Thread: What keeps you motivated?

How much it sucks when I let it go.... its a journey, not a destination - therefore there is no stopping .. just various potty breaks and time to stretch the legs or get a nap. Half the fun is just seeing where the road leads and pulling over to the side of the road to get some shots of the scenery!

In terms of "off" days - that depends on if its "off" because my body is telling me it needs a break. But usually I know I'll feel that much better when its over if I get into the gym when I'm just having a shitty day. Sometimes just being able to plug into 90 min of my favorite heavy metal is enough to make me feel better. If I can throw around heavy stuff too, even better!

Generally what got me in the gym & keeps me there is the fact that I can go in and always challenge myself and accomplish something every day - if its more reps, higher weight, different exercise I've wanted to try, or just the plain old physical exertion - esp given that I drive a desk for a living.

Just a mind that doesn't let go of things.

I don't work out everyday. Guess i'm a slacker.

Design workouts that you enjoy rather than dread, and change them up from time to time. When I use to do the same thing in the gym for months on end I found my motivation level diminish quickly. When I started designing programs for 6-8 week intervals and set goals for myself on each program I never missed one workout. I was always eager to hit the gym to see if I can better myself from last time and when plateau hit or just before a plateau.. time for a completely different program. Plateaus cause lack of motivation.

I've only been working out for a few weeks now (3 weeks, I think) so I can't speak from boatloads of experience here. I'm just a stubborn sonofabitch and want results NOW. I meet with a personal trainer twice a week, then on the other four days a week I train I just mix it up as best I can.

I paid a fair chunk to have access to the gym, so that helps keep me motivated. There are also some pretty hot wimmen at my gym, so that helps too.

I ask myself if the world were to come to a screeching halt, and all but 20 people including myself were converted to the flesh craving undead, would I have what it takes as I stand here today, to be a strong sophisticated leader ,and defend and repopulate the world as we know it.

Originally Posted by sassy69

How much it sucks when I let it go.... its a journey, not a destination - therefore there is no stopping .. just various potty breaks and time to stretch the legs or get a nap. Half the fun is just seeing where the road leads and pulling over to the side of the road to get some shots of the scenery!

In terms of "off" days - that depends on if its "off" because my body is telling me it needs a break. But usually I know I'll feel that much better when its over if I get into the gym when I'm just having a shitty day. Sometimes just being able to plug into 90 min of my favorite heavy metal is enough to make me feel better. If I can throw around heavy stuff too, even better!

Generally what got me in the gym & keeps me there is the fact that I can go in and always challenge myself and accomplish something every day - if its more reps, higher weight, different exercise I've wanted to try, or just the plain old physical exertion - esp given that I drive a desk for a living.

Wow sassy69,

You stated that it's a journey and not a destination.. I REALLY like your response! I also agree, it's about pushing yourself, dedication and hard work. Very well written!!

-Scout

Originally Posted by CaptainNapalm

Design workouts that you enjoy rather than dread, and change them up from time to time. When I use to do the same thing in the gym for months on end I found my motivation level diminish quickly. When I started designing programs for 6-8 week intervals and set goals for myself on each program I never missed one workout. I was always eager to hit the gym to see if I can better myself from last time and when plateau hit or just before a plateau.. time for a completely different program. Plateaus cause lack of motivation.

That's great advice! I fear (dislike) monotony... What method did you use to design your workouts?

-Scout

Originally Posted by ceazur

I ask myself if the world were to come to a screeching halt, and all but 20 people including myself were converted to the flesh craving undead, would I have what it takes as I stand here today, to be a strong sophisticated leader ,and defend and repopulate the world as we know it.

That's an interesting speculation!! So if that were to happen today, what would your response be?

-Scout

Originally Posted by scout200

That's an interesting speculation!! So if that were to happen today, what would your response be?

-Scout

OohRah!

Originally Posted by scout200

That's great advice! I fear (dislike) monotony... What method did you use to design your workouts?

-Scout

I always find that changing my workout completely every 6-8 weeks works best in the "staying motivated" department and for making gains. I don't use a specific method but have a few good routines/splits put together that I run for 6-8 weeks. For example this year I have done the following training cycles:

1. Heavy compound lifts (deads/squats/bench/dips/rows/chins/press) with upper body / lower body split - did that for 12 weeks.

2. After that, decided to throw in some isolation, keep the compound lifts still for less sets and do some isolation movements for areas I felt needed work. Also changed the rep range to higher reps with slightly lower weight. Did that for 8 weeks.

