Loved The Gym, No motivation

AaronJP1

AaronJP1

Board Sponsor
I use to love going to the gym couldn't keep me out, it was rare but sometimes I'd be in there twice a day.

Lately I've been having trouble sticking to routines and I'm tired quite a bit. Im looking at the gym as a chore not something fun to do like I use to. I've taken breaks and everything.... I need some advice on what to do. I have also noted that I seem to have a lack of energy to even make it to the gym....
 
I've been there, I don't know what your routine and diet was but when i lock down and train hard , eat super clean and not drink or cheat once in awhile it starts to eventually wear on me. I find that allowing certain things in moderation really help me rather then hurt. Now i may get flamed by voicing the stuff I enjoy ONCE IN AWHILE but those who don't like it can suck a fart outa my Áss.

I don't get hammered drunk anymore these days cus I don't like paying for it later. I hate feeling ill! But, I do like to tie on a good buzz and maintain it thru and evening maybe once or twice a month. Usually I'll kill a bottle of red wine or a 2-3 beers with jack on the side to sip and take it slow. get the one hitter out and take a couple puffs of some medical grade helps keep the fun going for me and keeps my alcohol consumption lower while maintaining the zone.

I also like to enjoy my cheat meals, I don't do a full cheat day because I've always ate healthy and too much grease , salt or sugar makes me feel like crap. But! I will mess with some KFC or pizza or Hershey dark chocolate bar or lumpia or ,or ,or ,etc ,etc. usually these meals coincide with my occasional drinking routine.

As far as tired of the gym I do a few different things that for me are hard to change when I get in a comfortable rotation but usually it'll get me motivated again.
Change time of day you hit the gym.
Take 3 days off rather then two and let your body rest.
Add or subtract cardio or switch from running or elliptical to jumping rope and hitting the heavy bag for 3 minute rounds. Switch between split routines to individual body part or vice versa.
Knock off the PWO crap and if you need something try a cup of black coffee (this did wonders for me and my sleep pattern)
Make the sauna part of your regular routine. It helps detox and relax muscle.
Change up your music. Go for something you normally wouldn't do, punk, hardcore ,etc. make it interesting. Music keeps my soul moving and different music drives me in different directions or mindstates.

These are just some suggestions and things I do to keep from becoming a robot . Not all are healthy for your body but in moderation they won't hurt. Gotta feed your soul too brother!
 
Thank you Mike I appreciate the advice...
 
Going through the same thing myself, bro. It's happened before and I've always been able to overcome it by just doing it, even if it pissed me off to go to the gym. Within the hour I was glad I went and especially glad I went while riding the after gym endorphin high.

Have you had your test levels checked?
 
How long have you been training? Do you have any goals and are you seeing any progress?
 
BoneDaddy said:
Going through the same thing myself, bro. It's happened before and I've always been able to overcome it by just doing it, even if it pissed me off to go to the gym. Within the hour I was glad I went and especially glad I went while riding the after gym endorphin high.

Have you had your test levels checked?
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Yeah a while back doc said it was fine. Never told me what it was been a year ago now. Probably re do it again but after I've been off all sups for a few months.

breezy11 said:
How long have you been training? Do you have any goals and are you seeing any progress?
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That could be part of the problem my goals change like the wind and I feel it takes for ever to see progress
 
Some good advice in here... music change.... maybe don't go in with a plan. Listen to your body and train what feels right. As the results show, you will be more and more motivated to keep at it. Usually it takes a while to feel back at ease, but once you jump the hurdle you will be back on fire
 
I've found that a lot of Dr.'s definition of "normal" is quite different than it should be. Once I started to ask to actually SEE the results, I changed my Dr. I'd recheck, SEE the results, and do what you need to do next.
 
AaronJP1 said:
That could be part of the problem my goals change like the wind and I feel it takes for ever to see progress
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I started lifting for sports when I was 14 and have had some really good strength coaches (best one just took the head trainer job with the red sox). Since my athletic career didn't pan out I'm not as into the strengh and conditioning training but whenever I stop seeing progress in the gym I alway return to it. Don't know your training style but Ive found going back to a good strength program gets me motivated and gives good results. My body crapped out on me last year and I lost 25lbs of muscle in about 3 months. I've been using parts of my old coach's routines to get it back pretty fast. If you actually have low T you would probably have a big list of symptoms.
 
breezy11 said:
I started lifting for sports when I was 14 and have had some really good strength coaches (best one just took the head trainer job with the red sox). Since my athletic career didn't pan out I'm not as into the strengh and conditioning training but whenever I stop seeing progress in the gym I alway return to it. Don't know your training style but Ive found going back to a good strength program gets me motivated and gives good results. My body crapped out on me last year and I lost 25lbs of muscle in about 3 months. I've been using parts of my old coach's routines to get it back pretty fast. If you actually have low T you would probably have a big list of symptoms.
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How did u lose 25lbs muscle in 3 months?

:o
 
AaronJP1 said:
How did u lose 25lbs muscle in 3 months?

:o
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Still trying to really figure that out. Pretty much every system in my body shut down and malabsorption was one of the results/causes. For a while I had to bump calories up to 5000 a day to maintain. So far I've got about 15lbs back. HRT seems to help a little but is more of a band-aid until this mess gets figured out.
 
breezy11 said:
Still trying to really figure that out. Pretty much every system in my body shut down and malabsorption was one of the results/causes. For a while I had to bump calories up to 5000 a day to maintain. So far I've got about 15lbs back. HRT seems to help a little but is more of a band-aid until this mess gets figured out.
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Damn in a mess like a fella on here named Midwest Beast
 
Id do Dorian Yates style training, short HIT sessions (40-45 minutes) and several times a week. Go and get out fast.

