Exercise - love it, but

MRSchultz

MRSchultz

Cathlete
I was just thinking this morning as I get myself all geared up to get back on the exercise and clean eating band wagon. Why is it that we LOVE the feeling after we exercise and the endorphins are flowing through our bodies at a rampid pace, but we always seem to find ways to not do it? As I sit hear getting my 1/2 marathon schedule out and Weight Watchers books to plan my routins and eating and I thought UGH! I have to do this, etc. - etc., but yet the other half of me is so darn excited about moving my body because of how it makes me feel, I don't understand it. Why don't I jump out of bed all ready to go each morning to get those feelings and endorphins pumping???? Ya know??? :)

Just a thought for the day!

Have a great one.

~Marcia~
 
Marcia...nothing more I can say except that I totally agree with you. Seems I am all geared up to do it then manage to talk myself out of it, especially lately. Had every intention of getting up this a.m. and working out...but...damn that snooze button. I'm right there with ya!x( :)
 
Interesting. I don't feel that way at all. I LOVE working out in all its forms and variations and look forward to it almost each and every day. Of course, there are some days when I'm tired, or whatever, but I would have to say that 95% of the time, I'm raring to go.:)
 
I know just how you feel, Marcia. The only difference between us is that I don't EVER recall feeling the effects of endorphins. Seriously. I would love to experience that rush of endorphines just once so I can understand what all the hype is about. :eek: ;(
 
I used to feel that way when I was exercising too much. Now that I am not as obsessed with it, I look forward to it. I have also been mixing it up a lot to keep in interesting. I know that If I did not workout I would not be able to function as a mother of three. I think that is what keeps me going.


Susan
 
I'm like Shelley. I love to exercise. If I don't exercise, I can be one of the biggest biatch around which is why I only take one day off a week. Since I've been doing P90X, I get excited and raring to go. I love the way I feel afterwards and I'm liking the way I look, too. It depends. Sometimes I work out too hard and much, I can't stand exercising but that is rare.

Lisa
 
Sometimes, especially if I'm tired or pressed for time, I have to get past a litte "mental game" in my head about just getting started. Once I'm started I usually fall right into sync. That's why I put up a big Nike poster in my workout room years ago with the "just do it" thing on it. Afterwards, I don't know if I actually feel the endorphin thing as much as I'm really happy with myself for just doing it!!!
 
I agree with Shelley. I love to exercise and look forward to it every day. I went through a bad period earlier this year with injuries and illness. I was so depressed that I couldn't workout. I couldn't watch anything on TV that showed someone doing any kind of exercise. I don't take exercise for granted anymore and feel blessed that I am able to move my body and be healthy.
 
I was just thinking the same thing. I tell myself just go for it. You know 100% when your done how good you'll feel and look. I like that idea about the sign though. I had a sign on kitchen (thanks to Oprah) and it worked that said: Kitchen closed after 7:30. Be back tomorrow morning. It really forced me to stop and think what I was putting in my mouth. Maybe you need to switch things up with your routine? I was getting bored and once I bought a couple new videos that was key for me.

Teresa
 
I'm with Shelley, Jane and Lisa on this one. Talking myself out of a workout isn't an option. I think it all comes down to making it a habit and having a positive attitude.

Instead of focusing on how challenging a workout is, focus on the wonderful things that come from the workout. You feel better, you look better, your one day closer to your goal, you have that "fit" feeling all day, your overall health is improved, and your that much closer to making your workouts a habit that you cannot live without.

During the workout, welcome the burn and the challenge. When you feel it, know that you are that much closer to achieving all the things I just mentioned...and without the burn and challenge...well, not so much!

Think of it this way...you don't talk yourself out of brushing your teeth, do you? If your an a.m. exerciser, don't allow yourself to brush until you are done with your workout!

You can only talk yourself out of working out if you allow yourself to. If you go into it knowing you can be convinced of doing less or nothing, then you will do nothing. Make yourself a deal...do 10 minutes and if you still want to quit, the quit. But you have to do at least 10 minutes. Odds are, you will feel so much better, you won't want to quit.
 
It's funny, I ask myself this question every time I work out on a work day. I think to myself...why is it that I feel SO good after a good workout and have so much more energy during the day and yet...yet, I STILL try to talk myself out of it in the morning and keep hitting that snooze button?! For me, the first 10 minutes in the morning is the hardest. If I can get past that 10 minute hurdle, I am good to go. Other than that, I am inclined to stay in bed and get an extra hour of sleep. It's a constant battle. However, I do not have this problem on the weekend when I can still sleep in - I just get up when I feel like it, eat some breakfast, then do my workout. It's sooooo nice. :)
 
I too love to workout. I get up at 4:00 and am ready to go. It is just my daily routine. I really don't think that much about it, it's just part of my day. Like Sarah said, it is a habit. I do have the occasional morning where I really don't want to get out of bed and know that if I tried to talk myself out of it I probably could. So, instead of giving myself the chance, I get up and get dressed and tell myself that I will do "the first part" and if I still don't feel like working out I can stop. By the time I get going and get into it I no longer have the desire to stop. Now I am all about pushing myself and challenging myself. I like to see how far I can push myself to work harder than I did the last time I did the workout. It's kind of like a competition with myself. The way I feel after my workouts is wonderful. I actually don't enjoy my days off because I feel drained and yucky. I am a firm believer that exercise is addicting. I'm just glad that if I have an addiction it's that.

