Creating motivation to exercise

‘’Mind" or "mindset" is something I talk about frequently. I thought about it today when I read a comment by Herman Groman on the Fitness Over 60’ish Facebook group. He said “I didn’t feel like going to the gym today….  So, I went to the gym and worked out today!” I liked that and had a little chuckle when I read it!  

I’m 92 and I exercise at home and although I almost always look forward to doing my exercises, sometimes I need to use my mindset to motivate myself. Sometimes we just don’t feel like exercising but we need to do it anyway.

There’s a powerful motivation that has somehow been created in my mind and maybe in all of us who exercise regularly. We all have the mindset that at some point says ‘it’s time to exercise.”  And we do. I’ve often wondered why. In my case I want to be healthy and I want to be fit. I’ve been unhealthy and unfit before in my life and I didn’t like it.

Exercising regularly became a habit and like all habits there’s something in my mind that says it’s time for me to exercise, so I do. Maybe my mind is telling me that if I exercise, I’ll be healthy and can go and run around with my grandkids or maybe if I do my exercises, I’ll stay fit and won’t have to see my doctor about something. I don’t know what it is but there’s something pretty big that keeps me motivated. A contributing thing could be the number of experts who say how important regular exercise is.

I’m 92 and I exercise at home and although I almost always look forward to doing my exercises, I know exactly how Herman feels. I think it’s the "mind" thing that comes into play in instances like this. Sometimes we just don’t feel like exercising but we end up doing it anyway. Exercising, to me, is a personal thing, often no one even knows I’m doing them or have done them, and I don't talk about it. Something inside me just tells me I should do my exercises now. It’s time! So, I do them. I do them at home so it’s easy.

I want to be healthy and I want to be fit. I’ve been unhealthy and unfit before in my life and I didn’t like it. Exercising regularly became a habit and like all habits there’s something in my mind that says it’s time for me to exercise, so I do.

There’s a powerful motivation that has somehow been created in my mind and maybe in all of us who exercise regularly. We all have the mindset that at some point says ‘it’s time to exercise.”  And we do. I’ve often wondered why. In my case I want to be healthy and I want to be fit. I’ve been unhealthy and unfit before in my life and I didn’t like it. Exercising regularly became a habit and like all habits there’s something in my mind that says it’s time for me to exercise, so I do.

Maybe my mind is telling me that if I exercise, I’ll be healthy and can go and run around with my grandkids or maybe if I do my exercises, I’ll stay fit and won’t have to see my doctor about something. I don’t know what it is but there’s something pretty big that keeps me motivated. A contributing thing could be the number of experts who say how important regular exercise is.

My doctor often says, “Keep on doing whatever it is you’re doing.” And, by the way, I’m careful about what I eat. I like food, and I eat just about anything including desserts and I take several supplements including protein. I’m just careful not to eat too much. I want to keep my weight normal and only adjust the quantity if I have to. Another thing about exercising that I’ve come to realize is that I want to get the routine over early in my day so I can get on with other things.

I’m careful about what I eat. I like food, and I eat just about anything including desserts and I take several supplements including protein. I’m just careful not to eat too much.

There are many sayings that contribute to keeping me motivated. One that I like is ‘if you rest, you rust.’ Another, made famous by the Dipsea Demon is ““You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.” I wrote about this in another post, "The Dipsea Demon." 

There are a couple of things to think about as we reach old age. One is that we become vulnerable to our own increasing natural frailties and the other are unforeseen mishaps. They can both sneak up and occur at any time, so keep vigilant.

There are a couple of things to think about as we reach old age. One is that we become vulnerable to our own increasing natural frailties and the other are unforeseen mishaps. They can both sneak up and occur at any time, so keep vigilant. We often forget our age and think we can still do this or that and maybe we still can but maybe not or we shouldn't!  I think that just staying fit and healthy and being able to live my life as usual is the most powerful motivation for me!