Exercise...learning to make peace with it
starsjen24
Posts: 19 Member
Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
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Replies
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No, no, no, start moving now.
I am not a big exercise fanatic, but as I have become older, I have realised I need it for my health, and to continue living the lifestyle that I love.
Find something you like to start with, mine was aqua fit because it didn't make me hot and sweaty. Since then I have done Pilates, belly dancing, 10k walking races, weight lifting, Zumba, etc, etc.
This year I have learnt to swim and am just about to start my first yoga class.
Start before menopause, you will be in better shape to cope with the hormones, hot flashes et al. I was half way through and I found exercise sweat and hot flashes horrid.
I am 62 now and in far better shape than I was at 42.
Cheers, h.0 -
Exercise is the only thing that keeps me balanced. And I do not have menopause problems because I exercise. Find something that you like to do. Try different exercises, challenge yourself to doing something you'd know you would never do like training for a 5k. Once you get in the habit and feel those endorphins you'll be addicted.
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I breezed through menopause. If I didn't exercise I got hot flashes. If I did exercise I got a mild one once a month. Won't work for everyone, but I wasn't exercising for that reason I just wanted to keep in shape. Now is the time to change your life. You'll never regret it.0
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Do you have a Netflix account that you can access via tablet or cell phone, and access to an exercise bike or a treadmill? Works for me.0
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Exercise is for fitness and health and NOT a requirement for weight loss/maintenance, however it's a good regiment to have in your daily life because not only does it help with strength and other functional movements, it helps with stress relief, blood pressure and believe it or not, regulation of hormones.
Weight gain is because of over consumption and weight loss would be eating less than your burn.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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starsjen24 wrote: »Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
Everyone wants to put their feet up when they get home
I'm a huge believer in making all this stuff convenient. Make it easy for yourself - go to the gym right after work, before you get home.
Pick a gym within 5 minutes of your workplace (or at your workplace, if there's one there). Rent a locker, and keep your shoes and grooming stuff there, so you're just taking clothes day to day.
Have a snack about 1-1.5 hours before you get to the gym (4 o'clock, or whatever it is for you) - something with a good amount of protein & carbs, like cottage cheese. That'll keep you going through your workout, commute & dinner prep. Then you can watch Game of Thrones
Exercise will give you energy (once you make it past that first month).
Do it for your bones 0 -
starsjen24 wrote: »Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
Everyone wants to put their feet up when they get home I'm a huge believer in making all this stuff convenient. Make it easy for yourself - go to the gym right after work, before you get home.
Pick a gym within 5 minutes of your workplace (or at your workplace, if there's one there). Rent a locker, and keep your shoes and grooming stuff there, so you're just taking clothes day to day.
Have a snack about 1-1.5 hours before you get to the gym (4 o'clock, or whatever it is for you) - something with a good amount of protein & carbs, like cottage cheese. That'll keep you going through your workout, commute & dinner prep. Then you can watch Game of Thrones
Exercise will give you energy (once you make it past that first month).
Do it for your bones
Perfect! Couldn't have put it better!0 -
You are 30. It is not about accepting getting older. It is not normal for someone as young as you to feel old. Perhaps a therapist would be a good place to start. The question is not whether you should prepare for old age, the question is why aren't you feeling your real age.0
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@aggelikik The OP is 31 and has self-identified a need to lose 65 pounds. She didn't characterize herself as feeling old has recognized that carrying on the path she is currently on is bound to lead to health problems as she ages.
That's a healthy amount of awareness. Bravo @starsjen24 !
It's much better to address this issue now with a focus on health and fitness and enjoy to the maximum all the years she has left, instead of waiting like some of us (guilty) for a health shock or some other input that wakes us up later in life, hopefully not too late.
I wish 40 year old me had been as wise as 31 year old @starsjen24 is, and to her I say: go for it! You've not a day to waste. Your future self will thank you for taking care of yourself today.
Mike
Vancouver BC
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icemaiden37 wrote: »starsjen24 wrote: »Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
Everyone wants to put their feet up when they get home I'm a huge believer in making all this stuff convenient. Make it easy for yourself - go to the gym right after work, before you get home.
Pick a gym within 5 minutes of your workplace (or at your workplace, if there's one there). Rent a locker, and keep your shoes and grooming stuff there, so you're just taking clothes day to day.
Have a snack about 1-1.5 hours before you get to the gym (4 o'clock, or whatever it is for you) - something with a good amount of protein & carbs, like cottage cheese. That'll keep you going through your workout, commute & dinner prep. Then you can watch Game of Thrones
Exercise will give you energy (once you make it past that first month).
Do it for your bones
Perfect! Couldn't have put it better!
Thanks Great minds etc 
You are 30. It is not about accepting getting older. It is not normal for someone as young as you to feel old. Perhaps a therapist would be a good place to start. The question is not whether you should prepare for old age, the question is why aren't you feeling your real age.
