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The discouragement of failing to witness noticeable results from countless hours of rigorous workout activity might cause you to rethink whether the daily exercise grind is actually worth it. The feel-good concept of working out to improve your overall health and well-being may be satisfactory on the surface, but copious amounts of pain without any gain can cripple your motivation. It's important to remember why you decided to alter your lifestyle to begin with, though, even if you don't see quick results.

Keep Calm

There's no doubt that it takes several weeks for your results to pop in the mirror. Some people are able to gain noticeable results faster than others, but that shouldn't deter you from exercising at least three or four times per week. It's important to keep your ultimate goal in mind and remember that you're not going to suddenly become sculpted overnight, or over the course of a month, for that matter.

Challenge Yourself

It's not a simple feat to overcome discouragement, but it is possible to internalize those harsh feelings and transform a negative, can't-do attitude. If you're feeling unsatisfied with the hard work you've committed to, challenge yourself by increasing the intensity of each workout. You can accomplish this by decreasing rest time in between sets, which has been scientifically tested to improve your endurance and increase your body's natural ability to burn fat. For high-intensity workout purposes, rest for just 30 to 45 seconds in between sets.

Visualize Success

Even though it might seem cliché and somewhat silly, visualizing your goals can help keep you motivated. Regardless of whether your goal is to burn off enough flab to flaunt washboard abs at the beach, or slim down to squeeze into your high school prom dress, visualizing your moment can help you achieve what might currently seem impossible. Do what you can to fend off brief moments of discouragement by remembering why you became an avid workout enthusiast to begin with.

Ignore Negativity

The process of visualization should help you conquer negative thoughts that creep into your mind, but it's also important to tune-out family members and friends who have a tendency to induce negativity or invoke poor decisions. Even though it might be tempting to skip the gym for an extended happy hour with your friends after a rough day at the office, you need to remain resilient and think of the potential consequences. A couple of drinks have the potential to increase your food cravings, which can lead to poor dietary decisions and stall your progress.

Don't Give Up!

As simple as it might seem, giving up on your goal won't fuel your passion or diminish your discouragement. If maintaining a trimmed down figure was easy to do, obesity wouldn't be at the root of many health concerns in the United States. You have the opportunity to not only change your lifestyle by exercising regularly, but also achieve high-quality health. Anything that is difficult to accomplish is worth doing, no matter how discouraging it might be. Even if you don't see results today, remember that each workout pushes you one day closer to reaching your moment of visualization. 

 

John Shea is a team sports fanatic and fitness aficionado.

 

Wishing you well on your recovery.  I need my done as well, but I keep putting it off.  I think I will wait until I retire.  I too am concerned that I will need too much time off of work. Slow and steady,  

Hi Everyone!
I had my RNY in 2008 and I have gained some weight since about 3 years ago.
I'm so ready to get rid of it but I can't shake it off.
I'm back to the basics... Protien shakes in the morning, Snack on a small piece of String Cheese. For lunch a Salad. and Dinner a Protein shake.

My weight is stuck!
Oh,,,, and I'm also doing T25 for 25 minutes.

I don't know what else to do.

Good luck on your re-hab.......I had total knee replacement in Jan. 2012.  I thought I would be off from work 6-weeks.....I was off 3- months........I didn't do well because my body grows scar tissue really fast....every surgery that I have ever had, I had scar tissue problems...even my RNY.  Any way, most people do great after TKR...... Sounds like you are in that category !   Keep up the therapy !!

Just before Christmas, I had total knee replacement.  It has been difficult to say the least.  

I had WLS and two C-sections and breezed through those.  Took minimal pain medication and had easy recovery.  I thought the knee surgery would be more difficult but not like it has been.  I took off work for one week and was going to return to work.  I was oh so wrong. I ended up having to take a month off.  I had in-home PT and have now progressed to out-patient PT.  

It feels good to be back at work and back to somewhat of a routine that includes PT and doing the exercises throughout the day.  The pain and aches from the pain get really old.  I know that it will take months.

I'm already glad that I've done it.  I can go up/down stairs without doing it sideways.  I've done stairs for years sideways.  Even though I still have pain, walking is better than it was before I had my surgery and I still have months of recuperation so that will get even better.

Two of my triggers are pain and being tired.  I'm sleeping lousy.  Even though I'm experiencing both of my triggers every day, I've stayed on track.  

My goal is to walk the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and to use my treadmill, and take walks when the weather is better.  I still don't have balance and stability to walk yet but I will.  While it has been rough, I'm glad that I had it done.