5 Ways to Build the Gym Habit
I like the gym. It’s a fun place. I am not intimidated by the beef-cakes, and I am not too jealous of the lean, muscular women who seem to live at the gym (and we now all now the ground-rules of gym etiquette).
However, for me, it can be such a mind game when it comes to actually GOING to the gym. If I like the gym, why is it so hard for me to actually GO THERE?
The Mind Games
Before I can even get into my gym clothes, my mind is playing a tape of diversion. Here are a few examples of the "anti-gym" voice in my head— Don’t go because…
- I don’t want to get sweaty.
- I don’t want to have to straighten that mop of mine again.
- I shouldn’t have to drive 15 minutes just so I can workout.
- I could work out at home.
- I haven’t been for so long, when they “beep” my card, the desk-person will laugh at me.
The negative spiel goes on and on.
Keep the "anti-gym voice" at bay:
- Make a schedule and stick to it (Say, once a week to start off. Remember: baby steps.)
- Have someone meet you there. Set the date in advance, and then promise to meet. (Don’t break the date. Nobody likes a promise-breaker)
- Lay out your gym clothes the night before.
- Replace your old, negative “anti-gym” tape with a new, positive one. Anticipate the glorious endorphin-induced feelings post-work out.
- Know exactly what you are going to do: and think about it ahead of time. Nothing kills motivation like a lack of planning.
The best way for me to get to the gym, is to take the guesswork out of the decision.
What works for you?
More like this in Psychology
24 Comments
Add Your Comment
ADVERTISING
New
- FROM DIET BLOG
- Kellogg's Nailed Over "Immunity Supporting" Cereal
- How Obesity is Changing the Healthcare Industry
- Plus-Sized Nightclubs: Rattle and Rolls?
- Obesity Liver Damage Worse Than Alcohol?
- Is The Human Body Meant For Distance?
- FORUM
- Does Phase 2 of South Beach Stop Sugar Addiction?
- Awesome Chipotle Chicken Recipe
- HCG Diet Has Stopped Working
- Christelle's Blog
- 6 Months and Still going...
Categories
| Body Image Celebrities Diet Pills Diets Exercise |
Fast Food Funny Stuff Success Stories Teens and Kids Tips and Tools |
RSS Feed
Follow @DietBlog on Twitter
For me when it comes to workouts it's about telling myself that I will enjoy it when I get there and that I'll feel better for going. i remind myself of a time I didn't feel like going, but felt better and enjoyed myself when I got there.
Having said that... working out at home can be more time efficient so I think your sentiments
Reply# I shouldn’t have to drive 15 minutes just so I can workout.
# I could work out at home
don't sound bad to me, so long as you DO work out at home and don't skip it altogether.
These are great tips for beating the "anti-gym" voice. I think they all apply to exercise in general, not just the gym.
Brian
Replyi heard this voice just yesterday. come to think of it, i've heard it for the past 3 months. personally, i'm in college and i really can't afford a gym membership; but Brian is right; i shouldn't be giving myself excuses to not work out at the gym NOR at home. thanks for the motivation everyone :D
Replystaci - when I was in college I couldn't really afford a gym membership either - thankfully they had a school gym that was free. I think of my gym membership fee as a necessary expense and an investment in health. I have no motivation to work out at home - so the gym is a must and if I don't work out - it's going to cost me more in the end.
When I don't feel like going - I tell myself that instead of running (which is a necessary evil), I'm going to lift weights (which I love).
ReplyI actually don't like working out. But I like it better than punking out!
I like the feeling of accomplishment as I'm leaving the gym, walking past all the suckers/friends who were there before I was and are still sweating under a bar.
And I like the muscle soreness the next day or two, reminding me that I'm on the right track in life. To be all that I can be, the continual evolution of Kailash.
ReplyMy feelings are very close to Kailash's. Not the walking past the suckers/friends part (I don't understand that comment), but the rest: the feeling of accomplishment, the soreness reminding me of the activity, and the strength it gives me.
My favorite technique is: do it with a friend. Not only does it add a nice social aspect, it makes it harder to duck out.
Reply#3 really helps me and I tell 1 or 2 people that I'm planning on going, that way I'm less likely to back out.
ReplyWhat's crucial for me is not stopping. I just finished my first year of law school and am currently working my first "real summer job." With respect to school and work, I found that when I allow myself to go home and rest for a little bit before heading to the gym I am much less likely to actually go to the gym or workout in a meaningful manner.
Now, I've incorporated my trip to the gym into my nightime routine. I pack my gym bag, lunch, and pre-workout snack in the evening. That way I have no excuse to stop at my apartment before heading to the gym after work or class. In addition, when I get home there is no looming "I could have/should have gone to the gym" feeling. I just get to relax.
