Help me stick to it: flab to shift & tone

[LatelyOfShalott]

I’ve always had an issue with motivating myself to exercise, largely because my clothes still mostly fit and I’m a lazy.

I also hate being seen doing any exercise as I have co-ordination issues (well hate being seen at all really and that has got worse as I’ve got older - I’m middle aged). Plus, being bitten twice by dogs years ago when I tried C2K has put me right off jogging.

But I was doing around 20-30 mins a day of exercise at home. However, SAD put a stop to that about 6 weeks ago and in that time my weight crept up by 2kg: too much chocolate and breaking my 16:8 routine was part of that downfall.

So... I need to lose about 3kg (I’m 5’4” and 63kg) and I want to tone up so I can feel more comfortable in my clothes. I want to do about an hours exercise a day and get back to 16:8. I live alone so I need somewhere to check in to. I want to be honest about my updates (including failures) and here I am anonymous so can do that.

This is my first post and at the end of each day I want to check in with how much exercise I’ve managed and whether I’ve done my 16:8. Each Sunday I’ll add my weight. I know I’m starting at 63kg.

Join me if you wish. This isn’t a vanity project: I know 3kg isn’t a huge amount to try to shift but it’s hard to shift weight at my age and this is about my health as much as fat loss. I know I can’t do this without some accountability as I just won’t stick to it otherwise. This is not just about trying to lose some flab for me; I want to get back to daily exercise, even if that’s just 20-30 mins a day. I felt so much better starting the day with a work out (largely stretching as my knees won’t take high impact).

Wish me luck

I’m with you! Since Covid, my exercise levels have gone down. Used to commute to London before Covid, which involved lots of walking. Working from home and eating badly, has resulted in low fitness levels and I feel sluggish a lot.
I’m planning to go on family walks over the Christmas hols and attending my gym when possible. Wishing you lots of luck with your plan!

Update day 1
Did an hour of exercise: apps mostly but I have a step and a hula hoop-dont have the room for gym equipment.
Had a good healthy lunch and stuck to 16:8 and so far no snacks. A sensible dinner ahead too and determined to avoid chocolate this week: that’s going to be hard.

Hope I can be good again tomorrow with my exercise, and do 16:8 too

Great first day!!

NRE20; thanks

Good luck with your plans.

I was going to try the gym but it’s soooo expensive

An hours exercise today: wasn’t easy as I ached from yesterday.
No snacks just a protein shake, apple with hummus and a sensible dinner today.
Hope I can keep this up, and hope this sheds the pounds.

Rest days are important too, but you can still be active on those days to reduce muscle stiffness, so factor them in, to avoid getting demotivated. Well done for a second great day!

Thanks. Today will be a bit of a test day. Mostly stretching exercises, and I doubt I’ll manage an hour. But yes, sensible to be sensible.
Decided to get on the scales just in case - not lost a ounce...it’s so depressing but I can tell I’m timing up a tiny bit though and I’m more concerned about that than the weight per se.
I’m far too old to wear one but if I get a chance to wear a bikini next summer I’d like to (they are so much easier to change into and out of!)

Someone once told me that your weight is reflective of what you were eating and doing up to 2 weeks prior. I don’t know how true that is, but it makes sense I guess, that our bodies take time to process and change. Stick with it and think of it as a lifestyle change, rather than a short-term thing. Takes something like 3 weeks to form a new habit. Do you use Pinterest at all? I find them useful for creating boards to motivate me. You could do a beach one, with bikinis, destination ideas and when you’re questioning what you’re doing, give the board a little look to remind you of your goal.

Thanks. I don’t use Pinterest but I think photos of times young women would make me feel worse: I looked great when I was younger but wasted it on an ex-husband who cheated on me.
I will remember the 2 weeks thing: thanks

Due to muscle aches I only did 30 mins exercise.
Protein shake, a good dinner. Had a protein snack too so a tad naughty there I guess.
But not a bad day and not beating myself up.

30 mins today plus shifted some furniture: think trying for an hour from the off was a tad daft.
Hoping I can do more than 30 mins tomorrow though.

Again 16:8 and a sensible meal. A couple of mini sausage rolls and a liqueur for my weekend treat.

Onward...

45 mins of exercise today. 16:8 and will have a sensible dinner.
Feeling good

A little over 30 mins of exercise today.
16:8 but fish and chips for dinner: it’s been a day. Fish was rice flour covered, so healthy and I didn’t have masses of chips.
I can tell I’m toning up a little - yay

45 mins exercise today. My knee pops out of joint randomly (generic thing) hence low impact only but even that’s been too much today and I’ve had a fair bit of knee soreness. Tomorrow no impact!
16:8 again but ate quite late so 16:8 tomorrow might be tough.
Managed to fit into a piece of clothing that was too tight a week ago so am toning up. Avoiding the scales as I’m not sure I’m loosing much weight and I know if I feel my efforts are not paying off I don’t want to get despondent and stop.
Definitely eating a little less and exercising a little more and want to keep this up and hit my target weight before I hit 55 in 2 months time.

Caved this morning and stepped on the scales. Not a single ounce shifted.
I know all the muscle is heavier than fat stuff and I know I have toned up a little but honestly, no weight loss!!!!
Unless I starve myself I can’t see me getting to my target weight. I’ve reduced the amount I eat, and am exercising at least 30 mins each day. So damn depressing!

Get yourself a Fitness Blender Low Impact workout program. It'll ease you into the habit of exercising. Beginning with an hour a day is a tad ambitious

Thanks MM. That looks good.
Didn’t manage to stick to an hour but am doing at least 30 mins.

Setting realistic goals is a key to successful long term exercising in my experience