Getting really depressed over training motivation.

[hurricane]

Here's the thing guys. I'm 40 years old. A wife with 2 kids and been lifting 22 years. Have had back and heart surgery. I love the gym but as I start to get ready to hit back tonight the motivation is ZERO! It seems like I'll have 1-2 great weeks followed by a week or two of lifting with back and/or chest pain. Its really mentally fucking with me. I can't get a solid routine going right now. The passion just isn't there like before. I'm really at a cross road right now. I am drastically trying to drop weight and its fukin with my head as I see myself shrinking. Any of you have trouble finding that motivation to kill the weights? Right now I'm just mentally exhausted. New position at work. My son just got his license(God help us). The wife was just promoted which will change things. I served almost 16 years in AFSOC so I'm no pussy or quitter. Just hoping some of my boys can help push me through this rut. Really appreciate you guys and thanks in advance.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Maybe change your whole training philosophy. If you've been doing bodybuilding all this time, try Olympic lifting, strongman, powerlifting, Crossfit or whatever it takes to get the spark going again. You can always switch back later once you're through the rut. Or maybe you love it and stick with it, who knows?

 

[hurricane]

Maybe change your whole training philosophy. If you've been doing bodybuilding all this time, try Olympic lifting, strongman, powerlifting, Crossfit or whatever it takes to get the spark going again. You can always switch back later once you're through the rut. Or maybe you love it and stick with it, who knows?

Appreciate the response bud. I need something different that's for sure. Going to the gym is a chore now. It used to be fun. I need to find that again. Appreciate it.

 

[Rockclimber]

I'm in the same boat as you right now, cutting weight will always cause you to lose motivation. You're obviously no quitter so maybe your mind and body just needs a one-week rest?
If you're all gung ho and want to push through it I found the best way to combat fatigue during a cut is a good pre-workout supplement with beta alanine.

 

[Ironlord]

Been there bro... Five kids, I own two businesses so work pretty much non stop. In my 20+years of training I've done bodybuilding, strongman, PL, bodyweight only training.... Whatever I could to shake off the boredom and stay motivated.

Worked through three pec tears, sudden death of my dad, divorce... You just have to remember why you love doing it

 

[Gbro]

Stop being a pussy and get to the gym.

Now that we have that out of the way, we all go through this occasionally. Don't miss a gym day, even if you go in and it's all mechanical. Try a new time or switch to a new routine as suggested earlier.

No matter what, we expect you to check in everyday so we can hold you accountable.

 

[insaiyan93]

Every day as of late, brotha. Getting into the last couple months of this cut and started a new job as well...constantly tired,i wake up needing a nap lol. Always hungry with the low calories, just exhausted mentally and physically. Weaker than youncan possibly imagine.

I just know there is a light at the end and once i get out of the tunnel it will all be worth, just gotta buck up and do it.

 

[hurricane]

Stop being a pussy and get to the gym.

Now that we have that out of the way, we all go through this occasionally. Don't miss a gym day, even if you go in and it's all mechanical. Try a new time or switch to a new routine as suggested earlier.

No matter what, we expect you to check in everyday so we can hold you accountable.

I knew that was coming from one of you. Thanks bro.

 

[DrinkFlintWater]

Just a few ideas bro....in the past, when the gym became a chore, i took off, which made it much harder to get back in. As of late, i switch things up....the same gym can get monotonous day in and day out.....so on the weekends when im home, I switch shit up. Did crossfit for a little while, which ill do again. But also, I go to motivating gyms; I hit up Bevs powerhouse, the Warhouse just to say hi to Dana lynn bailey....for a split second. But the point is, these gyms are MOTIVATING. There are serious heavy hitters there which pushes me harder...
Then I got my little brother who outweighs me by 40lbs. Dude is fucking monster and when are schedules allow, we get a few sessions in....he motivates me.
Just change shit up....the gym, well let me rephrase, gyms use to be fun....years ago. Gyms of today are commercialized and dull as fuck....regardless, good ones are out there. Also, listen to alot of metal...GL brother!

 

[Mbell4377]

Go in and train for fun, do only the exercises you like most...
Don't take it so seriously for awhile, no routine, no tracking workouts, just go in and get a good pump, nothing feels better than a full upper body pump

 

[hurricane]

Just a few ideas bro....in the past, when the gym became a chore, i took off, which made it much harder to get back in. As of late, i switch things up....the same gym can get monotonous day in and day out.....so on the weekends when im home, I switch shit up. Did crossfit for a little while, which ill do again. But also, I go to motivating gyms; I hit up Bevs powerhouse, the Warhouse just to say hi to Dana lynn bailey....for a split second. But the point is, these gyms are MOTIVATING. There are serious heavy hitters there which pushes me harder...
Then I got my little brother who outweighs me by 40lbs. Dude is fucking monster and when are schedules allow, we get a few sessions in....he motivates me.
Just change shit up....the gym, well let me rephrase, gyms use to be fun....years ago. Gyms of today are commercialized and dull as fuck....regardless, good ones are out there. Also, listen to alot of metal...GL brother!