Another thing that helps me is to get out all my workout equipment the night before. I know that I will feel like crap if I end up having to put all the equipment away again without doing the workout it was taken out for.

Katie
 
My attitude really changed about it when I told myself that I don't have to do a killer workout every day. I do not need to do IMax II and III every single week. Some days I feel like just doing the step part from C&W and then Yoga Booty Ballet. The step part from SJ&P is another really fun one. And RS of course. Maybe you are pushing yourself too hard. Just a thought. Ask yourself: what workouts are fun and make you smile? Feel like dancing? Make sure that you do those once in a while.

ETA: Hey Marcia, fellow charter member. Don't see us too often since Cathe got on Fit TV.
 
To me it all has to do with burn out. I need to adjust my workouts, so that I am still excited. It's difficult though, because I have an injury and have to make adjustments for that as well. I've had to accept that I can no longer run, never, ever, ever. I love it so it's sad for me. But, I need to explore other things! Also, I think it's important to take a week off every year, and a day off every week, this just gives your body and mind a break. New videos, swim, bike, vary the schedule.
Heather
 
I do love the feeling of exercising, but I agree w/ others in terms of burnout. I think if you overdo it, especially pushing through extreme tiredness or soreness, it is hard to get excited about your workout. I think a good rest will renew your excitement to get those endorphins pumping. I do love my workouts, though. My son is in the babysitting room playing his heart out and it is MY time to feel good & just let loose :)


Live with sincerity, love with passion, and dance like you mean it.

Debbie
 
I was actually just thinking about this last night!

Over the years, I have noticed that I go through phases with exercise & I now see enough of a pattern that I can attribute it to burn out. At times, I am rarin' to go and nothing is getting in the way of my workout. I look forward to it and its a great part of my day. Other times, I have to draaaaaaaaaaag myself to the living room and even there, I can sometimes convince myself that I can skip the workout b/c "tomorrow is another day." I might feel guilty but I still don't do it or I get a lesser workoyt.

When I look back on the times that I really dread exercise for a prolonged period (a couple weeks or more), I see that just before it, I was pushing really hard. For me, that might be the reason that I come upon that frame of mind. So, these days, when I really feel that dread, I make it a point to get my workouts in, but maybe take am extra day off or two and let myself get a little rest. It seems to have worked for me so that's my theory!
 
Good thread.

I have a tough time being motivated to exercise when I have so many other things competing for my time: doing my research, taking care of the household, keeping the kids amused or getting them where they need to go, having some sort of personal social life, *sleeping*! Then, I essentially resent the time it takes to exercise, but I don't dislike the exercise itself. It's just hard to fit everything in.

Sandra
 
I love it too but there are those days when it's hard to get going. I used to feel I had to exercise early or not at all. Now I will do it even late in the day if that's the way it fits in and I like that. I do know if I blow it off, I have to deal with bad feelings I won't have if I don't blow it off so I rarely allow myself to take a planned day off. But I also rework things if doing it differently will suit me better. I finally started running again on Monday. My 5 miler gave me sore quads and hams so I opted to do Slow and Heavy Bis and Tris instead of Legs an Shoulders. I am doing Chest and Back today to give my legs a little more time though the soreness has diminished greatly. I have a beautiful planner and months of workouts and rotations planned but they are not written in stone and I adapt them weekly to suit me. It works nicely. I have open ended rest days to and do a rest day as needed so they vary. Sometimes I need many and sometimes few. I have found consistancy makes me very happy and fit and even if I need to back off, I try not to stop altogether so I don't lose my strength and endurance gains and feel miserable because of it. It's a priority. That's for sure. I have a rule that if I really feel like I don't want to do it, I have to at least get started, a warm up and at least ten minutes of cardio and strength. Most often that leads to a good workout. It may be a little shorter but that works sometimes. Whenever I feel the need to give it a little less, I usually will soon be feeling the need to give it more and overall I strive to balance it out. It varies in that way but it is a constant overall. It makes me feel good about myself. I find it hard to give that up but I do cycle in and out of being very enthusiastic and always ready to having to just do it and wait to be entusiastic again. :)
Bobbi "Chicks rule!"http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-032.gif
Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/linie/smiley-linie-008.gif
 
I'm much better off if I exercise first thing after I've sat on the couch for an hour waking up, coffee cup in hand - then nothing can get in the way.

"You can't win them all - but you can try." - Babe Zaharias ;-)
 
I love to work out. Don't love to eat right, but I work at that.

Today I got affirmation to keep going. A woman I have not seen since I was in my early 30's(now almost 45) saw me today and did not recognize me. This is someone I used to work quite closely with. I told her who I was and she gasped and said, you look great, not only great, but better than you ever have!

So all those work-outs and that monitoring of what I eat must be showing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top