Motivation While Exercising

When you're working out and you feel like you're going to quit, what do you do to keep going? How do you push through those tough moments during exercise to finish the workout?

I evaluate (quickly) the situation. Am I in pain? Am I having an asthma attack? Do I just HATE this? If it's no to the first two and yes to the second, I immediately start picturing the "old/fat me" chasing the new me.  I don't want to let that ***** catch me, so I keep moving.

If I am hurt, or having an asthma attack or am just in danger of falling/collapsing, I might slow down, stop and rest, or whatever seems appropriate.

Because I'm a runner, I usually can't just quit - I have to eat least get home, so perhaps walking for a bit or even stopping and waiting out a bad spell is what it takes, but I do have to get on my way at some point.

I also remind myself often I Can Do Hard Things.

I have an image of the old me burned in my brain. It gets me motivated every day !

 Thats really helpful. Thank you! I do a lot of bike riding as my work outs. I'm going to have WLS in about a month or a month and a half. I'm trying to work out a lot beforehand to get in those good habits.

Unless it is physical pain, and even then sometimes, I just push through.  Like many I have the mental image of the fat me which typically makes me run faster or farther.  If I am on the treadmill and don't think I can make it I start the whole internal debate and sometimes to shut it down I will just up the speed a notch or 2 so I have to refocus. Other times I apply a little logic "I am 2.5 miles into my 5 miles wo why not just stick with it"  or "You only have 15 more minutes you can easily do that".

Like I said I have even been known to stupidly push through physical pain which rarely ends well.

This is why I love exercising outside.  I get on my bike and ride in a straight line away, then you HAVE to ride back when you get tired, etc.  I will do a closer, circuit route when I have a time crunch (like today)

But those Sunday mornings for me...set a goal and GO!

same reason i perfer running outside instead of stuck on a treadmill like a hamster....you have no choice but get back  unless you totally give up and call a taxi

 I just want to say how much of a help you guys are. I don't think I could do this without all the support!!

Sooo proud of you for making exercise a priority!!! 

When I'm running, I get into the scenery and the music on my ipod.  If I feel like stopping, and I'm not at a point where I'd generally walk, I pick a point down the path and tell myself I must get there.....when I get there I must count to 10 before I can stop.  By then, I've forgotten that I was going to stop!  I also visualize myself in my cutest outfits.....that makes me honest because I know I can't wear them if I gain weight.

When I'm doing P90X, and I'm wiped out, I set the number reps I have to do to a low number, but I up the weight amount....it is a mental thing...I'm still working as hard, but my breaks between sets are longer so I can endure more.

Keep up the great work!

Kim

Last week, I watched an infomercial by Shawn T from Insanity.. He was yelling " DIG DEEP" "dont stop" You can do it.. i swear he was talking to me.. other than that.. I try to tell myself over and over.. You can do it YOU are strong!!..music is motivating too!