What is Digg?71 Comments
- HenvY, on 10/11/2007, -3/+32My motivation was to stop being a fat bastard. I started dieting on 29th April 2007 and started exercising on the 19th May 2007. I've been doing the couch-to-5k program, getting up at 6am, giving my shins a beating and running fast and hard. As of last week(sunday), I had lost 1 stone/14 lbs/6.5kg..my next weigh in is today. I'm feeling better, i'm fitter and my shins hurt like *****. I'm awesome but I still have a long way to go...and i'm still a bastard.
I seriously doubt anybody will get into the 'exercise habit' without complete dedication to doing it...certainly not with this article, even though it does give good advice. - funkytaco, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11I think #1 (which you left out) is "Let everyone know you are trying to excercise". Embarrassment is a great motivator. Some support might come with it, too.
- kloo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10I've found the best method is to focus on enjoying yourself while exercising. Turn it less into a chore and more into something you'll want to do.
For example, when i'm doing weights, i make sure there's always something decent to watch on tele. Running, i listen to different music.
BUT the most important rule to remember: The more you do exercise, the more inclined you will be to do it again. So, if you're able to go for a jog 3 days consecutively, you'll find that for the rest of the week it'll be much easier to get off your arse and become motivated. - Meowbiusfox, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9I simply can't exercise,it's so bad for you.
I always hurt afterwards when I'm downing my DQ Oreo blizzard. - Cornloaf, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9Believe it or not, my motivation was to overcome boredom.
I'm currently working on a project in another country and I was getting tired of the tourist trap places that I kept ending up night after night. I got in contact with my friend's wife who dabbles as a personal trainer. I told her I wanted to be like the Spartans in 300, but would settle for Thomas Haden Church as Sandman. She settled on something more along the lines of Tobey Maquire as Spider-Man. I have completed two weeks so far and I feel so much better. I am actually noticing my body changing every couple days. When I go home to my wife and daughter, I will be healthier and stronger than I was when I left. Hopefully this will translate to a longer, healthier life and my family will get to enjoy me even longer.
The only problem with working out is when I tell my local friends. They said that motivation here in the Philippines to work out is falling in love. That's when the grilling begins and they don't believe my explanation that I just want to be healthy! - DanielMartin, on 10/11/2007, -1/+88. Stop reading lists on Digg, and get to exercise.
- ddxChrist, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9Motivation is crucial. As the list says, have a goal in mind. It's true of just about everything: Why are you doing [insert task]? My initial motivation was to get in shape after having stopped my martial arts training. Fast forward two years and I've made a complete 180. My training is serious again and I'm much better off.
I have some additional advice: Try to make it fun! Add physical activities that you enjoy doing. Simply being more active on a daily basis will improve your health; avoid lazing around. Personally, in the summer time I like to bike and sprint outside when I'm not lifting weights. I find the whole experience enjoyable - both lifting inside and doing activities outside - but I can see why the latter can be more desirable for others. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6That's true. Arnold S. once wrote when he wasn't happy with his calfs, so he cut off the bottom part of all his pants, so everytime he went out he felt embarrassed, so he trained them more than ever. Eventually he got the calfs he wanted.
- mostapha, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5You have to force yourself to go to the gym for about 5 to 6 months.
And then it becomes freaking addictive. You won't be able to stop. - SwissCamel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5If you're the sort of person who can set goals and deadlines for themselves, makes plans and gets up early in the morning to execute all of these, odds are you're not the sort of person who quits at the gym in the first place.
- boicraig, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6This list wont make you get your fat ass off that couch or away from that computer.
- acroyear2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4My motivation is spite. I've been going at it for two months now. It's still working.
- plnegative1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The best thing to do is to start by yourself, if friends decide to join you fine, but when they quit (and they undoubtedly will) you will not be affected by their laziness.
- Bkaufman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4You have to force yourself at first, but once you start, its really satisfying and addictive. You sleep better, work more productively, and you are happier. The high you get after working out is better than anything you can get from drugs/alcohol.
