Exercise... how do you make it a habit????

I go in spurts where I exercise on a regualr basis and then all of the sudden I stop and find it hard to motivate myself to start again! I used to have a walking partner and we would walk together 3x a wee, she went to work and I find it hard to make myself go each day when I don't have anyone "waiting" for me!

I do the best I can and I'll admit that right now I need to get my focus back and get back on track! I lost 30 pounds last year and I don't want to gain it all back since I worked so hard to lose it to begin with!

Congratulations on losing 30 pounds! That's a great achievement.

I'm afraid that once the weather get's colder and the mornings get darker I'm going to be less motivated than I have been this summer.

I was motivated years ago to workout and excercise because the more you keep up with it, the better you look and feel..it's great for energy and gives a general feeling of positivity :)

I read somewhere that it takes about 3 weeks of consistency for it to become a habit, sounds like you don't have very long to go. I do find it's rather easy to fall out of this habit, so try to eliminate distractions. Maybe try exercising the first thing when you go home or right when you wake up, before your mind get too busy thinking about what else you have to do. Also, beware of burnout, by doing too much too fast, that's a quick way to drop out of a routine.

I selected a gym that's on my way home, so that I have to pass by it before I reach my house. No temptations for me to go home and take a nap or eat beforehand. Also, a big motivator for me is money. Gym memberships are expensive! Gotta make that 90 bucks a month worth it.

I've always been pretty active and involved in sports, but was never big on hitting a gym. I joined a gym about 2 years ago and I did not like it. It felt like working out was a chore and I was constantly out of breath. I would go in and lift random weights and was frustrated that I never saw results. I ended up using these feelings of frustration to set a goal for myself, to be able to run for 30 minutes straight and not feel like I'm going to die afterward. 2 years later my current goal is to run 5 miles, do 100 pushups and do 10 pullups.

I think this goal setting element is really important to making it fun. Then you can see how much you've progressed. Think of it as being in competition with yourself. Also, if you're not one for exercising alone, try some group classes or yoga. These are a bit more fun and as equally rewarding. If you want I've got some extra guest passes to my gym, Healthworks. I believe you can take some of their classes without being a member.

Keep us updated on your progress! :-D

I have to exercise...in order to survive, so I have no choice in the matter. I lost 250 pounds, dropping from 425 down to 175...to get my health back in shape. I did nothing more than my normal walking during the course of a day and cut way back on eating. Once I lost all of my extra weight; that's when my health went to hell. I lost my right leg earlier this year, so I switched to crutches...and made it a point to go out for at least one walk daily; not only get keep up my strength and build my upper body muscles, but to get the things I needed to live...groceries, medications, etc. I walked 146 days in a row, which helped me get a prosthetic leg faster than most. Now, I've been walking on two legs for 9 days...and have no choice but to continue in order to keep surviving and become even better than I was before. Sometimes, you have no alternative but to exercise. That's my motivation.

Thanks MC, Renisha and Rob! I might take you up on those health club passes Renisha.

Rob, your motivation is quite extreme. I know that just being able to be active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle should be motivation enough for me. Somehow I continue to let other things distract me.

Renisha, the idea of exercising first thing in the morning is a good one for me. By the end of the day I'm not interested in working out. I'll just have to force myself out of my cozy warm bed! Maybe a really obnoxious alarm would help??

actually i love to walk in the morning.. i take my camera and look for something to photograph for Gather.. at night I love to ride my bike.. unfortunately its getting too dark to do that anymore!! Once you get in the habit of exercising (give yourself a couple weeks) you'll miss it when you don't go! Good luck and remember every step you take is another step towards living longer, happier and healthier!

There sure are days when I get really tired of exercising, but I can see the results that it's made in my life. That helps me to keep it up.

