Motivation!!

From: alex_stpierre9
Subject: Fitness
Date/Time 2008-05-27 18:15:33
Remote IP: 99.246.92.35

Message

I'm sure everyone has times they would rather be sitting around watching the tube than training. Or days where there seems to be a million things to do and maybe you can't rationalize taking the time for yourself to bust out the KB's or whatever it is that you do. Or you are in pain. Or you are just plain feeling lazy.

Overall the people here seem super motivated (it's that Russian work ethic rubbing off Comrades) but for those of us who have trouble getting moving sometimes, what do you guys do? How do you stay motivated and excited about your routines? Thought it would be nice to have a thread to look at when you can't seem to get moving.

I can say I definately train with INTENSETY but CONSISTENCY can be somewhat of a problem. And over the long haul the unfortunate truth is that consistenancy beats intensity nine times out of ten. Being a lazy bum, I've had plenty of opportunities to practice getting motivated, so I'll start with what works with me...

1)Anything is better than nothing.
Sometimes I look at what I have written down for the day and think "oh god I can't do this." Times like that I just tell myself to start the routine with the attitude that SOME exercise is always better than none. If I can't finish my "idealized" program, well it just shows I have lofty goals. Better to get half way thru or even cut off some sets than write it off for the day. Additionally, having those "reality check" days when you look at what you have planned and seeing the fact that not only have you done this insane workout before, but you just have a casual expectation that you will do it again. This should give you a boost. Chances are 90% of the people you rub shoulders with on a daily basis couldn't come close to what you are doing.

2) Reward yourself with your favorite exercise
If you can find 1-2 activities that you ALWAYS enjoy, then use them for rewards. For me, there is never a time when I don't want to do the reflex bag. So in the last resort, if I have absolutely no motivation to do weights, I tell myself if I can get thru my minimum "maintenance" sets, the rest of the day I can have off to do the bag.

3)Music
Sometimes just putting the music on loud enough will get me psyched.

4)Appearance
The obvious motivator here is either positive or negative feedback. Ie. Look and see what a fat bum you are or look and tell yourself what improvements you've made. Of course for some people this doesn't help much. I guess it depends on your goals. Not suggesting you take up body building but it's nice to see that all that work has an appreciable physical manifestation.

5)Setting arbitrary goals
Even if you aren't training for a competitive activity, little goals can be a good pushm, especially when attatched to deadlines. For instance I have an old female friend coming in for a visit from out of town and I wanted to look good so I set myself a goal of dropping ten pounds of fat by the time she gets here. I'm done with a few days to spare. Especially for men, the libido is a pretty good motivator :). Maybe you could tell your husband/wife/significant other, "no sex until I do my KB snatches". Hopefully you won't regret it!

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• Motivation!!: (307) alex_stpierre9 (112) - (Training Log) - 2008-05-27 6:15 pm
• My list::(248) palapagus (852) - (Training Log) - 2008-05-27 7:22 pm
• My list::(232) alex_stpierre9 (112) - (Training Log) - 2008-05-27 7:31 pm
• Frank Yang:(256) palapagus (852) - (Training Log) - 2008-05-27 8:02 pm
• Motivation!!:(193) Semonides (904) - (Training Log) - 2008-05-27 8:41 pm
• Motivation!!:(170) bullseye (102) - - 2008-05-27 10:23 pm
• Motivation!!:(143) TrackStar (237) - - 2008-05-28 00:08 am
• Motivation!!:(103) rock_ten (1704) - - 2008-05-28 06:56 am

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