ReplyFor me, my best motivation is to know that when I go to the gym, I will burn calories.. it really makes me feel I have to go.
But, if there are days when I just don't have the will to go, I at least walk around the block... better than nothing at all!
ReplyI used to struggle to get to the gym, so I'd trick myself by paying for a trainer so then there was money at stake if I didn't show up. Pretty soon, I started seeing results and was hooked. I did slack off for a while when I hit a plateau and didn't seem to be making any progress which is when I discovered a boot camp class that helped me get over that and renewed my love of morning workouts.
ReplyOh, I was just still twerked by the comments on "Women Prefer Muscles" where some ladies had the misconception that brawnier men must live in the gym. The truth is that idiots live in the gym. Lovable idiots. But idiots nonethless, who should train smarter and not harder. Then they might be as big and strong as me.
ReplyGoing first thing in the morning is the key for me. I'm too groggy to think up a passable excuse and I can't wait until I'm partway through my workout and finally mentally awake. It was really hard at first but it's gotten to the point when on the days I don't go (usually for a planned rest day or when I know I'm playing sports or something later), I know I will relish the bit of extra sleep but will then feel less alert all day long.
My boyfriend gets up much later than me and would love it if I switched to going in the evenings. But going first thing is such a big part of working out to me that I don't really plan to compromise here.
ReplyI go in the am before work, and I've kept going because my subway commute is so much less awful earlier in the morning than it is when I get on intending to just get in in time for work. Takes less time overall, too.
And then, when I've gone, I know I've actually accomplished something for the day.
ReplyI don't go to the gym, but I used to and I would do the same procrastination thing with my workouts. What has worked for me is finding something I like to do. I love riding my bike, so I decided to ditch the boring elliptical trainer and ride my bike around the neighbourhood every day instead. I also bike to pick up groceries. (I don't have a car.) Riding with a bag of groceries on each handlebar is also a good balance exercise, ha ha! I also have exercise bands, Pilates equipment, an exercise ball, and yoga bands at home. I can work out while watching TV. (Yes, I know none of this technically involves a gym, sorry.)
ReplyAfter reading the comments, I realize how lucky we are at the Fitness Center I belong to. The owner had three centers prior to this one and he learned each time how to make the gym experience more attractive for the members. I've put the link on this blog before. The name is the Gainesville Health and Fitness Center for those who might want to see it. It's 65,000 square feet of the best work out equipement available! Of course, it's the members that make a club, but in this case we can't blame the gym if we fail!
ReplyGreat post Sylvia!
I have that same mental resistance to working out, at the home or the gym, and I never seem to get over it even though it's never the chore I imagine it's going to be!
I like your idea about laying out your clothes. I find that if I just concentrate on getting dressed and ready for exercise, as though that's all I need to do, the rest follows naturally. So I don't let myself think about why it is that I'm putting on my heart rate monitor and lacing up my shoes--it's a sort of "denial" that helps gets me started.
Why can't I ever learn that I don't hate working out all that much? It's been decades and I still dread it almost every time! But I'm always glad I've done it.
ReplyI do Bowflex at home but I use a lot of these tips to get my lazy carcass out of bed at 3:30 am to run. The best motivation is knowing that I will be glad I got up, and that I'm building a stronger body.
ReplyJust say to your self " I love to work-out" over and over untill your mind actually thinks that. It is an easy way to keep going to the gym.
ReplyI have been doing more workouts at home in the past few weeks, because my stupid gym cuts the class schedule drastically during the summer (which irritates the daylights out of me-I don't pay any less in the summer, but I get less service... but I digress) When I find classes I like a lot I am motivated to go, because they have a definite start time. When I'm going to do things on my own, I can put it off and put it off until its too late or something.
ReplyI used to work at a company that had a free gym on site for the employees. I LOVED it...I always kept gym clothes in the car and after work, I'd just grab my bag and go change and work out. For whatever reason, I was one of the only people that worked out there and I almost always had the place to myself. I think keeping my clothes handy was the best excuse beater for me...it wasn't like I had to drive really far to get there or anything.
ReplyMy anti-gym voice likes to tell me that working hard without getting paid for it is a waste of time. As if the health benefits aren't an adequate payment.
I'm just smart enough to come up with excuses for not going and just stupid enough to believe them. :P
ReplyI don't have cable at home, but our university gym does. So, being able to watch Scrubs makes running 7 miles on the elliptical that much more enjoyable and I actually look forward to going to the gym everyday.
ReplyEverything posted here is void, the only gym attitude you need is the one of this man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ziOhn-rD7Y
'Nuff said
Reply