I have been thinking about a change of scenery. Thanks bud.

 

[high-octane]

 

[DonQKong]

I always find the first 2-3 weeks to be a proper chore ... and then slowly, life is starting to change with a focus on gym being a priority. Since you have been working out for so long, can I assume you are running with a pretty fixed routine, as in "that's the routine I've been running for decades and I will take this routine to the grave at all costs"?

Try switching it up, change your routine, try something new, download a new program, set up a proper plan in Excel, measure your progress and weights, add pictures to your diary (or start a diary), get a workout buddy, spend 15 minutes every night watching training motivation youtubes. Learn something new.

But before and above all, ask yourself why you are working out. If the answer is that its what you've been doing for decades and that's what you'll be doing for decades going forward, then I can understand that there is nothing motivating in that. Set some goals, small goals, achieve those goals, then set bigger.

Oh, and did I say stop moaning and get to the flipping gym, fat boy If you don't 6 months from now, I'll be leaner, stronger, meaner, handsomer and even better while you'll just be that fat, middle-aged dude in the gym who says "I used to lift that".

DQ

 

[Mrfreeza1]

Fuck motivation . Do it even if its not much but routine is key

 

[Beano223]

Oh days I feel off I chug a preworkout and hit cardio for like 10 min get myself pumped up then hit the weights

 

[staynattybruh]

Have been like this since around feb. Instead of taking time off because it just puts you way far back and mentally fucks you even more, ive literally just go in and do whatever the fuark i feel like doing. As long as i maintain and keep losing weight then its fine... and guess what... i have a much better mindset of everything. Seriously, more energy throughout the day, cutting is much easier, and I'm not constantly obsessed and punishing myself for not progressing or if i go out with the guys and eat some pizza and drink a few beers. Since i dont fuckin punish myself its been so much easier to get back on track the next day. I just accept what happend and move on.


That being said, I couldn't compete with this type of attitude. But i just want to look AND feel good.

 

[Sk8man101]

Sometimes trying a new supplement or preworkout really motivates me to try and kill it in the gym.

Sometimes finding a new partner to lift with too, like someone who's always bugging you about it, will help me get back in the groove.

EVERYONE struggles with staying committed to the gym life brother no matter how much we love the gym.

 

[Sk8man101]

Last one, and it seems to work better for the girls than it does us guys.
But pick something in the future you want to look good for, even if your not competing, like a vacation or a party or something. Whenever my girl really starts hit the gym hard is when she has like an end date with a goal of what she wants to look like by that date and it motivates here.

 

[hurricane]

I always find the first 2-3 weeks to be a proper chore ... and then slowly, life is starting to change with a focus on gym being a priority. Since you have been working out for so long, can I assume you are running with a pretty fixed routine, as in "that's the routine I've been running for decades and I will take this routine to the grave at all costs"?

Try switching it up, change your routine, try something new, download a new program, set up a proper plan in Excel, measure your progress and weights, add pictures to your diary (or start a diary), get a workout buddy, spend 15 minutes every night watching training motivation youtubes. Learn something new.

But before and above all, ask yourself why you are working out. If the answer is that its what you've been doing for decades and that's what you'll be doing for decades going forward, then I can understand that there is nothing motivating in that. Set some goals, small goals, achieve those goals, then set bigger.

Oh, and did I say stop moaning and get to the flipping gym, fat boy If you don't 6 months from now, I'll be leaner, stronger, meaner, handsomer and even better while you'll just be that fat, middle-aged dude in the gym who says "I used to lift that".

DQ

Your exactly right bud. While I haven't done the same exact thing for 22 years it has been pretty close. And yes I've been forcing myself to go because that's what I do. I lift. Now I just go through the motions while I'm there. Just thinking to myself this sucks why are you still doing this. I need a new goal or routine. I'm just a stubborn fuk and a creature of habit. Thank you for taking the time to respond bro. I have to find that drive again.

 

[hurricane]

Last one, and it seems to work better for the girls than it does us guys.
But pick something in the future you want to look good for, even if your not competing, like a vacation or a party or something. Whenever my girl really starts hit the gym hard is when she has like an end date with a goal of what she wants to look like by that date and it motivates here.

Good point. Were going to Puerto Rico the end of July. I feel everyday I'm wasting is a day I won't look as good on vacation. Its just a mind fuk right now and I'm letting it beat me. Have to get over this hump.