<p>Does anybody work out reguarly? I'm trying to. The thing is, I feel really good after I work out. I actually feel more energized (when I do cardio), I'm a bit more relaxed, and I sleep better too. The problem is, I just can't motivate myself to keep at it. Anybody else have this problem?</p>
<p>I had that problem up until kind of recently and I've started working out consistently. There's really no trick to it (for me anyway) other than to just force yourself to do it out of willpower and the hopes of a better body!</p>
<p>I've tried, but I can't get myself into a gym to lift weights or anything. </p>
<p>I run regularly. It takes less willpower than rolling out of bed for school, so. After I run I try to get in some stuff like crunches and pushups just outside on the grass. Sometimes I don't have the motivation to do that, but it's definitely better than nothing. Anyway, I can get more energized about going outside and going for a quick jog than doing stuff on the treadmill or being serious about weight training. Maybe that would work better for you, too. If you're a girl this kinda routine is fine, but for guys who want like jacked arms and **** maybe not.</p>
<p>Get urself ONE buddy who works out with you.</p>
<p>This has several advantages:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>He will force you into the gym because he needs someone to help him with the weights if you don't wanna go, but he - and the other way round.</p></li>
<li><p>He will push you and you will push him. Be careful though - in the "competition" you might not do the stuff correctly but unconciously cheat to achieve higher weights and "beat" him. Don't !</p></li>
<li><p>If this happens, your buddy will remind you of the correct form!</p></li>
<li><p>It's a lot more fun - you hear the latest stuff and so does he.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It has a disadvantage though: If anything happens (be it that he has less time or your frindship breaks up) you are certainly discouraged and stop working out (both has happened to me).</p>
<p>The problem with working out is that you don't see much of a success for a lot of time (I've never tried them, but don't use Creatin or steroids or something similiar) and thus it lacks direct satisfaction.</p>
<p>Start slowly with a lot of repetitions (you will be able to see the advancement sooner). To really build muscles, you need to work out at least 3 times a week - it's a good idea to start one or two weeks before a break and go 5 times a week in the break. As soon as you have surpassed a certain hurdle, it's much easier and hurts much less.</p>
<p>Another tip is, to look for definition rather than pure mass. I've restarted recently and within 4 weeks I have reached ~ the same weights I pulled half a year ago (after half a year of training). I wouldn't say I have the same muscles, but I have the same power.</p>
<p>It's true, it provides you with a lot of energy (not necessarily after the training, but in times you need it, e.g. exams week. Don't let yourself blend with perfect bodies you see in catalogues or even in your gym. Not everyone has the DNA to get one of these sixpacks.</p>
<p>I myself have powerful stomach muscles, but it rather looks like a plate than an actual sixpack. Look at Daniel Craig in Casino Royale - the guy is perfectly trained, though he does not have a sixpack.</p>
<p>But all this leads away from the topic. Yes, it needs a certain willpower but together with a buddy, you will manage !</p>
<p>i read from sport illustrated that uva has the nicest work out facility in the nation.</p>
<p>Stupid UVA...think they're so bad with their state-of-the-art gym...I'll GYM THEM!</p>
<p>I am the last person you would expect to work out. I was always the slowest, the worst at PE. I ran a 13 minute mile. Then I realized that I would remain hopelessly out of shape unless I did something about it. So I started running for a half hour every day. I just vowed to myself that it would be a habit. Now I HAVE to run every day (except now it's usually an hour, or more if possible). If you make it a habit you will feel terrible missing out.
