Losing motivation

L

lesliemarie

Cathlete
I am supposed to be working out, I have been so good with it and feeling so much better, but the last week have been so bad, I have fallen into some kind of the Blues and can't seem to shake it, I don't have any support when I exercise, My mother in law won't talk to me anymore because she thinks I should be sitting here and letting the Illness take controll of me and when I said I want controll she hung up on me:-( so for the past few days I have not been able to do a workout, how do I get myself out of these blues? and get re-motivated?
 
Hi, Leslie!
We all go through periods when our motivation is lacking. I find that the longer I let myself go without exercising, the harder it is to get back into it. Rather than doing no exercise, why not take this as a time to explore some fun workouts? Maybe something like "Zumba" which is a workout based on latin dances (it's kind of cheesy--ie: bright outfits and many of the songs have "Beto", the instructor, or "Zumba" in the lyrics--but that can add to the fun factor; you can't really take it too seriously).

Remember that YOU are in control (or you ARE in control!). No one can make you exercise, or give you the motivation if YOU don't take the steps. So why not do something today? How about a 30-minute workout? Or a 30 minute walk? Or putting on your favorite kind of music and dancing around like a wild woman for 30 minutes? This could help to get you moving again. Then tomorrow, you can do something else. Take it one day at a time, but challenge yourself to work out a certain number of days this week, or a certain total amount of time over the week.
 
One thing I do when I have NO motivation to workout and have the "blues" is to workout outside during the day. Take a walk in the morning and get some sunlight - research shows that sunlight releases chemicals in the body that elevates your mood. This is especially a problem for me during the winter when I don't get enough sun. If you want to do something besides just walking outside, do a fun interval or bootcamp style workout outside. Here is an example of a workout I do on days I don't feel like staying inside.

- Warm up for 5 min.
- Interval (jog, sprint, walk - 1 or 2 min each)
- push ups 1 min
- high knees 1 min
- walking lunges 1 min
- intervals
- plies

you get the idea...just make it up as you go along.

But then again I live in Northern CA where it is nice and sunny outside right now, so it always makes me feel better to be outside.
 
Hi Leslie,

In the biceps section of the PS Series, Cathe says: "Control the weight. Don't let the weight jerk you around." I have taken that idea and applied it to everything else related to my fitness quest. That includes unsupportive people who think that exercise is an indulgence or a luxury to which you have no right. When I encounter people like that, I go on and exercise ANYWAY. You just can't allow that kind of negativity to steal the good you have put into your life.

You are in control of your body. Right now you refuse to let your illness control you. You go girl! So keep your control over your workouts -- what kind, when you do them, for how long, how much rest between sets and afterwards, etc. You know what your body needs and in what doses.

During my blah periods, I usually take my son for an hour-long walk around the neighborhood. He pedals on his tricycle and I walk behind him. It's a great way to work out without feeling like I'm working out, and I get to bond with my baby at the same time. Sometimes I pop a Cathe DVD into the player and WATCH her workout, even though I'm familiar with the routine and don't need to learn it. Pretty soon, I'm moving with her. And of course, I visit this forum. All this talk about progress makes me want to have some!:) And if this doesn't work, go out and watch a movie, take your kids to a fun place, have dinner with your friends. Surround yourself with people who care Do something to keep your mind off the blues. Because the more you think of the blues, the bluer you become. Hang in there...


Pinky
 
Leslie,

We all go through periods of not wanting to work out. I've been in that slump for 4 months. Ok, it wasn't just a slump. There were things going on that I had no control over & I made the conscious decision not to work out. I felt like crap about it. When I was finally in a position to be able to start back again, I didn't want to. I just didn't want to. I just didn't want to. Get it? I know what is good for me & my body & I just didn't care.

I am finally back on the wagon again -- for a whole week now, woohoo. How did I dig myself out of this pit? 15 minutes. I committed in my heart that I would do 15 minutes of any tape. If after 15 minutes I still didn't want to work out I gave myself permission to quit. You know what has happened? I have finished the tape EVERY SINGLE TIME. I've worked out 4 nights in the last 6! Tonight will be # 5!

Don't be too hard on yourself & give yourself 15 minutes.

I don't know what "illness" you are referring to but I wanted to tell you as a side note--you may not have control of the illness but you don't have to let the illness control the rest of your life. Take that control back & SCREW THE NAY SAYERS! (no offense to your mother-in-law)

I hope you feel like working out again soon.
 
I don't know to what "illness" you're referring, but at the risk of offending someone ... don't listen to your MIL!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, the women on my mother's side of the family are not truly happy unless they are inflicting guilt, shame, or misery on themselves, and everyone else around them. Anyone who thinks you should sit around and let something consume you, instead of grabbing it by the horns and taking control over it instead, should be locked up. Sorry ... but I have had attitude like that shoved in my face my entire life, and I fight it every day. I applaud you for wanting to take control of whatever is bringing you down!! If your MIL hung up on you ... well, maybe that's good for now!!

At the risk of being overly nosy, do you suffer from clinical depression? If you do, there are things that can help you. Exercise is one of them, but of course if you feel you can't workout right now, you might need another type of help. Do you take any meds? Has there been a huge change in your life recently? Are you experiencing some sort of stress or trauma right now? You might want to see your physician, or a mental health professional. Especially if these symptoms you're describing have been going on for two weeks or more.