I used to be an exercise addict. I did wake up thinking I couldn't wait to exercise, I exercised every free minute and even some that weren't exactly free (while watching television or talking on the phone, etc). Maybe there was an element of the endorphine high, but I attribute my compulsive behavior more to the desire for that tight muscle feeling that was almost impossible to achieve because I was already in shape. I have no advice on how to make it past the miserable stage, but offer hope that it's worth it because you'll probably enjoy exercise once you get past it.

Diana, it sounds like you have made it part of your routine. That's what I hope to do.

Sarah, I can't wait until the days I want to exercise out number the days I don't. I guess once I feel the difference that will be a great motivation for me.

Sandy, do you still exercise routinely?

the best thing that has worked for me thus far is finding a friend! that way you both motivate each other. once you start working out, you will notice the positive changes in your body which will, in turn, push you even more! my sister, a friend and i were determined to run a 5k this past saturday and did two months worth of training together. now we are addicted to it! it's great having someone to talk to b/c you don't even realize you are running --- it just seems like girl time!

Kelldogg, that's what I need. The last time I really made exercise part of my routine was before I lived in the city and worked full time. I know, I'm making excuses. But it was meeting my 2 girlfriends on a regular basis that kept me at it.

Oops! Thanks for the reminder...

I agree that having an exercise partner is really helpful. You can keep each other honest and motivated. I also think that mornings are probably better than evenings, if nothing else because it gives you some extra energy for the rest of the day. Another thing to consider is rewarding yourself for keeping with the program. Obviously you don't want a treat that undercuts the exercise itself (like a huge dish of ice cream!), but try to find something you can look forward to, but only if you actually do the exercise you're supposed to. That gives you something else nice and tangible to work for.

I like the idea of rewarding myself for reaching a goal. I'll give that some thought and let you guys know what I decide on.

I go in spurts too and it's time to start again. I've lost 11 lbs in the last few weeks due to counting calories and watching everything that I eat. I know if I start to exercise I will lose quicker. I just have to work up my motivation.

Your weight loss in the last few weeks is amazing! Congratulations!
If you start exercising let me know what you're doing and what's working for you.

It's really hard to stay motivated. I go on and off excercise routines. Geocaching was once a big help because I'd get in a lot of longer hikes each weekend, but with the gas prices, I can't afford to go every weekend right now.

I don't have any advice on how to love it. Geocaching was the only thing I have found that made me look forward to excercise. And even then, I can't say it was the excercise part I was looking forward to ;)

Until this year, I'd never actually made it through an entire gym membership - that is, I always found myself canceling (and paying the exorbitant cancellation fees) before my contract was up for one reason or another. Usually it was because I just stopped going.

Earlier this year, my wife convinced me to join her gym. She likes to work out in the morning, which I thought would be hell for me, a non-morning person. Turns out, it was. But I stuck with it and now I'm the one dragging her out of bed in the morning. It takes about a month of strict routine to get used to getting up and going but I find its a great way to start the day and get yourself going.

Having the personal trainer will help to. I always found that when I was able to get myself there, I never really knew what I was doing so I didn't feel like I was getting the most out of my time there, which led to me not going, which led to me paying hundreds in penalties for canceling. Its a vicious cycle. Sounds like you're at least starting off on the right foot!

Good luck!

Hey Jeff, do you go every day? every few days?

MaryAnne, I wish!

For exercise, I walk and also work out with free weights and do a bit of resistance training. I had to learn to think of exercise in a different way. Rather than thinking of it as something awful I have to endure, I have learned to look at it as ME time....a gift to myself. I usually walk 3 miles at least 4 days a week, and then do the weights and resistance training every other day. I do those right in my living room at night while I'm watching TV or listening to music. I also had to learn to make myself a priority , something I wasn't used to doing in my busy family.

I used to walk 7 miles a day. I loved it. I felt so good at the end of my walk. Now my health wont let me do that and I really miss it

You have all given me lots of good ideas - to make sure I enjoy the time as something good I'm doing for myself, to use an assortment of motivators, to stay at it until I'm over the hump of "have to" to "want to". Thanks! I've got a 6:30 am appointment with my trainer tomorrow morning so wish me luck!

I'm there about 5 days a week now. Its actually healthy to take days off here and there (or so I hear). Have fun tomorrow!

"Maybe a really obnoxious alarm would help??"

MaryAnne, meet Clocky. Because this post is not flagged for language, I can't tell you what this I say to this annoying, obnoxious alarm clock every time it jumps off the nightstand and starts rolling around the room.

(I don't exercise but I should.)

Dance! to music that makes you feel like dancing

I fall into the same camp you did before you hired your trainer. Unlike you, I do not have a slim physique and could really benefit from regular exercise.

I commend you for taking charge and hiring your trainer to keep you on track. Perhaps over time, you will start to look forward or even feel bad when you don't work out.

Sometimes I'm motivated, sometimes not. The key for me is doing it anyway, even when not motivated. Inertia works both ways.

I have seen studies that indicate (and my own experience backs this up) that to change a habit or install a new habit you need to do it for 30 days.

Then you are in the rhythm and it's easy to stay with it - in fact, after 30 days not doing it makes you a little uneasy.

Good luck with your plan. Sounds good to me.

Going to the gym can be very entertaining. I wrote an article about it a few weeks ago. Check it out. It will probably make you smile and may inspire you!

Joy at Gym on a Saturday Night?

I go in spurts too.. It is seldom that I look forward to exercising but after I get myself motivated , I do feel good about myself.. It is just getting me started....

That's how I am Vickey. Once I'm doing the exercise, I usually enjoy it. But getting myself out the door or down on the floor to do it is another story. I'm still working on that side of it.

sure is nice to see I'm not alone. once I get to the gym, i love it...It's getting there that's really difficult. I keep my gym bag in the car, but it still is more of a chore.

I have to walk..so I shop..which is actually not the greatest way to do this! LOL!
But, also, get some music in your ears..take a long a walkman or a pair of earphones, or something with music that has fantastic sound and is clear!
also find great places to walk..if you have to take a bus to it..or train or just whatever..do that too! Nobody likes walking in the same boring places..(well, okay, some do..but, I know that I hate it!!) LOL!
I am very lucky...because I have a place near by that is really nice..there is a lake with ducks, geese, and other small or interesting birds..and people and restaurants and stores..and it's green and you can just walk, run, or take photos, etc...sometimes there are bands playing too!
It's rather nice...but, if you do not have this..you have to find places that would be "fun" to walk..some neighborhoods are nice ...if you decide to walk around there...ask around too...to see what places are good to walk in!
Also word of mouth,..via friends, neighbors and your local library might also have some great walking places to go to, as well!
Just a couple of suggestions for ya!

Julie K.

like you i'm a walker. I have been trying to decide on something else to do though, to step up my workouts and to aid my weight watchers efforts. when i'm doing well I just try and visualize myself being thin and in excellent health. that helps me

I wasn't motivated until I joined into a water aerobics class at the YMCA. I'm not much for dry land workouts and was having trouble going to swim laps. Going to class and making new friends is a big encouragement to go!

Sorry for the generic comment, but I have to catch up on my emails. Giving you a 10 with my comment.

I am here to complain about not being able to view my friends photos !!
What's going on with that Maryann?? I'm not a happy camper here,sorry!!
Could you tell me when that will be fixed?? Soon I'm hoping young lady.

For me, getting started is ALWAYS tough. and stopping is ALWAYS easy!
But once I've stuck to it for one whole month I'm on my way to victory! Now, I exercise everyday for a minimal of 20 mins, usually longer. I swim at the Y.M.C.A., stationary bike, lift weights, dance, or walk. Besides stretching every morning, no matter what!
After a while I really do miss it if I stop because I sleep better, move better, breathe better, eat better (for some strange reason) and all around live better with exercise than without.

I love to excerise but I'm also a fitness instructor so that helps. I need to stay in shape for my students. Would you take a class from an instructor that isn't in shape?