I always feel like I can't be bothered to do anything, what is a good way to motivate myself?

[RunningGirl]

[sfb350 Graduate]

Ooh, that's a difficult one. I felt like that for a long, long time. I'd toyed with the idea of the C25K for a long time too and I'm not sure what finally made me decide to go for it. However, once I'd made the decision, I set a day for it and then announced on Facebook that tomorrow I would be started the C25K plan. That way, I felt I had committed to do it and knew I wouldn't want to admit that I'm wussed out

To start with, I did the same thing each time I did a run, then reported back once I'd completed each run. After the first few times though, it starts to become addictive. The exercise produces endorphins and they feel GOOD ! That's when you start looking forward to each run, even if you know it will be difficult. The feeling of achievement each time you finish a run is also addictive. Read some of the blogs here and see how many people say they've become obsessed or addicted to running, fairly early in the program.

Of course, you will get heaps and heaps of encouragement here. We all know it is a big step to get started and we all know what a great feeling it is every time you tick off a run on the program. It's a great way to deal with depression and stress and it is amazing how quickly you will notice your fitness levels improve. If you can just get started, you will soon find that the motivation follows naturally.

Good luck, I hope we'll soon be following your progress on here and cheering you on

[Hidden]

Action precedes motivation, not the other way round - you just need to remember the feeling you get after a run, when you are putting off the next one. Hardly anyone actually regrets a run, even when they have aches and pains.

I think the more you can make it routine, the better.

[Mrs_Miggins Graduate]

Tell everyone all about it! That way you'll feel you have to get out there and run otherwise you're going to feel silly about telling people about it and then doing nothing! And try and get a running partner too. There's nothing like someone else on the same level as you to motivate you!

[schpanna]

I registered for a 5K race. I spent a while toying with whether or not to do it, knowing that if I registered for the race, i would want to make sure I did my very best in it and would need to commit to a regular running schedule.

Once I made my mind up to go for it, I've stayed motivated - I want to run over that finish line in 30 minutes!! The knowledge of how great that will feel (when I couldn't run for 2 minutes a few months ago) is good motivation.

[juicydee Graduate]

Hi RunningGirl - I guess the first question is 'Why did you consider starting C25K? Or if you haven't yet, what brings you onto this forum and to ask the question?' Because I think the answer to those questions holds the key - at least the key to getting started with your C25K journey.

A lot of us have had a 'moment' when we just knew we had to/wanted to DO something, and this programme popped up at the right time. My moment came when I realised I seriously and sincerely wanted to weigh 4 stone less but really didn't want to go the diet route, as diets have been the root cause of my weight problems and an unhealthy relationship with food.

But most of us seem to find that once we start this programme, the other benefits are so obvious that we just want to keep going - the endorphins kick in pretty early, the sense of achievement as you run a little bit longer or further or recover a little bit more quickly, the fact that you pack your trainers and check out possible running routes on Google Maps when you go away anywhere.... in short, you become addicted, but it's a really g-o-o-d addiction!!

I am only just beginning to lose the weight (2 weeks after 'graduating' from C25K) but in the interim I've become so much fitter, I can now run for 45 minutes slowly (5K) or 30 mins more quickly, and do this 3 times a week without fail. Many friends have told me I look so much better, and my skin in particular is really feeling the benefits. I wouldn't stop now even if I lost no weight at all (which I highly doubt will be the case!).

If you're still having trouble with motivation, you might try Paul McKenna's books/CDs - the 'I can make you thin' one has an exercise you can do to help motivate you to exercise. He really helps you visualise your end goal (and indeed to set it in the first place). Then the behaviour just falls into place.

All the best and do keep posting and reading stuff on here - it's a fantastically supportive community!

[runforestrun Graduate]

Hi

Like you I struggled for a long time to find some motivation from somewhere to do something, not easy when you have a very active husband who keeps on about the benifits of excersise blah blah blah! which of course I know I just couldn't get myself motivated....I would often wonder what motivated my husband when he would take him self out on a run or the gym or football etc, and wished I could bottle his enthusiaum.. My lightning bolt hit me one day when I was dropping my little girl off at brownies one evening, I saw one of the mums I knew from school just about to start an evening run, she was plugged into her ipod and looked fantastic. I saw her in the playground the following day and told her that I had seen her out the previous evening and she told me that she was doing this C25K running programme, she was so hyped up about it and how she was really enjoying it and that she had lost a stone in weight. She did look really good, and had a glow about her. I thought to myself I need to get me some of that. If she can do it without running before so can I. So that evening for the first time in months I put on my trainers and dusted off my gym card (which the hubby was threatning to cancel) and hit the treadmill. I really did feel great after that first session and felt like I could take on the world. I have been riding off the momentum of that for 3 weeks now, its even spurred me on to eat more healthy. I am hoping that this motivation lasts as I am so far enjoying the journey.

Good luck I hope this helped

[AnnaJ Graduate]

just do it, i was so scared at first that i ran in secret in my local park behind the trees, then the amazing feeling of completing the first run was addictive, i actually struggle now on rest days and have to stop myself from running. and i was the woman who 5 weeks ago used to send my husband upstairs if i needed something cos i was so unfit. its helped me to stop smoking and i saw my mum last week - quote "i have seen you looking a lot slimmer before but never have i seen you looking so well" that will do for me, got disappointed initially cos thought i would be slim straight away but if i could swap this feeling for being a size 10, i would keep this feeling, honestly. just try it, if it suits, then you will find your motivation, if it doesnt then you have lost nothing and at least you'll know youve tried xxx

[GoogleMe Graduate]

For me the secret was to keep it as my secret. The whole 'tell everyone/spend money on getting kitted out just right' was not going to be my recipe for success for a variety of reasons. I have approached the whole thing as a bit of a giggle. "What, me? Run?"

If you are really feeling 'can't be bothered to do anything' and you are not actually doing anything, then it may be worth checking with your GP. If you are depressed, then whilst C25k, especially outside, may work wonders, you may need drug therapy to get you over the first hurdle.

I actually find that telling myself I don't have to do this helps a great deal. I am now at the stage where I do get ready in terms of what I am wearing but I always tell myself I can stop anytime I want.

[bizzyb Graduate]

There are lots of reasons for low motivation, are you over-committed, will it be hard to find the time, have you tried something like this before and not succeeded, deep down do you believe that you can do it?

Whilst I didn't keep running a secret I didn't do any of the "tell everyone, get all the gear stuff" either and just got on with it quietly on my own.

This site was the biggest thing for me for motivation, normally I blog once a week to record what I was doing and several times when I felt like not going out for a session it was the thought of not blogging a run that sent me out.

Also you find groups build up who are at the same stage of the program and they motivate and encourage each other as the weeks go by, I think you should try it, I think you will like it. Best of luck with the program.