- asw66, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I was getting fat a few years ago, but I've turned that right around. I've become something of a gym junkie, and look and feel a million times better.
My secret? Develop a crush on one of the aerobics instructors! It's easy!
:) - WebCester, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3…Or for people who like having the option of using all kinds of weight machines without having to pay thousands of dollars.
- kaniz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3My main motivation for an exercise habit? - To be healthier, improve the health of my back, and be realistic.
It's a modest goal, and one that is easy to keep. I find that if my goals at the gym start to become - "Lose X pounds", or "Gain X muscle" - my motivation starts to go down the drain.
Motivation #1 - To Be Healthier
I was getting tired of feeling tired and sluggish, I didnt like getting winded walking up a few flights of stairs. I didnt like feeling like I had no energy. I also didnt like the 'small' things like the hang of my belly over my waist, feeling the man-boobs jiggle when I ran down stairs.
Motivation #2 - To Improve my back
After one day of simply turning the wrong way in my chair and throwing my back out, (I was only 23 at the time), then being in agony for over a month after and having to goto a chiropractor to get my back back into a healthyish shape, I figured "I'm too young to be feeling this old", and started to hit up the gym for the primary reason of improving the health of my back.
My back rarely gets sore any more, I have not had any major issues with it in ages, and when I do get a bit sore - it recovers/heals MUCH faster.
Motivation #3 - Be realistic
I doubt I'll have a 6 pack, I doubt I'll have perfect pecs, my body is going to be far from model-level quality, but that is not my goal.
Now, for about the past 10 months, I have been going to the gym on avg 3x a week - now and then I'll miss a few days here and there. I have not made any major changes to my diet (I still eat burgers, pizza, etc - not every day, but I'm not the kind of guy who is at a pub with friends and orders a water and salad because "I'm on a diet" while everyone else is having beer and wings).
As a result, I've lost over 50 pounds, increased my strength, have more energy, feeling much better, dropped about 6 inches off of my waist, and now - if I miss more than 2 days at the gym in a week, I start to feel gross and really look forward to my next workout. Its now something I enjoy doing and look forward to.
Yes, the first few weeks (if not month...) can be a total pain in the ass - the trick during this time should be more "establish the routine" and "not push for results"
If you decide to go 3x a week - GO 3x a week, even if you only end up doing 15 mins of cardio then jump in the shower after because you are feeling too tired to carry on. My first few weeks of the gym was:
- 20 mins cardio, then home
- 30 mins cardio, then home
- 30 mins cardio, 1 or 2 weight machines, then home (sometimes)
Until eventually I got upto - 10 mins cardio, followed by weights (4-5 machines), 30 mins cardio, 120 situps, stretching, sauna, shower, home - philz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4And it kills your knees faster than you think..
- avatarpalin, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3A walk a day for 20 mins will fix that, and stop eating crap and don't drink coke and you will be amazed at the effects...
- bdbr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"The hardest part is that exercising is boring. If only I could play video games while I did it..."
I do that, actually - I play video games while riding a recumbent stationary bike. You have to pick a game that doesn't require a lot of precision, because you're never quite sitting still. Its not the greatest way to exercise because sometimes I lose focus and find myself spinning more slowly than I should, but still 40 minutes goes by pretty quickly. - bitchslapper, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5I don't know man, I have tried these things just too many times to trust another webpage talking about motivation. Its just me, I still smoke, I still love my beer, and I am still fat!
- HaltingPoint, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Maybe if you didn't, you know, have to use all those girly things to look good, you could work out in the morning. I honestly never got why girls insist on using makeup to attract guys. We're going to see you without it eventually, why not use that to form our first impression so we don't get let down later the first time we see you without it?
- mutatron, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Morning sucks for me too. I do kung fu, we have evening classes during the week and a noon class on Saturday. I have a really hard time with the Saturday class, my body says it's still morning and it's not ready to go. No problem with the evening classes though.
