Time to get moving ...

By nature, I'm a sedentary soul. Unlike some of my friends and family, I'm not driven to get out there and move, but I know that I have to move my tail if I want to have lasting results from my weight loss and better health overall .... sssoooooo, I went to the gym today and the personal trainer worked with me to create a workout to tone develop my lean muscle mass. After that I went for a swim. Later in the day, I went outside and pulled weeds in the rain. I doubt that I'll ever 'like' gardening, but I like the results of it.

I've also been walking my dogs. Just the other day, I was thinking how quickly I used to get out of breath with a very short walk. Now I can walk the dogs without any difficulty at all.

Hopefully, as I continue to work out, garden and find other 'activities' to participate in, I'll find that I 'enjoy' being more active. In the meantime, I'm just going to 'do it' because I know I need to.

Do any of you struggle with motivation to get moving ... if so, have you found 'things' or activities to do that make it easier for you?

 

 

OH BOY do I struggle to get moving. I HATE exercise as I don't like to be hot and sweaty. I thought once I had surgery something would click in my brain and make me want to exercise because I know it is required for continued success. Well so far nothing has clicked. I've tried Curves, stopped going. I joined a gym with a pool for water aerobics since I like swimming, stopped going there too. I guess it doesn't help that I work full-time and take full-time classes. If I'm not working, I'm doing homework. And of course let's not forget I chase a very active, special needs little boy as well. At the end of the day I'm tired and just don't want to exercise. So I am joining my friend Andrea's gym. She's an exercise-aholic and she swears she'll force me to go. I'm also going to hire the same personal trainer so he can kick my butt too. As for what I enjoy doing that's active - I'd hands down have to say shopping. I shop a lot. Shopping means I walk a lot, which is a good thing. I also have preordered the Nintendo Wii Fit game. I love playing the Wii and thought maybe this game would be fun enough to give me exercise without feeling like I'm getting exercise. Oh and of course once the weather warms our pool up enough - I'll be swimming every night. :) Best wishes for much movement in our futures Barb! :) Becky

Becky,

I think my favorite form of 'exercise' is shopping too ... but it's hard to do when you're broke ... LOL!

I have started and stopped and started and stopped exercising. I keep falling off that horse too, but I also keep getting back on and hopefully, eventually I'll learn how to hang on and ride.

Like you, I enjoy swimming, so I joined a gym with a pool. Like you, I don't like getting hot and sweaty, so I'm hoping that this will help some.

I know that I have to do this ... whether I like it or not. It would be easier if I can find something I like to do that is active, but even if I don't, I know that I'm going to have to get my proverbrial a$$ in gear if I want to maintain this weight loss. I hate the thought of gaining the lost weight back more than I hate exercise ... sssoooooo, off to the gym I go.

Thanks for sharing  and commiserating.

Barb

It is very hard for me to find energy and motivation, but since i have lost these 1st 58lbs. I have been feeling really good and feel like getting outside more!!  2 weeks post op me and my hubby went to a bike shop in Greenville right after my dr. appt. and i test drove and came home with a PINK  "TREK" Beach Cruiser!! And I LOVE that thing!! The seat is big to accomodate my big booty..LOL But since i have gotten that bike, we now go on family bike rides....My hubby, my son and I ride our bikes and my little one rides in her seat on daddy's bike! But i guess since we are on the get moving subject, i have had a wow moment this week :) Monday I did a 2 mile walk and yesterday and today we rode our bikes 5 miles each day for a total of 10 mile bike ride in 2 days along with the walk, that adds up to 3 days ~ 12 miles of exercise!! Can we say HOLY COW???  No way would that have happened before my surgery!! I didn't have the energy to get out of bed back then!!  But we have realize how much fun it is actually to get out as a family and be able to cruise with the wind in our hair ;) and pedal to wherever we may roam!! We live on base at Cherry Point and we have ventured out to different places on base that are just too far to walk on foot and all of us are enjoying the heck out of our bicycles!!

I haven't been on a bike ... you know, the real two wheel kind ... not the stationary gym kind... for years. The last time I tried one was several years ago and my balance was terrible, but worse than that, my legs were killing me within minutes. Where we live, it isn't flat ... it's rolling hills ... some with a pretty serious grade. I think I'll work on building up my legs and stamina at the gym and then, evenutally, I'm going to try to get on a bike again and see what the wind against my face feels like.

What a nice idea?! Thanks for sharing it and congratulations for all of the successes you have had; from the loss of lbs to finding the little girl who loves bike rides that makes her hair blow in the wind ... I believe that you will not only lose the excess weight, but you are also making the life changes that will enable you to lose to your potential and keep it off.

Congratulations and thanks again!

Barb

Call it "you" time.  Use it for quiet reflection, or just space out if it helps. I use my gym time as "me" time.  That hour is my only quiet hour.. my kids are being cared for and I don't have to be looking for juice, or a bottle, or cookies, or anything else.  I get to spend some time just for me.  That's been my biggest motivation in getting back to the gym. I get horrible headaches.. so I could use that as an excuse.  I could use my kids as an excuse.  But I try not to use them and I feel so much better when I get home.

You go Andrea, Sounds like you are finding the time to do what you need to to help yourself. I am so happy for you that you are able to have your time. I will always be grateful that you sold me the ET.                                            Annie

Andrea,

I really see how that works well for you. However, I also see a generational difference. Since my children are grown, or nearly so, I don't have the same 'me time' issues that you do.

For me, I need to find a way to 'enjoy' the activity, so that I see it as 'ME Time.'

Keep up the work outs ... I can tell that you are really going to be successful at making the life changes necessary to get and keep the weight off.

Thanks again for your advice,

Barb

And I totally undestand that.. But in today's society, we all still need some quiet reflection.. whether it's unwinding from a day at work, or just trying to start the morning right. Good luck getting the motivation to get moving.  It's hard to find sometimes, but it's well worth it!

Andrea,

I totally agree. It's just that it's much easier for me to carve out that time since I don't have little ones like you do ... That's actually a negative for me because I can get the time without having to work for it ... As you say, I need to find the movitation to get moving. I have it intellectually, I need find it in my heart.

Thanks again,

Barb