To be in awe of those who exercise regularly?

[Namila]

Story of my life. I have been wanting to exercise more regularly and have a sporty, healthy lifestyle for the last 10 years at least.

I go through short periods of motivation when I actually exercise a good amount and stick to a good routine. Then I get bored/ stressed with work/ something comes up and I just stop exercising altogether for months. Rinse, repeat

I am in such awe of those people who can stick to a rigorous exercise schedule. Like those who run every morning before work. How do they do it??

I know the benefits of exercise and I know I would feel great if I was more consistent with my workouts, so I am aware that IABU

Why can't I get a hold on my laziness? Anyone else feeling similarly?

Are you sure it’s laziness? Or are there some barriers that make it difficult?

I am exactly the same OP. Following with interest!

I have a similar issue but my problem is intimidation. I adore weight lifting; I love doing it and I love how I feel afterwards. But I've moved gym since we moved house and the new one is much more crowded, and I'm just too nervous of it to go. I miss it!

For me, it was finding something I enjoy. I train 4 -5 times a week now and have done for a year. HIIT and circuit sessions and occasionally with a trainer.

I used to drag myself out running but I never ever enjoyed it and would find it all to easy to think ooh I wont get up early today, and then feel guilty about it all day...

I am exactly the same OP. Following with interest!

I have the time and the energy now to be in the gym 4 - 5 times a week. I have a nice routine now of gym, coffee, work, lunch, then some more work. I keep going because I feel so much better and I get a buzz after each session. It also means that I can eat slightly more than I could if I wasn’t exercising.
I have always said that if I was a superhero my super power is self discipline!

I was the same as you for years and have now consistently been exercising 5 times a week for 3 years!!
It's definitely about finding something you enjoy, for me it it was Crossfit, I love it and feel sad if I can't go: find something you love and you're much more likely to stick at it

I think there are a couple of things that help you to find a regime and stick to it:

1. Find something you genuinely enjoy doing, so it's a pleasure rather than a chore. I hate going to the gym, so will seize on any slight excuse not to go. I love swimming and yoga, so look forward to doing them and feel disappointed if I have to miss a session.

1. If you really don't want to do it- because you're tired, not feeling great, whatever- make yourself go anyway, and do half or two-thirds of your usual workout. You might find it easier than you expected and do the whole thing. But even if you don't, you've got over the psychological block and stuck with your regime.

1. Accept that there are some times when you just can't do it because you're properly ill or other things temporarily have to take priority. This doesn't mean that it's all ruined and you're shit and there's no point in trying again. You've missed one session- just pick back up again next time and move on.

It took serious determination to get me running regularly. I started from zero fitness, overweight and with high bp. I've had to give up now due to foot problems and I genuinely miss it!

What kept me at it was not really the weight loss or the health benefits, although those were ostensibly the reasons for doing it. And not even how great I felt after a run (although I always did).

It was the realisation that the only bit that required willpower was the 5 mins it took to get my running kit on and step out of the front door. Because once you're out there, the decision is made!

So I learnt not to engage in the mental arguing with myself about whether I had time/could be arsed/it was too rainy etc. Don't think about the run, just get changed. Then once you're changed it seems silly not to go for a run.

Build it into your daily routine by cycling to work. Can’t recommend it enough.

Find something you genuinely enjoy doing, so it's a pleasure rather than a chore. I hate going to the gym, so will seize on any slight excuse not to go. I love swimming and yoga, so look forward to doing them and feel disappointed if I have to miss a session.

THIS

I hate the gym. I do aerial. Wouldnt miss it for a second

I started regular exercise over a year ago and have since list nearly 2 stone.

The trick is to find the perfect time for you to do it undisturbed and just do it, without allowing excuses. Find an exercise you can do from home (I used an exercise bike but a couple of good dvds will do just fine) so you dont make excuses to avoid the gym.

Also make sure to factor in days where you get a break, and make sure to not overdo it as if you injure yourself you are more likely to avoid it later.
I get up a little earlier, make ds breakfast and put on workout gear, do 30 min on the bike, nag ds to get dressed, get a shower, nag ds to get dressed, get myself dressed and get ds dressed, by which time we are both ready to go as usual.

Its hard to start off but eventually becomes part of the routine so you dont even think about it. Also having exercised in the morning leaves me feeling quite positive and cheerful for the rest of the day, and I now have way more energy. I have reached target weight but it is staying part of my routine just because of how much better I feel

I know this isn't practical for everyone but I make my run part of my commute. Get off the tube 6K away & run the rest through parks, then shower when I get to work.

