I know this isn’t a self help group and what not, but I’m trying to eat better, make a better living, change and create better habits, be motivated to work out and stay disciplined to tasks and a schedule.
Im just an average middle class joe, not in a bad spot and my debt is revolving (paid off every month). But I want to reach certain goals for years but can’t seem to find the motivation to reach those goals.
Biggest hurdle is WANTING to go to the gym in the morning. Need to prime my mindset somehow but default mindset is that gym is burden rather than gym is pleasure.
You have to learn to love yourself, Thats the first step for everything.
Lol! I love myself quite a bit. Don’t care too much to “lose weight” because I’m not obese, rather I feel that if I do lose the weight, I’ll have more energy to explore other activities and fully live my life rather than just coasting by
Did you post this just to share your excuses with people that respond to you?
If you're not trying to become the absolute best version possible of yourself, you are doing it wrong, no matter how hard you try to explain away why you're not man enough to step in to a gym and move heavy things.
Man up or don't. But save the excuses. Your desire to go to the gym has to do with you not loving who you are. Deal with that and work on it.
I go to the gym. It’s inconsistent. People thrive for those endorphins which keeps them going. Im seeking that as well but have a hard time “convincing” myself that I need to go. Advice I can find on search engines, but I’d like to hear from the community I frequently interact with, who I align with, how they manage with these activities and routines
Then love yourself and be consistent. It's simple. You have to stop making excuses first. That's between you and your excuses.
Do you enjoy the gym when you do go? If not, maybe it's be easier to get excited about exercise outside... Trail running of some such... Just a thought.
Sounds like my daily life at the moment. Trying to change that
I know where you were getting at, this is the routine I want to break. Maybe I should finish my audio books or something.
I’m super ADHD (real or not real, the focus is a problem for me). I’m good at starting something but then keeping that habit is an issue
The loving yourself thing can't be said often enough. You'll know when you get there.
Instead of focusing on the list overwhelming list of stuff I want to get done, I do things in the same order. After a while it becomes automatic and I add a new item to my day. If your routine is automatic and you don’t have to think, adding one thing is easy. Maybe your taking on too much change at once.
My routine is virtually non existent. My work schedule is all over the place. Sometimes mornings, sometimes mid days, sometimes nights. The only constant I have is sleeping, using restroom, and hygiene activities.
Not making excuses here, rather explaining my scenario because I’m trying to figure out a way to get these things in order, make them automatic, and not burn out
You need a routine. Clearly that’s a big problem in your life.
I suggest a simple way to start and see if it works.
Plan out the routine you want to have. Forget about the rando job schedule.
Now you have an ideal routine, put down three likely job interruptions like a morning shift, afternoon, and evening. Write out your ideal plan now with those three variations.
Now you have a plan that works with your random job schedule. And based on your job schedule for that day, follow that plan.
There are apps for this. If those don't suit you, stick to pen and paper. Start small. Give yourself a treat every time you do it. Let your mind associate small achievements with reward. Work your way up.
I use a white board that grids out simple goals like Make your bed, floss, play sports, read, journal, and clean room, and then goals that cater to me like body weight, no fap, muscle dimensions, and photography. I have a box for a week and make it like a 9 week thing and the first week i just try to do as much as i can then next week i try to beat if I cant thats ok cause then next week i try to beat the previous week I dont look at my best week and compare I just try and beat the previous week and move on when i cant. Progress takes time and understanding that is key, be humble and understanding with yourself.
I need to start doing this again. When I had a schedule written down, I was following through. At some point, I fell off track (probably travels) and was easier to not continue that process. Didn’t realize the impact it had until it was too late
I stuck to my routine of eating eggs in the morning, drinking some coffee and then going about my day when I return home I do Mondays hard workout shittiest day of the week Tuesday hard workout, then I cycle to my medium workout for wed and thurs, I cycle back to Friday being a easy workout. I have been doing this since the start of the scamdemic. I have gotten noticably more swoll and I'm mainly doing it to combat my back issues. I also have a daughter on the way and wanna be stacked so if anyone messes with her I can scare the lively shit out of them ?. I recommend setting a good goal for yourself first and foremost where you wanna be and why
I make lists on index cards. Wear a watch. Start with walking and getting your circulation going, then work up to the gym.
My job helps me stay focused I work in a busy convenience store the multitasking helps me. My job usually energizes me, it's hard to explain
When your mind doesn’t wander it’s easy to not think about negative or redundant things.
I’m the same way, once I get into some type of rhythm, I stay motivated and active
I find gaming on my pc helps I play a couple mmos or just something like cradle of Egypt simple matching games with relaxing music. I also take care of grandbaby on my off time a busy toddler. I think there's some good advice here.
I definitely don't have it all down lol
Write your goals down and tell your friends and family. Set aside time each day, week, month and years to track your progress. Take advantage of your animal nature and train your body like you would a dog.
Find people you are willing to be accountable to and let them into your life so they can hold you accountable. As kids we got this for free with parents and school teachers. Some people are more suited to individualized routines and disciplines. Some do better with a workout partner so the gym becomes a scheduled appointment and adds accountability. Some people pay for a workout instructor because it forces them to the gym so they don’t waste their money.
Be willing to try something uncomfortable. We all get to the place where we have to admit that we’ve tried to improve something on our own for years and haven’t had figured it out. In your case that is the point of this post.
