I have totally lost the will to work out [text]

Submitted by legendarymcc2 t3_1270b7g in GetMotivated

I have always been physically fit and have been on varsity track teams, was in the gym, had great PRs for my small size, etc. Recently, however, I have lost the urge to workout.

When I first got to university I admittedly spent more time going out and hanging out with friends than working out but I still maintained a fairly regular workout dorm routine. I lost all intensive forms of cardio however as I am not doing sports here and I am not working anymore.

Things weren’t really too bad until I caught covid near thanksgiving. In December when I recovered I worked out occasionally and even semi regularly, however, in the past 3 months since around the start of January I have completely lost the will to workout.

I think there are multiple factors at play here:

  1. I do not have as much time/dedicated timeframes to workout

  2. the gym costed money and I didn’t want to pay for the membership it is also pretty far from where I live in campus

  3. lastly this one is a little more intrinsic. I think a lot of my motivation to workout was external as I enjoyed bettering my appearance. Now that I have a girlfriend I don’t really feel like I have a goal to workout for. Secondly I am no longer on a competitive sports team so I don’t have that motivation either.

I know my motivations weren’t the greatest to begin with but I don’t have them now and I simply don’t feel motivated to workout.

Edit- also another reason is that it is super cold at my college in the winter so I just don’t feel like doing anything outside or even going to places to workout. For a little while I was walking up a multi story tower here but I even lost the will to do that.

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Crueltea t1_jebwkiv wrote

There's no problem with staying at maintenance, as long as you don't eat too much junk and don't get too sedentary with your lifestyle doing activities with your girlfriend to keep your health and motivations in check. Once that starts to slip later on in life, that's the time you'll have a wake-up call.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jebwte4 wrote

It’s already slightly slipped. My body definitely looks different compared to a year ago (i accredit this to alcohol and uni dining hall food) and I have put on a little weight. It’s not crazy but if the trend continues for a while I will be out of shape in a year or two.

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Pudding_Hero t1_jec8mbh wrote

And then the covenant attacks cause they see you slippin. Don’t disappoint the chief!

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jecmimd wrote

Back in my day I used to workout with only a stick and a rock! For the whole gym!!!

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Crueltea t1_jebxgou wrote

At least you're recognizing it now. If you don't like what you're becoming, then that needs to be the motivation for your want to change. My point is that you don't need the gym to be active with people you like to have fun with. Go play outside with your friends.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jebyhwe wrote

I guess I could go outside now that it is spring but winter here is absolutely miserable.

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FederalGap5100 t1_jecjsmr wrote

Completely disagree with this guy. As a former d1 athlete, we are different, we crave the competition, and “fame” the athletics give us… after all its what makes us who we are.

I was benching a bit over twice my body weight, working out once a day at least on top of training. The issue is, when you’re young and have a great metabolism, the will to impress, and crazy workout schedules, you eat as much of whatever as often as you can.

This is thought because when you get injured, sick, lazy, etc. your workout regimen changes, but your diet does not. I ate close to 2.5x the amount of recommended carbs for myself, but it was needed because of how active I was, now I’m not and getting fatter by the day.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jeclom5 wrote

Yeah honestly if anything my carb consumption increased due to more alcohol (beer) and the dining hall. I was working over the summer burning weight and barely eating due to my schedule while also working out.

I don’t ‘crave’ anything but I want to keep my body at an the baseline I was at last year.

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Risket2017 t1_jecrrwz wrote

I'm 43 years old, so I suspect I'm a lot older than you. However, I do get where you're coming from. About 5 years ago after years of high school sports, military, then working out as a hobby, I just ran out of gas for working out as well. I'm not sure why, just didn't have a reason I suppose.

Fast forward to the end of last year I weighed about 245 lbs, just loosened my belt to the point where I couldn't wear my favorite one any more and would have to go to my backup one. I was constantly sick, things "down stairs" didn't work as well as they used to or didn't work at all sometimes, and felt my self getting weaker and weaker. I had to make a choice, either I keep sliding down to turning into a fat slob with no goals or motivation, being a poor role model to my son and a terrible husband, or I turn this shit around.

The funny thing was, the inflection point was seeing this scene in the God of War Ragnarok after watching a fucking 11 hour game cut scene movie (it actually was really damn good): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj1MF-9yyAM

For whatever reason that scene hit me like a ton of bricks. So, that day I stopped drinking (was doing 1-2 beers a night), cut out all sugars except for one day a week usually Saturday, no processed carbohydrates and other bullshit food, snacks consist of fruit, nuts, boiled eggs, salads, etc... I work out every weekday, weights 4 times a week and 20-30 mins running or elliptical (pulled a calf a while back). I've lost 30+lbs, feel better than I have since my 20's, and my dick is like a fucking diamond in the morning (I don't care if that's too much information for you, once in your 40's that shit matters).

My point is, motivation is fleeting and it always will be. Create a habit in working out and taking care of your health, because trust me any gains you had will be lost and it's more difficult to get back later in life. Your health is the most important thing you have, it effects everything in your life. Don't work out cause other people want you to or your trying to impress other people, workout and stop eating shitty cause it's your health and no one will care about it except you.

