Motivation, age 45 and up

[megaverse]

During high school and before I was 30 motivation was not a problem, now it's my #1 problem. I rarely train now, but want to get back into BBing and maybe powerlifting.

Several years ago I bought $350 worth of BBing DVD's/VHS tapes of Platz and others training/flexing and a stack of old Weider mags to page through, to plant a visual seed in my brain. IT DIDN'T WORK. I sold/gave it all away. What can I do to get and stay motivated?

[bustasinclair]

Try this.....it worked for me!

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/oldsuperman/

[bikes4u]

Originally Posted by megaverse

During high school and before I was 30 motivation was not a problem, now it's my #1 problem. I rarely train now, but want to get back into BBing and maybe powerlifting.

Several years ago I bought $350 worth of BBing DVD's/VHS tapes of Platz and others training/flexing and a stack of old Weider mags to page through, to plant a visual seed in my brain. IT DIDN'T WORK. I sold/gave it all away. What can I do to get and stay motivated?

write your workouts and results in a notebook and compare week to week. Some take a before and monthly picture. Remember Albert Beckles was still competing professionally at 58. Edit: just saw he was competing at 62. Age is not really a factor.

[megaverse]

Originally Posted by bikes4u

write your workouts and results in a notebook and compare week to week. Some take a before and monthly picture. Remember Albert Beckles was still competing professionally at 58. Edit: just saw he was competing at 62. Age is not really a factor.

Albert Beckles had that inner drive that I never had. Even when I was lifting, I would be into it for several weeks and then start missing workouts and then start missing many workouts and my membership would expire and it might be years before I got a new membership. I'm asking how can I develop that "inner drive" to do 3-5 workouts per week?

[2nd_chance]

For me it's more exciting now at 46 to build muscle than it was at 20. No one expects people our age to have great physiques. To accomplish that is more rewarding at mid-life. I'm not there yet, but I'm gonna be....

[megaverse]

Thanks Bustasinclair!! I'll have to read it!

It looks like this bloke has plenty of motivation, perhaps he even enters contests. I don't want to compete, but I do want to stop missing workouts because I am not motivated.

[shlape]

Originally Posted by megaverse

What can I do to get and stay motivated?

Reading up on the posts in the over 35 forums has kinda rekindled the motivation for me. Hearing people say they look better at 40, 50, or 60 than they did when they were 20 or 30, as well as seeing their results has blown away the old "it's all downhill after 21" BS I had drummed into my head.

[chodan9]

IMO motivation is over rated
it comes and goes
its nice when its here but you cant rely on it.

Stick with consistency and building good habits.
This way you will stick with it when the motivation is gone, and really tear it up when the motivation strikes.

[freebirdmac]

Phfftt. Never lifted before 19 months ago. All I have to do is look in the mirror for motivation.

[ironwill2008]

Sorry, but I can't think of a single thing to post that will motivate you. It has to come from inside your heart and your head, and is something you'll have to figure out on your own. Guys/ladies who have been training for 20+ years, or whatever, are cut from a different cloth than the average person.

[hochspeyer]

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

Phfftt. Never lifted before 19 months ago. All I have to do is look in the mirror for motivation.

Reps for an honest answer that I can relate to!

[Fifty+]

Originally Posted by megaverse

Albert Beckles had that inner drive that I never had. Even when I was lifting, I would be into it for several weeks and then start missing workouts and then start missing many workouts and my membership would expire and it might be years before I got a new membership. I'm asking how can I develop that "inner drive" to do 3-5 workouts per week?

Is it possible you're using bodybuilding as a substitution for the unknown? What exactly do you want from yourself? Are your goals created from necessity or passion? Inner drive comes from passion. Necessity is doing something because you believe you have to. When it comes to lifting weights, where are you? The answers to your questions can only be answered by you. Re-evaluate your goals. What do you really want to do?

[IronCharles]

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

Sorry, but I can't think of a single thing to post that will motivate you. It has to come from inside your heart and your head, and is something you'll have to figure out on your own.

