[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
Everyone has days when they don’t feel like lifting, no matter how dedicated they may be. It doesn’t mean you should get a new hobby or that you’re a bitch. Like kaisermetal said go in and do your main lift and assess how you feel or take the day off and hit the gym hard the next day. You are training 5 out of 7 days so that leaves two free days to make up a missed workout.
On the other hand, if someone doesn’t feel like training just because it’s leg day instead of biceps, then they would would fall into the bitch category.[/quote]
Definitely, unquestionably the best post in this thread.
Although hearing the words from vets like Steely and CB are good things to internalize.
Getting training in on a certain day should both be a big deal and not that big of a deal at all. IDK if that makes sense, but it’s about the closest thing to “correct” I can put into words, I think.
Theres been some days i have not felt like lifting i usually always still go however sometimes when this happens i get in there and have amazing workout. The first time I ever benched 260 was a day i did not want to go because i had gotten so little sleep the night before and went and it was awesome.
Other times i go and its less productive and I leave early or cut certain exercises out. This happens less now but Im still human. I found what helped is I watched that kai greene movie where hes getting ready for the olympia and the way he looked just so tired and drained I came to think that I really do not think this guy is thinking about anything at all right now. He would barely even talk.
When its possible I think a good strategy is at least in terms with negative thoughts about going to the gym on a day you dont feel like it is to just make those thoughts dead, try and make your mind blank and keep it like that til after the workouts over. Sounds weird but has helped me a lot with overcoming things i dont want to do but know I have to
I think OP just had a bad day. I wouldnt be too harsh on his motivation etc etc.
About once in every 10-14 days I will have a day when I feel tired and “unmotivated”. On those days I take a rest day and make up for it on what was meant to be a rest day. No biggie.
[quote]Kelfkens wrote:
Can’t think of “not wanting to lift”
I always wanna train, hence why i freakin hate rest days and social days haha.
I even train when I’m sick…[/quote]
Same here
I’ll even think of excuses why I should go to the gym, despite getting to the point of diminishing returns.
It’s so true that certain things are like a drug addiction, and it IS a drug - your whole body surges with adrenaline and other “happy” hormones during training…you need your ‘hit’ lol
[quote]Kelfkens wrote:
Can’t think of “not wanting to lift”
I always wanna train, hence why i freakin hate rest days and social days haha.
I even train when I’m sick…[/quote]
Same here
I’ll even think of excuses why I should go to the gym, despite getting to the point of diminishing returns.
It’s so true that certain things are like a drug addiction, and it IS a drug - your whole body surges with adrenaline and other “happy” hormones during training…you need your ‘hit’ lol[/quote]
I defenitly need my fix at least 5 days in the week…
So true finding excuses… I go “I need to do some cardio…” and I’ll end up hitting the weights haha.
Some days I have to hit the gym so exhausted and tired because of my job. Some days, I go because it’ll be the only hour available to me in the next 5 days - regardless of how I feel. I usually grind through it, but if I’m not feeling it, I usually just do a “light day”, i.e., bench 50-lb dumb bells for 20 reps, do 200-lb deadlifts, etc., work on my form and try to work up a sweat. I find the “low intensity” workout is great for contemplation.
But if I’m feeling really crappy, which tends to happen more and more as I’m aging - well, I just take a day off. Sometimes, it’s what you need the most.
Someone already mentioned this but I find it works. I get one hour a day, three days a week where I can workout at work…nice bennie…there are days tho when I just dont feel it. BUT…I convince myself to go in the gym and do just one set of…anything…curls for example. Once I’m in ther it just takes over and I complete my workout. It’s just a matter of forcing yourself somedays. I always am happy after I went in there. I love the pump and I love the changes I see happening again. Just like when I was young. Not so dramtic cuz I’m 53, but still…its awesome
[quote]Samir wrote:
“A Career” - I know what you’re saying brother.
Some days I have to hit the gym so exhausted and tired because of my job. Some days, I go because it’ll be the only hour available to me in the next 5 days - regardless of how I feel. I usually grind through it, but if I’m not feeling it, I usually just do a “light day”, i.e., bench 50-lb dumb bells for 20 reps, do 200-lb deadlifts, etc., work on my form and try to work up a sweat. I find the “low intensity” workout is great for contemplation.
But if I’m feeling really crappy, which tends to happen more and more as I’m aging - well, I just take a day off. Sometimes, it’s what you need the most.[/quote]
YUP…again, at 53…days off are soooo appreciated. Harder to recover at my age…LOL
I agree with Steely and Counting, great advice. I have been lifting for about 28 years and if I am getting stale in the gym I normally change up what I am doing. I also get my motivation from having young lifting partners and stealing some of their enthusiasm. The key is to just push through all the bullshit in your head and concentrate on the task at hand.
As far as getting older or being an older lifter, I did have to change some things that I did to compensate for getting old. But the intensity is still there when I am in the gym. Jason just posted this today and it is pretty close to what I do anyway…
As far as getting older or being an older lifter, I did have to change some things that I did to compensate for getting old. But the intensity is still there when I am in the gym. Jason just posted this today and it is pretty close to what I do anyway…
[/quote]
^Good stuff, I agree and have pretty much incorporated a number of those myself. ‘feeling your age’ can certainly contribute to not being fired up to train on some days. Approaching things in a smarter manner has helped me as well. Some days, my back just doesn’t feel like it’s going to cooperate with squats, and it’s a bit more difficult to get amped up for leg presses -lol.