I'm posting here so I will come back tomorrow

[Sugarcoated]

to hold myself accountable - to post that I worked out. I'm very good at following up on posts I write and I've been having such a hard time getting back into exercising, I'm trying anything, things I've never tried before to just fucking get started. I'm going to bed in my workout clothes. Easter's coming up and I'll have to see my in-laws, my very attractive and thin sister-in-laws and I'm scared. I don't think any of them judges my appearance, not consciously anyway. But I do enough of that of myself. I'm so unhappy with my appearance that, to my husband's frustration I won't accompany him to see our friends or his family. I am reluctant to be intimate. I'm stuck and depressed. I'm so sorry about the rambling, I'm just free flowing and getting it down. I was at one time in very good shape, worked out more days than not, even substituted occasionally at the aerobics classes. I gained about 60 lbs after a year of caring for my sister, then witnessing her death from cancer. I went on depression meds, then gained more weight on top of that. Sorry for the ramblings, I'm just trying this approach to see if it'll help.

[Room101]

1. You have made a conscious decision to change your lifestyle

That is an important first step in the right direction. The next step is to write down specifically what you wish to accomplish through exercise. I promise to respond when you post them (goals).

[MissMillie]

2. You are proving that you love yourself enough to take care of yourself

The first few weeks are going to be difficult. Your demons will make up any excuse to keep you from working out.

Here is something I tell myself EVERY time my demons try to thwart me:

When I finish a work out, I never say to myself, "I shouldn't have done that." or "I'm sorry I did that."

I never regret going to the gym. I always regret NOT going to the gym.

I promise you that after you've been working out steadily for a while, you will feel so good that you will do anything to keep that good feeling for yourself.

Stick w/ us. We'll do what we can to nudge you in the right direction, and to praise your accomplishments, and to commiserate w/ you about common challenges.

Welcome. I'm really glad you're here.

[Obamanaut]

3. Yes, echo what MissMillie said. I keep a log (journal?) of every

workout, and since March 2 when wifey and I joined a gym, every morsel that enters my mouth. It's working for me, and it's borderline fun even though it sounds anal. Some days after a workout at home with dumbbells I can't use the keyboard to enter exercises for 20 - 30 minutes, and I consider that it was an OUTSTANDING workout.

You can do this. It can become such a part of your routine that if you don't do a workout, you'll miss it.

[seemunkee]

4. Welcome

No backing down now, we'll hunt you down if you do.

I'm sure your husband loves you, thats why he married you. Your not a body to him, your a person.

[vikegirl]

5. Knowing I have to "report" to this forum

really inspires me. I'm glad this place exists!

Welcome! :hi:

[Sugarcoated]

6. I'm so sorry

Sorry for myself cause I didn't workout on Friday - and then was embarrassed to come back and confess. :blush:
Then had to go see my mom in the nursing home - there was a gym at the hotel but no time to use it. I think the reason I didn't exercise last week is, and please tell me if anyone else does this, I stayed up too late (again) and was dragging. It's one of the ways I sabotage myself. I'm gonna start fresh on Monday - I have an elliptical in my house so there's really no excuse. Except I babysit my 9 month old granddaughter and have to fit it in when she takes a nap. Or get up early, which is hard since I trip myself up with the staying up late thing.

Thank you all for the encouragement and the great welcome. I guess I'm committed now. Julie aka/Sugarcoated reporting for duty, or something like that!
:patriot:

[wildeyed]

7. Getting started is the hardest part.

Once you are in a routine, it is easier to stick with it.

Do you have a friend who can work out with you? That way you are less likely to cancel 'cause you will be letting your friend down in addition to letting yourself down. Another trick I use is putting the workout on my calendar. That way I don't inadvertently over schedule myself and run out of time.

Good luck! :hi:

[MissMillie]

8. Just a thought here

If you've spent one night going to bed late, get up on time anyway, and then you're more likely to go to bed on time--or even early--the next night.

I'm one to talk... I did the same thing last night. I didn't make it to the gym this morning, but I'm going to try to get a jog in when I get home from work tonight.

[seemunkee]

9. No need for embarrassment.

We're here for support.
Come in and tell us what you did/didn't do and how we can help you get and stay on track.
Also did figure you have to dedicate an hour or more to a workout. My AM workouts are usually 15-20 minutes long.

[wain]

10. We're all pulling for you. What will your workout consist of?

Don't try to overdo it. Then the workout becomes too hard and easier to avoid coming back. Many find walking every day melts the pounds of in a steady and gradual way - a sign of changing habits and avoiding the lose-gain cycle. Start slow and gradually increase distance.

Good luck!

:)

[Sugarcoated]

11. I'm checking in late

I didn't do the elliptical, but I did walk for about 20 minutes with my husband. My lower back started to hurt a little and we cut it a bit short. I streched. It's a start. :hi:

I don't know why I need to add this, but I will. I'm depressed but I'm going to muddle through and as silly as I feel I'm going to keep this up. Thankyou :cry: :grouphug:

[MissMillie]

12. getting regular exercise will help

with the depression. Endorphins are wonderful things.

Feel free to join the daily check-ins that get posted. (If I don't post an "I worked out today" thread, someone else does)

Take it slow and listen to your body. Just keep doing what you can do, and eventually you'll be able to do more. And you'll learn to love it--I promise.

[Obamanaut]

13. MissMille in post 12 said it nicely - take it slow and listen to your

body. The following has been our recent experience. My wife, woefully out of condition, finally agreed to go to a gym with me. The first day she did all the machines in the circuit because the perky attendant said that's what she should do. Next day she hurt, and didn't want to go back, but I convinced her that her body was telling her things. I've learned through the years that it's good to listen when the body speaks. (see note 1) I divided the machines up for her into body parts, so that she'd use half of them one day, the others the next, in order to let some of her muscles recover. Now she's excitedly showing me her work sheet where she increases one plate on the machine, or 2 extra reps. And she now does the treadmill AND stationary recumbent bicycle for 5 minutes each before and after the machine session. Short version is this. Wife out of shape. Body hurt. Slowed down. Likes the gym now. Here's the recumbent trike we bought her, when we got it, she could not get a 1/2 mile ride in, now she's up to 3. http://www.easyracers.com/ez_3.htm BTW, we're in our 60's.

You can do this. I have confidence in you.


(note 1) Sometimes I don't listen to my body when my mind tells me I'm still 25, and the penalty is dire indeed!

[Sugarcoated]

14. Oh, yeah, that's happend to me.

In fact, one of the really frustrating things is, I'm so out of shape it doesn't take much to pull something. Just from a 20 minute walk yesterday I had a weird pain in my foot. I don't know, maybe I pushed a little too hard though I didn't feel like I did. So, the only walking I did was at Sam's Club to get groceries. That's why the elliptical is good (as well as recumbent bikes) that they're virtually no impact on the leg and foot joints. It's nice to hear you and your wife are taking good care of yourselves, it's inspiring to hear.

From now on I'll join the rest of you in the daily posts. See you there :)

[Obamanaut]

16. Have you considered a walking staff/stick?

Similar to the shepherd staff, aids in walking about, also good for chasing off unfriendly dogs. Here's a site with samples http://whistlecreek.com/ but I made mine from an extra closet dowel rod that I got from Lowe's. A good length is a few inches higher than your elbow. During the walk, you can place it across your shoulders and do some trunk twists and side bends - but not at the same time as walking.

[vikegirl]

15. You did SOMETHING.

And that counts!

Please check-in everything you do....No matter how much you may think is fruitless, it *does* count! :-)