Get up in the morning, take off all your clothes and look in the mirror.
That should be enough motivation to last the day.

What kind of exercise are you talking about?  At a gym?  If so, paying them
every month should be a good motivator.  At home inside?  Outside?  

I usually work out before work at the Y, which means I have to get up and
out the door earlier than I would have to otherwise (which is not that big
a deal since I have an afternoon job.)  Anyway, there are days when I don't
feel motivated, and I'd like to just spend the time on the computer or
watching tv.  What I do on those days is I play a little game with myself.  
I warn you, this is kind of silly but it works for me. When it's time to
get ready to leave, I pretend I'm in a race and I have to get showered,
dressed, teeth brushed, stuff gathered, cat fed, lights turned off, and out
the door and in my car as fast as I can. I do a mental "ready, set, go!"
and then I get my a.s in gear.  Since I'm forcing myself to hurry, there is
no time for thoughts such as "But just skipping one day won't hurt . . ."

If that idea doesn't appeal to you, just use whatever you use to get
yourself motivated for other things you don't want to do, but have to
anyway.  And take heart, it only requires motivation and will power in the
beginning, eventually it becomes a habit that you don't even consider not
doing, like brushing your teeth. And if you find something you enjoy doing,
then just like a great new toothpaste flavor, it will make it something you
want to do, not just have to do.

Ultimately, you have to be your own motivation.  I know it's so hard, but
you have to believe that once you get started you'll like the way it feels
and the effect it has on your weight loss.  Try to just get up and go for a
walk, just to get moving.  Or do a simple bodyweight-only lifting routine
for fifteen minutes a couple of times a week.  Start small.  A surefire way
to sabotage your efforts is to set unrealistic goals to start - like "I will
do 45 minutes of cardio five days a week!" when right now you are doing
nothing.  So focus on adding a little bit at a time.  If you like the way it
feels you will find yourself making time for it and even looking forward to
workouts!

A huge source of motivation for me was and is
www.stumptuous.com/weights.html .  I'm almost evangelical about this site.
It's full of tremendous information and inspiration.

carla

Hi Nikole,

I have been on the Atkins diet since August '03.  I have lost about 65lbs
and feel awesome.  I am having a hard time staying motivated lately because
of excercise too however; early on in my weight loss I had no issue.  Here
are some of the things that I did within the first 6 months to keep the
weight loss going.

1.  I used the keto strips DAILY.  Some days I was more active because of
school or shopping and it would definately register on the strips.  They
help keep you motivated when striving to reach the darkest color (which
means you are metabolizing maximum fat).
2.  I simply started moving.  I didn't start a formalized excercise plan..
shoot - I still haven't.  I just started walking in place or dancing around
the room while watching TV or listening to music.  I would do this for about
15 minutes at least 4 times a week.  Once you start doing it you will find
that it is easy to keep up with.  Parking in a far point in the grocery
store parking lot or school parking lot helps also.  Sometimes, I take a
quick strole during lunch at work too.  Nothing formal... just whenever I
can fit it in.
3.  Remember that the more muscle you build the more fat you burn.  Fat
cannot live on a muscular body...so, tell yourself that you are speeding up
your weight loss by moving a little every day.  Even if you pick up some
small hand weights and lift them while working, watching TV, etc... it will
definately help.
All in all, you will find that the more you move the better you feel and the
more you want to excercise.  Also, if you are doing Atkins right than you
should be feeling like moving more than you used to anyway.  If you are not
than you might want to re-examine your diet.  You may be consuming more
sugar than you realize.
Keep up the good work... the major thing that I have learned with Atkins is
that persistance is EVERYTHING.  Falling off the wagon will ALWAYS happen...
getting back on the wagon is the SUPER KEY to continued weight loss while
eating the Atkins way!
Good luck and remember - even if you move for a few minutes a day you are
making a huge difference in the pace in which you loose weight.

-RW

Hi Nikole,
What keeps me motivated about exercising is that is MY time (said in a very
loud tone !)   With kids, hubby and house all demanding their part of me,  I
make sure to view my exercise time as my own personal time.  I don't really
concentrate on what exercises I'm going to do,  but the fact that for 45
minutes on that treadmill, I'm going to listen to MY music,  and read MY
magazines, and not have to talk to anyone.  I love it !!!

Susan S.

I've found that 90% of my sucess in exercising is just showing up at the gym
... so no matter how bad I feel ... if I can just GET to the gym ... then it
all falls into place and I feel great after it's over.

So ... my suggestion is exert just enough effort to GET TO THE GYM and the
rest falls into place.

Placid
203/153/145 - June '03

Hi Nikole, welcome to the group!  32 lbs is GREAT!  I've been out of work for a
long time, so I don't feel qualified to answer on the motivation.  I've been
working out every other day (sometimes I go 3-4 days, though) and I feel GREAT
when I do (most of the time, anyway :-)  My motivation is the dramatic
improvement in my body since I've started working out (see my progress pics noted
in sig).  I look about 15 lbs lighter now than I did at the same weight when I
WASN'T exercising.  I don't have a very STRENUOUS workout because I have a lot of
physical problems, but I do try to do 20-30 minutes on an exercise bike and then
some resistence exercises.  It was hard to do at first, but now I really enjoy
the feeling of control and general well-being I get from it.  Dance music helps a
LOT.  I usually bike in front of the TV, but I keep the closed-captioning on and
listen to music at the same time.  I find that I tend to stay on the bike longer
if I'm watching a silly comedy with no commercial breaks :-)  I exercise at home
-- even if I COULD go to a gym, I KNOW I would have trouble making myself GET
there, but at home I can stay in my jammies, work out and THEN take a shower.  I,
too, am NOT a morning person.  

you do not need to be motivated, psyched, etc. All you need is
exercise. Even if unmotivated.

Right now I am not motivated to lift weights, do pullups, situps, and
walk to train. I will leave the computer and do it for 20 minutes anyway.

i

Start with the small stuff--park your car at the outside perimeter of the
grocery store lot and walk in.  Don't leave your grocery cart in the
lot--take it back in to the store. Use the stairs at work or school.  Don't
keep a soft drink on your desk at work--walk to the water fountain when you
are thirsty.  Never give up a chance to walk to do something instead of
sitting.  Buy an exercise ball and sit on it while watching TV. Buy a book
on exercise ball activities...you can do these in front of the TV!   You can
even do crunches and leg lifts while watching TV. Make up your mind that you
WILL get up and get going when you should---much of "getting up in the
morning" is just sheer will power.  Buy a couple of dumbbells and start on
some weightlifting with them--that's a good way to start and it uses
calories, too.  And finally, stop making excuses for yourself. If you need
to do exercise, then do it--instead of the excuse "I'm not a morning
person." That translates to:
"it's not my fault. I can't help myself."

Pat in TX