This is truth. If you are looking for motivation, you need to first be clear about why you even want to train or bodybuild in the first place. If you just think you should do it because it sounds like a good thing to do, you are destined to fail. Without a clear goal in mind, there can be no real motivation.

[blastertech70]

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

Sorry, but I can't think of a single thing to post that will motivate you. It has to come from inside your heart and your head, and is something you'll have to figure out on your own. Guys/ladies who have been training for 20+ years, or whatever, are cut from a different cloth than the average person.

I think some people get motivation and determination confused. If a person lacks motivation maybe that person does't have a clear veiw of what their actual goals really are.

In my case I think my goals have a big influence on my motivation and the determination drives me to get there.

Does that make any sence ?? lol

[yakabebe]

Originally Posted by megaverse

During high school and before I was 30

Where you still in H/S then ...just before 30????

Maybe thats the problem....

Seriously though....

Getting up
Off your
Ass and a
Little bit of Luck should lead to
Success

What I'm trying to say is a set a goal. Make it a small one. An achievable, believable, measurable and time constrained goal and use that to lead to your next and so on

Before you know it you'll be a fair way along the path

[abs101]

I agree with all thee above,I think when you go into a doctors office these days and see every chair taken all the time,thats what you are in for,you can eather train 3 days a week and eat healthy food and go get your yearly check-up,or you can keep doing what your doing and you will be there every other day,thats not what retirement time is all about,there is no magic pills or anything ellse out there,no ....you dont have to be a bodybuilder to be in healthy shape,like the above said pick a goal and then go for it,dont let anything stand in your way,repeat to yourself over and over I am going to but myself in the best shape in my life starting today,go for it.

[DaddyR]

I had little motivation (and several bouts of serious illness) throughout my 30s, and slowly got fat and lazy. Suddenly in my mid-40s I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, both in the same week, and put on all sorts of medications for it. Now I've got plenty of motivation! I realize that I need to get my butt in shape and keep it in shape or else I'll have a miserable remainder of my life on this earth, taking pills and getting sicker.

THAT is now the source of my motivation, but I didn't get it until about 2 years ago. Before then I figured I could work out anytime I felt like it and not worry if I didn't have the time or felt like pigging out for a year or two.

[jtroster]

Start a journal here and we will motivate you.

[theKurp]

What if every human born lived well into their 90's and beyond? The world would run out of resources to support the population.

As such, we're programmed to self-destruct before our genetically programmed maximum lifespan.

So, you have two choices:

a) Succumb to your innate behaviors designed to accelerate your demise
b) Take control and make conscious decisions which will enable you to live a long healthy life

Motivation comes from within. How strong is your desire to live? Give in or give effort. Your choice.

[GreenWave1]

I can't motivate you. You have to find it inside of you. The only advice I will give is (as Chodan said) be consistent. Find a routine that you enjoy and do it consistently. At some point (it may be 3 months, may be a year) you will turn a corner and find that life is just easier and better. After you turn that corner, you will have all the motivation you need.

Good luck!

[Zyn]

I challenge you to give it all you have for just one 12 week cycle. I mean read up on a diet and routine and follow it for just 12 weeks. If you can just do that for yourself, the rest just may take over. Others will compliment you on your changes, and you will see a difference in the mirror. Just as importanly, you will feel the difference. And I really mean that. All of this will be motivation to push harder.

Once you start seeing the positive effects of weightlifting, there will be no turning back. It will become an addiction. One of the few addictions that are good for you. Others have stated....just stay consistant. This means with training, diet, and rest. Once you have that under control for a short while, the positive results will be motivation to continue.

I wish you luck and hope you succeed in this. And l look forward to hearing about your success in 12 weeks.

[snoack]

You want some motivation?

Here's an idea-

look in the mirror


If you're okay with what you see, then stick with what you're doing. Otherwise, take steps to change it.

[GoPastThePain]

Like many people have said already, motivation comes from within. Usually a person gets motivated to make changes (lose weight, stop smoking, get in shape, etc.) when they are completely dissatisfied with the way they are right now. A person usually has to hit rock bottom for that to happen.

[skiboy1955]

So much good advice from so many people!
How can you not be motivated ... I am just reading everything!!

And like many said it has to come from within yell out "I need to work out"!
Just like an alcoholic needs to say "I'm an alcoholic and I need help".

That is the foundation to build a pond.

I think you want to get things fast and this is a slow process and you have to be patience. Set real obtainable goals and work for them and force your self to the gym. Because once you are there you'll want to work out.
At my age I decided to go into powerlifting, because of the memories of bodybuilding in the 70's and 80's and the diet I just didn't want to be bothered by it again. It was painful but I looked great!!
Today I work out 4 days a week, Have completed in a World Class power meet and have set 3 world records in my age and weight class. And to make things even better for me I just read the Powerlifting USA magazine and I have an honourable mention in it for my records. But it was hard to get that and now it is even going to be harder.
It is never going to get easier as you get better so find out what you want then look in the mirror and tell that guy!!

[pmartel]

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

Phfftt. Never lifted before 19 months ago. All I have to do is look in the mirror for motivation.

X10.

I should add that at 7 months, I want to see just how far I can go.

While not into competition, having started ONLY at 51 years old, this is now a challenge and want to see how far I can go.

[megaverse]

Originally Posted by chodan9

IMO motivation is over rated
it comes and goes
its nice when its here but you cant rely on it.

Stick with consistency and building good habits.
This way you will stick with it when the motivation is gone, and really tear it up when the motivation strikes.

I agree, motivation comes and goes, but linked to it IS my problem of being "consistant". I almost need to move across the street from the gym to make it there when I say I want to be there.

[megaverse]

Originally Posted by IronCharles

This is truth. If you are looking for motivation, you need to first be clear about why you even want to train or bodybuild in the first place. If you just think you should do it because it sounds like a good thing to do, you are destined to fail. Without a clear goal in mind, there can be no real motivation.

You pic is awesome! I first got interested in BBing at 14 or 15 and read a lot/learned a lot and attended the 1981 and 1984 Olympia and met a few pros, but never stuck with it. No one would ever confuse me with a BBer back then or now, however at least I am no longer a toothpick. I just don't want some to think they could walk over me, because I don't have a bullneck and shoulders.

[megaverse]

[QUOTE=theKurp;353762281]What if every human born lived well into their 90's and beyond? The world would run out of resources to support the population.

As such, we're programmed to self-destruct before our genetically programmed maximum lifespan.

So, you have two choices:

a) Succumb to your innate behaviors designed to accelerate your demise
b) Take control and make conscious decisions which will enable you to live a long healthy life

I agree, motivation comes from within, but how can I put it there? Thank you everyone who has replied so far!!!!!!

[megaverse]

Originally Posted by Zyn

I challenge you to give it all you have for just one 12 week cycle. I mean read up on a diet and routine and follow it for just 12 weeks. If you can just do that for yourself, the rest just may take over. Others will compliment you on your changes, and you will see a difference in the mirror. Just as importanly, you will feel the difference. And I really mean that. All of this will be motivation to push harder.

Once you start seeing the positive effects of weightlifting, there will be no turning back. It will become an addiction. One of the few addictions that are good for you. Others have stated....just stay consistant. This means with training, diet, and rest. Once you have that under control for a short while, the positive results will be motivation to continue.

I wish you luck and hope you succeed in this. And l look forward to hearing about your success in 12 weeks.

I can't even start now, with so manyproblems in my life, such as helping my elderly parents and trying to raise $100,000 for home repairs, when is there time for such things as going to a gym??? (and I don't even have a wife/kids to bother with, what a blessing it is to be single!!!!)

[megaverse]

Originally Posted by GoPastThePain

Like many people have said already, motivation comes from within. Usually a person gets motivated to make changes (lose weight, stop smoking, get in shape, etc.) when they are completely dissatisfied with the way they are right now. A person usually has to hit rock bottom for that to happen.

Great answer!