Martial arts is a good way to stay in shape, for me anyway, because it's a skill that allows constant improvement. I used to just do weight training and cycling, but those get boring after a while if that's all you do, especially since they are both kind of pointless outside of staying in shape. At least with kung fu you're getting in shape to be a badass kung fu master who can whup up on a dozen or so criminals at once. That's a goal to work towards! - cquinnd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I'd bet people are digging him down over the innacurrate description. What he is doing is not "no holds barred street fighting", rather it is no limit sparring.
The point of the sparring sessions is to gain experience, but also to show how much control (over yourself and your opponent) you have gained thru training. And you bring pride to your master by not getting hurt or hurting another unecessarily during the "fight".
The point of a real street fight is to beat the bloody ***** outa some other person(s). And is usually done without supervision from a more experienced fighter.
The big similarity is that you would expect to use the same skill and experience in a real street fight, but instead of someone going to the hospital at the end of the evening, you get to go home looking forward to meeting that opponent again some time. - OldMacUser, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3The best way to get into exercising (for a guy anyway) is to join a Yoga or Pilates class at the gym. (I do both) You'll probably be the only guy in a room full of pretty women, in great shape, wearing leotards, bending over in provocative ways. What's not to love. After awhile you'll even learn to enjoy the exercise. But the only way you'll ever lose weight is to eat less. Exercise is fine and the view is terrific but eat less and properly and you'll lose weight whether you go to the gym or not.
- kevintmckay, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I think it is 90% about finding a fun workout I have been using www.simplefit.org and am addicted to it. It is no easy and leaves you really sore at first but it is fast and fun!
- UtOh, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I thought that this was going to be an article about making exercise clothes for nuns
- artofwar420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Sorry man.
- rune420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"If I was a skinny guy, I would be happy with that. Most females I know are prefer skinny guys."
I used to be really skinny, and I get a lot more attention from females now after I've worked out for a few years than I used to. - Lixie, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3If I was a skinny guy, I would be happy with that. Most females I know are prefer skinny guys.
- SurrealDream, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I agree with the martial arts. I used to do Taekwondo, and for those 4 years I was in the best shape I'd ever been.
I think the reason I liked Taekwondo so much was that, unlike a team sport like football or rugby, you're only counting on yourself to succeed. If you ***** up, you're the one who gets a kick in the face...
Trust me, it's more incentive to improve than merely feeling guilty for missing a goal. - glmory, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4I hate waking up earlier in the morning. Therefore when I realize I can sleep in an extra hour if I don't work out, I will sleep. However when I workout in the evening, procrastinating just means I end up staying awake an extra hour. I couldn't disagree more with his statement that working out first thing in the morning is best. You know what hours make sense for you, if you are not a morning person don't try to combine things you hate and expect that will help your motivation.
- GatorLCA, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Motivation is key, I wanted to join a gym earlier this year but it's that whole cliche New Years Resolution and I wasn't driven to go to the gym (no pun intended). I finally got the bug about 3 weeks ago to quit the bad eating habits and go, so I did. I feel great, I'm looking better and it gets me out of the house to be more social.
You can't force yourself to do it or you won't continue, so keep downing those Oreo Blizzards and be a fat ***** maybe the diabetes will motivate you - kevintmckay, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1oops sorry for the double post db must be caching
- JrGhoull, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1my secret has always just been to focus on the enjoyment of working out. dont count reps or anything. just get some kind of motivation (dbz anime music videos were what at first did it for me and got me started in the first place) and, as all nike shoes, t shirts, and pants say on them, "just do it" get into it and stay into it. the longer you stay in the habit, the easier it'll be to work out.
- VeganG, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The hardest part is that exercising is boring. If only I could play video games while I did it...
- jbschusty, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1umm. any article promoting joining a gym, must have been written by someone who supports ripping people off. Get as many people to sign up/pay and count on them not showing up.
Get your own personal equipment. Gym's are for show offs and socializers and people who are serious about becoming healthier need to just get off their fat asses and do something with their life. - whutwhut, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Why are people digging you down??
