Fat Tues: Gym Motivation Help

[dev22]

I am working long ass hours right now, and therefore have completely quit going to the gym. For those of you that work long hours, how do you motivate yourself to go to the gym instead of going home and putting you PJs on? I have had my gym stuff in the car for a week and a half and it has yet to be used I get all stressed when I think of driving to the gym after work, then not getting home until close to 8. At the same time, I NEEEEEDDDD to go to the gym really really badly. HELP.

[msmerymac]

Go before work. :-)

I used to go after, but there are so many excuses. Too tired, headache, stuff to do at home. As long as you can drag yourself out of bed early enough, you don't have anything else to do that early in the morning. And bonus - it makes you more alert by the time you get to work.

[yellowumbrella]

Can you buy a really good book on tape/mp3?

[bootsie]

Tell yourself you only have to do 20 minutes. If you do high intensity intervals you can get a fantastic workout in that amount of time. You'll also burn more fat and build more endurance than a long, steady state work out.

[bumppkathleen]

I get up at 5:00 and go before work. And plan to go every single day, so if you absolutely have to be on a 6:00 am call or something at least that's the only day of the week you've missed.

[msmerymac]

Another thing would be to sign up for a class with some accountability or financial commitment so you HAVE to go. If you're working late and would miss a 7pm class consistently, go to a 6am class. Honestly, boot camp is the reason I now get up at 5am to work out, even on days I don't have class.

[dev22]

Blerg. I HATE working out in the morning. HATE. Everyone says it gives you more energy, but I feel drained all day. But I probably need to consider trying it again.

[marie427]

I work 9-5 but also spend 3 hours commuting a day. This is what helps me:

1) Wake up by 5:00 am and do my workout before I head to work.
2) Do something I at least tolerate enough to get up early for.
3) Most importantly - I schedule my workouts. I treat them like appointments and I plan ahead for each workout day so don't go to the gym or run with no clue of what I'm doing.

[dev22]

May 15, 2012 18:34:33 GMT -5 marie427 said:

3) Most importantly - I schedule my workouts. I treat them like appointments and I plan ahead for each workout day so don't go to the gym or run with no clue of what I'm doing.

This is a really great idea - I think this would help for sure.

I currently get up at 6:10, leave the house at 7ish, and have been working consistantly until 630ish (with no lunch break or anything). By the time I commute to the gym by my house, it is 715. I still have to change and then finally start my workout. I know that people have much worse schedules than this and find time to do it, so I just need to get my ass in gear. But blech.

[stephiehun]

I've been going in the morning - it's the only way I'll get to go. It sucks to have my alarm go off at 4:30, but it's gotten easier.

My new motivation was finding out that one of my BFFs from freshman year of college has lost 75 lbs in 2 years, through diet and working out/running. She has 2 kids, one of whom is special needs (somewhere on the spectrum). If she can do it, so can I.

Oh, and DH started going regularly and looks great. It's also some of the only time I have to think and listen to my own music.

I check-in on facebook every time I go. It makes me feel more accountable, like people will notice if I haven't gone in a few days. (I'm aware no one really cares, but it works in my head. )

[chichimi]

I do not like to work out before work so before I leave work, I change into my workout clothes. This allows me to skip changing at the gym, which I loathe. Once I am in my clothes I feel like going. Retail rewards were helping, too.

[heliocentric]

I have a long commute which means I'm up at 5:30am. There's. No way I'm getting up before to workout. Instead I go right after work. My gym is on the way so I have to drive right by it which makes it hard to avoid. Like others, I plan for it. Sometimes I change at work. I always bring a snack. I make sure DH starts dinner. I only do activities I enjoy.
Lately I'ge been working out at home. This is nice because I can eat dinner as soon as I'm done. This could dangerous if you are easily distracted, though.

[gpw]

Even though I'm only "working" a couple days a week, I am still up at the crack to get to the gym. It's because I have a friend to workout with. I'm accountable to her and vice versa. Yes, getting up at 5:45 sucks most of the time, but I really do get energized by it for the rest of the day ... (well, when I'm fully "blooded", which I will be again soon!).

Try the early mornings. Just give it a couple weeks.

[emilyj]

I am one of the people that if I don't work out in the mornings, I won't work out at all. There's too many distractions for me, and too many excuses I can find at the end of the day to completely skip working out after work.

I do like PP's suggestion to change at work though if you do stick to working out after work. That might help you get extra motivation to actually follow through and go to the gym.

[taratru]

Go in the morning. I HATE rearranging my workout schedule for 5am, but some days it just won't get done if I don't. Ironically, I have to do it all summer long as well or I won't run because it's too hot and I want to drink coffee and watch trash tv until noon.

[SallyJ]

Here is my rule and it has yet to fail me:

I only have to show up for 10 min. If after those 10 min I want to leave, I allow myself to leave. No guilt.

I've never wanted to leave after getting dressed, making the effort, and being 10 min into my workout. I always figure, what the heck I'm here, don't have much longer to finish my workout so I might as well stay.

I always am capable for showing up for 10 minutes because I am allowed to leave if I still don't want to be there. I also tell myself, 1 day is better than no days. Following other people on MFP also motivates me to go!