Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

How did you motivate yourself to take the first steps in radically changing your health & fitness?

17 replies

PurpleToeNail · 19/04/2022 18:04

I feel like shit. I REALLY need to make some big permanent changes to my lifestyle. I am permanently exhausted and a fair bit overweight but I can't motivate myself to start changing my life. I just want to lie in bed & not move. How did you take the first steps to radically & permanently change your life?

OP posts:
Whatliesbeneath707 · 19/04/2022 18:16

I know what you mean OP. It's like the why question. What is it that's going to motivate us to make the changes & stick with them? Is staying this way going to be harder than making those changes that are needed?
I think if weightloss was easy & sustainable, it wouldn't be the multimillion pound industry that it is. It amazes me that we have so much technology & knowledge, but we struggle to lose weight.

clouds87 · 19/04/2022 18:25

Hi, I put a bridesmaid dress on over 6 months ago and looked (I thought) half decent. Tried it again in Feb and discovered I’ve put on 1st 7lb. My point is that’s my motivation - it fit snugly and 6 weeks til the day!
I appreciate you might not have a goal like that but I went on MyFitnessPal and it genuinely works, and eating just as much but aren’t as bloated from junk I used to binge on. Good luck x

headspin10 · 19/04/2022 18:35

Watch 'The Gamechangers' and "Earthlings"

I have no trouble with my weight at all now and feel so so much better.

Doloresabernathy42 · 19/04/2022 18:38

Take one small step. Then another. Then another. Trying to change everything at once is far too over whelming. Focus on what you CAN change and do that. Focus on the food. Then once you have that sorted, deal with exercise. Accept that you didn't get this way overnight, you won't change it overnight either. Focus on one day at a time. 24 hours. Accept you won't always be perfect, but do what you can each day.

newbiename · 19/04/2022 18:41

@headspin10

Watch 'The Gamechangers' and "Earthlings"

I have no trouble with my weight at all now and feel so so much better.

Are they on Netflix ? Or something else ?
Redpostbox27 · 19/04/2022 18:45

I started off by just trying to be a bit more active overall ie, gardening, walking or cycling to the shops .. starting off with 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Then I added in a Zumba class once a week (I was rubbish but it got easier). Then after a year did couch to 5k , then got into running . Now I run and walk most mornings before work.

I think the key thing is baby steps .. just a 5 minute walk around the block , every other day, then every day , then a bit further. The more you do, the more you want to do. I found a fitness watch helped ..I got competitive with myself.

skippymcskippy · 19/04/2022 19:04

I never cared about what I looked like, but Covid scared the living shit out of me - it took that level of fear for me to turn things around.

Before it I ate crap and didn't do any movement or exercise at all, I was always knackered and putting on more weight.

I researched various diets and thought they were mostly a load of nonsense. I worked out the basic idea of cutting processed food and sugar, which was literally my whole diet. The first few weeks were awful but then I adjusted and it was fine. I started logging calories in and out on my Fitbit, and lost all the weight pretty quickly.

After a few months I realised I needed to build muscle more. I bought a rebounder and had so much fun exercising for the first time ever, I could cope with being out of breath, and this has led over time to me doing all sorts of daily exercise and LOVING it.

I joined a Fitbit group linked on here where we still have daily and weekly challenges that led me to up from 5k to 20k steps a day easily.

These days I have endless energy. It is fantastic having muscles and feeling stronger and smaller, and it's improved my mental and physical health no-end. I wish I hadn't wasted those years. Start now OP while you have a moment of momentum!!

Baby step recommendations: cut out sugar, eat more veg, and start some weightlifting and walking.

BornBlonde · 19/04/2022 19:28

Following as feel the same

PurpleToeNail · 19/04/2022 19:37

@skippymcskippy That sounds impressive. Can I ask how old you are? I'm mid 50s & I feel clobbered by menopause

OP posts:
skippymcskippy · 19/04/2022 19:44

I'm 42 (and peri-menopausal) so a bit younger than you - but from what I've read, I think the principles should be the same no matter how old you are!

HollowTalk · 19/04/2022 20:05

Does my fitness pal only work with calories? Can you do it with low carb?

BordoisAgain · 19/04/2022 20:09

I saw a tiktok by a pt who said that someone who is trying to lose weight fixes on their goal weight and forgets to celebrate every successful step they take alo g the way, which is how people get demotivated. Each walk, gym class, etc. is a step towards losing that next lb and each lb is a step towards that next stone.

Nandocushion · 19/04/2022 20:28

@BordoisAgain

I saw a tiktok by a pt who said that someone who is trying to lose weight fixes on their goal weight and forgets to celebrate every successful step they take alo g the way, which is how people get demotivated. Each walk, gym class, etc. is a step towards losing that next lb and each lb is a step towards that next stone.
I think this was James Smith, and I agree - every single small step you take should be celebrated as an accomplishment. (Just don't celebrate with cake!) It's a lot of small steps that get us to a goal, and it takes time and effort, so only celebrating once you've got to the goal can be demoralising.
TheChosenTwo · 19/04/2022 20:32

It’s the Easter holidays and I had intended to wake up early every day and exercise. I usually do it twice a week before work anyway but was looking forward to upping it and getting my exercise done before the kids got up so we could have relaxed days.
Well we are almost halfway through the second week and I’ve not done it once Confused
We were away for a few days last week and we’ve had the bank holidays etc but the truth is I’ve chosen lie ins over exercising full stop.
Maybe tomorrow will be the day!
Also, I saw a photograph of myself today, taken today, and I’m horrified at my extra chin - this is motivation to at least pack in the crap for a bit to get it under control Blush

BordoisAgain · 19/04/2022 22:20

I think this was James Smith

That's the one. Love his no bullshit videos. 🤣

efeslight · 19/04/2022 22:26

Am also longing to change my diet and exercise habits but never seem to get going. Thanks for the recommendations

AnybodyAnywhere · 19/04/2022 22:30

I waited until I was 66 and then I had a Stroke…..that did the trick for me.

Maybe think about what that’s like and how much you don’t want it to happen to you x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page