I box, so it's similar. The more I slack off, the more likely somebody can kick my ass. I don't even actually compete right now; it's just a mindset that you get in competitive mode. Plus I like to feel as badass as possible when I'm working out. Tearing up the heavy bag helps. Working the elliptical just makes me feel like a douche. - whutwhut, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I agree, but for different reasons. Morning workouts at the gym are a lot easier for a guy. I would have to tote all my morning getting ready girlie ***** to the gym and try and do all that there? No way, what a pain in the ass. Makeup, hair drying, straightener, product, shampoo & conditioner.. Yeah, I'll just make it work for me in the evenings. An hour my ass.
- megaloid, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Girls who eat right and exercise don't need makeup.
- jhendrix86, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I agree with everything but the "exercise in the morning" bit...it's really not needed. I got into this a year ago and have seen significant gains in everything.
Confidence is key in this......if you're doing a new max weight for an exercise, you have to be able to tell yourself you can do it first.
But in the beginning i said "i want to do this and this and this..how will i do it?" and researched and asked people at the gym the best ways to go about doing things..then as I saw my gains, I got more and more obsessed with it. Now I help others with the stuff :) - brada33928, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I lost 10lbs in a month by:
a. treadmilling 30min - 5-6 days a week
b, eating healthier - under 2000 calories a day
c. quit drinking beer/only vodka - burnnbuild, on 12/02/2008, -0/+1The best chest workout - http://burnfatnbuildmuscle.blogspot.com/2008/12/be ...
- Kropula, on 04/04/2008, -0/+1Great post, zen hbaits is one of the best blogs around. http://www.mystomachexercises.com
- riverside71, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The scare of Type 2 Diabetes.. should be enough of a 'motivator'
- robbiedo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If you have the space and cash, Bowflex is probably the best home gym for the non bodybuilder. I also am very satisfied with their Selectech dumbell system. It is odd to use if you are used to weight stacks and free weights, but after owning one for over a year, the most common criticism is actually its best benefit. Free weight users complain that the Power Rods do not provide the same resistance through the range of motion However, this is actually a benefit for your joints and connective tissue. BTW, it is well built and engineered compared to the crap they sell at Sears. I bought mine at Costco for $900, and this included the upgrade to 410 pounds of resistance.
- iiDLii, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2lol some just don't get it
- megaloid, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Dug up for your advocacy of yoga. It took some time for me to perceive its actual significance, but yoga has become the foundation of my fitness routine. The pranayama-type exercises are probably the most important form of exercise any person of any age can do, but more so if you are a neurotic, desk-bound American. People need to re-learn the skill of breathing.
Chi Kung certainly shouldn't be overlooked, either, as it tends to produce effects similar to yoga, just with somewhat different means. With diligent practice, you can become very strong and fit, to say nothing of the increased sense of relaxed awareness you can cultivate through the meditative nature of the exercises. The point is to get strong *inside* the body first, to develop a strong diaphragm and resilient connective tissues. Then you can do your weights if you want. However, an interesting thing tends to occur with gym rats and martial artists who practice these internal exercises, which is that they often lose interest in their old, external muscle-building exercises. That's what happened with me after a couple years; the weights are collecting dust now. I'll probably start hitting the kettlebells again just because they're fun to use but don't have the same significance as they used to.
Not that I am totally dismissing weights as strength-building tools, it's just that weightlifting tends to load extraneous tension into the musculature, which then manifests as psychological tension afterward, which then becomes an impediment to one's overall strength. If you practice exercises like yoga that simultaneously cultivate strength with relaxation, then there is no wasted effort and you have more energy at the end of your routine than at the beginning. Plus you'll meet more attractive, interesting women at the yoga class than you will at the gym. - bdbr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Since when did being hyper-motivated and completely self-focused become "zen habits"?
- Hays999, on 12/12/2008, -0/+0Exercise can not only serve to stimulate physical adaptations, it can prevent them. Stated differently, if you bring the exercise stimulus back to the body and to learn more please visit http://www.weightlosswand.com/workouts/exercise-re ...
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