How do you stay motivated

as you know in all of my posts I have not mentioned exercise. I have had no motivation. NONE. I can't seem to make myself exercise. I have ahard time making myself. It's ridiculous because I know I always feel better after I exercise but why can't i make myself just do it? So my question is... how do you get into a routine of exercising and how do you motivate yourself to stick to it?

I'm with you, I hate to exercise as well so I have no answers.  The only activity I have done, biking, I do because I enjoy it.  I don't even think of it as exercise or I would probably hate it, too.  I know it's good for you, makes you feel good, blah, blah, blah but I just can't force myself to do something I don't like to do.  So I just accept it, accept the consequences of not exercising regularly and don't beat myself up over it.  And I keep looking for other activities I enjoy.  

I just turn 56 and this is not a new thing so I doubt it will change although I admit I have seen others my age and older who have learned to love exercise.  I'm just not one of them.  I am still a good  person (I hope).  I did enjoy water aerobics for a time so maybe someday I'll get back into that since I have a pool a few blocks from here.  I have heard good things about Zumba so I might try that as well.  Just look for things you enjoy doing and hopefully you will find something as well.

I am actually giving a talk on this in two weeks. :) I will give you a mini summary.

First of all, we don't think it about exercise right. We think of it as "working out". It's work. It's exercise. It's something we HAVE to do. Like getting our teeth cleaned. Exercise is just moving our bodies. It doesn't have to be work and a chore and drugery. It can be FUN. It's PLAY. I think of what I do, not as exercise, though I use that word because that's the word everyone else uses, but as my hobies that happen to have movement in them.

No one has to make me read a book or make a knitter knit. And, if the knitter gets bored with knitting and moves on to quilting, no one feels guilty about it. To me, the goal is to always have a hobby that involves moving your body. Once you find something you love to do, you won't have to find motivation most of the time because it's part of your life and part of what makes you, you.

The other aspect where we go wrong with exercise is that we think of it in a very limiting way. What is exercise? Oh, it's cardio. It's weight training. That's it. So go out and run. Or take Zumba at the gym. And push some weight with the machines. Don't like to do those kinds of things? You're screwed.

But anything that involves moving your body is exercise. It doesn't have to take place in a gym. It doesn't have to involve wearing lycra. There are literally hundreds of things that count as exercise including:

Gardening
Remodeling your house
Roller Skating/Inlines
Skate Boarding
Figure Skating/Speed Skating
Hockey
Broomball
Ballroom Dancing (and 20 other kinds such as Salsa, Folk, Hip-hop, Square, Swing, Contra)

Volleyball/Basketball
Raquetball/Handball
Tennis

Softball/Baseball
Cricket
Bocce Ball
Bowling
Golf
Ultimate Frisbee
Housework (if you do it right)

Cardio machines
Yoga/Pilates
Walking/Hiking
Playing with the dog
Swimming
Synchronized Swimming
Diving
Kayaking/Canoeing/Rowing
Surfing - body, board, wind
Skiing/Snowboarding
Snow shoeing
Biking - mountain, road, cyclocross, bmx
Aqua aerobic
Group aerobics workouts
Group strength workouts - to music, without music, Crossfit, Body Pump, Boot Camp, etc.
Solo Strength training - with or without machines, with and without DVDs, with and without equipment including bands, TRX, Olympic Lifting
Camping (if you do it right)
Hunting
Archery
Gymnastics
Track and field

I know I'm forgetting some... 

The point is, there's bound to be something on this list that appeals to you. And if nothing jumps out right away, you can go down the list and try stuff until you find something that does!

Once you find something you enjoy doing, you look forward to doing it and then you don't need gobs of willpower to make yourself do it. That doesn't mean you might not need some motivation to do it on days you don't want to. But you have to start with activites that are cool to you because if doing it at all requires massive willpower, you are doomed. 

wonderful post!!!!

I am 54 years old. My experience in the past was to do as little as possible. I would start out with good intentions, but it never lasted more than a few weeks. Now I am happy to say, I have been walking since July 13th, which was approximately 6 weeks after surgery. I started out doing 15 minutes a day. At this point, almost 5 months later I walk 6 days a week for 45-60 minutes. Never thought I could wake up at 4:45 to do it, but I have made it a part of my day. Sometimes I am miserable and tired, but is always feel better mentally knowing I have done this for myself. 65 pounds gone and no more cholesterol meds. BTW, I am married with two middle schoolers, teach music all day, direct drama club after school, and then transport my kids where they need to be! You can do it!

I can't top the other post but I will say that for me, it is easy if you find something you like to do.  I love the ponies and so driving them is easy but because it is my normal, I really don't consider it part of my exercise but part of my daily routine.  I used to run but hips broke down and can't do that anymore.  Now I walk most mornings for a mile and half and go to muscle pump, an fast moving weight lifting class, 2x a week.  I love it.  I don't like the machines but this class is fun.  I also love zumba but I can walk from home and it is less time consuming than driving to a class.  I REALLY need the stress relief as much as I need the exercise so I make time for them.  I think the important thing is to find something you really want to do, then make it a priority.

I'm pretty much right there with you and truly hate to admit it since I am a support group leader.  I know that when I begin my WLS journey preparing for insurance approval...I went to Curves and worked out there 6 days a week.   Then when I had my RNY and lost my weight I moved up to a regular gym and pretty much did a exercise class 6 days a week there too till the gym had such little activity that they stopped the classes.   I'm a person who truly doesn't like working out on the machines.    For the past 3 yrs. I've not done much exercising except walking and to be honest not tons of that either.   Sometimes I'm motivated but just haven't been motivated to get my rear end up and get moving.    Heck I even bought a INSANITY DVD and at 60 yrs old what was I thinking?.    I think I had a moment of INSANITY  when I did that.   LOL   My DIL has dropped 20 lbs. doing that DVD and modifying the exercises.   I've opened the box but the DVD's have not been removed.    That is something that I want to change in 2014 is to start a exercise program or attend a exercise class.    I truly felt wonderful doing the exercise classes I just need to get out of the funk that I've been in and get my butt moving.   I know if I did I could more and likely get back down to my lowest weight.    That would truly make me very happy.   Have a blessed day !!!

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian