depression, lack of motivation, feeling horrible about life...

**tripmachine** · 03-03-2008, 01:51 PM

Hi everyone that takes the time to read this... sometimes I wonder what keeps you all motivated. I actually have been really motivated a bit over a month ago but the last month for me has been pretty low... I went through a solid 7-10 days of horrible sickness that kept me out of the gym and actually screwed up my diet as well... After that sickness I have been having the HARDEST time getting motivated and getting back into the gym / diet on check. I have a g/f of 5 years or so now so girls aren't really the motivating factor right now as it once was. I absolutely KNOW working out makes me feel better about my everyday life but I still find myself NOT going to the gym.... I have never really felt this way before and really wanted to see if I could get some good advice from some members regarding this subject.... ANY information or advice you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

what keeps YOU motivated?
what might you suggest for myself to get back on track and STAY on track?

about a month ago i was 215lbs ..... after eating horrible / not working out for a bit over a month i weighed myself yesterday and i was 198lbs.... obviously weight means less to me than most people that think weight is the main factor in being 'fit / healthy' I know 198 NOW is worse than my 215 35 days ago... I seriously see myself being 300+ lbs if I keep heading this direction.... Thanks in advance

**LawMan018** · 03-03-2008, 02:29 PM

I went thru something similar back in highschool. My senior year in highschool I loved working out, absolutely loved it. I was addicted. The year started out great I was looking amazing and then I got a gf. After awhile I stopped working out as much and every time I went to the gym I was thinking, "This is boring, I could be doing something so much better." And I'd lose my focus and decide I'd make it up another day, and it just repeated till I stopped going to the gym. After about a year I lost just about all my gains (15 lbs.) and looked like my scrawny regular self and seeing that actually was my motivating factor. I quickly began analyzing some of Arnold's workouts and started out working out very rigorously... In about 2-3 months I brought my weight up and my gf ended up dumping me so I got depressed and started going down in weight and gym time. However I wasn't out for long and I've been going strong ever since. For my the motivating factor was seeing myself skinny again and ever since being picked on heavily in middle school I've dreaded going back... Another thing you might try is a new supplement... Sometimes when my focus is lacking I'll overhype myself on some new supplement and make it seem to work better then it actually is... Or the best yet for me, better then any supplement, is music. Get an Ipod, get some hard music, and blast it! I was going "alright" in the gym when I had some crappy earbuds and only 1 worked until I bought some new ones a couple weeks later. With the music louder and harder it pumped me up more.

**Drummerboy** · 03-03-2008, 02:36 PM

go with the flow man... maybe your hormones are a little out of whack? sometimes it just becomes less important to be huge... life changes

RA · 03-03-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by tripmachine

what keeps YOU motivated?

Im actually to the point where I WANT to work out 7 days a week...I wish my body could take it

Having said that I think everyone goes through periods where they have to push through. Just how determined are you?

**soccer#3** · 03-03-2008, 02:44 PM

i think we all get sick, go thru depression and feelin lack of motivation. we are not robots.

sometimes when i feel unmotivated i feel half of the workout is just gettin to he gym then everything else falls into place. just keep goin at it. take som time off u feel so.

**tripmachine** · 03-03-2008, 04:15 PM

Cool thanks everyone for the words of advice / tips... I think i'm going to head to the nutrition store today and buy some ephedrine and hit up the cardio / weights / diet again and go from there... any other tips or words of advice would be greatly appreciated and again, thanks to everyone that has already spoken!

**AaronJM1984** · 03-03-2008, 04:26 PM

sometimes if I'm not feeling motivated I'll make a game out of lifting, I'll drop the weight and up the rep then just go crazy trying to outdo myself, a workout partner is huge too, I've never had a consistant one though, I always train better with one

**shifty_git** · 03-03-2008, 04:40 PM

Sit down and write 2 lists... things you like about ya life, and things you dont and wanna improve on...

then plan ya week where you do something on ya list you wanna improve on one night, then the next night to something ya enjoying....

keep a written record on how the things you arnt motivated on are improving... and have set targets..

sometimes you need to take a step back from ya self and look at it on paper rather than from the personal point of view of ya mind.

**Mazzive_T** · 03-03-2008, 05:15 PM

being honest, i motivate myself by proving people wrong.

Ive never failed at anything im passionate about in my life. cos i wont stop until my realistic goals set are complete. sometimes its backs to the wall but i find if youve got the heart youll always come out on top.

i find something like this helps too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK6hc3J4e88

**Drummerboy** · 03-03-2008, 05:29 PM

good luck... i get the downs sometimes too, if ive been at it hard for a couple months i give my body a break for a week... then go back no matter what... when i get back on track its like roidattack says...i want to go every day, it keeps the high goin... but my body cant take it! Keep at it, you'll find the spark again

~DB~

**macktownmac** · 03-03-2008, 07:13 PM

i feel your pain bro... i think everyone goes thru the same shit... I got into a car accident last year... couldnt do anything for 6months... I lost all my hard earned gains... I starting eating like shit.. and gained 30-40lbs. It was all down hill....

After physio and everything I finally got the go ahead to get back to working out (9 months later)... but i couldnt for the life of me motivate myself to get back to the gym...

I went to the gym a few days... I had lost soo much strength, It was soo unmotivating not able to lift the weights. It was soo bad that I was working up a sweat lifting the same weights, that less than a year a go I was warming up on. I was expecting too much of myself.. then would be disapointed when i couldnt preform...i subconsiously started to feel like if i cant do it properley i shouldnt even try...

I started with small steps... instead of expecting me to preform at the level i used to (then getting bumbed out when i didnt preform).. I started ignore the overall picture... i started to take pride in just the fact I made it to the gym... I would allow myself a relativly short workout(if i didnt feel up to it)... but I made sure I was satisfied with jsut the fact I even worked out... that way I wasnt disapointed...

once i was able to do that... I started to build on it.... I started to up my cardio times by 10min every 3-4 days... (when i first went back i felt like only running 20mins)... then slowly i would challenge myself with my weights.... then slowly over a few weeks everything just started to fall into place....

Im still not out of my rutt... but im making small steps to get out... the important thing is to stay positive... and not bum your selfout... look for things to pump you up (as simple or as dumb as it maybe)... ... and ignore the things that bring you down...

**Mazzive_T** · 03-03-2008, 07:22 PM

Keep going mac.

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-03-2008, 07:50 PM

whenever i get unmotivated, i just watch some awesome action movie, like rambo, kickboxer, bloodspoort, or something like that, and i get all pumped and sweaty and want to kick ass, so then i go to the gym. One time some dudes wanted to fight me for no real reason and i was outnumbed, that helped get me motivated too, i never want to be in another situation where i am helpless or out gunned. So i suppose you could go try and get your ass kicked? haha

**DNoMac** · 03-03-2008, 08:14 PM

Don't let a little road bump discourage you bro. I hurt my back back in the fall (that sounded kinda funny). Kept me out of the gym for a bit, and I couldn't lift heavy for a while. Didn't lose any size, but lost quite a bit of strength (still haven't gone extremely heavy on squats yet). You have to put things in perspective. Occasionally I'll see something that makes me appreciate how blessed I am. I saw a burn victim from Iraq who's body was entirely scarred. I heard on the radio today some older rock artist went blind as a child because of some rare form of cancer. Later in life, he got cancer again and I believe had to have a leg amputated. Things like this make you appreciate how good you might actually have it.

Sometimes I go through little periods of less motivation. I think there are a lot of factors that affect mood. Weather, hormones, diet, sleeping patterns, etc. Just remember that it is perfectly normal. It would almost be weird if you were always happy. I use lifting as an escape. I love cranking up the music and pounding the weights. Your body releases endorphins that rival any artificial drug. My mood is so elevated after a hard lift, and I've achieved an insane muscle pump.

Keep your head up bro. You'll be right back on track before you know it. Here is a little something that puts my mind in the right place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF8F84kxksc

**maxex** · 03-03-2008, 08:29 PM

If you're doing it for any other reason then "for yourself" then chances are you will lose motivation when those reasons start to evaporate, and they will. You have to make it about you and only you. Once you decide to do it for yourself...you will be motivated and driven beyond belief.

I just went through something pretty similar..in fact I just started back at the gym after 7 months. I trained hard for 7 years straight, 1 month was probably the longest I was out before this last stint. I was depressed and completely discouraged..untill I woke up one morning and was motivated. I looked at it azs a period of heeling and relaxation.
Now , im getting back into it and I have wicked drive...more than I have ever had in the past 13 years.

Don't worry bro...you'll be back.

**rockinred** · 03-03-2008, 09:14 PM

Bro, it dep e nds on what kind of a rut you are in? If it is just a lil minor one, like "I am not into this" but you are not even thinking about quitting all together...go to a supp store or get some juice or whatever and spend some hard earned money on supps...then get up every morning and say dam I need to make the most of this shit and I hope I get something from this... that usually helps me work through minor ruts.... if it is a big one...well, listen to what everyone is telling you and make a decision... are you going to sit around and type on this board or are you going to go out tear some shit up at the gym???

***El Diablo*** · 03-04-2008, 02:18 AM

Push throught brother!... U know ur stronger than that mate, ull be back to your old self sooner than you think.. Go BIG

***perfectbeast2001*** · 03-04-2008, 04:58 AM

How old are you. its possible if your over 30 that HRT could be beneficial. Set yourself some goals. Training with no real goal in mind leads to lack of motivation. Maybe aim to get your lifts to a certain weight or If your more into aethetics then look to achieve a certain weight and BF%.
don't be like all the rest and turn into a lzy slob. you have worked hard for a long time don't throw it all away now.

**DSM4Life** · 03-04-2008, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by LawMan018

I went thru something similar back in highschool. My senior year in highschool I loved working out, absolutely loved it. I was addicted. The year started out great I was looking amazing and then I got a gf. After awhile I stopped working out as much and every time I went to the gym I was thinking, "This is boring, I could be doing something so much better." And I'd lose my focus and decide I'd make it up another day, and it just repeated till I stopped going to the gym. After about a year I lost just about all my gains (15 lbs.) and looked like my scrawny regular self and seeing that actually was my motivating factor. I quickly began analyzing some of Arnold's workouts and started out working out very rigorously... In about 2-3 months I brought my weight up and my gf ended up dumping me so I got depressed and started going down in weight and gym time. However I wasn't out for long and I've been going strong ever since. For my the motivating factor was seeing myself skinny again and ever since being picked on heavily in middle school I've dreaded going back... Another thing you might try is a new supplement... Sometimes when my focus is lacking I'll overhype myself on some new supplement and make it seem to work better then it actually is... Or the best yet for me, better then any supplement, is music. Get an Ipod, get some hard music, and blast it! I was going "alright" in the gym when I had some crappy earbuds and only 1 worked until I bought some new ones a couple weeks later. With the music louder and harder it pumped me up more.

Can you come back to bed now so we can cuddle and watch some Judge Judy ?

**DSM4Life** · 03-04-2008, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by perfectbeast2001

How old are you. its possible if your over 30 that HRT could be beneficial. Set yourself some goals. Training with no real goal in mind leads to lack of motivation. Maybe aim to get your lifts to a certain weight or If your more into aethetics then look to achieve a certain weight and BF%.
don't be like all the rest and turn into a lzy slob. you have worked hard for a long time don't throw it all away now.

+1 , goals are important even if they are small you keep you focused. Also try taking a few pictures of what you look like now to help motivate yourself to at least get back to the way you looked before. Don't get all down about the past, whats done is done and you can't go back in time to correct it. Just worry about the present and going forward try to keep a positive mindset.

**dupa95** · 03-04-2008, 06:00 AM

If this keep on you want to go have some share time with a threapist. You know the ol check up from the neck up. Also big bump to what the beast said.

**Odpierdol_sie!** · 03-04-2008, 08:05 AM

There is nothing you cant do at 200. Look at the best athletes in the world, Football, boxing rugby, mma all the best players/fighters are around the 200 mark.
Its a good allround weight.
If i were you i would worry less about gettgin back to 215+ and set a goal for say 3 months time.
Work out a training schedule and try to beat your personal best for the last 3-5 weeks of that 3month schedule.

I know its power but like i said, you can do pretty much everything at 200. If you arent bothered about the whole package or bieng good in one discipline go for the 3 lifts and see how you do. Nothing is a better motivator than training to beat your PB by 1 or 2kg. if you can beat your PB 25 times in a year that is 25+kg you will be benching this time next year.

Thats how i do it.
I would love to be like 240+ lb, but at the end of the day im kidding myself. Why not do things i was good at instead of trying to be something im not.
I have been making a come back to Rugby for the last 4 seasons, I have set a goal for august to compete in the 90kg class in powerlifting in the world firefighter games, then after that ill hit the road and do some milage to trim up a bit... if i can get match fit by sept im gonna go back and play. At 200lb with a 160+kg bench and 200+kg squatt and deadlift i should be better than i was when i was more bulky. Should be interesting... and that is what is motivating me to do it.

**The_don** · 03-04-2008, 02:46 PM

A week ago i felt like that coz i was sick for a week and feeling very lazy and down so i wandered outside the gym and saw the guys lifting and said to myself i hav to look better than them and the only difference between us is 'willpower' and i hav to get my 'will' back and so i got back to the gym and still lifting.

**tripmachine** · 03-05-2008, 10:57 AM

wow.... cool everyone, thanks a lot for taking time to respond. It makes me feel better that everyone goes through this stage at different points of their lives..... not saying I like you guys coming down to my level but you know what I mean. Thanks again for all the great info / advice that was given, I sure do appreciate it.... =]

**Odpierdol_sie!** · 03-05-2008, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by tripmachine

wow.... cool everyone, thanks a lot for taking time to respond. It makes me feel better that everyone goes through this stage at different points of their lives..... not saying I like you guys coming down to my level but you know what I mean. Thanks again for all the great info / advice that was given, I sure do appreciate it.... =]

We have all been there at some point mate.

all the best
Od

**Mazzive_T** · 03-05-2008, 11:42 AM

take care mate.

Hope things get back to normal soon.

T.

**qualityclrk1** · 03-05-2008, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by LawMan018

I went thru something similar back in highschool. My senior year in highschool I loved working out, absolutely loved it. I was addicted. The year started out great I was looking amazing and then I got a gf. After awhile I stopped working out as much and every time I went to the gym I was thinking, "This is boring, I could be doing something so much better." And I'd lose my focus and decide I'd make it up another day, and it just repeated till I stopped going to the gym. After about a year I lost just about all my gains (15 lbs.) and looked like my scrawny regular self and seeing that actually was my motivating factor. I quickly began analyzing some of Arnold's workouts and started out working out very rigorously... In about 2-3 months I brought my weight up and my gf ended up dumping me so I got depressed and started going down in weight and gym time. However I wasn't out for long and I've been going strong ever since. For my the motivating factor was seeing myself skinny again and ever since being picked on heavily in middle school I've dreaded going back... Another thing you might try is a new supplement... Sometimes when my focus is lacking I'll overhype myself on some new supplement and make it seem to work better then it actually is... Or the best yet for me, better then any supplement, is music. Get an Ipod, get some hard music, and blast it! I was going "alright" in the gym when I had some crappy earbuds and only 1 worked until I bought some new ones a couple weeks later. With the music louder and harder it pumped me up more.

haven't read any other posts after this one....the ipod and supplement is a GREAT idea....the supplement will help me because i hate wasting money, so i'll wan tot take it, and if i don't lift then i'm technically still "wasting" it....and the ipod could be a new "gadget" i'll want to use and take advantage of....i'm kind of going through the same thing u said u were...just lost motivation, but i'm seeing myself skinny up and its killing my self-esteem and as pathetic as it sounds- my confidence......

**BITTAPART2** · 03-05-2008, 01:17 PM

when i get in the funk like that Ill tell myself "ok take 1 week off starting today" like i sit myself out on the bench and have to watch others play, the thought that you cant workout and seeing people that are swoled up makes me want to hit the gym before the week is over, so by the time I get to go I am ready to destroy shhit. Just set a date bro, that always helps, get your diet planned out if it is not spot on and another big thing is to pick a routine that you will use for the next 4 weeks or so, like 5x5 or whatever you want, but make a plan for that day that you return. good luck, but we all go through it bro

**Jfew44** · 03-05-2008, 01:43 PM

Hey bro I feel ur pain. Whenever I get in a rut like the one ur in here's what I'll do. I go to the gym when the biggest, strongest guys are working out. I'll just sit there and watch for 10-15 minutes. You'll see everyone else around them kinda workin out but really just watching the strong guys work out. Then I'll go home and put in a good motivating movie as Tadpole said, my fav is Rocky. When Im feelin good and motivated, I'll put on my headphones and go to the gym at like 2 in the morning when nobody else is there. If you have a 24 hour gym you'll have the best workout of your life. If nothing people said here works, I really would recommend talking to someone like dupa said. Good luck tho

**tripmachine** · 03-05-2008, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by perfectbeast2001

How old are you. its possible if your over 30 that HRT could be beneficial. Set yourself some goals. Training with no real goal in mind leads to lack of motivation. Maybe aim to get your lifts to a certain weight or If your more into aethetics then look to achieve a certain weight and BF%.
don't be like all the rest and turn into a lzy slob. you have worked hard for a long time don't throw it all away now.

btw, sorry i forgot to respond to this one... i'm 27 so i don't know if that would fly for the HRT..... Once I hit 30 can i go get some GH ? or do they have to do some tests in order to see if i qualify?

**damiongage** · 03-05-2008, 03:18 PM

just give up and go for 300lbs. If that does not sound acceptable your as bad off as you think. Life gets ruff sometimes, believe me I know....(I own a mortgage company)....just got to suck it up and push forward.

good luck

**wilson9d** · 03-05-2008, 11:36 PM

just read this

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread.php?t=333934

**BabyGravy** · 03-06-2008, 01:30 AM

i find that i go through cycles (kind of a burnout phase) its irrotating but i started gyming with a friend now... its much better because we keep eachother in check. if he doesnt feel like waking up and going to gym, I phone him and force him to come, vice versa. and while gyming its nice to have some competition.

**Bren** · 03-06-2008, 06:25 PM

i think the warm response from everyone trying to help, from everyone who relates to your situation, should show you that you are not alone.
we cant be happy all the time, we need the bad times to fully appropriate the good times.
i know i have been where you are hundreds of times and the most important thing to remember is "It will pass. you will not stay in a rut forever.

Cultivate a sense of self-worth. Keep in mind your special talents, the times when others thought you were special. Nourish a secret "inner core" of self that cannot be violated. If you feel good about yourself, you'll not be as vulnerable to manipulation and emotional appeals by others.

keep your head up.

**adam_05** · 03-09-2008, 12:59 AM

ok bro,

i've had a pretty shitty hand delt to me in life,and im not lookin for pity here,im just sharing my story.

i was born with a lung disease,which will eventually kill me no matter what i do or how healthy i try to be.my sisters were born with the lung disease also,my first sister died when she was 12y.o. and i was 10y.o.

i turned diabetic when i was 16 and it was bad because it made me real sick and i lost alot of weight and i went into the hospital wei***ng 87lbs,yes i said 87lbs when i was 16.i was a scrawny 16y.o. so losing 35lbs in a month hurt me pretty bad.

so now i have a terminal lung disease(Cysitic Fibrosis if any of you are wondering)and now im diabetic,which is caused from the Cystic Fibrosis.so i made a promise to myself that i would never be that skinny again.i weighed 87lbs at 5'7 and my blood sugar was 890,yes 890 when i went in the hospital.

so i lifted for a few years until i got into drugs and trouble,and by the time i was 20 i was in prison for 18months and got out just before my 22nd bday.

i got back into lifting,turned my life around and had a job a place of my own and my own car that i bought with my own money.i felt good about myself for the first time in my life.

