What keeps you motivated?

[Scout200]

Keeping up the habit of working out every day is tough for most of us. What are some ways you keep yourself motivated to hit the gym on your off-days?

-Scout

[curiouslyrandom]

Not having "off days", for a start. I go when I go, and hope there are cute single guys in my yoga class or on the climbing wall.

[Lifeisamazing]

Perhaps you get ideas from our recent thread: What motivates you?

- Good workout music.
- Clear goals of where you want to end up.
- Pictures and videos of what you want to look like.
- A training partner to go with.
- Social support - people who you are accountable to.
- Making working out as enjoyable as possible.
- Making it a habit to go (first you just need to discipline yourself to go whether you want or not).

[Dimond]

The spiritual benefits are my main motivation. I love exercise, yet it can still be challenging to do despite that. Really the most important thing to do is find different ways to keep it fun and interesting for you, rather than do what you're "suppose" to do. Changing around what you do according to your mood can help. Using a variety of music. Find a workout buddy and encourage each other. Use videos. Many, many options. Going to a gym would never work for me so I don't force myself to do something I don't want to do. When it's done as a solo activity, that's when it can become more spiritual. Though sometimes it can in a group setting where talking is limited.

[alekseykravtsun]

My motivation is:

1. Reading and listening motivation materials including from Steve's site
2. Planning and visualization of future
3. Prediction of future (may be sounds strange but it is)
4. Achieving results, even little 10 minutes tasks completed in time gives own porsion of motivation

[livelove18]

My motivation for working out is mainly the feeling I get from working out. I always feel great after a solid workout. My mind is at ease, I think clearer, and I don't feel as stressed out mentally or physically.

[gloci]

Progress...

[secrets0stolen]

Just knowing that if I actually want something I have to go out and get it, no shortcuts.

[Ikkyo]

Originally Posted by Scout200

Keeping up the habit of working out every day is tough for most of us. What are some ways you keep yourself motivated to hit the gym on your off-days?

-Scout

I quit going to the gym and started doing martial arts and now I don't need motivation, on the contrary try to stop me from going

[aelle]

The fact that if I don't take him for a run before 8 am, my dog will **** on the floor. And his bowels don't understand the concept of weekends.

[DavidPro]

Yeah, it's so true... there's no need to think about how to get motivated for something you love to do.

David

Do Yoga With Me | Free Online Yoga Pose and Class Videos
Pure Yoga Online. Absolutely Free.

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by DavidPro

Yeah, it's so true... there's no need to think about how to get motivated for something you love to do.

David

Do Yoga With Me | Free Online Yoga Pose and Class Videos
Pure Yoga Online. Absolutely Free.

Yes, you do. There are days when you don't even feel like doing the things you usually enjoy the most.

[sandy]

I ask myself, "What else I would like to do if i don't do 'this'?" and if I don't come up with better options then I just go do that thing "I don't feel like to do but seems great if I do"

[Critical]

After watching "Ronnie Coleman - The Unbelievable" he is probably my biggest motivation at this point. I feel like if he can achieve such brutally intense results, then I can too, seeing as how were both human.

Also looking at my body in the mirror (perfectly normal) is great motivation because I see with my own eyes the hard work I'm putting out is working towards me and isn't being wasted.

Hope that will help some. Also if you're into bodybuilding I strongly suggest the video I mentioned above.

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by Critical

After watching "Ronnie Coleman - The Unbelievable" he is probably my biggest motivation at this point. I feel like if he can achieve such brutally intense results, then I can too, seeing as how were both human.

Also looking at my body in the mirror (perfectly normal) is great motivation because I see with my own eyes the hard work I'm putting out is working towards me and isn't being wasted.

Hope that will help some. Also if you're into bodybuilding I strongly suggest the video I mentioned above.

Not to ruin your source of motivation but Ronnie Coleman isn't natural, you know... And unless you use some substances yourself, it's unlikely you can get that big. Besides, why would you want that?

[WarrenG]

Same as Gloci - progress. If I look in the mirror and see an improvement, I immediately want to go to the gym to build on it. And if I have a good run where my poundages are going up each week, I'll want to keep going or else I lose them.

[Critical]

Originally Posted by Lifeisamazing

Not to ruin your source of motivation but Ronnie Coleman isn't natural, you know... And unless you use some substances yourself, it's unlikely you can get that big. Besides, why would you want that?

Lets be real here.. this is like someone saying how awesome Stephen Hawking is and then someone comes along and says "the only reason hes like that is because hes disabled and is forced to sit and think all day, any of us could do that". And you cant just redirect someones greatness to something so minor like that. Ronnie Coleman is unique and no one on this planet is on his level. Even the people that do take steroids and growth hormones excessively still find it extremely difficult to even get close to Ronnie.

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by Critical

Lets be real here.. this is like someone saying how awesome Stephen Hawking is and then someone comes along and says "the only reason hes like that is because hes disabled and is forced to sit and think all day, any of us could do that". And you cant just redirect someones greatness to something so minor like that. Ronnie Coleman is unique and no one on this planet is on his level. Even the people that do take steroids and growth hormones excessively still find it extremely difficult to even get close to Ronnie.

Yeah, you're absolutely true. He's also very dedicated and a hard worker. Still doesn't change the fact that he uses illegal substances and isn't naturally as big as he is.

I'm just saying that unless you're planning to use steroids (which probably means reducing your life time), you probably can't get that big.

I'd strongly disagree with you on no one on this planet is on his level. Every person who doesn't take drugs is above him.

[Lifeisamazing]

Living with a purpose ? Why are you training? | TheMuscleCook.com – nutrition, cooking and dieting for Bodybuilding and Fitness

This article deserves its own thread and discussion but I'll just post it here since it is relevant.

I especially like this part:
Having an attractive body isn’t even as much about getting noticed as it’s about being confident in yourself.

Being confident is a pretty good incentive, isn't it?

[Scout200]

Originally Posted by aelle

The fact that if I don't take him for a run before 8 am, my dog will **** on the floor. And his bowels don't understand the concept of weekends.

Ha ha!! That is fantastic!! LOL