Stuck in an exercise rut

I am so guilty of poor exercise habits.  However, to keep me engaged in exercise I find that different kinds of exercise helps.  I have all of Richard SImmios tapes, in addition to all of Leslie Sansons walking tapes, I have so many otheres I can not even remember the ones I have.  Additionally, I have the WII Fit Balance board with all of the different games. Now all I have to do is keep myself motivated to use them!

Switching what exercises I do helps to keep me motivated...going between walking, stationary bike, treadmill, jumping rope, etc.  I also take advantage of short periods of time.  May sound silly but sometimes I jog in place while I am cooking at the stove or folding my laundry.  I can also exercise with vegetable cans in my arms while waiting for things to cook on the stove.  Taking advantage of short periods of time seems to work for me, especially when my schedule is very busy.

I never exercised, even when I was losing weight after my RYGB. I know have a personl trainer and it is GREAT. I have learned from her, it's not how long you exercise its' the consistancy. One day we work on arms and upper shoulders, next day ab's, next day legs. We do 3 intense exercises, and you do as many as you can in a 2 minute period of time. Rest for 1 minute, then start the next exercise. Repeat the 3 exercises 3 times.  It makes me feel so good. I don't know what I was missing out on. It jump starts your metabolism and I have MORE energy. :)

I love to exercise BUT I find every excuse not too! I know I need to and I enjoy the "High" I get from doing it afterwards! Our brains have so much control over us and it dang knows it, I just need to beat it at it's on game and get on with it!

I have had the worst luck with exercise since my RNY. I ruptured a disc then tore a rotator cuff with a couple of months. Now 2 years out, I have torn the other rotator cuff, and a partial tear of an achilles heel.  So, I guess I am the example of what not to do.  My advice--stretch, stretch, stretch!!!  Yoga and non weightbearing exercise are the very best exercise for first timers!

A month in a half before I had my WLS, I walked about a mile and a half everyday sometimes twice a day.  Then after my surgery (immediately) I went back and continued that same routine.  I continued that routine until October of the same year (about 9 months) altogether of walking.  I also had a walking buddy.  It was great and she was my number one motivator, because she had had surgery a month and a half before me, so we were doing it together for the same reasons.  So October came around along with the fall weather and I quit walking when I got transferred to a new job in a new location, where I knew absolutely no one.  I am not a self motivator and have a hard time starting to do anything that consists of exercise on my own.  I feel that there has to be a reason and an immediate reward for me to keep doing it.  I want results TODAY.  So as of October of 2008, I have not done any form of "exercise" to where I have taken time out of my day and say that I am going to exercise.  I do some walking at my job, and when I go to the store or anywhere, I walk very fast and those that are with me, cannot usually keep up. 

I have been very fortunate and have continued to lose even though there as been no TRUE exercise regimen.  As of today, I I had a tummy tuck about a month ago and I have been wanting to start running, and I am very excited about starting my new ambition.  I just hope that I can be a self-starter and follow through. 

And please anyone *****ads this, PLEASE DO NOT think that because that not exercising worked for me, that it will also work for you.  Every single one of us are different and our bodies react differently to what we do to them.  I am not a good example of the exercising type, but I wanted to share my story/situation with you so that you will be aware of what not to do.  I AM NOT a good example, so please by no means think that I am.

Yeah I'm stuck in a rut alright...I have fallen off the exercise wagon a long time ago. I have been singing the sad song of "it's too hot, it's too cold, i'm too busy" song for a while now.  The only form of exercise that I really like is walking and I have stopped that.  I was told by my trainer at the gym (when I was going) that I needed to confuse my muscles etc and I went for a while but I started gaining weight because of the muscle gain and I did not like to see the scales go up so I quit.  I realize that if I am to lose these last 15-20 pounds that it is going to take more than sitting on my booty and get moving to lose these pounds!

I discovered Zumba and started doing that at home and it makes you sweat but you feel so pumped up from it and I love iot - the ZUMBA salsa style is so much fun too

Also I bought Wii Personal trainer and do this with my young son and he copies me

Motivation is hard as execise is not my thing but if I do it early in the morning I then feel dedicated to being good all day - so it also stops me just putting something randomly in my mouth and I watch what I eat all day ........ and can also get in the gym at least three times a week too for additional core sessions...

Jackie

Sorry, I thrive on routine and schedules.  So I love ruts!  But one thing I have done is incorporate one or two new movements/exercises to my routine from time to time.  They help me to tone up areas that are beginning to come into definition as the fat melts.  I am finding muscles that I forgot I had!.  Before doing a new exercise, I try to watch it a few times on video/computer and then try it out independent of my routine.  I then will add one  and drop one so that time is the same.  I do vary my routines by day of the week.  I do a range of motion exercise routine everyday in the morning before even getting out of bed (it helps with my arthritis).  Twice a week I work with weights and three times a week I use resistance bands.  I also do a yoga routine everyday for my cardio.  On weekends I walk/hike with my family or go swimming.  Changing where you exercise and the music you exercise to can also help spice it up.  Good luck. Teri

I guess you could say I'm stuck in a rut. I get very motivated with outside activities, biking, walking ... when the nice weather is here. But for the most part I do not have an exercise routine although I have a treadmill, rebounder and a total gym. I work 12 hour days and just have no motivation when I get home from work and in the many months of winter we have here I really lose any motivation... not good excuses so I'm working on a new attitude. I must motivate myself because I know how great I feel when I stick to a program .