3. Then moved onto the 20rep squat program, did that for 6 weeks, gained some good mass on it.

4. Now I'm executing the "destroy' and 'flood' routine, I'm in my second week and really enjoying this one. Going to run this for 4 more weeks.

After that, I may move onto some strictly power movements (full body x 3days a week) for 4 weeks after which I might go back to my original "heavy compound lift" routine and see if my strength improved. Perhaps, I'll test out to see if I can do some personal best records for major lifts. Basically, I've been pretty successful alternating between these workouts so far. After I complete each cycle I keep a mental note of what I did in terms of weights on that particular routine and when I come back to it I'm always excited to see how much more I can do.

Check out Gaz's website: getlifting.info he has some excellent programs put together on his website. Incorporate them into your training and you won't be dissapointed. They are very challenging but very rewarding.

Originally Posted by CaptainNapalm

I always find that changing my workout completely every 6-8 weeks works best in the "staying motivated" department and for making gains. I don't use a specific method but have a few good routines/splits put together that I run for 6-8 weeks. For example this year I have done the following training cycles:

1. Heavy compound lifts (deads/squats/bench/dips/rows/chins/press) with upper body / lower body split - did that for 12 weeks.

2. After that, decided to throw in some isolation, keep the compound lifts still for less sets and do some isolation movements for areas I felt needed work. Also changed the rep range to higher reps with slightly lower weight. Did that for 8 weeks.

3. Then moved onto the 20rep squat program, did that for 6 weeks, gained some good mass on it.

4. Now I'm executing the "destroy' and 'flood' routine, I'm in my second week and really enjoying this one. Going to run this for 4 more weeks.

After that, I may move onto some strictly power movements (full body x 3days a week) for 4 weeks after which I might go back to my original "heavy compound lift" routine and see if my strength improved. Perhaps, I'll test out to see if I can do some personal best records for major lifts. Basically, I've been pretty successful alternating between these workouts so far. After I complete each cycle I keep a mental note of what I did in terms of weights on that particular routine and when I come back to it I'm always excited to see how much more I can do.

Check out Gaz's website: getlifting.info he has some excellent programs put together on his website. Incorporate them into your training and you won't be dissapointed. They are very challenging but very rewarding.

I really like your suggestion about designing your workouts. I noticed that you changed it up in different intervals (12 wks, 8 wks, 6 wks and 4 wks). How did you decide how much time to spend on one particular workout?

-Scout

Originally Posted by scout200

Wow sassy69,

You stated that it's a journey and not a destination.. I REALLY like your response! I also agree, it's about pushing yourself, dedication and hard work. Very well written!!

-Scout

I started my "journey" in 1981 on a dusty old Universal machine at our local YMCA in Northner Minnesota. It started with "Holy shit! I can leg press 100 lb! That is soooo cool!" and its just kept going from there. Going on nearly 30 years since then. Its still soooo cool (except now I can leg press 1000 lb)!

fucking up for a month or two gives me great motivation to stop blking out and get it back together.

The qwest of setting a new PB every week is what keeps me motivated. It's almost an addiction for me.

Originally Posted by sassy69

I started my "journey" in 1981 on a dusty old Universal machine at our local YMCA in Northner Minnesota. It started with "Holy shit! I can leg press 100 lb! That is soooo cool!" and its just kept going from there. Going on nearly 30 years since then. Its still soooo cool (except now I can leg press 1000 lb)!

Wow, that's amazing!!

-Scout

Originally Posted by Flathead

The qwest of setting a new PB every week is what keeps me motivated. It's almost an addiction for me.

Understandably so! It can be an addiction but it's one of the "healthy" addictions lol!

-Scout

Originally Posted by scout200

Keeping up the habit of working out every day is tough for most of us. What are some ways you keep yourself motivated to hit the gym on your off-days?

-Scout

Knowing that my gf is waiting for me after gym

Originally Posted by sassy69

I started my "journey" in 1981 on a dusty old Universal machine at our local YMCA in Northner Minnesota. It started with "Holy shit! I can leg press 100 lb! That is soooo cool!" and its just kept going from there. Going on nearly 30 years since then. Its still soooo cool (except now I can leg press 1000 lb)!

1000!?!?!

Originally Posted by scout200

What are some ways you keep yourself motivated to hit the gym on your off-days?

I don't work out every day.

But I work out most days and what motivates me is a goal and seeing that bit of progress.

Originally Posted by Mark Sabino

Knowing that my gf is waiting for me after gym

It's funny because my girlfriend isn't in to bodybuilding, but still always grabs my arms. I go "ya that's fine, but what about my quads and lats?" I strike a pose and she goes "ya that's nice BUT YOUR BICEPS".

