What motivates you to exercise?

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   fit2dayposted 13 years ago

   I hear many people talk about wanting to exercise, get in shape, etc, but many of them talk about something they have no motivation to do.
   
   What motivates you to exercise, what discourages you?

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      bgamallposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Diabetes. If I want to feel better, take no medicine and sometimes make a mistake eating, I have no choice. I have to exercise.

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         dan2003posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, you are right. I have diabetes, too and I have to practice at least 30 minutes a day. I bought a treadmill and I continuously walk on it every day.

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      Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have small dog who needs the exercise almost as much as I do. She is a 'house dog' and  though we have a couple of acres in a rural neighborhood, we do not have a fenced yard.
      
      We go down to open the chicken nest box, and again to collect the eggs. We go down to the garden to plant,  weed, or harvest vegetables. We walk down to the creek to check on the tadpoles.
      Also our rural mailbox is 540 steps from our front door, so that is another walk for me-- sometimes twice a day if I have outgoing mail. Most of it is up and downhill.Other chores around the property give us exercise-- otherwise I would be a computer-linked couch potato.

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      sassyk73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My big gut motivates me. Lol...I am discouraged because I am lazy
      
      With all jokes aside, I need to because of diabetes and high blood pressure. The doctor told me that it is imperative that I start.

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      sarovaiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To feel energtic throughout the day.

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      lostwithinmyselfposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Putting so much weight on that i freak out then i get so motivated lol. Then once i have lost it all i pile it all back on again!! viscous cycle lol  x

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      sholland10posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Wearing a pedometer.  It helps me compete with myself.  I love to turn exercise into play, so the Wii Fit is a lot of fun.  I even wrote a hub about this.  Drink lots of water and figure out a way to have fun with exercise.

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      LeslieAdrienneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Looking in my full length mirror. No matter which way I turn, I see motivation.

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      Debby Bruckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Now that you mention it, I better go out for a walk. I think having a reminder, a partner, and a personal reason to move your body. To each his or her own.

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      Subdomain momposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I consider exercising when clothes get too tight to wear. I also feel the motivation when I have a function to attend. So seeing as fuctions do not turn up very often, neither does my willpower for exercise.

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       Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       When I was younger, I worked out so I could touch my toes...
       
       now I do it so I will one day be able to see them

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   TLMinutposted 13 years ago

   For me it's kind of like for Rochelle - things that need to be done. I love to work but don't do exercise without the goal of getting something accomplished. I stretch and play with a dumbbell sometimes, walk and pace, but the real exercise is working. I have always loved jobs where I am in constant motion, preferably lifting, carrying, things like that.

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   wildernessposted 13 years ago

   The bear coming up fast from the rear. 
   
   Other than that, not much.  My job typically gives me all the exercise I can handle.  Maybe not all I need, but all I can handle.

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   Hawk Fitnessposted 13 years ago

   Its funny your last sentence asked what motivates you to exercise, what discourages you? What's motivated me for 10 years are the things that discourage me. Living in Nashville and dealing with musicians that are cocky as hell and wonder who you are as I sit at hard rock downtown its easy to use discouraging feelings.

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   Danette Wattposted 13 years ago

   I started seriously working out about the time I hit 50 (was off/on before that and am now coming up to 55). What motivated me was the desire to get strong and stay strong. I was observing my in-laws as they aged (not gracefully, I can tell you). My motivation is still to be strong but I also am enjoying the benefits of a toned body.

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   Woman Of Courageposted 13 years ago

   I love taking care of myself. When I think about exercising is important to my overall health, I am motivated. Exercising is a regular part of my routine.

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   klarawieckposted 13 years ago

   I feel like I can take really good care of myself when my stress level at work is in check. The minute it goes haywire I lose my focus and my "survival mode" sets in. That only allows me to wake up every morning, show up to work, eat, and do other necessities that human beings must. That's it in a nutshell.

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   Danette Wattposted 13 years ago

   yes, working out is definitely a great stress reducer. and for me, it keeps my depression in check, keeps the "happy hormones" flowing

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   thejeffriestubeposted 13 years ago

   Preventing a heart attack is what motivates me.

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    donotfearposted 13 years ago

    What motivates me to exercise?
    