Baby steps. Don't think about the big picture. Once you do start going to the gym, don't worry about weight loss or whatever. Think of it as an improvement to your heart. Don't beat yourself up for skipping a day. Just go for a few minutes and increase it as you go along. Find some awesome music to work out to.
Been hitting the gym. Once I’m there, I’m good. Just the “get out of bed and get the mind right” to get to the gym is the part I struggle with.
That and food. I cut down on quantity recently, but need to focus on quality
It's difficult to start, but once it's habit, you can do it. Getting motivated is definitely the hardest part.
Easy. Retirement. I recommend it.
What has helped me is to prepare and reward. Night before get everything ready, new clean gym clothes in bag, etc, while prepping it imagine yourself there and working out and FEELING GOOD. (Imaging the feeling is important here.)
Figure out a post workout reward that makes you feel good. Can be food or drink or just relaxation time. Look at the whole picture of your day. Discipline needs to be enjoyable.
Evaluate if you are getting enough sleep, if you aren’t a morning person it’s harder. Might need to rise earlier so you have time to wake up first. Or find a way to do a lunch workout.
Evaluate if you like your gym atmosphere, sometimes there’s an aversion to the place or the people or the noise or smell that is under the surface. Sometimes changing gyms helps. I also found that listening to books on tape was motivating, (can download from local library usually.) Consider if you need to change your workout, alternate it with outdoor activities, if you are bored there.
Just some ideas to consider.
Not a natural morning person but get up in the morning because I just hate the thought of wasting half my day. There are times I do think of the things you suggested when getting up and going to the gym is tough. It does help. Need to learn to make habits like this automatic and not some conscious effort every time
I hate the gym, so it's one of the reasons I don't go. I do, however, enjoy working out. Go buy a few dumbbells and look up some exercises with them. Listen to music, dance, and throw the freeweights around, try to have fun. If you find yourself sitting around at home, you can just do an exercise or two, it only takes 20-30 min to get some good work in. It's much harder to make up excuses to not do it when it's sitting right in front of you and you don't have to go anywhere.
Every morning I have a shake made with a little peanut butter, milk, a banana, and this: https://www.lean1.com
Provides good protein and nutrition. Eat less carbs and sugar, and more protein. If you work out hard, eat protein like mad. If you have to eat carbs, make it 100% whole grain if possible.
I made these changes to my lifestyle about four months ago and I'm in the best shape of my life.
True. And thanks for the links. I will check it out
Listen to Stephen Hayes on not avoiding or suppressing feelings of panic. Usually the urge to procrastinate is suppression or avoidance of uncomfortable feelings like panic. A fixed hour of meditation (Dr Joe Dispenza, for example) keeps me from climbing the walls. And cannabis, wonderful plant for putting things into perspective.
That first part is very Interesting. I will look into that because I have a tendency to over analyze things. Always thinking. To the point where I have a difficult time falling asleep sometimes
As for the weed. I’ve tried it but get paranoid. And CBD honestly just makes me lazy (lazier)
I also forgot to mention. Don't wait to be motivated. That's what many people do. Motivation comes from action, believe it or not. Look for it, don't wait for it to come to you.
I’m already taking action. I’m working out. But historically have a habit of stopping. The stopping part is what I’m trying to prevent, hence staying disciplined and in a routine
I start my day with a lot of coffee and finish it with beer. That's been my formula for years and it works for me.
..also grow a beard. It takes others attention away from your beergut
I know this isn't an aquarium forum, but my goldfish looks sad lately, and I was wondering if anybody knew how to tell if he wants me to change his fish food.
Probably should change his food then since it’s out of his control. My lifestyle is in my control but fell into unhealthy habits.
Reason I asked here instead of a motivation forum is because, over there, they’re balls to the wall and “you’re doing EVERYTHING wrong” we leads to no progress.
As for your fish. Change the food because they can’t
Water water water.
Extending your fast in the morning to 16 hours of water fasting will help with going to the gym. You will make gains a bit more quickly and recover faster.
It takes less than 3 weeks to work up to a daily 16 hour fast. The body will start to change also over time. You will have better energy and it will make the bad days really stand out. Pair that with good nutrition, plus easy workouts to start.
Joe Rogan had a workout guy on. His goal was never a burnout day, but to work to 70% of your capacity. The goal is to do some work every day. At the end of the year, you will have put more time in than a 3x a day week guy.
Food: Mediterranean diet is a great base. Eat BEETS (NO2 nitric oxide), dark leafy greens, Celery is good for YOUR STALK.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick (Better with Joe Rogan)
Dr. Eric Berg
Thomas Delauer
Research: ATP, Sulforaphane, Intermittent fasting, WIM HOF, Sauna's, Nitric Oxide.
And finally, this is good motivation: David Goggins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVi3oPufVPg
Thanks for them great links! I did watch Rogan and the nutrition videos about a year ago. Time to refresh
It doesn't matter what you think or want, it matters what you do. Go to the gym.
I do. I was at the gym today as well. I want to keep this going, and reason I ask is to know how to manage to keep the ball rolling because I don’t want to fall off track
I'm just saying that your mind doesn't have to agree with you.
And this is the battle I’m trying gain control of.
Ironically (or unironically) this phrase “our bodies design is ancient, it’s designed to go hunt and burn fuel. The reason to work out is not to deplete your energy, rather, it is to supplement what your body is designed to do, otherwise, the added weight will put more stress on your heart and body because storing that much weight is not natural” has kept me going to the gym. I just need help to keep this going and not fall back on old habits
I have work to do, so I do it.