the thread, now that I "can't" run, I just do lots of step ups using a chair, sit ups and press ups. I try to do at least 20 minutes every other day or so.

Wear a baseball cap I was the same when I first started but when you next go out just look at all the people running, there’s loads of all different abilities. I always wear a cap and if I’m feeling self-conscious I just pull it low. You should be looking down at an angle anyway for posture.

I’m unable to run atm due to a knee injury as well as being royally f*cking bored of running in my area. I hate home workouts or lifting weights. I need the quick hit of cardio.

Those homemade workout plans by influencers/“boss HIIT babes” or Joe Wicks make my toes curl, I would literally have more fun starving myself than doing them just no.

I’ve got some equipment recently so will be able to work out most days I used to be a big walker but it bores me now having to stay local and takes me at least double/triple the time to burn the calories I do running even with clunky ankle weights on.

OP - is there anything active from childhood you loved? I was big on skipping but have no space in my tiny yard so I got a mini trampoline the other day which is basically the same. I absolutely love it. Both those are easy to get hold of and are a better workout calorie expenditure wise if you incorporate light weights than following some YTer video (IME).

 

[Saddlesoap]

After reading all your replies I decided to give a youtube workout a go last night. Lasted 10 mins before giving up. Partner was laughing at me. Dog thought it was a fun game and kept trying to jump on me. Could see a bag of giant wotsits out of the corner of my eye and that was me done

Today is a new day and I think I'll take myself off to the beach this evening on my own where noone can laugh at me, the dog won't be invited and there'll be no wotsit distractions and try for a little run.

Download Couch to 5km before you go x

 

[openbook1]

Yeah, I started off with 2-3lb dumbbells to get used to weights and making sure my form was good. Surprisingly, if you do a lot of movements with them and are focusing on the muscle properly, they can start to feel quite heavy.

 

[bellinibobble]

Anyone looking for workout recommendations or motivation/support - join us on the weight loss and healthy living thread!

Back at the start of the month I hadn’t done any exercise in years. This week I’ve exercised every day It really helps having some mutual support.

 

[skvallertant]

Wear a baseball cap I was the same when I first started but when you next go out just look at all the people running, there’s loads of all different abilities. I always wear a cap and if I’m feeling self-conscious I just pull it low. You should be looking down at an angle anyway for Posture.

Thanks for this! In future I'll do that.

Also I totally understand the being bored with walking/running the same routes. Hopefully it'll be better in spring when the trees and flowers are changing all the time!

 

[OoglyBoogly]

I exercise 6 days a week - usually 2 runs, 2 yoga sessions and 2 weights sessions. When the pool is open, sometimes I run to the pool & back for a swim. Occasionally or if I'm injured from running, I do something like a kickboxing or dance workout at home.

My motivation is how I feel afterwards, so most times I have to talk myself into it, but once I've done it, I feel great