    
    
    My gut instinct tells me to.

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    yogaexpertsonlineposted 13 years ago

    It's really a great question to ask as well know that we have that motivation to keep yourself in shape and healthy. But may be I think sometimes motivation comes when we see our-self in mirror.

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    earnestshubposted 13 years ago

    I don't work out, I work. I find plenty to do in a day to keep me in shape.

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       yogaexpertsonlineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       That's really a good idea in itself As working is also a kind of Yoga. Known as karma yoga

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    gracenotesposted 13 years ago

    Having two dogs who need walking is part of what motivates me daily.
    
    Also, if it weren't so hot in Texas, I'd be doing more in the garden, which involves a lot of walking, bending, and stooping.
    
    I haven't worried about strength conditioning -- yet.  I have osteopenia, though, and my mom, age 91, has osteoporosis.
    
    When I can, I will purchase a rebounder, because my doctor says jumping on a trampoline is great for increasing bone mass.

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       Hawk Fitnessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       That's great gracenotes. My great grandmother lived to be 99, she walked a mile everyday, took a multivitamin, and changed her pillow case every morning.

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    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    I do not have a car - that motivates me every day...

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15. 68

    happypuppyposted 13 years ago

    A healthier body.  What discourages me to exercise?  Hmmm...never asked myself this question.  I guess I'm lazy sometimes.

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    Sherlock221bposted 13 years ago

    I usually go for an hour's walk a day.  My motivation is that I am normally stressed, and a walk helps to clear my head.  Also, I enjoy walking through the fields and watching the rabbits and the fish in the brook.

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    mcgreg28posted 13 years ago

    My health

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    Writerly Yoursposted 13 years ago

    After dropping 60 pounds since 2005 and working on 20 more, the thought of putting those hard worked 60 pounds back on is motivation enough for me to get up and move.
    
    In addition, seeing my mom have a brain aneurysm in '08 and survive it keeps me motivated to move more. As well as cancer survivors running with me last year at a 5k race for cancer research.
    
    The fact that that i should be grateful for the ability to move freely while those that can not push themselves to do it motivates me the most.
    
    KIM-keep it moving!

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    Jenna Popeposted 13 years ago

    For me, it's seeing my weight balloon. When I exercise, I burn calories faster. I have lost 30 pounds over the past two years and don't want the weight to creep back on.

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    sober_insanityposted 13 years ago

    being tired is a big problem for me so low on energy cant get up to work and then add that to cleaning after my 2 kids all day and i just dont have the motivation seeing my house dirty after i just cleaned it is a total demotivator

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    sober_insanityposted 13 years ago

    so when im not tired and all my chores are done i feel happy and motivated to go work out

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    Robin71posted 13 years ago

    When I graduated from headstart we wore little gowns like the big kids version.  We were each given a letter from the alphabet to recite in a speach.  Guess what my letter was-'E', my speach (which was given to me by my teacher) went like this;
    
    "E, E is for Exercise.  It helps build strong muscles and keeps you healthy," etc....
    
    And now what's the one thing I can't seem to get motivated to do-EXERCISE!!!
    
    I need to lose weight and do want to be healthy, but I just can't get into any thing that I will stick with.  I've tried several things or rather diets in the past and all have stated that exercise is key. I've try several different types of exercise and still I end up giving up. 
    
    So I'm not motivated to exercise at all, but really wish I was.

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    mandypooleposted 13 years ago

    Its hard to get motivated, but I try and remind myself that I always feel better after exercising - especially mentally.  Like the experts say, exercise releases the feel good hormones Endorphins, and I believe that because my mood does lift if i exercise regularly. Its a nice feeling to know I am looking after my body.

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    AliciaCposted 13 years ago

    I have several motivations for walking (my favorite form of exercise). None of them involve staying fit, although that’s one effect of the walks. I enjoy walking as a form of transport. I love to explore new areas and to observe nature as I walk. I need to walk to exercise my dog. I also make plans when I walk, and walking helps me solve problems and cheers me up when I’m depressed. What discourages me from walking is the time involved and sometimes the energy needed just to get going. Sometimes I have a busy work day and evening and I’m so tired at night that not even my dog’s pleading expression can persuade me to take a walk!

