Staying Motivated, What Are Some Techniques That Work For You?

[Uthinkso]

Well I fell off the workout wagon again about a year ago. I had lost 30lbs and was well on my way to reaching target weight and my desired body size. Work got budy, bought a new house, all the usuall excuses. The worst part is that I know they are garbage excuses.

Long story short I am at an all time high 252lb. I am 6' and I have 28% body fat, totally bummed out by this. I joined a new gym and worked out 3-4 days per week before I had this test done. Needless to say I have been back twice since the test. I feel like I am at the bottom of Everest looking up.

I have the best intentions, but come the end of the work day I find one reason or another to go home rather than the gym. I am dissapointed in myself, but I can't seem to harness that inner drive to get to the gym.

So my question is this. What are some techniques that you use to stay motivated. I'm sure after a week long vacation or some such thing people fall off the wagon, but they get back on the program. I know that the idea of a healthier and better looking body should be enough in and of itself to motivate me, but for some reason I just can't get in the groove.

All advice and criticism welcome. Pics in my gallery are pretty fair representation plus about 15lb on the gut.

 

[shiznit2169]

my motivation

I look at a pic of a really hot chick. Then i look at myself in the mirror. Not satisfied and then i'll look at a pic of a guy who is pretty well built. So i keep looking back and forth at the hot chick and the big guy and back at myself.

Next thing i know is im out the door..

 

[KarlW]

Work got budy, bought a new house, all the usuall excuses. The worst part is that I know they are garbage excuses

Yeah those things happen. Sumtimes you just gotta concentrate on them and take time off from lifting. However, I think that's different to not having motivation. I never have to motivate myself to lift, just that sumtimes it isn't my highest priority in life.

 

[Mr651]

I got the same issues to but one thing is to look at somebody you envy a lot. I love sports and I tend to study Micheal Jordan on how his desire to win overcame any obsticles. Just after watching Comcast "on demand" on a special about MJ dam I was like it's time to go all out on training so I can be the best I can be.

To me the biggest problem is going to the gym alone. I got a lot of friends and we go a lot but during some period everyone is so busy so you gotta go by yourself. I just get bored going by myself and seem to lose focus after 30min or so.

So try to get some buddies to get a consistant schedule so you guys can help each other out and feel more comfterable at the gym.

 

[KarlW]

To me the biggest problem is going to the gym alone. I got a lot of friends and we go a lot but during some period everyone is so busy so you gotta go by yourself. I just get bored going by myself and seem to lose focus after 30min or so.

That's OK just hit it hard for 30min then.

I'm the opposite, hate going with other people. Too much talking not enough intensity. I see a lot of young guys yackin to each other between sets, all the while the intensity is dropping. If only they knew. I think half of them are there for the social side of it more so than the weights. I mean, if they were honest about it. It takes guts to workout hard by yourself and be intense. You reach areas of the mind that most people don't visit; they're too scared, they need the support of others to go there, if at all.

 

[Cardinal]

My advice? Get a simple home gym! Cheap powerrack, bench and some heavy ass plates to put on the barbell. Cheap and you can put it so that you have to trip over it everytime you head out the door.

Sometimes making it more convenient or quicker is all that is needed.

I am the opposite. As long as I can reach up and reach out to the side of me and I don't touch wood, I know my ass isn't in a coffin and I just go train. OCD maybe.

 

[ccr_bballer33]

im lucky..

I guess you could say I'm lucky, because I havent quite had that problem, but one thing that keeps me coming for more is the results..and the pain and soreness afterwards. it's great.

 

[Uthinkso]

The nature of my job lends itself to terrible diet. I build race car engines, and we are traveling constantly ont he road and working late hours. So when I do get to the gym its already 8pm, so an intense hour session and out has been my plan. Diet on the other hand, I try my best to pack healthy things in my lunch rather than the fast food joints. Obviously those are no help.

I agree with training by yourself, I find you get more pumped up and you actually break a sweat. I trained twice with the guys from work, so it was three of us. At the rate these guys go, I didn't feel any more fatigued then when I arrived.

Today is a new day, going to the gym today, gonna train hard for an hour and get out. I make checking my e-mail, going to work, working on my car, I make all of these prioritys its time I make myself a priority. My biggest deal is I have to avoid the scale, I busted my ass for a straight month and put on 7lbs last time. I'm sure its just muscle and my body adjusting yet, you can't treat yourself like crap for years and expect to right the ship in a month.

Ok, status report when I return. Thanks for the kick in the ass guys, I have always liked this board and knew I could count on honesty. Sometimes hearing the situations of others makes you see your own situation more clearly.

 

[Uthinkso]

Fealt great to be back today. Did back and biceps with a little cardio. Feel 100% better, while I'm sore its a good kind of sore.

 

[PreMier]

Just do it. If you dont, you will never lose the fat. It should become a necessity, as thats the largest contributing factor for people to do something.

 

[BritChick]

Just do it. If you dont, you will never lose the fat. It should become a necessity, as thats the largest contributing factor for people to do something.

