I am a fairly unfit person and so it doesn't take much weight to make me struggle. I know I'm meant to do more, however, it's just really hard for me to push myself like that. Is there anything y'all do to take your mind off protesting muscles or to help yourself keep pushing up that weight until its your muscles that give out and not your willpower?

Sorry for this really newbish question.

I can't really help you with motivation because that comes from within but one tip that I think is pretty good is to count down your reps rather than count up. The idea is that once you've counted down from 10 to 1 (for example), you're more likely to push the last one than if you counted from 1-9because your mind can justify giving up on 9 because it's almost 10 but if you've gone down from 10 to 1 you're more likely to think 'almost there'.

GREAT Tip! I will have to try this as well. Sometimes I really find it hard to get that last rep or two in, but perhaps if I try counting down, rather than up it will help! Thanks, CCR!

As for laraqua, I wish I had some helpful advice. A lot of the time I find it hard to find the motivation, but you know, I've found that usually when I don't want to workout but I do it anyway, I have an even BETTER workout. Good luck!

Oh, it's not about not wanting to work out. It's about being there, all eager, but not wanting to push myself to extremes. Heck, the bicep curl machines make me feel like I'm doing wrong and make my arms sore for days - and that wasn't even me going pell mell into it. So, uh, I don't suppose there's a rule of thumb with delayed onset soreness to show if you're doing what you should be? Two days is good, four or none is bad?

Interesting question. If I feel it, it's usually the next day and ea day gets better.

LOL

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(One can move many mountains with correct spirit and mental toughness, and can create their own avalanche of rocks while trying to go up if one isn't careful.-Chillen)

I write this with the best intentions.

(The following is making a personal observation of myself, please I do not want anyone offended):

When I started, I was a fat tub of lard, with man boobs (and could have flipped them over my shoulder) and they could have easily fit into my wife's bra without a problem, I wore size 38 pants, I couldn’t walk around a block without breathing heavy, I could barely do 5 pushups, barely bench press 80 pounds; I was an old (46 year old) man grossly out of shape, until one day I got out of bed and back pain brought me to my knees and brought tears to my eyes; I said no more. I set a path to educate myself. I got books from the local library, purchased books from various stores, did some research on the internet, and spoke to some knowledgeable persons I knew. I made up my mind, and anyone can ask my wife, once my mind is made up, I can bend steel with it, chew pieces of it, and then spit out the pieces from my mouth, and ask for more. I had two purposes: to prove that a mid forty and middle aged man can lose weight and have abs, and to show my kids what a determined heart can do. This a brief synopsis. I have accomplished both, but it wasn’t easy.


Your Body is distilling your willing; wake up your Spirit to bring more milling, and engage your Heart to eliminate the unwilling.

Your young body is so willing to accept this new application you started. Look at it. It is earnestly willing to accept more repetitions, but your spirit and your heart within your lack of determination to meet your goals is limiting what your body wants to care out. Thus you are stuck, and this is where you will remain--body unchanged, because your heart and your spirit remain unchanged and isn't engaged to the will of the goal you have lack luster in seeking.

No one can change this but you: either you want to change this or you don’t: your body don’t mind it's blind and you have a venetian blind on your heart and spirit, that is undefined and is leaving your body behind. You have to entwine and combine to redefine to let yourself unwind.

Raise your want-o-meter and these important traits tend to follow in tandem. Don’t cry to me you can't do this, this isn't a complicated matter. You don’t have the will to push yourself reasonably to reach your goal to allow the virtues I mentioned; this is your fault.

Open up your eyes, stand up, wake the heck up, open your heart and let the will and desire flow in to your goal, and just see what happens in the gym when you do.

The mind can be a friend and/or foe, in either case you are in control of variances in the equation.

“I am, indeed, a King, because I know how to rule myself.”

You are going to have to master this problem, and I believe the problem isn't in the gym nor a matter of mechanics in the gym, it’s an internal matter and the want connection with your goal.

Note: Are your goals clearly defined? Have you set a path schedule clearly to pave this path you have chosen? Are these goals reachable? Within these diet and training goals, have you set your mind explicitly on the diet (and getting educated on how to approach this diet?), and have you prepared your mind to train through educating yourself on weight training? Educating ones self on the basics of each can have some reach in motivation because one can learn and understand certain functions of the body in the goal journey.

Chillen, I for one, enjoy your posts. Thank you for sharing with us a part of you. It's motivating for me, if no one else. Thank you.

Thank you Beth. The post wasnt about myself. The post was meant to relate to the OP, and open the young mans heart and show it can be done.



Thank you for your kind words.


Best regards,


Chillen

OP: If you have questions about diet, and/or training post them so the members can see these and answer them. Also post your goals and equipment access.

I wish you the best of luck

Best wishes


Chillen

Chillen, I agree with Derwyddon when she says that you have some wonderful things to contribute. However, your chillout log is testament to the fact that there are several of us who enjoy the way you present the information. It's VERY supportive and not everyone presents the information that way. KUDOS to you!!

In the agreement, LOL.

Thank you Beth. I am grateful for taking the time to write those kind words!

and one more thing to add:

LMAO...I know, right?

And trust me...I'm rockin it!!

Bump: OP you come back here and respond.

It's young wo-man, not man. :P

I can see a lot of sense in what you say. I know it's all down to me - though I do believe those bicep curl machines kinda suck compared to other machines because even at easy weights they are very awkward. I've just always been the girl who couldn't get past the second monkey bar because as soon as my hands felt my body weight they'd let go. It's not really motivation, I don't think, as I'll put my body through similar ordeals - particularly my legs or shoulders - with no problem.

It seems to be a biggest issue when it involves my hands or arms, I guess because I've always known them to be my weak spots and I just find it so hard to believe that they're capable of doing anything better than type or play videogames.

I guess if you expect to be mostly incapable of reaching a certain goal you don't push yourself that hard. If you reach it, amazing, but if you find it damn hard, then you probably won't, so why try as hard? Seems to be the case for most people with some things, to not try as hard as you otherwise might because you figure you'd probably fail anyway. With some its maths or english. With some its weight lifting.