Trouble keeping motivated...

[ArnoldsProtege]

Hey guys

How do you all keep motivated and focused on your goal? I had such a clear picture of where I wanted to be and the body I wanted to have a few weeks ago, but a bunch of stuff has been happening, ive got a new job where im working 50-70+ hours a week doing hard work, im drinking more beer, im eating more because im so hungry all the time from work, i havent been able to workout and when I DO have time to workout, im burnt out or not motivated to suck it up and go.... I was so focused and excited and on point before about meeting my fat loss goal, but the summer is going by, and im staying the same weight, and I feel like im not going to reach my goal. I mean, its not HORRIBLE... im not gaining weight, and im getting somewhat leaner from the nature of my job, but I still am flabby and I have not been working out (im about 205 still, my goal is to be 190 by the end of summer)

I really hate to sound whiney and be negative, and I know theres always a way if the desire is there, but im just wondering how you guys deal with that feeling and the troubles of staying consistant and focused and motivated, and if anyone else has been in a similar situation... thanks guys.

 

[hammer00]

i usually read a bodybuilding magazine to get focused...from there i can pick up new things that i "want to try in my routine". or i get new recipes, etc...try that...

 

[JailHouse]

Set goals for every work out.

 

[awaiseali]

Hey guys

How do you all keep motivated and focused on your goal? I had such a clear picture of where I wanted to be and the body I wanted to have a few weeks ago, but a bunch of stuff has been happening, ive got a new job where im working 50-70+ hours a week doing hard work, im drinking more beer, im eating more because im so hungry all the time from work, i havent been able to workout and when I DO have time to workout, im burnt out or not motivated to suck it up and go.... I was so focused and excited and on point before about meeting my fat loss goal, but the summer is going by, and im staying the same weight, and I feel like im not going to reach my goal. I mean, its not HORRIBLE... im not gaining weight, and im getting somewhat leaner from the nature of my job, but I still am flabby and I have not been working out (im about 205 still, my goal is to be 190 by the end of summer)

I really hate to sound whiney and be negative, and I know theres always a way if the desire is there, but im just wondering how you guys deal with that feeling and the troubles of staying consistant and focused and motivated, and if anyone else has been in a similar situation... thanks guys.

try to keep a diary and set yourself little goals like for every month. like even putting on a few pounds on your bench press in a month etc. and then reward yourself for it. dont let your training routine become tooo repetitive. change it every fortnight. this way your body will respond more to unfamiliar stimuli plus u wont get soo bored. hope this helps.

 

[Perdido]

Hey guys

How do you all keep motivated and focused on your goal? I had such a clear picture of where I wanted to be and the body I wanted to have a few weeks ago, but a bunch of stuff has been happening, ive got a new job where im working 50-70+ hours a week doing hard work, im drinking more beer, im eating more because im so hungry all the time from work, i havent been able to workout and when I DO have time to workout, im burnt out or not motivated to suck it up and go.... I was so focused and excited and on point before about meeting my fat loss goal, but the summer is going by, and im staying the same weight, and I feel like im not going to reach my goal. I mean, its not HORRIBLE... im not gaining weight, and im getting somewhat leaner from the nature of my job, but I still am flabby and I have not been working out (im about 205 still, my goal is to be 190 by the end of summer)

I really hate to sound whiney and be negative, and I know theres always a way if the desire is there, but im just wondering how you guys deal with that feeling and the troubles of staying consistant and focused and motivated, and if anyone else has been in a similar situation... thanks guys.

Well for one thing it's not easy. I know from working outside in the elements doing construction type work for a long time. But, just because it's not easy doesn't mean it's impossible.
I'm off weekends so my first workout day is Sunday and I make that my most challenging day of my routine. The other days during the work week are less intense workout days so I can still move with a tolerable amount of pain.
As far as the drinking...your going to have to make up your mind what more important: your goals or hanging out drinking after work. Not that you can't do both, just the moderation of it.

Good luck.

 

[Hoglander]

For me....

I couldn't workout at home and stay motivated. I had to join a gym. I have everything I need at home but it's just to easy to do relaxing things at home like drink beer and come check out this site, tend my garden, watch TV, rent movies, play with my min pins, fiddle with fishing gear, beat off to porn and such.

I'm very competitive by nature so going to the gym is perfect. In that environment I excel. I just make myself go. When I don't... : ( I feel like I let myself down. I've told my wife and daughter to ask me often, "Have you been to the gym?" When I've been doing good at it I ask them, "Aren't you going to ask me if I've been at the gym lately?"

Women that care how you feel are good at this stuff. When I haven't asked why they hadn't asked for awhile they notice and rip me a new one.