I knew a bodybuilder who got bored and told me he lost interest but still had a desire to maintain a certain fitness look. He did HIT training every 7-10 days. He would do a full body (just basics) 2-2.5 hour session. If he wore out he would go back in the next morning and finish. If 7 days later he still felt sore he would just take 3 more days off.

Anyways, dont try to save a sinking ship, abandon it.
 
ax1 said:
Id do Dorian Yates style training, short HIT sessions (40-45 minutes) and several times a week. Go and get out fast.

I knew a bodybuilder who got bored and told me he lost interest but still had a desire to maintain a certain fitness look. He did HIT training every 7-10 days. He would do a full body (just basics) 2-2.5 hour session. If he wore out he would go back in the next morning and finish. If 7 days later he still felt sore he would just take 3 more days off.

Anyways, dont try to save a sinking ship, abandon it.
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Yeah lol, I got wore out from a basic full
Body as well...

Do you know what he routine look liked and what it consisted of?

I just feel body isn't letting me grow like I should.
 
AaronJP1 said:
Yeah lol, I got wore out from a basic full
Body as well...

Do you know what he routine look liked and what it consisted of?

I just feel body isn't letting me grow like I should.
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I usually didnt see him workout the entire time, lol

He would just do 1 set for each exercise (not including warmups) HIT style but he would take 5-6 minutes off between sets. Just all the basics, squats, deadlifts, bench, dumbbell rows, shrugs, etc...

You see, he didnt even want to be in there anymore. He told me he wants to be in the gym as little as possible and he routine did work for him. What he did maintained his look and power. Keep in mind his diet was in check all week.

His philosophy always was (even when he was competing) to do very low volume, very heavy and low rep.

If I was in your shoes Id just do everything you can to just maintain what you have, dont let it slip away because thats not who you are. Take a minimalist but effective approach during your down time and keep the diet in check.
 
Thx. Yeah surprising that mainted things for some1 at that level...

He wanted to be a normal person after all that huh lol
 
AaronJP1 said:
Thx. Yeah surprising that mainted things for some1 at that level...

He wanted to be a normal person after all that huh lol
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Well he wouldnt be competition ready thats for sure, and far from his prime but he happily keeps up at a certain level he is satisfied with (and impressive,) at the same time being mentally fresh taking the 1 day a week approach.

Ive been burnt out myself lately, been training 4 days a week 90 minute sessions. I just accept that if it feels like work, its a job I must do or Ill just die (no not really, but just my attitude, lol.) I really think its just the winter and I cant wait for warm weather again but Ive actually made progress with my up and downhill battles in the gym the last couple of months.

Maybe having the gym feel like work doesnt have to be such a bad thing after all. Pretend you have a movie roll and you must be in shape or your entire financial life will collapse or something. I mean we all go to work after all, usually not because we want to but because we have too, and we still do a good job doing it, right?
 
jiggamanbill said:
Hows the motivation been lately?
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Eh, just ok...
It came back and sunk off again cuz things picked up at work. Should be back on track in a few days or next week.
Thx for the check up!
 
ax1 said:
I really think its just the winter and I cant wait for warm weather again but Ive actually made progress with my up and downhill battles in the gym the last couple of months.
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The winter actually has a strong correlation to the human body and mood in terms of motivation. It's somewhat compared to how a bear hibernates during the winter. I know we all want to say we are gorillas but closer to a bear lol. That is about the easiest way that I can compare why the cold season effects mostly everyone. I must say myself, training during the winter is the toughest thing I put up with. Lose all motivation and just want to stop.

Now as for what I do to combat the feelings of wanting to stop....it's the reason why we found this site...GO ON CYCLE. Just like a bear, they eat a grip before the winter...I just go on cycle eat a grip during the winter, bulk the **** up, go on cut right before summer. I honestly don't think there is anything to keep you out of the gym while on cycle at all. Like you said 2 times a day, when ON, I feel compelled to do a double routine, or i'll leave and a couple hours be back.

I'm honestly thinking why you don't want to be there has to do with the seasons...imo why australians are a little bit larger than the average american haha. They do get the seasons, but they are so much shorter
 
Switching to a full body 3x a week & going to go heavy :) any advie?

Been feeling much better lately, think I was burned out....
 
T-Bone said:
You may be over-training. It takes some time to recover from that. I'd take at least two full weeks off from all exercise. Keep calories up also.
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That's about roughy what I did. Glad I did ;)
 
xigotmailx said:
The winter actually has a strong correlation to the human body and mood in terms of motivation. It's somewhat compared to how a bear hibernates during the winter. I know we all want to say we are gorillas but closer to a bear lol. That is about the easiest way that I can compare why the cold season effects mostly everyone. I must say myself, training during the winter is the toughest thing I put up with. Lose all motivation and just want to stop.

Now as for what I do to combat the feelings of wanting to stop....it's the reason why we found this site...GO ON CYCLE. Just like a bear, they eat a grip before the winter...I just go on cycle eat a grip during the winter, bulk the **** up, go on cut right before summer. I honestly don't think there is anything to keep you out of the gym while on cycle at all. Like you said 2 times a day, when ON, I feel compelled to do a double routine, or i'll leave and a couple hours be back.

I'm honestly thinking why you don't want to be there has to do with the seasons...imo why australians are a little bit larger than the average american haha. They do get the seasons, but they are so much shorter
Click to expand...

I'm just the opposite as far as lifting goes, I don't wanna lift anything in the summer and love the working out in the winter. Hell I love bundling up and garage lifting in 20* weather. I just feel stronger for some reason. In the summer the only time I want to be in the sun is lying on the beach or next to a pool with a cold beer. Other then that I only come out at night. Love a hot ass summer night and jumping on the bike for a ride stopping for the occasional ice cold beer and people watching then moving on.
 
My motivation has been back!


:thumbsup:
 
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