then i got into an accident on the way home from work.i fell asleep at the wheel and went into the cornfield at 65mph.i ended up in the passenger floorboard even with my shoulder belt on.

from then on i was and always will be a Paraplegic for the rest of my life.then 3 months down the road,my 29y.o. sister died from her lung disease.so it was a pretty shitty year for me.i was numb for about a year.i didnt do anything.didn't lift.didn't go out.didint eat much.....etc.....

so now im 25y.o.,im in a wheelchair,and my only 2 siblings are dead.

how do i stay motivated? i do it because i know my sisters would give anything to be alive and well and im not going to disrespect them by wasting my life away.i try to lift as much as i can,between my diabetes,lung disease,and paralysis.yeah i get sick and have to go in the hospital,but once im better i keep going strong,because if i dont i might as well die now.

so what i say to you is,try to think of how fortunate you are to have your health,your able to use you whole body,you have your family.

try to think of all the people that arent physically able to achieve what you are able to,because there sick or crippled.

plain and simple,do it for the people who would give anything just to be able to have one good workout.

like i said,not lookin for pity or whatever.just trying to say there are worser things that could be happening in your life.

keep up the good work bro!

Adam.

**hauss man** · 03-09-2008, 01:05 AM

ever since i started powerlifting, it totaly consumed my life (in a good way). i have never been more motivated to do something in my whole life.

maybe you should try powerlifting or some other type of competing that gives you a reason to be training

**Gears** · 03-09-2008, 03:08 AM

Just get up and do it. Typically, the more I think about the pros and cons, I usually find an excuse not to go.

**Peducho0113** · 03-09-2008, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by adam_05

ok bro,

i've had a pretty shitty hand delt to me in life,and im not lookin for pity here,im just sharing my story.

i was born with a lung disease,which will eventually kill me no matter what i do or how healthy i try to be.my sisters were born with the lung disease also,my first sister died when she was 12y.o. and i was 10y.o.

i turned diabetic when i was 16 and it was bad because it made me real sick and i lost alot of weight and i went into the hospital wei***ng 87lbs,yes i said 87lbs when i was 16.i was a scrawny 16y.o. so losing 35lbs in a month hurt me pretty bad.

so now i have a terminal lung disease(Cysitic Fibrosis if any of you are wondering)and now im diabetic,which is caused from the Cystic Fibrosis.so i made a promise to myself that i would never be that skinny again.i weighed 87lbs at 5'7 and my blood sugar was 890,yes 890 when i went in the hospital.

so i lifted for a few years until i got into drugs and trouble,and by the time i was 20 i was in prison for 18months and got out just before my 22nd bday.

i got back into lifting,turned my life around and had a job a place of my own and my own car that i bought with my own money.i felt good about myself for the first time in my life.

then i got into an accident on the way home from work.i fell asleep at the wheel and went into the cornfield at 65mph.i ended up in the passenger floorboard even with my shoulder belt on.

from then on i was and always will be a Paraplegic for the rest of my life.then 3 months down the road,my 29y.o. sister died from her lung disease.so it was a pretty shitty year for me.i was numb for about a year.i didnt do anything.didn't lift.didn't go out.didint eat much.....etc.....

so now im 25y.o.,im in a wheelchair,and my only 2 siblings are dead.

how do i stay motivated? i do it because i know my sisters would give anything to be alive and well and im not going to disrespect them by wasting my life away.i try to lift as much as i can,between my diabetes,lung disease,and paralysis.yeah i get sick and have to go in the hospital,but once im better i keep going strong,because if i dont i might as well die now.

so what i say to you is,try to think of how fortunate you are to have your health,your able to use you whole body,you have your family.

try to think of all the people that arent physically able to achieve what you are able to,because there sick or crippled.

plain and simple,do it for the people who would give anything just to be able to have one good workout.

like i said,not lookin for pity or whatever.just trying to say there are worser things that could be happening in your life.

keep up the good work bro!

Adam.

Adam is right, sometimes there worst thing in life that can happen to us that could really change the course of our life. Bro, Wish you the best in the world and thanks for sharing your story with us.