@aggelikik , I get the impression OP is thinking of some older people, or even people near her age, that she might know who maybe believe that being overweight just happens past 30 (and is guaranteed with continued aging, and menopause - because "hormones"), and that fitness is only for the very young, is that right OP?
I know some people like that. People rationalize because they think change is really hard. It is and it isn't. There are things you can do to make it simpler, and if you can just pull through the beginning, when things hurt a bit because you're not used to it, it'll get easier and easier.0 -
starsjen24 wrote: »Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
You have the right mind set.
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Exercise is part of your calories out balance.
I love exercise as a way to manage my health, and a way to manage calorie deficit
There is no separation of health related to diet, from health related to exercise, as if you have two different bodies!
It is one body you make more healthy by using both.
Managing what goes in your body and then keeping your body in good running condition
Ease on into exercise and find your favorites.
It can be very relaxing and a great way to burn off stress, fat, and get that shape you want!0 -
giddy up and get out that door....0
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icemaiden37 wrote: »starsjen24 wrote: »Acceptance...struggling with final stage. Realizing exercise is an ali not an enemy. Can no longer eat like a teenager and assume i wont gain. Soothing voice in my head after a hard day at work "you dont need to exercise, chill and watch game of thrones marathon or play video games and snack". Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed. If i don't change something...soon i wont fit onto the couch...roll around on the floor looking for the remote.
For me I've hit a cross road...do i stay with my current life style and accept weight gain as part of getting older or do I make changes to try and improve my health. An internal battle, another battle to get the weight off...Looks like I'll be preparing for war.
Everyone wants to put their feet up when they get home I'm a huge believer in making all this stuff convenient. Make it easy for yourself - go to the gym right after work, before you get home.
Pick a gym within 5 minutes of your workplace (or at your workplace, if there's one there). Rent a locker, and keep your shoes and grooming stuff there, so you're just taking clothes day to day.
Have a snack about 1-1.5 hours before you get to the gym (4 o'clock, or whatever it is for you) - something with a good amount of protein & carbs, like cottage cheese. That'll keep you going through your workout, commute & dinner prep. Then you can watch Game of Thrones
Exercise will give you energy (once you make it past that first month).
Do it for your bones
Perfect! Couldn't have put it better!
Thanks Great minds etc You are 30. It is not about accepting getting older. It is not normal for someone as young as you to feel old. Perhaps a therapist would be a good place to start. The question is not whether you should prepare for old age, the question is why aren't you feeling your real age.
@aggelikik , I get the impression OP is thinking of some older people, or even people near her age, that she might know who maybe believe that being overweight just happens past 30 (and is guaranteed with continued aging, and menopause - because "hormones"), and that fitness is only for the very young, is that right OP?
I know some people like that. People rationalize because they think change is really hard. It is and it isn't. There are things you can do to make it simpler, and if you can just pull through the beginning, when things hurt a bit because you're not used to it, it'll get easier and easier.
From the OP:
"Old age is coming, soon menopause will hit and then I'll be screwed"
She is 30. Old age is not coming. Menopause is not something you think at 30 either.
If preparing for her old age in the long future is motivating her to be healthier now, awesome. But still, at 30 most people have immediate goals: I want to be healthier so I can go hiking, enjoy swimming, go clubbing, run in the park with my kids, have kids, enjoy dates more and so on. The tone in the OP, it sounds kind of resigned, as if youth and fun is over, and it is just about trying to prevent the worse in the future. While living well at old age is a good and important goal, figuring out more immediate and simpler goals might help OP stay focused. It is of course more important to think "if I do this for the next 40 years, I will be able to be healthier as a senior citizen", but still I think some immediate motivation is needed for most of us, even if it is as frivolous as looking good at the beach next summer.
OP, I suggest not seeign exercise as a necessary evil, but trying to put some fun to it. Try things until you find something you enjoy. A yoga class, swimming or a long evening walk for example, can be relaxing, even for someone very out of shape. Maybe trying activities with a friend would help too.0 -
I am lazy. I hate cardio with a passion. I have days where I just don't want to have anything to do with it. It doesn't make me energized and happy during or after. It doesn't make me sleep better, either. I get irritated and annoyed. I force myself to do it. Since high school, I hated cardio. Even when I was fit back in the days, hated cardio. As for strength training/lifting I feel energized and happy. After a good lift I sleep better. I don't think I'll ever like cardio.0
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Exercise is awesome. It can be tough going, but it cna also be a great mood lifter and confidence builder.
Lol@ the idea 30 is old, bit too much drama.
If you accept obesity (tbh its pretty nice eating without limit), then you are also making a decision to shorten both the length and quality of life. Theres no need to.0
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