Starkizzer

I have been putting my insomnia to use and running in the gym at night or lifting weights. Overall, I like working out and physical activity. I am not very coordinated so it makes it hard for me to have fun doing any of the "new and exciting" workouts that are supposed to keep you motivated and going back for more.

When I workout, I get to a point where I just want to stop. I don't mean the "oh my sweet elephants, if I do anymore, I am going to pass out!" I mean the whiny brat voice that says, "But I don't WANNNA!"

So, I am asking the exercise gurus and the novices alike, what do you do to keep yourself going and push through this point?

I was able to ignore it the other night and ran two whole miles, which for me is amazing. First time ever! However, I am not sure how long I will be able to do this. I am looking for new ideas, I know the basic tricks:

*play upbeat music
*think of the accomplishments
*set time limits

So, I need something beyond this. If you are going to suggest any of these things, expand on them. How do you make them your own? Hell, even suggest new music. I want to finally reach my goals this year. But I need a way to stay motivated while I am working out, I think others could benefit from the sharing of ideas. Hopefully, someone will have something I haven't thought of, I am willing to try new ideas.

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Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse. ~Edward Gorey

snowy

This is really dorky, but one of my favorite workout soundtracks is the Naruto original soundtrack. I think of it as my ninja training music. It has managed to keep me motivated when nothing else would, because duh, I want to be a ninja.

Set yourself manageable goals and reward yourself appropriately. When I was really actively trying to get in shape, I would reward myself with something monthly if I met my targets for the month (4 workouts a week, healthy eating habits, 2 lbs/week lost). My usual rewards were something fitness-oriented: new shoes, a new yoga mat, new workout clothes, etc. That way, I felt encouraged to do more.

And: Sign up for a 5k! You don't have to run the whole thing, you just have to TRY. There's all kinds of fun stuff associated with participating in an organized run. Plus, it gives you a big goal to work toward, and a baseline time to work with once you've finished it. Each 5k you sign up for, you can (hopefully) improve on your previous time.

Mix it up.

If I come up with any more while I am trying to motivate myself to get back into action, I'll let you know

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

PonyPotato

I was training for specific distances a LOT longer than what I had done before, but pushed myself to get there. I also had my ex pushing me and telling me I could make it, and designed a workout playlist to keep me distracted and motivated.

Somewhere during that pushing of my boundaries, I discovered a point in my workouts where I felt AWESOME. Unfortunately, it takes me about 45 minutes of hard cardio to get there, so it's about 5 miles into a run.. but now that I've broken that boundary, I know that all of my workouts need to be longer than 45 minutes and then I'll feel amazing. So that's why I do it.

(this is still nearly impossible for me to achieve with swimming.)

It also helps to do activities that keep you mentally engaged or that are enjoyable in other ways - riding my bike is my meditation time, and it feels good, even if I'm working hard. Riding horses, I focus so much on what I'm training them to do that I forget I'm working myself until I get all done and realize how sweaty and tired I am. Playing a sport can be the same way - indoor soccer keeps me moving for a long time (I used to play a few games in a row in HS if teams after me needed another female), but I don't focus on how I feel as much as where the ball is and what I need to do to get it away from my opponent.

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"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."
— Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Starkizzer

Well, see its not motivation to work out I need but more motivation to keep working out once I have started, like in an individual session.

I did the monthly goal thing back when I lost 25 pounds. If I had lost 5 pounds by the end of the month smrt would treat me to sushi. New work out stuff won't motivate me, I know myself Maybe we can try that again, since we don't go for sushi much anymore.

I know all the tricks, its just making myself do them. Sometimes, I think maybe I've just become complacent with being this weight since I don't think I will ever drop any. Right now though I am on a bit of a high for pushing my limits on the treadmill and running more than I have in the past. I love working out in the middle of the night when the gym is empty and then strolling around the apartment complex afterwards. It is so calming and I have such a clarity.

As for signing up for a 5K, ehh, well see about that one. If they had a night time one, I would be all over it. I hate working out in the day time. I dislike sunlight. I have ran the same course during the day as at night, with similar temperatures and I just drag during the day. I'm weird, especially since I live in sunny So Cal, but I much prefer the dark. Bright lights hurt my eyes and if its too bright out my nose burns when I breathe in....not sure how else to describe it.

*Edit: Just googled and found a few night time ones, wonder if I can convince anyone I know to do them with me*

Snowy, I will look into that soundtrack, but as I don't want to be a ninja, not sure how well it will work for me. Right now, Florence and the Machine has been my running partner, maybe tonight it will be Dead Kennedys, or a mix...I need to go work on that.

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Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse. ~Edward Gorey

bagatelle

My problem is, I've never found plain running fun to do. I don't have weight problems, but I should excercise more to keep fit otherwise. Now that we have proper winter, I can go skiing or skating and with a bit of traveling, downhill skiing is possible too. I know from skiing, there is this limit, you are talking about. I just have to get past that and myself warm enough and it will become more enjoyable. It's also dependable very much on proper breathing, I think.

But really, I'm not in that good shape and my goal is mostly to get me start any excercising, so I don't try to push it. We use to say: 'it's not the distance that kills you, it's the pace'.

I'm not sure though if slowing down the pace would help you carry on further.

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Shadowex3

Boredom is my biggest enemy too. I keep busy on the treadmill because of cable, even if its random crap on food network (ok maybe not the best example) or alternatively by doing something so involved you can't think of anything else, like the Rape Bear Run.

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MSD

What kind of routine are you doing?

dlish

goal setting.

you have to set goals for yourself. achievable ones. this will keep your motivation higher.

whether its training for a particular race, or setting personal goals like losing weight. Your goals need to be achievable, otherwise you'll never get the sense of achievement from your exercise.

the same could be for goals during the exercise itself. you should have a goal for what you want to do during your exercise. it shouldnt be based on times or performance, but rather on form. so you need to say to yourself, i want to run 10 mins in a good running form without slouching, or getting tired, or dropping my hands too low.

by having such goals, you can work on improving your form before you set any other time orientated goals.

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