If exercise never used to be an integral part of your life, but now is....what changed?

[Twerking9to5]

Sorry for slightly clunky thread title.

I grew up in a household where exercise really wasn't part of life. It was something you did an hour a week at school and when you needed to lose a bit of weight. I really, really want to try changing my mindset as I want exercise to be a non negotiable part of my life.

I want to be fit, strong and healthy but scared of just giving up after a few weeks like always

So....if you used to be like this but now are a regular happy exerciser, what changed? How did you do it? Did you find something you loved? Did you just force yourself until it became habit?!

Am toying with incorporating Parkrun into a New Year resolution, but looking at the times on our local website, I'd be finishing a good ten minutes after everyone else.
I can probably live with that. Maybe. I'm sure they'd be nice about it.

Oh yes, parkrun would do it.The community and friendship to be found there is amazing? Are you sure about the times? When I do tailrunning it's pretty much walking. What time is the last finisher doing? It won't matter anyway but if you can manage a slow jog or even a run walk, I'd be amazed if you finished last, let alone a long way behind.

Don't worry Boulevard, my local parkrun is pretty fast overall, but there is a backrunner who keeps the last person company and they get clapped in just like anyone else. I run with my 9 year old at parkrun who is still getting the hang of it, and you meet some lovely people at the back - the fast lot are too busy running to talk!

Never exercised as a child or even into my 30's then I lost some weight and started exercising to try & keep it off long-term. Through trial and error, I found classes I enjoy and a sport I love (cycling) and gradually it just became part of my weekly routine. My rides and classes are in the diary and DH knows he has to be home for a certain time on 2 nights or that I'll be up & out early on a Sunday and thankfully he's very supportive.

I love the fact I can still eat what I want within reason but naturally eat better when exercising because I don't want to undo the hard work , I don't get puffy running around with my kids, I like the compliments people pay me not just about the change in my physique but also generally keeping fit and the way my body looks and shopping is now fun.

Parkrun!

I have the opposite problem! Loved sport growing up and after stopping for a while after uni got back into it over the last few years. Then I broke my leg and had to give everything up and now I'm fat and lazy and have totally lost all my motivation! Following this thread for fitspiration :)

I started running around 8 years ago a few times a week. If I don't run now I feel horrid. For me it was just keeping at it. I don't do long distances or super fast times but I just run. Was out yesterday and today. My advice is find something you enjoy as you are far more likely to stick to a regime. It's such an integral part of my life now it's become a routine.

It also helps that's dh is super fit (does lots of triathlons) and I think helps to motivate me too.

Found classes I loved. Enjoyed having dedicated time to do something entirely for my own wellbeing. DH has always taken time to exercise so about 4 years ago I thought why the heck shouldn't I too.

I flipping love it.

I agree with finding the right thing. Functional exercise really works for me so I have built up to cycling to work 4 - 5 days a week now - I got a proper bike that fits me well from Cycle to Work which I thoroughly recommend.

I ran quite a lot last year, did couch to 5K and a 7K event which were great but parkrun finished me off - the bloody very kind backrunner went round with me and made me go at least 10 mins faster than my comfortable plod, plus my rubbish pelvic floor meant I was being clapped in with a large dark grey stain spreading where it shouldn't and I then developed a psychological hip injury which luckily flares up again if I run!

I love walking with dh. I found that having a dog restricted my exercise a lot as I only had time to take him for walks, nothing else, and couldn't talk to dh as he needed a lot of managing. But a proper walk in the country with dh is the best.

Try and find something that fits into your life and that you love. When the dc's were little I started running as it was easy to fit around them, either grabbing a half hour in the evening or running with a buggy or them on bikes. I entered races to motivate myself, (finally did a marathon which I could never have imagined when I first started) and try to run two to three times a week. I also cycle to work, 20 miles a day. It takes about the same time as commuting and is SO much nicer. I love it, whatever the weather, and it's part of my daily routine so it just happens and is non negotiable!

Motivation and finding the right thing did it for me. I exercised half-heartedly, then one day stard to worry that I was so unfit that I was risking my health and didn't want anything to happen to me with 3 children. So started boot camp, gosh it was hard! But I got better, then took up running which I have turned out to really enjoy, though I'm not speedy. Now 2 stone lighter, 2 dress sizes down, feel fit and like my body (it's not perfect but way better) and that is all motivation enough to to keep it going. Also find I really enjoy being outside, it really refreshes me.

I'm terrible at being motivated so I always make sure I have an event on the horizon to aim for otherwise I'd never get out. That and a bog standard pedometer to measure my steps!

Parkrun did it for me too! I was never sporty, and nor were any of my friends growing up. My sister started running and got DP hooked too and he started running regularly and parkrun once a week. Me and the kids used to go along and watch him and there were so many lovely supportive people there of all abilities I thought I should give it a go too. I started walking most of it and finishing in around 45 mins, 18 months later I now do it in 31 mins, run another time in the week and do yoga and boot camp too.

For me it's helped that our whole family dynamic is quite active, DP runs at least 3 times a week and the kids all run and do other sport too. I had a strong feeling of wanting to set a good example for the DCs that being active is fun in itself and not just a means to an end for losing weight.

I'm now event director for my local junior parkrun so there's no escape for me!

Would definitely recommend parkrun and couch to 5k as regular routes into exercise and I feel so much better both physically and mentally than I used to.

