For many people, gym is seen as a burden. You have to move a lot, sweat, it’s painful, far away, you don’t have the proper leggings, shirt, water bottle, headphones and so on.
In September, when I found out a new & cheaper gym was opening just across the street, I decided to get serious. I went there at the launch and made a 1-year contract. I bought myself a pair of leggings, 2 tanktops and a sports bra. And I was using a rather old pair of shoes. I started to go on average, around 3 times per week; I started to care more about what I ate ate and reduced things like food with strange composition, and cutting down on sodas. More vegetables, water and green tea. I even tried the other types of milks: soja, almond, rice. I could never totally give up coffee though.
It is hard to always motivate yourself after a long day of work to go to the gym. There were periods of time where I wasn’t going for 1-2 weeks, either because other things cluttering my schedule or I was travelling.
Now, a few months later, I still go around 3 times per week. Even if the gym is 5 minutes away, once I’m in the comfort of my home, it’s difficult to leave. But when I realise that I’m just surfing the internet aimlessly, I ignore my brain telling me to continue, I change and put my cute sports shoes and go to the gym. If it’s cardio day, I’m looking forward to listening to my pumping music. If it’s strength day, I am actually looking forward to the muscle pain from all the squats and abs.
Here are the top 3 reasons why I go to the gym
1. Health. Exercise is healthy. I know I will not have a six pack any time soon, but I know I am keeping my body healthy. I am thinking that this way, I will live longer, happier and healthier.
2. Happiness. Even if I feel down before the gym, somehow I always feel better afterwards. Which brings me to the next point
3. Confidence. As mentioned before, won’t have showing abs and so on, but I do feel better, stronger and motivated. Feeling the pain from the exercise makes me feel toned and fit.
While I started going exercising because I wanted to lose weight, I am slowly realising that it’s more important that I am healthy and would actually want to develop my muscles in a healthy way. Also, as I cannot totally give up the sweets and occasional burger & fries, exercising helps me keep it all in balance.
What motivates you to go to the gym?
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My reasons are for sure for health, then it helps me removing all the stress and the worries from work and friends, and it makes me doing something different than always going out drink and eat 😛
Since couple of months I started going before work – my gym opens at 6 am – and I find it even better!
Corie
http://www.barefootinluxembourg.com
that is quite convenient.mine opens at 7.30 so it’s quite tight. especially if I have to be at work quite early
I agree that it’s sometimes tough to motivate yourself to work out… I have all the equipment at home (treadmill and weights) and I can come up with hundreds of excuses for not having to exercise. But it’s true it does make you feel great and since I love eating, it’s a great solution to keep my weight in check.
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When I was living with my parents, I also had some kind of machines and weights. And of course, for those years, I barely used them 😀 Sometimes, if I have no time for gym (because it closes at 22.30) I just do something at home. Still a workout 🙂
I totally agree. Good habits spawn more good habits! I feel like we’re twinsies because I started doing the same about a year ago myself. Living in NYC, I always thought that walking everywhere would be enough, but I’ve built up so much more strength. Glad you have, too!
Yes. I also thought that walking a lot would be enough, but now that I live so close to work, I needed that gym subscription 😀