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    Sean Evansposted 13 years ago

    This sounds bad but what originally got me motivated to exercises was know that most people in society did not. I used to hate being anything close to how they acted. So I made sure I was stronger, and faster.  (Better than them)
    
    Now I'm older and I've become one "of them" lol  I stay active and workout still but it is more like a habit now.  I feel sickish after too long of not working out or being physically active.

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    jonte2020posted 13 years ago

    5 years ago nothing motivated me. Bu then I looked in the mirror and saw that I was heavily overweight. I got a schoolassignement where the idea was to try a different diet for a week. I tried to eat Low Glycemic food for a week. Ever since - that's the only thing I eat. Now training is like a drug to me, if I don't do my one and a half hour a day i feel really lazy and fat, I just can't stand not doing it I actually hate Sundays, because it's the "day of" from training.
    
    A great tip for those who want to get motivated is to write in forums (like this) and help/get helped by other people. Hometraining is also a great tip because that does not require any transportingtime. You don't need machines to get strong, free weights are the absolutely best!

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    Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

    What motivates me is that I really enjoy being healthy and looking fit... and dating younger guys doesn't hurt either.

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       Stacie Lposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I agree.. also it's cost efficient to not have to buy bigger clothes or go to the Doctor or buy prescriptions.....

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    Holmes221bposted 13 years ago

    Fear of death, so in an attempt to run away from mortality by getting a bit fitter.  However, I quickly fall back on chocolate cake and sherry, because the effort of exercise can prove to be a bit much.

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       Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I think I am at an advantage here since I have never had a sweet tooth.  I might enjoy the sherry, but I could easily pass on the chocolate cake since I'm not a big fan of either chocolate or cake.

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    R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years ago

    MY EX's motivate me to exercise!!!! I want to shove a big SCREW YOU look at me now B!tch! in thier face!!!

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       Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       WOW!

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    cheaptrickposted 13 years ago

    The thing that motivates me most to exercise is death...ya,that's it...death...is this the pot thread?

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       SomewayOuttaHereposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             .....ya, where is it anyway?

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    donotfearposted 13 years ago

    Motivation for exercising comes from fear....fear of gaining it all back, which I already have!

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    chablis345posted 13 years ago

    I mistakenly believe that if I exercise I can eat what I like - unfortunately my scales disagree!

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    Rosie2010posted 13 years ago

    I love to walk.. walking is a great form of exercise.  But there are days, that I also don't feel like going out there (specially in the winter) and walk.  What motivates me is knowing that if I skip one or two days, I might get lazy and not walk at all.  And that is not good for my health.  I walk to stay healthy.

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    Angelmercedposted 13 years ago

    Looking at my daughter ignites my enthusiasm and heighten my energy to do the required exercise for me..I wanted to see my three year old daughter grow. So, I need to live longer because I do believe that the more physically fit a person is the longer he/she lives... But what demotivates me of doing so is that when I am physically and mentally stressed.

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    Penny splendidposted 13 years ago

    Not having colds as often is a good motivation.
    When you exercise, if you do get a cold,it seems to be over in only a day or so instead of the week it takes to disappear when you are unfit.
    If I am feeling really lazy,I go and watch someone exercise on youtube and that has me wanting to go and workout too.

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    Mother-Rightposted 13 years ago

    Walking my dog helps me exercise and the treat of leaving him at home for awhile gets me to go to the gym.

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    tsisulposted 13 years ago

    When I start feeling tired a lot, I know it's time to exercise.

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       debbie robertsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I'm a morning exerciser and my motivation for exercising is the buzz and the energy I get from it, it makes me feel good all day. Nothing much will discourage me.

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    goconstipationposted 13 years ago

    Exercise itself is rewarding for one's health.
    Confidence, Focus, decreasing stress.
    Discouragement in my reagard is the Fear towards getting healthy.

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    greatstuffposted 13 years ago

    yes it's got to be the abs..the big guts motivates me..it is now maybe 1/4 the size of what it was before.Relatively this is slow but dont worry, you dont have to be in a hurry..just enjoy yourself, dont push too hard. I started to do real exercise only 3years back. It wasn't easy but when you start to see improvement to your body, it gets addictive. I now do flexibility (yoga), strength (weights) and cardio (bike) taking turn over a month cycle.

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