How do you stay motivated to exercise regularly?

@pianoplayingsteve Wow this is very motivating. This makes a lot of sense. Thank you this in-depth explanation. I can reread this over and over again when feeling lazy and less motivated. Good points to ponder.🙏

@TessDun I’m glad! Also I have more!

Don’t compare yourself to who someone is today, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Aim to become a little bit better every day. Even if it’s just a 1% improvement, even if you have to crawl on your hands and knees. Did you know that not only was Stephen Hawking not deterred by his disability, he was later hit by a car but continued on, and then developed an infection of the trachea which destroyed his voice, but kept going on?

I also give you my own personal experience as a motivator. I was born partially crippled. I didn’t let it get to me. I then developed literally the worst acne in my country at the very least, I had to have not just medication but surgery. But it didn’t fix the issue and I was also still crippled. So I felt like crap. I became obese because I thought ‘I’m always going to be severely defective so why bother just to get torn down based on these imperfections’. I decided recently however, to change what I can control, my weight and my skin (somewhat). I went to a local church to regain my confidence, spent time with the more athletic members, some of whom donated me a bench press. I bought some weights and found out what exercises help with building chest muscle (which will cause belly fat loss). I also started eating a lot better, very few carbs and lots of protein, it sucks I miss carbs but I stick at it, treating myself every so often. When I started weights, I discovered that even though it wasn’t my arms that were crippled, my condition affected my ability to lift weights. It made the arm on my side that wasn’t affected extremely painful whenever I upped my weights, whilst the good side was perfect. So I’d give myself a days rest and reduce the number of reps to a more sensible number. It became tolerable. Within days the new weight would become easy. I’d do weights daily but not at a fixed time, just as long as it was daily. I’ve now gone down three trouser sizes, from over 34” waist to 28”. I have built a lot of muscle, definition including the face. I then spent £100 on skincare products. At first it made my skin worse, much worse. But I’ve kept at it. My skin is now much better. People respond to me in a positive way, I’ve had better luck with the opposite sex. My condition still makes me feel absolutely awful, but im so glad that I had the discipline to fix what I can fix. As I said in the previous post, strengthen yourself so you can withstand a sudden illness, what I’ve done is sort of testament to that.

Which would lead me to a final point, in which I apply the work of Sun Tzu to psychology. I’m not going to pretend I’m perfect. I have my health issues and anxiety based around that, I’m not where I want to be in life and you could argue I’m in no place to give advice. This is where Sun Tzu’s rule ‘appear strong when you are weak and vice versa’ comes in. If you are feeling pathetic and so dress horribly, don’t wash, don’t clean, don’t educate yourself etc no one is going to associate with you and potentially help you. However, if you make yourself dress nicely, clean, groom etc and make yourself appear confident, you will attract people and you could perhaps let slip a little thing you need help with and someone may happily help you. It sort of links in with the the idea of hanging around with people who share your goals who are who you want to be. You want to find a mix of being the most reliable and intelligent person you know (therefore irreplaceable) but you also want to only hang around with people who are smarter or better connected than you. That sort of seems contradictory, but its a positive feedback loop. You’ll be constantly bettering yourself

@pianoplayingsteve You are truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your experiences, all worth reading. Yes true in every sense. Living the best life is taking/doing the opportunity to be better specially in emotional, mental and health aspects for the benefit of all- family, loved ones community and specially self. Life maybe short but at least we all try our best not to die early and live a good quality life. After all one's life is only one, no spare life. 🙏

@Echambers101 has she seen 1000 Pound Sisters 🤣

@TurtlePink no babe but I've heard of that 🤣

@TurtlePink right! that's motivation right there. Also when I don't want to clean my house, I watch five minutes of Hoarders

@4meAndyou Hope you feel better soon 🙏

@TessDun Thank you!

@akindheart The only place the fat piles up on me, is on my belly. Lately, from all my sitting and texting on SW, my belly has gotten so fat, that it's been uncomfortable. It's felt better since I started exercising and being more careful with my diet, but I've still got a long way to go. I'm intent on continuing. But with my food addiction, it's not easy. I need [i][b]something[/b][/i] in my life that's satisfying. I just need more discipline.

@PhoenixPhail my weight is a problem due to age. i stopped all fast food and i work out 4 times per week but i still struggle. hang in there. you have to find the right exercise.I do yoga, 2 weight classes and one aerobic

@akindheart Those certainly sound as though they would help a lot. My joints aren't stable enough to do any calisthenic exercises, so I've been hitting the treadmill or taking walks around the block. There are some rather steep hills here, so I'm getting some aerobic work in, as well. Between that and watching my diet, I think it's working, if very slowly. At least my shirts don't feel so tight around my middle. lol

@SW-User Couldn’t agree more. There are good and not so good days. I hope to be more consistent even with simple exercises

@TessDun Just sweat. Fuck what people think. At the end of the day it's your body and your life. Do what is best for you. I'm looking forward to getting back to mine. It ought to help with this blasted winter for sure. ✌️

@LadyBronte I wish I have the same habit 😩

@TessDun Well...just get to a point where you have nothing else in your life. *shrug*

@Yulianna [i][b]Me too![/b][/i]

@Peaches okay, see you later.

@samueltyler2 I focus on trying to stay healthy! 😊

@Peaches ha, ha, a different type of looking glass then!

wanna work out together ? 🥴 @BluntSm0ker

@samueltyler2 Yes good health is the best motivation

@TessDun exercise and diet.

@SW-User Effective way to stay motivated. True, the struggle to be consistent is real if only doing it at home.

@SW-User Still a good one

@gdon39 Thanks for these tips. I am for improving cardio health, have started some easy workouts

@TessDun good luck

@PhoenixPhail So relatable 😭

@exexec This. I wish I could commit too😌

@yeronlyman Trying and crawling out of bed 😂

@TessDun 🤗😌🙏🏻😬

@Jenny1234 Yah , good you have a great teacher to help you stay on track . It has been more than two months since I asked this question and am still struggling to commit and be consistent. I need to read again all these valuable answers and tips😅

@TessDun That's a "no no"! It's considered the new smoking...which is so bad for us!

@Peaches 😩yah

@TessDun It's hard to stay motivated. I only went to one work out session this past week.😐

@KuroNeko She a tea taster and tester for the Tetley Tea Folk she also wears large Flat Caps

@Tukudo I need to watch on youtube about breathing chaotically, thanks 👍

@TessDun Okay. Actually the dull and poor pattern of breathing makes you unmotivate. So alter the breathe,then the entire system would get warm up to keep you brisk.

@SW-User I will make it a goal to enjoy it 🤣 It's just necessary now as lacking exercise has been making me get tired so easily, so now I am tired to start with it.😩

@TessDun Baby steps :)

@SW-User Do you set daily or weekly goals? I need to know because I need help with motivation

@SW-User Great answer, thanks . I need to reread all valuable answers here for motivation, been lazy lately