What are your keys to keep motivated to go to the gym?

[Michael Wayne]

Seriously guys?? I have been a gym rat for the last 20 years. I mean totally dedicated so much so that most folk at my gyms have always thought I was some kind of trainer. Lately though I find that my 4 day a week routine has been cut to one day with all the travel, family stuff etc. I also used to train with my bf and now that I am single I find there is alot more STUFF to do. No one else has noticed a change in my body but I can tell the difference. It is hard for a pro to keep motivated when you constantly hear from clients what great shape you are in! lol! Perhaps 20 years of hard training has residual effects and gives you a grace period but I know it wont last long. http://www.rentmen.com/mikeyusatop

[doitb4ugo]

Among other things I do to keep me going to the gym is that I reward myself if I go regularly....I am also trying to lose some weight that never seems to stay off for very long. The rewards are usually something fairly simple: a massage appointment, underwear (can;t have enough of this), hire an escort, etc.

 

Another motivator for me is allowing myself a sauna when I do work out...for me always a treat.

 

I forgot to add that I often lapse into lazy habits and don;t get to the gym...I am trying to learn not to view this as failure which only further dampens my motivation. My therapist would tell me it is not about success/failure but rather about choosing to go or not choosing to go...lol

[bigvalboy]

Seriously guys?? I have been a gym rat for the last 20 years. I mean totally dedicated so much so that most folk at my gyms have always thought I was some kind of trainer. Lately though I find that my 4 day a week routine has been cut to one day with all the travel, family stuff etc. I also used to train with my bf and now that I am single I find there is alot more STUFF to do. No one else has noticed a change in my body but I can tell the difference. It is hard for a pro to keep motivated when you constantly hear from clients what great shape you are in! lol! Perhaps 20 years of hard training has residual effects and gives you a grace period but I know it wont last long. http://www.rentmen.com/mikeyusatop

 

Hey Mikey, Ditto on the gym rat mentality. I however do keep going at least 6 days a week. I am much older than you, so the motivating factor for me at least is the desire to stay in shape. When I slack off, I don't feel nearly as good, mentally or physically, so I keep going. I spend a lot of time at the gym, part workout and part socializing. I just joined a more "gay friendly" gym, and that has been a lot of fun. It keeps me motivated and I look forward to talking to the guys.

 

To keep from burning out, every couple of months I completely change my workout. I will go from lifting just weights to doing my workout with machines only, and then change up to only spin and cardio classes. Every 6 months I stop working out and spend a couple of weeks just jogging or power walking along the beach. That gives my body time to rest and to mentally recuperate.

 

I also record my workouts on paper in a day planner, not so much to record what I am lifting, but when I skip, that day remains blank, so when I look back over the weeks, the times I did not workout, all those pages that are blank really standout, and I can see how little I am going. It becomes more obvious that way.

 

I also listen to music, whether I am working out or jogging. Music can be very motivating.

 

At any rate you are correct, you do have a grace period...lol even if you feel that you don't look like you feel you should, all those years of working out just don't go away. I think staying is shape is as much mental as physical. You seem to always have a great attitude about life. That in itself is helpful.

 

I would try changing things up in your workout. That way you are still staying in shape, but doing things different...LMK how things work out for you. I think you look fantastic, so whatever you are doing, it seems to be working...good luck.

[Phil_musc]

Good advice, BVB. I too have started recording my work-outs - it must appear kinda compulsive to some folks (yes, I use that word - me and Barack) but it keeps me aware of what I've done and what I'm doing. And yes, Mikey, you will have a grace period, but don't relax too much - I once didn't go to the gym for almost a month - too busy and then sick - it was hard to get back for a few days, but I stuck to my sense of self discipline and got in the habit again. And it definitely is good to mix it up with the workouts - the body becomes accustomed to whatever you do and the workout then becomes less effective unless you change it.

 

Side note: Mikey, sorry you're single again.

[whipped guy]

I also record my workouts on paper in a day planner, not so much to record what I am lifting, but when I skip, that day remains blank, so when I look back at the weeks, the times I did not workout, all those pages thqt are blank really standout, and I can see how little I am going. It becomes more obvious that way.

Good advice, BVB. I too have started recording my work-outs - .

As have I... In fact I have date books going back decades... I find it the greatest motivator. I also give myself a goal for each week of 50 exercise units... I keep a record and if I fall short for whatever reason I have to make it up as soon as possible... usually the following week... However, unless I am under the weather I hardly ever miss.

 

Incidentally, except when I am away from my home base, I do all my workouts at home... I don't have as much equipment as in a gym... but enough. Not having to leave the house makes it convenient and eliminates excuses...

[Steven_Draker]

What are your keys to keep motivated to go to the gym?

 

Mainly three things ...

 

The rush of endorphins in the brain and the sensation of well-being

The result from the hard work I see in the mirror

When someone is checking me out in the shower or the locker room after a good and sweaty workout

[Phil_musc]

Mainly three things ...

 

The rush of endorphins in the brain and the sensation of well-being YES!

The result from the hard work I see in the mirror YES YES!!

When someone is checking me out in the shower or the locker room after a good and sweaty workout [/color]

Not so much - I prefer to shower at home usually, but I'd make an exception or two given the right circumstances;)

[whipped guy]

Steven... I forgot to mention the "endorphin effect" so I am glad that you brought it up... when I feel "down" exercise always gives me a "high"... and THAT can be the ultimate motivation... It seems ironic, but when you feel out of it and feel the need to rest actually pushing yourself to get moving perks you up to the point that a good workout usually has a rejuvenating effect...

