Motivation for a healthier lifestyle?

[GOODORBAD]

I hate exercise. And love unhealthy food.

I'm heavier than I probably should be (although not technically overweight), but more worrying is that I am lethargic and always getting headaches and colds.

I keep thinking I want to make changes but it never happens. I work and have DC and I get so little free time that spending it on exercise seems joyless. I eat pretty healthily at weekends but as soon as I am back at work I'm drinking loads of coffee and eating chocolate to get through the day.

I know I'd feel better if I were healthier but i can't find the motivation to do it. Has anyone managed it? How?

Don't drink that much and don't smoke so at least I'm getting that bit right.

Could you put healthier snacks on your workdesk & promise yourself you have to finish them before allowed any chocolate?

That is a good idea. Although I worry I'd still be snacking all day long and therefore still consuming too many calories even if they are healthier ones!

I thought I'd start small by aiming for 10,000 steps a day but honestly even that is ambitious. Right now I usually don't even make it to 6,000 steps a day

10000 steps - walk round while the kettle is boiling or your tea is brewing, walk to the shop instead of taking the car, play chasing games with your DC, put a couple of items of washing away at a time. I manage to hit 10k, even on a sedentary day by doing stuff like this.

Exercise doesn't always have to be boring. There will be a form of exercise that you enjoy, you just need to find it. I hate gym workouts, but I love yoga, running, cycling, boxfit and swimming. You could even rope your DC into cycling etc.

I'm afraid you'll have to bite the bullet with food. I tend to eat decent portions of proper meals, not diet & low fat stuff either. I'm then not hungry to want to snack. I think it really helps. I don't think coffee is the enemy either; I'm always drinking tea & coffee.

I’m just back from a run
No one around and so peaceful

And now day ahead of me knowing that I’ve done my hard exercise

It’s wonderful for mind and soul (and body!)

I have trained myself to eat more healthy foods. I look for foods which are healthy which I consider treats and eat more of those - though this can be pricey!

I drink a LOT of water to fill myself up.

I 'check in' with my body often in the daytime, taking the time to consider how I feel and how much of that would be attributable to a healthy lifestyle. I therefore appreciate it more. The longer this goes on, the more motivated I find I can be.

Staying fit and healthy for the kids - losing a parent would be hideous.

The 10,000 step thing was shown to be total bullshit on one of those ‘the truth about’ BBC programs.

Pretty sure it said it is better to build in 3x 10 min sessions of moderate exercise like fast walking so you’re out of breath.

I've signed up to do Red January:

redtogether.co.uk

Need to decide what activities I'll do but hope that it will motivate me and get me into enough of a habit & routine to continue into February and beyond.