Sunday Day 7 Exercise Challenge
How do ya'll do it?
If I walk for ten minutes and ride the exercise bike at my daughter's college gym for 5 I think I've really done something! I mean, I know that isn't enough, but it's sometimes all I can do just to do that!
Not to mention finding the time....................how do you find the time to work out 1-2 hours a day?
Ideas welcome....................
Kandy
Kandy Hi Kandy,
Well it takes time to build yourself up to that level, I have been working out at this level now for several months and my weight is down to 155 lbs at 5' 5 bmi of 25.8........ The lighter you become, the more energy you have.
As far as time, I work full-time and then I workout after work.
Son is 20 and away at college.
Divorced and happy, no spouse, no other committments at this time.
I use the gym in the evening to help pass the time away so I do not sit at home and be tempted to binge eat.
Phyllis 
Hi there Kandy,
sorry I didn't see the post earlier.
I think it is pretty much like Phyllis said, you work up to it. I have to say even at my heaviest I worked out a lot. I did take breaks, one time almost a year, but I liked working out. I believe that by working out I avoided gaining tons of weight, I merely kept myself pretty steady. I didn't like the weight, but it was a consistent one.
When I first went back to the gym I got back on my favorite machine, the elliptical, and I could barely finish 7 minutes. I had been up to 40 minutes before I left the gym the last time. I gave myself a challenge. I would add one minute A WEEK. Not at a time, but during the week. If I went to the gym three times, by the end of the week I was going to be 1 minute up from that initial 7. And I did it, until I hit 20, and then after that I pushed myself to finish the whole cycle which is 35 minutes. Then I upped it again and added another 10 minutes at another intensity to bring it to 45 total minutes. I do the weight circuit for another 15-20 minutes and then home to make dinner.
As far as finding the time, I realize I had to make the time. I have a live in "boyfriend" (hate that word at age 40), a 13 year old son and 2 dogs who are just over a year old. They all demand my time in one way or another but I decided that I truly had to come first. So I go to the gym 3 days a week, Monday Wednesday and Friday. I have recently added Saturday mornings for a special class that they hold. I don't push myself to go every day as there are other obligations on the other three days of the week that I have. But I realized this approach to losing had to be a total approach or nothing. Losing weight was great, and I am doing very well at that. But without making myself healthy I didn't feel like I was doing myself any good at all.
Don't push yourself Kandy. If you can do five minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes walking, that's better than doing nothing at all.
Simply put, I find the time because I am truly worth it!!
Good luck.
Donna
Kandy, at my heaviest, I couldn't walk more than two blocks without getting short of breath and having severe back spasms. I built up slowly, literally adding 30 seconds each day. As Phyllis said, as the weight comes off, it becomes easier to work more strenuously and longer.
Lack of time is the main reason most people cite for not exercising. One first has to make the commitment to exercise, to make it a part of one's day. Then one has to find a convenient time. It's not easy for anyone, and for those who have young children at home, it can be an even bigger struggle.
I wish I had some specific advice. I work evenings and nights, so I go to the gym in the late morning, early afternoon. My schedule works in my favor because the gym is less crowded; it works against me in that most group fitness classes (my fav form of exercise) are in the evening.
Since becoming healthy and fit, I also think differently, and that helps me get in more exercise. For example, when I go to a sporting or theatrical event, I park (usually for free) about a mile away instead of paying to park in a garage near the venue. That saves me money, and I get some walking in.
Most chores, such as va******* scrubbing, washing the car, mowing lawns and shoveling snow, and other yard work, are great exercise, and productive, as well.
Best of luck.
Kasey
365/210 (nonop)
Kandy,
EVERYTHING you do, no matter how many or how few minutes---is moving you closer to your goal than sitting down doing nothing. It took every one of us time to get to where we are. It's those 5 minutes walks on the treadmill, for weeks at a time, that lead to 10 minutes on the treadmill. Then you take a risk and push for 5 more minutes until: Hot Diggidy Dog: you're up to 20 minutes!! You go slow.... None of that racing pace stuff! A slow pace, with maybe a little incline. Or, sit on the bike and start at level one; then next time, 2 minutes at level one, and one minute at level two. Work up to all changes.
Soon---and very soon--you're cruising through these workouts like you've been doing it all your life!!! Trust me, you have to keep going back. Again, and again. The closer in proximity your workouts; like a few days in a row, gets your muscles stregnthened enough to move to the harder workout. Don't do anything that causes you to be out of breath. Even if you get on an elliptical and climb so slow you feel like you're walking---you're still climbing and your heart rate is still rising!!! You can get to the endurance stuff later. For now, it's getting used to the exercise and how it affects your heart.
One step at at time. As often during the week (or weekend) as you can. You'll build endurance. Don't look at any of us as lucky: we all had to earn our 30 minutes of this, and 60 minutes of that. In time, we'll be looking at your routine and asking you the same question: how do you keep it up for so long????
One step at at time, Kandy. One day at a time. Just keep doin' it. Over and over and over. You can see, most of our routines are the same; and repition isn't a bad thing you know. It changes your body. You can always up the ante on the speed, endurance, incline; whatever it is that you find you need a challege for later on. For now: just do it!!!
Jessica
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