 

[ArnoldsProtege]

thanks for the responses guys... I think part of the problem is that where im at right now, im RIGHT on the cusp of being fit and its the hardest part of my final goal. I came down from just over 250 a little over a year ago to 205, wich i am now. I look and feel amazing... but now I want to be fit, instead of just being not-obese lol.

I am still flabby, and I think a part of that has to do with skin being loose... wich is an entirely different issue all together. Regardless, I have made up my mind that im going to keep going ste3adhy, keep tracking my diet, only drink beer twice a week, and in moderation. As for the gym... its gonna be really tough, as I work till 6-7 every day, and its hard, physically demanding work that is a workout in itself. And im also working pretty much every weekend on another, landscaping job wich is even more demanding (id estimate im burning 1000-2000 cals during a 12 hour day).

Soo bottom line, I just need to keep focused, stay on tracfk with my diet and track everything i put in my mouth, wich i haven been doing lately. A cookie here and an extra scoop of peanut butter there add up... I need to start caring about those again, wich i havent lately. I have just had this mentaility where im working really hard, so i dont care or notice what im eating. but, its time to change! Sometimes I just need to say this stuff outloud to remind myself to stay on track lol. so thanks for listening to me ramble

 

[Built]

Why don't you just train twice a week and do PSMF for a couple of weeks? Might get you back on track and you'll drop 5-8 lbs at least.

When you come off PSMF, promise yourself to show up at your gym dressed and ready to train 3 days a week.

Note I did not suggest you are to promise to TRAIN - you just have to show up wearing comfortable footwear. Once there, if you don't want to stay, you can walk out the door and go home - you kept your promise.

Do this for three weeks, and you'll have re-established your pattern.

When you DO train, keep the volume low. Train short and heavy, and go home. No high-rep sets, no cardio for now. Just get in there, lift heavy, and go home.

With regard to diet, well, maybe you dieted too hard and it's daunting to get back to it.

Why not set up a comfortable maintenance plan for the first week - get used to living inside a box for a while. A nice, big, comfy box, but a box. Once you get used to that, cutting back a little won't be so bad.

How did you have your cut diet set up before?

 

[ArnoldsProtege]

ahhh another hard week... 50+ hours during the week, and 36 this weekend. This weekend was brutal...I probly burned at least 1500-3000 cals each day this weekend, and I ate well.

Thats a good idea built (aside from me not knowing what PSMF is )... I need to just establish a 'small' box to keep myself in, and mainly to keep myself in check. truthfully, I think with this work that im doing this summer, im just gonna put my membership on a hiatus until september first and keep working hard, earning money, eating right and doing sports/ body weight lifting (pushups,situps, running, some dumbell work) at home.

I am losing weight (im about 200 right now) and im getting noticably leaner. I just need to control my huge appetite after working reaaally hard. I know i need to refuel myself and give myself energy, but theres no need for me to be downing 3 beers and 5 slices of pizza for dinner afgter a hard days work. I think 3 would suffice... mind you, after that meal i had to work another 4 hours... but instead of LOSING cals, i am only maintaning.

Anyways, im back on track, and inspired by a BARELY noticable but definitely the begginning of a "V" line on my stomach haha... and if the shadows are just right, I can see my abs Considering i was up to six rolls on the midsection this time last year, Im on the right track. I just need to remind myself that this is the last phase of me ever being fat, and that this is going to be a huge accomplishment that will take time, and be 110% worth it.

btw, does anyone know any good body weight/limited equipment workouts I coulkd do if i cancel my membership for the summer? Anything that you guys may have done in the past or do right now when u cant get to the gym?

 

[DeadBolt]

btw, does anyone know any good body weight/limited equipment workouts I coulkd do if i cancel my membership for the summer? Anything that you guys may have done in the past or do right now when u cant get to the gym?

Circuit work...

prisoner squats
supermen
hindu pushups
crunches
body rows
hip raises
farmers walk
jump rope

Pick a number and do it for reps 10-15-20-50 what ever you can manage run that circuit dop jump rope for 30 seconds

rest 1 minute and repeat

run the circuit as many times as you can

once you master those throw in some other sircuit plo work burpees etc etc look em up and throw em in there! ive seen guys bench 400lbs and not be able to do 10 hindu pushups

 

[DeadBolt]

and hey i work 50-70 hour work weeks all the time with days without sleep and i still hold true to the diet and bust my ass in the gym!

find that something that keeps you going and bust ass man! your young do it for the girls bud summer get your shit in gear and get fit!

 

[powerrack]

You only really need 3 hard training sessions per week, 30-50mins. Especially if you are working a lot and it is labour, less will equal more.

Read over what Built said in her post, looks like sound advice to me.