I lost weight through dieting and then wanted to tone up. I went to a free session of a running club, thinking I would be useless and ran further than I ever had before (C25k didn't keep me motivated). I joined the group and committed to paying the fees (which are low but enough to make me not want to pay for doing nothing) so I kept going. I also chose it because the group meets at a time that suits both me and my family, 5.30am so it doesn't impact anyone else but me.
I started in Jan last year and now run 4-5 times a week and ran a half marathon in May.
Routine, payment commitment and seeing the results are what kept me at it.
Good luck!

I agree that one of the big draws for me is being able to eat whatever I want and burn it off later. It's great when you get your metabolism really up to speed. I always used to suffer with tummy aches, but now that is a distant memory.

Massively appreciate all of your inspirational posts, thank you.

I have a 2 year old and 5 month old and am aware that I need to be a bit sensible in what I can commit to. I did suffer with pnd this time round because I was so bloody desperate to "get myself back". I bought loads of davina DVDs and started the c25k programme (which I actually was enjoying) far too soon after my second was born. Ended up crashing and burning.

I think I need the balance of being kind to myself and making time for myself. I worry about finances too, but I've started to think I should invest in myself and my health more-it's important. I want DCs to grow up thinking exercise is a totally normal part of life.

Scared I will start something and give it up, this proving myself a failure. Agh.
I agree with those of you who said to start small. I have a habit of producing some "workout schedule" and it usually fails within a month

Had treatment for anxiety 18 months ago, which helped. But it was only when I started exercising regularly about a year ago that I started feeling so much better. It helps that I work part time and both children are in school so I always have at least two days a week when I can go for a run.

Don't get into the failure trope. Conquer it. Don't be scared - you might fail at swimming but get into running. You need time and space to try things to find what works for you.

For me, it's running as it's cheap. I did a mixture of running/walking to start with and gradually increased distance. What helped was thinking that it would take me a few weeks to start to like it so I didn't put pressure on myself. I hated it for those few weeks. I love it now.

Also, helped for me to think of it as a break from work, DC, DH, the house, everything. It's precious to me now.

Good luck x

You don't need to worry about failing. You can get fit on a relatively tiny amount of exercise. Two twenty minute workouts a week to start with would be a great amount.

Don't worry about what you didn't do. Congratulate yourself for what you did do.

Another parkrunner here to wave the flag for a free, weekly and friendly 5k breath of fresh air :) Getting involved here and telling folk how you are getting on is really helpful, I have met lovely supportive people on the exercise threads

Also, second the view of many others. find something that you enjoy and requires little logistical planning so it is more likely to happen - Love the 5.30am running club, going whilst DC at another class, setting a great example for the kids, linking up with positive minded friends, setting a goal or an event (moonwalk, race for life etc), reward yourself (we get smiley stickers on our family calender on each day we exercise )

I stopped smoking and started couch to 5k (there's a great thread on here to keep you motivated too). I loved the feeling of getting fitter and my lungs actually being able to work I also had pnd after my 2nd and anxiety and found it did wonders for my mental health. I'm a single parent and it's time for me and me alone.

I started training for longer and longer runs, got a real kick from the endorphin buzz and did my first half marathon last year. Now I have times to beat. Competitive, moi?

I now do other training at the gym on top of running and genuinely love it. It's one of my priorities every week to fit in some time for myself and my health exercising. I love feeling fit and strong, have so much more respect for myself after learning how much more capable my body is than I ever expected.

Don't worry about 'failing'. That takes the fun and enjoyment away from it. We are often our own worst critics, every little bit is an accomplishment.

Walking is always good too :) your DC are still little, When mine were so small I just walked with a double buggy everywhere and that seemed to offset the amount of cake I ate .

Most of my Exercise is part of transport. I plan my life that way.
Where we live, where kids go to school, how I get to work (mix of cycling or walking + train). If I want to go to a toddler group 2 miles away then I expect to buggy push, of course.
Kids went to local primary school because that's where we can walk to.

I did dancing (badly) when I was young, but grew up in a household where males were into sport, and females had no aptitude for it. I was hopeless at PE.

I got into decent habits through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For Silver, I learned to swim 25m. For Gold, I ended up swimming a mile, and learning various strokes and skills. That gave me the confidence to learn to ride a bike at 19! To get fit for the expeditions, I walked 1.8 miles to school; briskly, uphill and lugging heavy textbooks.

At uni it was mainly clubbing, then my gap year job involved walking to work and walking round a hospital. I wasn't my fittest, but it was activity.

I realised I needed exercise in my life when I started driving and a new uni course. Suddenly deprived of exercise, my sleep went haywire in two weeks. I twigged quite quickly and went to classes at the local leisure centre. My 20s flitted through a few variations including adult ballet and yoga.

After both my pregnancies where my fitness was utterly trashed by SPD, I put myself on mission to get fit again with walking, classes, buggy fit and DVDs. I was fitter than I was through most of my 20s.

Since DS2, I've got into running via C25k and ended up doing two HMs. Running works for me with its flexibility, getting outside and alone time. I keep it mixed up with other activities.

If I don't exercise, I feel rubbish. My sleep goes, I feel tired and I ache. From reading other people's comments about exercise generally, confidence seems to be the biggest barrier, and I got mine early on. Not that I'm great compared to anyone else, but that I can set myself personal goals and achieve them. Being realistic about what you like and can fit in also helps. For me, variety helps, and having goals.

For me it was finding something I love. I started dancing a few years ago and pole fitness earlier this year. I can't believe how strong my body is now, and what incredible things it can do. I get such an amazing rush from nailing a new move at pole and I have so much more belief in myself now.

There's a lot of negativity about pole fitness especially on here but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself