How to motivate myself to keep going to the gym?

[Jannes]

I train for more than 8 years now. I grinded for like 5 of them and identified as that gym dude. I reduced my gym time over the years. The last two years I mostly trained 2-3 times a week and for a few months now I only train once a week. It seems like I can actually keep my gains with one big whole body training once a week. But now it's less motivating to go to the gym that one time. I dont identify as that gym guy anymore, I found way more rewarding ways to spent my time. I am happy with my physique so I dont pursue gains anymore. It's all for health and the benefits that come with a muscular built. But that's a very different motivation that certainly doesnt motivate me as deeply. I want to train once a week for the rest of my life to stay fit and sexy but I dont know if I have the motivation to keep at it. Any thoughts on how to hardwire a habit you do only once a week?

[The0Self]

Try twice a week if once is getting tedious in a way that 2-3 wasn’t, for whatever reason. Or 3+ less intense sessions Just as part of your daily routine — Maybe light cardio on off days so you’re “doing gym” every day.

[Jannes]

7 hours ago, The0Self said:

Try twice a week if once is getting tedious in a way that 2-3 wasn’t, for whatever reason. Or 3+ less intense sessions Just as part of your daily routine — Maybe light cardio on off days so you’re “doing gym” every day.

The frequency doesnt really change the quality of the training I think. It's simply that I found more rewarding things so I want to keep it at once a week. 

[Schizophonia]

Why do you absolutely want to go to the gym if you don't like it? 🤔

[The0Self]

7 hours ago, Jannes said:

The frequency doesnt really change the quality of the training I think. It's simply that I found more rewarding things so I want to keep it at once a week. 

You said “it’s less motivating to go to the gym that one time” so maybe if you went twice it would be easier to maintain the habit, is all I’m saying.

[Jannes]

8 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

Why do you absolutely want to go to the gym if you don't like it? 🤔

A muscular built gives me confidence (I feel insecure physically without muscle as I get bullied a lot) its attractive and I really like my body as well, its super healthy (I will have a functional body when I am older) and will help with a lot of disease prevention, its the easiest and safest way to stay in shape. So basically lots of plus it's just not so fun. Like brushing teeth. 

[Jannes]

3 hours ago, The0Self said:

You said “it’s less motivating to go to the gym that one time” so maybe if you went twice it would be easier to maintain the habit, is all I’m saying.

You are right I said that. I guess I am a bit emotional about this. 

Maybe I put a ton of artificial meaning into the gym and this is collapsing a bit which makes me emotional. Maybe I have to reinvent my relationship to the gym in a new way.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Jannes

[Jannes]

I learned that a muscular body doesnt give me inner confidence. 

I learned that there is deeper charm I can develop that far outshines muscles. 

I learned that looking good doesnt make me happy. 

I actually suffered a lot from it. Having a wrong body image, overly strict eating habits, missing out on experiences because I was so focused on the gym. 

I learned that the gym is not enough to fix all problems. 

I went to the gym in my worst times in life. Times I want to shake off. 

 

I lied to myself. But I saw the lie years ago so I am not discovering anything new to be shocked about. I am simply at a point of clearity where I want to reflect on this issue consciously. 

Still going to the gym makes pragmatic sense.

1 hour ago, Jannes said:

A muscular built gives me confidence (I feel insecure physically without muscle as I get bullied a lot) its attractive and I really like my body as well, its super healthy (I will have a functional body when I am older) and will help with a lot of disease prevention, its the easiest and safest way to stay in shape. So basically lots of plus it's just not so fun. Like brushing teeth. 

But deep down I run on passion and romance I am not that much of a pragmatic person. I dont know if I convince myself with this. Doing something half hearted is painful. 

I need to reinvent my relationship to the gym. I could definitely wear a cooler outfit. Buy cool booster which motivate me. These are small motivators. Maybe that's enough. 

It would be best to find a higher value I do it for. 

 

Maybe these are some lines I can use on myself. 

"Going to the gym makes me feel good."

"Going to the gym gives me structure I can built on."

"Going to the gym help me built discipline I can use for all other aspects of life."

Edited November 9, 2023 by Jannes

[The0Self]

12 minutes ago, Jannes said:

"Going to the gym help me built discipline I can use for all other aspects of life."

This imo is the main reason to continue going. Building mental strength. As mental strength and kindness go hand in hand, and kindness and happiness go hand in hand. Just as mental weakness, selfishness, and unhappiness all strongly correlate.

[Schizophonia]

1 hour ago, Jannes said:

A muscular built gives me confidence (I feel insecure physically without muscle as I get bullied a lot) its attractive and I really like my body as well, its super healthy (I will have a functional body when I am older) and will help with a lot of disease prevention, its the easiest and safest way to stay in shape. So basically lots of plus it's just not so fun. Like brushing teeth. 

You don't need to do bodybuilding to be muscular, I do ordinary "muscle strengthening", 3 hours a week, and I still have a better physique than 70% of people. 👁

44 minutes ago, Jannes said:

I learned that a muscular body doesnt give me inner confidence. 

I learned that there is deeper charm I can develop that far outshines muscles. 

I learned that looking good doesnt make me happy. 

I actually suffered a lot from it. Having a wrong body image, overly strict eating habits, missing out on experiences because I was so focused on the gym. 

I learned that the gym is not enough to fix all problems. 

I went to the gym in my worst times in life. Times I want to shake off. 

 

I lied to myself. But I saw the lie years ago so I am not discovering anything new to be shocked about. I am simply at a point of clearity where I want to reflect on this issue consciously. 

Still going to the gym makes pragmatic sense.

But deep down I run on passion and romance I am not that much of a pragmatic person. I dont know if I convince myself with this. Doing something half hearted is painful. 

I need to reinvent my relationship to the gym. I could definitely wear a cooler outfit. Buy cool booster which motivate me. These are small motivators. Maybe that's enough. 

It would be best to find a higher value I do it for. 

 

Maybe these are some lines I can use on myself. 

"Going to the gym makes me feel good."

"Going to the gym gives me structure I can built on."

"Going to the gym help me built discipline I can use for all other aspects of life."

Yeah, I too was matrixed by all that like 2 years ago, orthorexic to the point of doing dry fast to lose fat while killing myself at the gym, or strange practices like avoiding washing myself hair because I found it better more compact (delusional).

Now I eat croissants and coke lol, in fact I'm much more attractive now because I'm more chill (despite insomnia here and there), less worries.
Just a little sport for a correct physique, being clean with a neat haircut > all

Edited November 9, 2023 by Schizophonia

[Schizophonia]

19 minutes ago, The0Self said:

This imo is the main reason to continue going. Building mental strength. As mental strength and kindness go hand in hand, and kindness and happiness go hand in hand. Just as mental weakness, selfishness, and unhappiness all strongly correlate.

No, discipline is good for money, women, sports you love, hygiene and anything else you have a tangible interest in.

If it's just placed in a stupid sport that you don't like, without it having concrete results, it's just useless and even potentially neurotic. Actually there are advantages to being a not very disciplined bear lol, you evolve faster because you capitulate easily when your efforts go into a questionable situation.

[The0Self]

6 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

ordinary "muscle strengthening", 3 hours a week

AKA bodybuilding

That’s what that means. “Bodybuilding, the sport” is niche and obviously not what we’re talking about.

[Jannes]

7 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

You don't need to do bodybuilding to be muscular, I do ordinary "muscle strengthening", 3 hours a week, and I still have a better physique than 70% of people. 👁

Yeah I do the same. Just a 2-3 hour session once a week and I can keep my gains. 

Quote

Yeah, I too was matrixed by all that like 2 years ago, orthorexic to the point of doing dry youth to lose fat while killing myself at the gym, or strange practices like avoiding washing myself hair because I found it better more compact (delusional).

damn

Quote

Now I eat croissants and coke lol, in fact I'm much more attractive now because I'm more chill (despite insomnia here and there), less worries.
Just a little sport for a correct physique, being clean with a neat haircut > all

<3

[The0Self]

4 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

No, discipline is good for money, women, sports you love, hygiene and anything else you have a tangible interest in.

If it's just placed in a stupid sport that you don't like, without it having concrete results, it's just useless and even potentially neurotic. Actually there are advantages to being a not very disciplined bear lol, you evolve faster because you capitulate easily when your efforts go into a questionable situation.

Discipline is never not a strength. If you capitulate easily when things aren’t working out that’s called not being delusional; intelligently cutting your losses. If you don’t apply discipline to that, it will result in worse outcomes than if you applied discipline.

Careful when you’re avoiding things just because they’re hard or scary.

Of course you wouldn’t necessarily want to apply discipline to something you hate. Apply discipline to things you enjoy.

Edited November 9, 2023 by The0Self

[Schizophonia]

1 minute ago, The0Self said:

AKA bodybuilding

I don't think bodybuilders are happy with 3 hours of "chill" bodyweight training in their room per week 👁

[The0Self]

8 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

I don't think bodybuilders are happy with 3 hours of "chill" bodyweight training in their room per week 👁

Moot point and also actually false (perhaps true based on your definition of bodybuilding which isn’t the one being used here). You didn’t read my reply or didn’t understand it. Bodybuilding = any sort of activity done for the purpose of gaining or maintaining muscle mass. Bodybuilding is also a sport, but that form of the word is clearly not what we’re talking about.

Perfect counterexample, just in case you need one still: I “bodybuild” and there have been several weeks wherein I’ve only dedicated 3 very chill hours to it that week. And yes, I didn’t leave the house.

Edited November 9, 2023 by The0Self

[Javfly33]

3 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

I don't think bodybuilders are happy with 3 hours of "chill" bodyweight training in their room per week 👁

What kind of practices you do? 

[Schizophonia]

2 minutes ago, The0Self said:

False, and moot point. You didn’t read my reply or didn’t understand it. Bodybuilding = any sort of activity done for the purpose of gaining or maintaining muscle mass. Bodybuilding is also a sport, but that form of the word is clearly not what we’re talking about.

Yes, but people invoke this notion to talk about important physical work, not in this academic semantics.

If you prefer :  “no need to do a lot of fitness to have a decent physique” 

[Schizophonia]

4 minutes ago, Javfly33 said:

What kind of practices you do? 

Mostly push-ups and hammer curls.
If I don't have a dumbbell, I do curls with a fairly heavy chair lol, that's enough.

[The0Self]

4 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

no need to do a lot of fitness to have a decent physique

Yeah you get out what you put in, in reverse exponential fashion. So 1-2 hours per week is going to be tremendously better than 0, and the second 1-2 hours will not be as powerful as the first 1-2 hours and so on. It’s scalable obviously.

Put in 5-8 hard hours a week and you’ll probably get fantastic results, and 15 hours will probably be even better, albeit maybe only 1-2% better. But 3 hours is still way more bodybuilding than most are doing.

Edited November 9, 2023 by The0Self