This post is silly rant but I hope it gets my point across. Protect your youth, it will be gone sooner than you can imagine.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jedgubj wrote

No offense but this kinda always scared me about aging. I look at my uncles (all 50s and 60s) and they are overweight and the tough part is that they were just as active as I was. I’m a little worried that I will look like them one day and even if I can turn it around there isn’t much I can do when my metabolism comes to a crashing halt. Thank you for the advice though and I really need to turn this ship around soon because I know I could end up like you a year ago very easily.

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Risket2017 t1_jeev05e wrote

Doesn't offend me at all, scares me a little too. Many of the people in my family have let themselves go, and after being a lazy shit for years I refuse to do the same thing.

Trust me, it creeps up on you. You don't need to be a professional athlete, just develop good habits now and it will pay dividends later in life.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jeew6l9 wrote

Thanks for the advice I always knew it was a possibility but never really conceptualized it. I’m sure when you were in the military you never thought you’d look different.

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Risket2017 t1_jeewl9n wrote

Heh, I was 20 something then, thought I was immortal. The future? What the fuck is that?

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tonyisadork t1_jed12rm wrote

Walk at least one mile a day, in the sun as much as possible, for at least 7 days straight. (bundle up if you have to) Report back. Winter's a bitch.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jedgg70 wrote

I mean Im generally walking around and active but I usually building hop from class to class

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ThatsMatheson t1_jeecnae wrote

It’s normal to struggle with gym motivation. However the pros outweigh the cons. Every time I start back I remember how much more energy and confidence I have when I’m actively working out. Not to mention the mental health benefits of knowing everyday I have gym time to myself.

I’m 38 and still very active. I am often mistaken for 28 and even younger if I shave. Your appearance is not only important for you, but it’s important to your partner. Also, appearance might even go a long way in your professional life.

Does your college have a gym? If not, I would suggest either finding a new gym or stick with the one you have. Again, use that time for yourself too. Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or just enjoy being alone in your thoughts while pushing yourself physically.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jeewnj2 wrote

It does have one but the price is pretty steep. Coming into college I thought I’d be able to maintain my body with my regular nightly workout but I stopped doing it around December after I got covid.

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guitargoddess3 t1_jebwqfi wrote

Just addressing point 3) you shouldn’t let yourself go thinking you don’t need to look good because you have no one to impress. It’s not really fair to your gf. You’d be slow motion catfishing her. Instead, you should find a way to workout together. It doesn’t have to be at a gym. You could hike together, go swimming. Acroyoga is something cool couples can do too.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jebx2rt wrote

I agree but I still think I look relatively good. I want to get back into shape partially for her but due to all the other stuff mentioned I can’t keep a consistent routine.

Swimming is a good idea though I will mention that to her!

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guitargoddess3 t1_jebxdpl wrote

I see. Well if you’re still fit, but just not as muscular as you were I don’t think it’s a problem unless it’s bothering you. People’s goals concerning their physique can change over time. You gotta do what’s right for you.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jebydeu wrote

I am fit right now though my muscles seem to have faded a bit. I know I could easily slip though as I have been steadily gaining weight since August

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guitargoddess3 t1_jec6b0a wrote

Yup. It’s easy to lose all the work you’ve put in.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jecmnzl wrote

Yeah I can’t already tell my muscles aren’t as slim. A part of it too is that im not longer a varsity athlete and im not working though.

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guitargoddess3 t1_jednmjb wrote

That makes sense. Just keep up what makes you happy with your physique.

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NotEasilyConfused t1_jecavok wrote

You had a standard you expected of yourself before you had a girlfriend. Now you have one, and in one hand you say you have gained weight and your body is nutcracker different from last year (in a different comment), but you also think you look 'relatively good'. This sounds like rationalization to me, and I don't think you are looking at this the right way. You were willing to work hard to impress a bunch of strangers (in hopes that you would attract one) ... but now that you have someone who loves you, she doesn't deserve the effort?

This is the same kind of thinking where married people don't think they need to feed their relationships... and then wonder what happened to the love and fun times. My ex-husband admitted to me once that since I had stood up before everybody we knew and said I would be his forever, he didn't need to keep me interested like when we were dating. Notice I said ex-husband... because who would want to stay in a relationship with someone who thought love equals no effort.

Based just on your own comments, I would wager that if your relationship ended, you would be plenty motivated to get back to your previous standard.

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legendarymcc2 OP t1_jecm8y9 wrote

It’s not that she doesn’t deserve the effort I was working out semi-regularly when I met her. Covid took me out of my routine for a while and I’ve been pressed for time, the weather has been shit, and my motivation just isn’t there anymore.

Also I’ve matured and realized muscles aren’t everything to attract a girl but that realization also made me realize working out isn’t as important as I thought it was which is a factor for why I haven’t picked it up again.

Lastly my body still looks fine. My stomach isn’t perfectly flat anymore and my chest and arms look a bit smaller but I still look skinny I’m not really to worried yet but I want to get back into it.

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GretavonGrub t1_jef0jay wrote

How about, just because it’s fun?

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humvee911 t1_jebxwqq wrote

Agreed. I wish people had the answers to the fact that everyone is going to die in the end.

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