gym motivation

[chrisT]

Help!!

So I have been a member of a gym for some time. I need tips to help me get motivated into going back. I like being at the gym I like how I feel after the gym. I get up every day with every intention of going to the gym even wearing workout gear. But I still can't seem to leave the house to go.

Surely I'm not the only one like this. Any tips to get out of the house...

[Sakly]

Hi,

Very easy: open the door, go out, close the door from outside.
You are responsible for your health, so noone else can help you to do something what is good for you.
If gym is too big a hurdle start home workouts with bodyweight. There are plenty possibilities and it is saving much time.

[JaapvanE]

One trick is to have a training partner or even a group which you agree to meet at the gym. Another is to have a drink afterwards as a reward. Social peer pressure has a lot of impact.

[max_ratcliffe]

Hi Chris and welcome.

For me, motivation is hugely improved when I write myself a program. It doesn't work unless I write it down somewhere (electronic is good, say in Excel). Even if I'm using someone else's program, I still have to copy it and write it down.

Hope that helps you too.

[Sakly]

One trick is to have a training partner or even a group which you agree to meet at the gym.

This trick is only working if your training partner has the same goal and nearly the same level of fitness and is able to train at the same time. This is very hard to find. But if - then it's golden.

[Erik A]

i was/am in a similar situation. i was a regular gym goer for a couple of years and was there 3-5 days a week. then i had an arm injury and stopped for a year to recover. then i started back but had significantly regressed in strength and fitness so became very unmotivated to go back. then covid hit. i mainly went to the gym for the erg and really enjoy using it. my wife was on at me to either get back to the gym or cancel my membership so i was looking for one to buy and use at home which i got and it arrived last week i set it up on the weekend and then went and cancelled my gym membership. now i have it at home there is no excuse to use it. first session tonight.

[JaapvanE]

now i have it at home there is no excuse to use it. first session tonight.

I did a similar thing two years ago. The benefit is that there is no time wasted: I can hop on my machine, and a 25 minute workout costs me about 30 minutes out of my day. It took 30 minutes out of my day to get to the gym. Downside is that there is no peer pressure to do training at sane times.

[Sandeman]

I hate gyms. It's away from my home so I have to go there in silly clothes and go back home all sweaty.. And then all the people. There are too many of them. I'm more of a loner, I don't feel the need to interact with other people very much especially when I'm working out
So I bought a rower and put it in my attic.
I work a lot from home so when I'm done working I can just take off my clothes, hop on the rower, do a workout in peace, shower and I'm good to go before dinner.
This won't solve your motivation problems as you will still have to drag yourself up there and go do something, but I found it a lot easier than going to the gym.

[gvcormac]

I'm going to pile on with the "buy a machine" thread, even though it doesn't really answer your question. Sorry.

It is way less effort to plunk yourself down on the machine in the morning than to get dressed and go to the gym. Although there is psychological/social pressure to go fast, you don't have to. I find that no matter how slowly I start I limber up and end up with a pretty good pace. Just sit on the machine and go through the motions.

About a year and a half ago, I bought a Bike Erg so that I would drink my morning coffee and check email while doing my morning workout. I do coffee and email regardless, and jumping on the erg requires little additional motivation.

https://youtu.be/Mf4Ciqdw2S4

[jvander76]

I too am a believer in working out from home. But that's only possible, I suppose, if you have enough space. Besides my C2 row erg, I have a qualify bench (incline or flat) from Rep Fitness, and a set of dumbbells. Core makes a great all-in-one set that easily adjusts from 5 to 50 lbs each. The average person can get all the exercise they need from those. Some kettlebels would be nice, but I don’t really have the room or ceiling height to be swinging those things around. I added a Bowflex max trainer to provide an alternate cardio option but it surely isn't necessary. As others have said, cutting out all the transportation and prep time makes working out at home sooo much more efficient. I'm done with gyms.

[gvcormac]

I too am a believer in working out from home. But that's only possible, I suppose, if you have enough space. Besides my C2 row erg, I have a qualify bench (incline or flat) from Rep Fitness, and a set of dumbbells. Core makes a great all-in-one set that easily adjusts from 5 to 50 lbs each. The average person can get all the exercise they need from those. Some kettlebels would be nice, but I don’t really have the room or ceiling height to be swinging those things around. I added a Bowflex max trainer to provide an alternate cardio option but it surely isn't necessary. As others have said, cutting out all the transportation and prep time makes working out at home sooo much more efficient. I'm done with gyms.

My wife had a Row Erg and a True Elliptical in her 400 sq ft apt in Manhattan. The Row Erg takes very little space on end (which they say not to do but if you don't have kids or pets to knock it over it is stable enough). The elliptical was a waste of space, but it fit. She was hooked on Ellipticals from the gym, so we got it. But the rower was way better.