Motivation - Tips and Tricks

Wrath Rob

Last night I got home after a frisky commute and was caught in 2 minds about getting my ass on the trainer and doing the planned work out. The devil on my shoulder was whispering "You had a fast commute, that counts for a work out. Take it easy!". The angel was saying "You won't get out tomorrow as you've got evening beers. Get on the trainer or it will be a lost day. With a weekend off the bike coming up you'll regret it". The devil started chanting "XBox and mice pies!".

I was sooooo close to not doing my work out but I managed to trick myself by saying "Just get on the trainer and start the work out. You can always bail". This then became "Just complete the next section, and then you can bail". Finally it was "You've done 45 mins, you might as well finish it now". I've got a couple of other things on my side, I was already in cycling clothes after the commute. And I had a bit of a discussion with the wife about her going back on an agreement we had about her going out in the evening and me being able to train, which painted me into a bit of a corner.

I don't advocate having discussions with your partner to force you to train, but what tips and tricks do you use to keep your motivation up?

danowat

Just don't think about it, get on it and go.

jgsi

Use Performance Manager in Golden Cheetah or TP to assess when you can ease back or not.

amaferanga

Quadruple espresso always works for me.

mattshrops

Not sure about the MICE pies :shock:

Back to your question, well i guess i dont need any extra motivation. <visualise-not being sh@te> works for me.

Tom Dean

danowat wrote:

Just don't think about it, get on it and go.

Thanks, this got me out of the door this afternoon! bloody freezing out there

Simmotino

danowat wrote:

Just don't think about it, get on it and go.

This.

The more you think of reasons as to why you shouldn't/can't get on the trainer, the more you'll find.

Just get the gear on and get on the bike without thinking about reasons not to.

okgo

Sometimes I have the same issue. And sometimes its for the commute too, but then it is a long way compared to some I suppose, so I guess that is part of the issue.

Also because my turbo trainer gets used outside in the garden, I find motivation even harder to find! But I usually just think to myself that its only 40 -1 hr of effort then I can relax and do nothing while dinner is being cooked. Otherwise, all I would be doing is wasting my life watching shit on the TV.

wardieboy

amaferanga wrote:

Quadruple espresso always works for me.

I would have agreed had the thread been titled 'What can I take to make me sh1t like a lunatic?'

I think about all the times I am going to smash next season.

“…you don’t get big legs from watching television”

okgo

You don't get them from cycling either.

ShavedWheels

amaferanga wrote:

Quadruple espresso always works for me.

+1

I think music is one of the KEY factors in smashing out a solid turbo session. I don't think I could do the sessions I do without some serious bass pumping out my earphones :twisted:

danowat

Simmotino wrote:

danowat wrote:

Just don't think about it, get on it and go.

This.

The more you think of reasons as to why you shouldn't/can't get on the trainer, the more you'll find.

Just get the gear on and get on the bike without thinking about reasons not to.

It's very simple, but it's very effective, I am great at talking myself out of sessions!!

I've found if I just get too it, sort of on autopilot, it works, but sometimes it causes issues, like when the missus is trying to talk to me as I come through the door after work, and I am so focused on getting on the turbo I ignore her!

GiantMike

Start a blog. Nobody will read it, but it will provide a motivation to get on the turbo and complete the planned session. According to a radio programme about 'ownership', if you publicly state you're going to do something you are more likely to do it than if you don't.

Repeat after me, "today I will do an hour on the turbo".

joe.90

i know exactly how you feel. some days my mind is saying, "not tonight, cant be bothered, just relax, eat some food, watch tv blah blah." ...

what you have to remember is (this may sound deep) but you, and you mind are 2 separate things. just because your mind is being negative it doesn't mean you have to do what it says...you simply cannot control what your mind will think, but you can control the actions YOU take.

the same principal goes for a lot of things in life.

With that in mind, get out the door and go for it!

phreak

GiantMike wrote:

Start a blog. Nobody will read it, but it will provide a motivation to get on the turbo and complete the planned session. According to a radio programme about 'ownership', if you publicly state you're going to do something you are more likely to do it than if you don't.

Repeat after me, "today I will do an hour on the turbo".

I've heard that too, but often if I announce something publicly it feels like I've already done it and I'm less motivated.

nickel

For me, music is definitely key to good turbo session. Also no matter how crappy/tired I feel when I get in I know after an hour on the turbo and a shower I'll feel so much fresher.

Wrath Rob

I've been given the BBC Olympics highlights DVD and was watching days 7 and 8 last night (middle Friday and Super-Saturday). Very motivational, though getting emotional when reliving the moments is probably not the best way to keep a constant HR when training!

DavidJB

I just think about racing next year and how my competitors will be training so I need to...pretty good motivation when its pissing it down and youve got a 5 hour hill session ahead. I just think back about how much it hurt last year racing e12 and that pain now might make it easier ...it wont but a boy can dream.