Whatever it is, may I kindly suggest not talking to your MIL about it right now? She doesn't sound at all supportive, and it might be she simply doesn't know how to be, but right now you need someone who is, and someone who can help you.

I wish you the best of luck, and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Carol
 
I know I should not listen to her and she has gotten over our arguments before but this time I can not let her win this one. it is my health at risk, I have fibromyalgia and scoliosis in my back. I don't have any type of depression it is the upcomming Holidays I think is getting to me and also that little thing called PMS LOL if only we didn't have that to deal with. I am really a pretty happy person, I love to meet people and have a great laugh and also I love to make people laugh also. Also I have to mention I was in a wheel chair this same time last year and I have worked my way to walking and working out real great!! I can now make it through Imax2!!! and I must say I am sooo proud of myself for coming this far!!! Sorry for dumping my mother in law troubles.
 
Leslie, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your no motivation thing. I am there too. I have no idea why I don't want to workout, but I just don't seem to right now. Then when I don't I get down on myself and it makes it even worse. So, I'm very glad to see that there are more of us out there that from time to time just don't have the motivation. If you ever need more motivation you can always come here and post, seems like all these ladies here would love to give the extra motivation that we all need from time to time!
Fitness Godess, You where the first person that replied back to me and ever since then I have looked up to you and lately I've wondered where you were. I'm honestly glad to hear that you are human, actually that all of the ladied that replied are. Sometimes I wonder. ;-)
Like I said I am too going through a slump, it's so bad that last week I too broke out the Zumba DVd's that I have never tried, and counted one of my exercise days with the training vid! I felt like at least I moved, so I can count it. YIKES! Ha, ha!
I will eventually get over it, but I think that I will use Fitness Godesses advice and promise to do at least 15 minutes of something, that was sound advice!

kathy
 
Leslie,

What a great thread. I've been experiencing the same sort of thing...lack of motivation.

Thanks to the ladies for the encouragement offered to Leslie. It's helped me as well.

Sue<>< :)
 
Thank you all for helping me and the encouragment!! It is so good to know I can come here for great support!! I am going to get back into the swing of it again, I have to use the same method I did when a pedophile went after my son. I used Cathe's tapes and pictured the creeps face and pretended to hit it LOL. So I am going to do the same thing with the blues work them away LOL.
 
Leslie, you have nothing to apologize for. If you ever want to talk, please feel free to email me privately. I hope I didn't offend you asking medical questions. You sound like a very strong and determined person, and I hear you when you say your health is at risk. Remember that, and try not to let her get to you! You are not responsible for what she says or does. Only she is responsible for that, but some people just don't get that. Perhaps she's intimidated by your strength? My mother was like that with me. She wanted to keep me under her control, even when I was all grown up with a husband and child. She wouldn't speak to me if I didn't do the things she thought I should do. I finally had to realize she has the choice to behave this way, but I also have a choice not to let it affect me. Does that make sense? You have to do what is best for you, and your body, and no one knows that better than you do. You're the one who lives in that body everyday. I know it's difficult when they're family - they're more difficult to ignore - but there are times when you simply have to put some distance between you and them, if only until you have time to sort things through and get a fresh perspective on it. Like I said, if you ever want to talk, please email me! Hang in there!!

Carol
:)
 
Hi. I just want you to know you aren't alone in how you feel. Last year I lost 22 lbs, and was so into working out I couldn't live without it. I was feeling healthy, sexy, successful, and on top of the world. January of last year I was totally devastated when my husband admitted to a year long drug addiction with Morphine. We are both RNs, and worked at the same facility, and I had no idea. Not only was I hurt and felt betrayed by my lover, best friend, confidant, etc. but I felt like a fool!!!! We have 4 teens, so already had some stress from that. To make a long story short, I became so depressed I couldn't sleep and could hardly function each day. I got on an antidepressant and sleeping pill. My husband has been in recovery for almost a year now. He is still a great nurse, and working. Our marriage is stronger than ever, and we've both learned more about ourselves. Yeah! But- I put on almost all the weight I lost, and have not kept up a regular exercise schedule. Now that the personal/emotional side of my life is better, I am trying (once again) to lose the weight and get back to working out regularly. I am 6 days now "anti-depressant" free and doing well. I can hardly wait to get the new DVDs and am in the meantime doing my older Cathe's and other workouts.

Sometimes when life gets unbearable it's easy to lose motivation. You are literally trying to maintain your sanity. Hopefully, as you work through things, whatever they may be, you can once again gain the motivation to go ahead with fitness goals. I haven't posted on this forum for, probably, a year... but I still read the forums and feel that I'm not alone, in anything. Don't be too hard on yourself. I am searching for my "old" motivation, again, and hoping to find it soon. There are such wonderful people on this forum. They have given me strength and hope at times when nobody knew that but me.

This is this first time I've mentioned any of this on the forum, but your expression of how you are feeling lately, touched a chord in my own heart and mind.

Here's to more motivation in the next few months!!!
Lynn
 
I wanted to mention too that with the recent fall back of the time, my attitude really STINKS now that it's getting darker sooner. I'm sure many of us are also affected by things like this. A previous poster mentioned working out outside in the sun and I couldn't agree more.

But it is hard when the sun goes away so quickly, isn't it?

Susan G.
 
>But it is hard when the sun goes away so quickly, isn't it?
>
>Susan G.

I hate going out after work and it's already starting to get dark. Around here, in just a few weeks, it's going to be dark when I leave for work, and dark when I get out of work, so no sun to be seen some days!
 
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