I just sigh and flex my guns

But, if more people were into bodybuilding they would appreciate the dedication it takes to get serious leg and back development versus arms. Any schmuck with a dumbbell and half-assed diet can make his arms decently big. However, my wheels scream painful squat sessions and forced lean meat spinach salads and olive oil straight out of the tub. I suffer for my legs!!! I don't think the non-lifters understand how dedicated you have to be to drink olive oil straight! At least I finally got out of the tuna phase. Down to like 2-3 cans a week, hahaha.

ANYWAY...what motivates me? Probably the surreal moments you get yourself into when you're in the middle of an intense session of squats and you're at the very bottom of a below-parallel squat and everything else in the world just goes away for those few seconds. All your stress and problems just melt away, and the pain becomes pleasure in a twisted way.

I'm yet to have an "out of body" type experience from lifting. I've had one in my life, and it was when I was a runner and was doing my second marathon and I just pretty much lost my mind and got into this state where pain no longer registered with my mind.

its a way of life... no motivation needed at all really. in 1960 i started in gymnastics, and did that a long time, then onto running, ice hockey and currently cycling. train hard and lift hard to get stronger for these sports...
and i made it high in these sports .. hard smart training pays off.
i guess whats good motivation is lining up for a pro cycling race and ripping the legs off the guys with the college jerseys on.
30+ years younger..
lots of hard training to get results..
i love it and wont quit. 49 years of competing and hopefullly plenty more.

Originally Posted by Curt James

I don't work out every day.

But I work out most days and what motivates me is a goal and seeing that bit of progress.

Hey Curt,

How do you track progression?

-Scout

Originally Posted by stepaukas

its a way of life... no motivation needed at all really. in 1960 i started in gymnastics, and did that a long time, then onto running, ice hockey and currently cycling. train hard and lift hard to get stronger for these sports...
and i made it high in these sports .. hard smart training pays off.
i guess whats good motivation is lining up for a pro cycling race and ripping the legs off the guys with the college jerseys on.
30+ years younger..
lots of hard training to get results..
i love it and wont quit. 49 years of competing and hopefullly plenty more.

Wow, that's extremely impressive!!! What do the college guys say as you pass them by??

-Scout

Originally Posted by Phineas

It's funny because my girlfriend isn't in to bodybuilding, but still always grabs my arms. I go "ya that's fine, but what about my quads and lats?" I strike a pose and she goes "ya that's nice BUT YOUR BICEPS".

I just sigh and flex my guns

But, if more people were into bodybuilding they would appreciate the dedication it takes to get serious leg and back development versus arms. Any schmuck with a dumbbell and half-assed diet can make his arms decently big. However, my wheels scream painful squat sessions and forced lean meat spinach salads and olive oil straight out of the tub. I suffer for my legs!!! I don't think the non-lifters understand how dedicated you have to be to drink olive oil straight! At least I finally got out of the tuna phase. Down to like 2-3 cans a week, hahaha.

ANYWAY...what motivates me? Probably the surreal moments you get yourself into when you're in the middle of an intense session of squats and you're at the very bottom of a below-parallel squat and everything else in the world just goes away for those few seconds. All your stress and problems just melt away, and the pain becomes pleasure in a twisted way.

I totally agree - it's like an escape.. And your right, bodybuilding does take a lot of dedication and it is not recognized as much as it should be!

-Scout

Originally Posted by ceazur

I ask myself if the world were to come to a screeching halt, and all but 20 people including myself were converted to the flesh craving undead, would I have what it takes as I stand here today, to be a strong sophisticated leader ,and defend and repopulate the world as we know it.

I ask myself, "If the icecaps melted today, and the earth flooded...would I have what it takes to be the super-pirate captain that would be needed to plunder, rape and pillage effectively?"

Yarr says I. Yarr.

I enjoy weight lifting, so I like to be good at it. That is pretty much it. If I stopped enjoying it I would probably stop or severely water down my training.

I was unmotivated for a while, had the same boring routine I had been using for about a year. Was at a plateau and was considering AAS.

Then I came to these forums and Gaz gave me a killer workout routine, nothing but heavy compound lifts...

Since starting the routine he gave me, I have been sore as shit every day and making visible gains on the scale.

Seeing fruits of my labor gives me enough motivation to keep going, to see my hard work actually making a difference in my body, makes me incredibly happy.

Always believed that bullcrap that I was a hardgainer and unable to gain weight, til I began to cram in as many calories as possible (healthy) and do all these compounded heavy lifts.