[Epigonos]

At 72 I no longer do the bodybuilding workouts I did for 20 years starting at age 35. Now I cycle 20 miles, five times a week, at 100 rpm's on a stationary bike at a local gym.

 

I have three incentives that keep me going:

 

1. I have to pay to go to the gym and being cheap I want to get my moneys worth.

2. My mirror which "UNFORTUNATELY" doesn't lie.

3. My pant belt which also "UNFORTUNATELY" doesn't lie.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Mainly three things ...

 

The rush of endorphins in the brain and the sensation of well-being

The result from the hard work I see in the mirror

When someone is checking me out in the shower or the locker room after a good and sweaty workout [/color]

 

Ding! We have a winner. If I don't exercise I get depressed, especially in the wintertime.

[instudiocity]

underwear (can;t have enough of this)

Damn, Rich, after that pic you posted of yourself the other day, I thought you were a loyal devotee to the Commandos among us. LOL!

[doitb4ugo]

As have I... In fact I have date books going back decades... I find it the greatest motivator. I also give myself a goal for each week of 50 exercise units... I keep a record and if I fall short for whatever reason I have to make it up as soon as possible... usually the following week... However, unless I am under the weather I hardly ever miss.

 

Incidentally, except when I am away from my home base, I do all my workouts at home... I don't have as much equipment as in a gym... but enough. Not having to leave the house makes it convenient and eliminates excuses...

 

I might add that if you "fall short for any reason" you may be dealt with severely.....

[doitb4ugo]

Damn, Rich, after that pic you posted of yourself the other day, I thought you were a loyal devotee to the Commandos among us. LOL!

 

While going commando feels really hot...when I don't want an unexpected hardon or if I'm meeting some guy, I like to play in my underwear and force the guy to remove it for me....just some of the games we seem to play.....

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

Best motivator when I was young: The gym was a pickup scene. Work out. Get laid.

 

Best motivator now: bathroom scale. I used to keep a paper log (Like BVB, Phil Musc, and Whipped), but now I use an electronic scale that uploads both my weight and percent body fat to a website. The graph doesn't lie. And it doesn't forget. LOL

 

This is the scale. It connects to your wifi network. http://www.fitbit.com/aria

[Professor Mitch]

Chris is right on point for me. The gym gets me out of the house, moving, engaging with people in an environment other than work. As a guy who has had to deal with a few health challenges in the past, getting back to the gym was a top priority. I know keeping moving is critical to staying healthy, so that keeps me going even when the motivation is lacking (like ths afternoon...). Once I am there, I always feel better no matter how strenuous the workout.

[Traveler North]

Hey Mikey, you look fine all over. Hey Epigonos, glad to have met you and you look great.

[Rick Munroe]

Blow jobs in the locker room late at night.

[+ Charlie]

In my 20s my motivation was that I could see an obvious difference in how I looked. In my 30s and 40s, I felt the pressure to stay that way. In my 50s and 60s I was motivated by the desire to stay healthy. Finally, nothing could motivate me, so this year I cancelled my gym membership. I get all the exercise I need or want by playing tennis, which is more fun than anything repetitive at the gym.

[uwsman2]

I go early in the morning almost every day, and one of the motivations is that it helps me to really wake up!! Getting the blood flowing helps me to stay alert during the day. Also, if I miss a day or two I start to feel fat (even though I know, from an intellectual standpoint, that missing a day or two isn't going to make me fatter). So I guess it is the fear of putting on the weight that I worked so hard to take off that keeps me going day after day.

[Mark Gordon]

I hit the gym almost every day for weights and/or cardio but, like you, have had periods when I struggled to keep motivated. I find that introducing various elements of variety helps in this regard. Different routines and times of day. Alone or with different training partners. But also different environments. I belong to a chain of gyms with over a dozen branches within easy reach of me. Sometimes I want a cruisy and social gay friendly gym, sometimes I want to put my headphones on & watch the antics of the corporate straight boys. I like to access the different pieces of equipment each gym has as well. And when it's just too cold to go outside, I still have no excuse, as I can take the elevator down to our nice little condo gym and sauna.

[+ Gar1eth]

I'm just in awe of all of you. I'll stop there and not describe my feelings on working out as for some strange reason I'm getting a reputation for negativity.

 

Gman

[Steven_Draker]

I'm just in awe of all of you. I'll stop there and not describe my feelings on working out as for some strange reason I'm getting a reputation for negativity.

 

Maybe you just need a little ...

 

http://www.kurlandround.lv/Images/2005/14%20Simon%20grigson%20on%20a%201926%20mod%2025%20norton%20receiving%20a%20friendly%20push%20from%20little%20bob.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

When I do go, the only thing that works is music. Nothing gets you going like a playlist of fast paceed 80s/90s hits. It's best if you reserve the playlist specifically for working out.

 

I haven't worked out in a while though!

[uwsman2]

I always listen to music while I'm working out, but it's usually classical. I'm old fashioned, I use a portable CD player with clunky old headphones that screen out most of the ambient noise from the gym. It's a way I keep up with new releases and provides diversion when on the stationary bike in particular.

[ErieBear]

I'd like to recommend that you gentlemen try out a CrossFit gym. CrossFit combines 9 or 10 different types of exercise and every day is different from the one before. Here's some info on what CrossFit is. http://www.crossfit.com