If I tried to carve out the time elsewhere it wouldn't happen.

What Eolian said. Getting out the door is the hardest bit.

I also give myself an out on the bad days (I run), by telling myself if once I'm running I still don't want to, I can stop and go home. Invariably once I've got going it's fine.

Last night was crap and I was home after less than 2 miles. But I got out of the door so I don't feel the same guilt/frustration I would have done if I hadn't gone at all.

One change I made in 2017 was walking to and from work (30 mins each way). But it is obviously not enough to get fit! That is the bare minimum I believe.. What I should be doing is walking to work + proper workouts 2/3 times a week minimum.

And honestly, I do have the time and the resources to do it. No DC, single, reasonable
hours at work hence loads of free time..

I literally have zero excuse

I'm a procrastinator when it comes to exercise. I solved it by committing to a job where I have to cycle to work (i.e. the job pays enough so long as I don't spend anything on fuel/public transport). 15 miles round trip was absolute murder for the first few weeks but now, just about 3 years in, I have never been fitter. And I don't have to go running, or pay a gym subscription etc. Ideal...

Namila, have you considered doing Couch to 5K three days a week on your way to or from work?

That's what did it for me.

It could be a lack of goals - it’s easy to run out of steam when you’re not looking forward to anything. Let’s set up some goals - what do you want from your exercise? A distance you want to run? A physical goal?

I honestly don't know how some people do it. I used to do a 2 hour kickboxing session twice a week and loved it but then a baby and both me and dp workings put paid to that. I'm now seriously unfit and fat and struggle to find any time to get to classes or anything.

With that in mind I'm starting the couch to 5k after christmas. I figure it's 30 minutes a few times a week and the only thing stopping me is stupid excuses. Fingers crossed I can get the motivation because yesterday my toddler knackered me out in the park and it was embarrassing.

I exercise regularly (running) but tend to skive off unless I have a training plan written out. You might find it helps if you write a realistic schedule for the next month, print it out, stick on the fridge and cross off the activities as you do them.

By realistic I mean achievable - ie don't put exercise in 6 hours a week if you realistically will only commit to 2 or 3 sessions of half an hour. You can always add in later once it's in your routine - just get in the habit of carving out the time for exercise at first.

I do my draft training plan then open my diary/calendar and make sure I rearrange around known clashes - so there is rarely a time when I "can't train" due to a social commitment. I normally know about social commitments well in advance so factor them in.

Re: couch to 5k - it's well-known that the "couch" is the hard bit (ie getting off the couch) not the 5k - in fact a running group near me (NE England) has a pre-couch to 5k walking group just to get people in the habit of getting outdoors 3 times a week. Once that seems to be sticking, they progress on to the couch to 5k group. The app is great but there are lots of real life groups all over the country and the support and motivation you get from others in the same boat is brilliant.

Good luck and enjoy x

I go every day except Saturday. I treat it as part of my working day. What worked for me was agreeing with myself that I would just drive there and go in the door, then if I didn't feel like doing anything, I would go home. Of course once you get in there, you think you might as well do something! Use the showers there too, which saves me cleaning up at home. And I pay to belong, so I want my money's worth.
I also found it useful to try and do regular classes. You make friends and after a while people miss you if you don't go, so you go, if you see what I mean.
If you have young children, or do shift work, it can't be so easy though.I do understand that.

For me, finding other people to exercise with was key. I'm not a huge extrovert but the expectation of someone else relying on me to turn up meant that I would go, even if I didn't really want to, so I didn't let them down/ lose face. And it works the other way too - there were times when I would be more up for it and motivate them. Once I get to a certain level of competence it becomes easier and exercise becomes enjoyable but for the first six months or so, an exercise buddy really helps.

Agree that goals are also important, so a run coming up, or I have weightlifting goal I want to reach as a % of bodyweight, those help too, but as a starter finding a buddy. It's not a case for me of just going to a running club or a Zumba class, as they will happen without me. It needs to be people relying on me to turn up. The power of social expectation is strong!

In a way Namila I think having plenty of time to yourself can actually make it harder. The times I REALLY make an effort to get out running are the times when I would otherwise not have a second to myself.

Have you tried the Sworkit app? It's incredible. I have to exercise sadly because if I dont stay muscled I could be looking at becoming very crippled in old age. If I didnt have to I would be as lazy as fuck.