This is so true but also the easiest way to find your groove is to just start, don't allow yourself the option of not training... in time you will find your groove but it doesn't happen overnight and unless you force yourself to go each and every time at the beginning you may never get find your groove again ever!

 

[joesmooth20]

this may sound corny. believe you can get there and reach your goals. write them
down and picture yourself looking like that. Imagine yourself getting leaner every time
you do your cardio session. write down your achievements everytime you accomplish
anything. Set deadlines an when you set them say things "I am and i can" think about
your workouts and play them in your head over and over.

write sh!t down like for example 90 days from now I will

look good without my shirt on
not be embarrassed or self concsious when people see my body
I will get down to this % of bodyfat
people won't even recognize me when they see me next
eating right makes me feel awesome (and believe it)
going to the gym kicks ass.


remember living fit and getting into the shape you want is damn near as mental as physical (if not more). If you doubt yourself one bit "which I know you are" you won't get there
and until you get pass that mental hurtle you never will. Trust me man, I had that
same crappy adittude when it came to health and fittness when i was younger. Until
the doctor told me i had to loose weight or i wasn't gonna see 40 if i kept my same
lifestyle. Don't let anyone bring you down including yourself and you will get where you
never thought you could.

 

[Uthinkso]

this may sound corny. believe you can get there and reach your goals. write them
down and picture yourself looking like that. Imagine yourself getting leaner every time
you do your cardio session. write down your achievements everytime you accomplish
anything. Set deadlines an when you set them say things "I am and i can" think about
your workouts and play them in your head over and over.

write sh!t down like for example 90 days from now I will

look good without my shirt on
not be embarrassed or self concsious when people see my body
I will get down to this % of bodyfat
people won't even recognize me when they see me next
eating right makes me feel awesome (and believe it)
going to the gym kicks ass.


remember living fit and getting into the shape you want is damn near as mental as physical (if not more). If you doubt yourself one bit "which I know you are" you won't get there
and until you get pass that mental hurtle you never will. Trust me man, I had that
same crappy adittude when it came to health and fittness when i was younger. Until
the doctor told me i had to loose weight or i wasn't gonna see 40 if i kept my same
lifestyle. Don't let anyone bring you down including yourself and you will get where you
never thought you could.

Your the man, that is exactly how I feel.

Goal one is M-W-F my ass will be in the gym and giving it 100%, and 90 days from now I will still be doing the same thing.
-I know it sounds easy but for me to stick to training and dieting for 90days is a huge hurdle to get over at this point.

 

[Rocco32]

You know what I do? This may sound a bit gay LOL, but it keeps me motivated. I have a small black art book that when I come across a pic of a guy whose physique I admire, I cut it out and put it in the book. Then before I w/o I glance through the book and sometimes I take the book with me to the gym to look at in-between sets. When I lift the weight, I try to imagine myself looking like that guy with all the muscles. Works for me

 

[DOMS]

There's nothing gay about that rock, it's a good, classic, technique call visualization. That's a very intelligent, success-oriented, thing to do.

 

[primus_122]

compliments mostly keep me motivated and results, otherwise when im working out its mostly music, for example Slayer \m/

 

[Uthinkso]

Music deffinitely helps. My workout music of choice was System of A Down, Deftones, and Hatebreed.

Strange thing is that I don't even really like metal, it just gets me pumped I guess. I should dig out those headphones and start bringing that with me again.

I want to thank everyone that has contributed in this thread, your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Deezus]

What worked for me is running on campus a few days a week, sometimes I stretch and do a few warmup reps to get a slight pump. I made myself try to transform the looks of disgust and pity, into desire and admiration, and trust me It easy to read people's reaction. I'm not all the way there, but close, and I've come a long way. I want the dudes to move in fear of the massive, shredded beast that is coming towards their general vicinity, and be motivatated by the thundering stampede of shorts-grabbin' crazed women chasing behind me. What a nice thought huh? There is in no way shape or form IMO sticking to it will ever be detrimental, and if one can't believe that on some level, screw'em, they are the reason that we look and feel exponentially better than the populus. LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Good luck to you bro, and whoever else might need some motivation, cause it's rough sometimes. Been there done that. But regret is a bitch, and acheivement is a high. Thats the choice.

 

[Uthinkso]

Thats a mind job there, women chasing after you. Wait let me get the visual.......ok got it!!

Motivates me plenty.

 

[SPIKE1257]

I don't need to motivate myself. Exercise and diet are part of my life, just like breathing. It's a given, it's what I do. Without it I wouldn't exist.

 

[LAM]

I have the best intentions, but come the end of the work day I find one reason or another to go home rather than the gym.

sounds like you need to go to bed early and start training 1st thing in the morning

you could go like Tue & Thurs in the AM and train on Sat & Sun

 

[The_Man]

I take epedrin (whateva) when i feel tired.

 

[Fashong]

My motivation is competition and friends who think they are gonna get stronger and beat me someday, so I keep lifting so that will never happen . Also music gets me pumped while working out.