Please help me get fit -50 with no energy or willpower

[Oodieandacuppatonightplease]

I am lazy, very busy and I’ve had enough. I also lack patience and willpower. At least 1 stone to lose. I’m 50, work full time, generally knackered.
Luckily (?!) we have an exercise bike and treadmill lurking in the garage. Currently used to hang random things on.
Did couch to5k many moons ago but can’t make myself do it again.
what worked for you? What, apart from a rocket up my backside, can I to make myself actually take action? Don’t want to continue this lethargy and guilt 😞

Yes, I’ve been wondering about that too. The joys of being a middle aged woman!

Try RH Fitness. It's straight talking and sweary but it was what I needed to hear and I've lost a pound a week since New Year. Never hungry and not yet got the willpower to do the recommended weights but walk 10,000 steps without fail a day.

Thanks Sequin, have just had a look, the price is definitely good although signing up for minimum of 12 months seems a lot. Do you do the classes too?

Mindset wise commit to doing something even if it's just something short. Anything is an achievement . I mostly fell off the fitness wagon last year. In my 50s, and was drinking a glass of wine most nights, working full time. I've been doing well last few months. What's working for me..,

Signed up for FIIT (online home work outs) and do their plans. I do body weight and dumbbell. They have bike, treadmill and rowing plans too. Took before photos and I take after photo every time finish a plan.

During week make myself a fake wine (nice cordial with ice and slice in a gin glass) which I find tricks me out of wanting wine. And wrote down reasons I am exercising.

Have promised myself I will trust in the process. My key goal is to be fit and well in my 60s . So I have to invest in my health now.

And HRT helps me too

Thanks Duchess. When I have a moment will look into a plan, you do sound v organised though. I’ve realised I do need some guidance but am very good at starting things, signing up, then not continuing. If I could change that I’d be sorted as I do actually enjoy exercise while doing it. Need a live in personal trainer, and a lottery win.

Look up Dr Mindy Peltz on YouTube and ‘Fast Like a Girl’ - she talks a lot about women’s health and losing menopausal weight. You don’t need to do lots of cardio!

And agree with an PP about starting small. TINY! It’s all about manageable habits. You already walk lots so this week try to add in 2 sessions of strength training. The next week try for 3. Etc. Build up slowly and before you know it you’ll be feeling better which will give you momentum to stick at it.

Thanks Starsseed, for your encouraging words, off to bed now but will look at that tomorrow. Better times ahead 😄

Following for inspiration just cannot find the motivation to do anything HRt didn’t make a difference I just want to eat sweets and do nothing 😬

Sounds like you are reasonably active already. 10k steps a day is not lazy! Agree with being focussed on what you want to do, not what you're not doing. Menopause definitely affects metabolism and where I carry weight etc. I am learning to accept that there is a stubborn 5-10kg that just will not shift regardless of my activity levels and diet. Please do follow the advice from PPs to seek out female specific advice. We are served really badly by general fitness advice which is based on men. My personal favourite is Dr Stacy Sims.

HRT made a massive difference to my energy and motivation levels - strength and resistance training best for women in mid life

Thanks again, I am realising my ignorance and learning a lot from your posts. Will sit down tonight and put it all into some order in my head.
Parsley1234 I may have started c25k but also had one evening this week where I ate a whole bag of midget gems and went to bed at 8!

I've just started again on my quest to get fit and lose weight.

I am back to my 7M Workout app, every routine is just 7 minutes and I usually do it first thing in my pjs. My plan is to do this every morning then aim for 10k steps then look at more structured exercise and start logging my food.

My people would start this at the beginning of a month but I've literally just started 5 minutes ago

Check out your diet, and your sleep. If you have no energy through the day those are going to be the culprits.

I'm always much more motivated by classes rather than exercising alone, is there any pilates locally?

As you're already doing 10k steps a day, I would focus on adding a couple of weights sessions, rather than cardio. Just buy some weights and use at home for 15 mins twice a week.

With the walking you're already doing, can you up the speed a bit and try to get a bit out of breath for segments? If you've got a fitbit or similar you can monitor yourself.

For the tiredness I'd look at supplements. I started taking magnesium and L-tyrosine a few months ago after reading a menopause thread. I've definitely been less tired since taking them.

For diet low carb sounds restrictive, but honestly once you're into it, I've found I don't really miss carbs and I'm losing weight slowly and consistently, without feeling hungry all the time.

Walk, walk, walk. Look at the blue sky and the blossom on the trees. Enjoy being outside.

Does your gym do a body pump type class? Booking a class that I enjoy and feel the benefit from means I go where if I was just going on my own I might swerve it! I'm also better with some structure so going to body pump and following the routine then I'm done works for me