So yeah, Goldshadow said it best. Sometimes I have to literally push myself out of my chair to go work out. But you just can't put it off or skip for a day. And usually, about 5 minutes into my workout, I feel really glad that I pushed myself to work out that day.</p>
<p>I second David about the workout buddy thing. Willpower doesn't cut it for most folks (and seems like it's not working out too great for you either). You need someone other than yourself to make you feel guilty about being lazy.</p>
<p>Or you could just turn working out out into something fun like basketball, tennis or soccer. For basketball and tennis you'd only really need one buddy or you can just walk up to a group playing basketball in the gym and ask to join...soccer might be more difficult to swing unless people play it regularly in your area. </p>
<p>But yeah, playing a sport is much more fun than running on a treadmill.</p>
<p>I'm terrible at sports, and I'm really self-conscious when exercising (those 2 things are probably related) so I wouldn't do well with a workout buddy (would be too busy being embarrassed or self-conscious), or on a sports team (hated sports growing up). So I love treadmills and elliptical machines, even if they are a bit dull. Maybe runners are just solitary people--to me nothing beats running alone on a beautiful quiet trail. An exercise machine with classical music in my headphones is good for me too :)</p>
<p>I go to the gym everyday for about 2 hours everyday. Just bring your iPod, pack some good cardio music in it, wear comfortable gym clothes, and let go! Once you start the treadmill or stairmaster with your music, believe me, time flies. I don't know if your gym has TVs inside, but that helps.</p>
<p>Bringing a friend might do the trick for a little while, but in college, everyone operates on their own schedule. If you want to be perpetually inspired to work out and be healthy, my advice is to change your outlook on fitness, nutrition, and overall health. You have to understand that everything you put into your body has to have a purpose. The occasional chocolate bar isn't going to kill you, but it's important for you to eat healthy if you want have more energy to do things. As far as working out, looking in the mirror does the trick for me. If you feel that a certain aspect of your body is not quite where you want it to be, work hard to change that. Tell yourself that working out is fun: shoot some hoops, play some football, or swim. After running on the treadmill for half an hour, "reward" your body with stretching and breathing exercises. For me, personally, in lieu of all the physical and health changes, that's been my biggest accomplishment: the realization that I'm in a healthier mindset and that I'm living a healthier lifestyle.</p>
<p>Yeah working out has really helped me realize the value of each thing I eat or do. New perspective. Amazing how it changes you</p>
<p>As a student athlete, I realize that my working out is mandated, but working out with friends in addition to my training has shown me the following (all depending on what you are seeking):</p>
<p>1.If you have a Nano, you SHOULD buy a Nike+ kit and a pouch for your presumably non Nike+ shoe. The system calculates your mileage, pace, duration and calories burned and then stores them for you on your Nike+ homepage, allowing for you to see great chart logs, trend sheets and run breakdowns by day/week/month. It really motivates you to work because you know EXACTLY how much you've done and where you need to be. You can even set goals or get a training log or join a challenge for further motivation. A great motivational tool.</p>
<p>2.Get a workout buddy (like everyone else has said). Go with someone who is more fit than you are (not ridiculously so, though) so at least one of you CANNOT back out of the workout from reasons due to lethargy or disinclination.</p>
<p>3.Realize that the immediate energy gains and physiological changes effected by this cardio, you will find yourself wanting to eat more balanced, healthier meals. You won't want to mess up your improvements.</p>
<p>4.Do NOT focus on speed when running. Jog and just try to log miles for at least the first four weeks. Try to get about 25-30 miles a week (both walking/jogging if necessary). </p>
<p>5.Every alternating day of the week do an extended stretching session coupled with 15 minutes of ab work. You need a strong core as you keep your cardio sessions going.</p>
<p>6.If you are UNABLE to purchase the Nike+ kit, CHART YOUR WORKOUTS. You will feel more accountable and motivated to get out of your room and move. </p>
<p>7.If you don't have an mp3 player (this one works by experience from days when I trained in the summer), listen to a GREAT pump up song before heading out and whenever you feel slightly tired, get that song running through your head while on your run.</p>
<p>Hope these help. My personal strategy? Visualize your goal. When we're training 800 with 400 negative splits, I make sure to visualize myself seeing a 1:52 on the clock when I cross the line in a race. Get yourself pumped up with jolts of adrenaline</p>
<p>Everything has pretty much been covered. Also, don't think about working out "just do it" the more you think about it the more excuses you make.</p>
<p>
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Bringing a friend might do the trick for a little while, but in college, everyone operates on their own schedule. If you want to be perpetually inspired to work out and be healthy, my advice is to change your outlook on fitness, nutrition, and overall health.
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</p>
<p>This is true.</p>
<p>I used to work out senior year. I used to care about my health. Now I eat at Burger King like 5 days of the week.</p>
<p>Damn you, on-campus Burger King!</p>
<p>Creatine isn't close to a steroid.. It's naturally found in red meats, etc. So, if you really wanted to, instead of taking creatine, you could just eat a ****load of meat and theoretically get the same benefits.</p>
<p>Red meat is also like...one of the worst foods you can eat <em>not a vegetarian</em></p>
<p>
[quote]
I am the last person you would expect to work out. I was always the slowest, the worst at PE. I ran a 13 minute mile. Then I realized that I would remain hopelessly out of shape unless I did something about it.
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<p>That's pretty much why I decided I should start running...except that I haven't gotten as far as the 'do it consistently' part yet. I really hate working out in the presence of other people who are also working out, which is why I could never have a running buddy and why the only time I've ever been in the gym was on the campus tour. So I try to run outside, but the problem there is that you're at the mercy of the weather. It's been too cold for months. :(</p>