Please say it gets more easier and enjoyable!
Nads36
Posts: 108 Member
I weigh 256lbs = 18st 4lbs (was 271lbs = 19st 5lbs) and I have to admit I am not enjoying exercising at this weight. I do remember loving exercise when I was lighter in previous years. Just wondered when did it get easier and more enjoyable for you? Thanks in advance!
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Depends on what you're doing. Is it an activity that you love, or are you doing it because you think you need to?3
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set yourself some fitness goals, then you aren't just working out for the sake of it.1
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It does get easier and more enjoyable. The lighter you get, the easier it is on your joints, feet, etc. Exercizing regularly will build strength as well, this also makes it easier. As everything gets easier to do it becomes less of a chore and more of a normal activity.
Just keep progressing one day at a time and you'll achieve your goals.5 -
Find something you love. Join a fun class like Zumba or clubbercise (its in the dark with glowsticks and disco lights, so no-one can see if you are going wrong!), go for nice long walks enjoying nature, find a friend to walk or workout with. But you must find something you enjoy.2
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I know people that they are doing it for years and they are hating it. Push yourself for some months and decide.0
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As others have said find something you enjoy that helps and yes it does get easier and more enjoyable.
Personally I started simply walking and increased that more and more - did yoga (always loved that) and Increased slowly over time. It became more enjoyable and still love both but also felt the need to challenge myself over time. I now also do a cardio class, weights and run. But all in good time listening to what I like doing and to what my body was ready for1 -
Ah, this is my problem too. I was about 250 when I started (now 230) and losing through diet is not as hard as I thought it would be. But I just get bored really quickly when I do plain exercises. It feels like a really annoying chore, so I don't do it as much as I'd like to. I'm trying to solve it by walking as much as possible (to work etc.) and by just dancing with my headphones on + swimming. Once I've shed some more, I will join a gym because I do presume that it will be easier once you are lighter on your feet. :-)0
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I could barely exercise when I started. Small walks is how I started. When the distance got easier, I walked for longer. It definitely got much more enjoyable. I know you don't feel comfortable now, but set yourself little mini goals to keep yourself motivated. It will be worth it. I started January 27th of this year. 202 days later and I'm at a 72lb loss.1
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I had to fight myself to keep on walking when I was doing that for exercise because I hated it but then I switched to biking, which I've always loved, and now I look forward to getting my exercise! You might want to switch to something you actually enjoy so exercise isn't such a chore. Or combine walking with something else, like bird-watching or walking at a zoo, to make it more enjoyable.0
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I find that, when it gets hard, I remind myself of why I'm doing it. I mostly walk right now. I've been slowly trying to add some jogging intervals in, but that's just because my personal goal is to learn how to run. You have to find something that you don't dread doing. At first, it was hard for me to make myself go out and walk. Now, I don't feel like my day is complete unless I've done it. I even went and got a gym membership the other night because it was storming and I needed to access to a treadmill just to get my walk in. You certainly don't have to do anything crazy strenuous or exercise for hours and hours. You got this!0
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I would never tell you not to exercise but remember that it's not necessary for weight loss. Diet does the work for that, any exercise you do is gravy!
Find something you like and/or start slow. There's the old fashioned term 'get the blood moving'. Try to keep this in mind...recurring exercise should feel invigorating while you're doing it and you generally should only be working out at intensity levels where you're fully conversational (that is, barely breathing heavy).
Shorten your sessions to 30 minutes and find the intensity level that will keep you coming back. Between the short time and easier effort, you'll find that most of your workouts will be over before you even knew they began. Over time, I guarantee that you'll find yourself gradually lengthening your sessions and naturally working at a higher intensity level.
If you find yourself stuck with exercise options that you do find boring, then find a way to take your attention off of how much you don't like them while you're doing it. When I'm stuck inside and have to do the elliptical I'll watch TV shows on my tablet...I'm actually to the point now where I love the elliptical because it gives me time to catch up on my boob tube watching! My regular workout sessions fly by and I've found myself adding extra elliptical workouts just to see the latest episodes!1 -
It's not going to the same for everyone but yes exercise can get both easier and more enjoyable, but you do need to find something you enjoy.
When I first started losing the weight I struggled to walk across the room, but by slowly increasing my activity level I'm now at the point where I do some form of training 6 days a week and couldn't imagine not exercising.0 -
I started at about your weight and found that getting down to about 230 made a huge difference in my abilities, particularly anything that involved jumping. Then there was a further change in ability at about 200, which coincidentally was about when I crossed the line from obese to just overweight. Right now I'm at 182 and starting to notice even more new abilities - for example I can do pull up negatives now whereas before, dropping my whole weight onto my arms was too much for me, and a lot of floor-based abs exercises are much easier since there's less belly in the way.
I'm not a person who enjoys exercise but I have to admit there's something satisfying in being able to easily do things which used to be difficult. Keep at it and you'll get better!1 -
You can lose weight without exercise. Find exercises you enjoy such as walking, hiking, yoga, tennis, backpacking, gardening, fixing up your home, etc. options are endless.1
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I weigh 256lbs = 18st 4lbs (was 271lbs = 19st 5lbs) and I have to admit I am not enjoying exercising at this weight. I do remember loving exercise when I was lighter in previous years. Just wondered when did it get easier and more enjoyable for you? Thanks in advance!
When I hit my highest weight, I struggled with the cycling I used to enjoy so much. That was one of the reasons I lost the weight ... I wanted to enjoy cycling again.
16 weeks in, I started enjoying cycling again.
It does get better!2 -
It does get easier. Whether or not it gets more enjoyable is an individual thing but you remember enjoying it once, so I would bet it gets more enjoyable to you soon!
Everyone's advice to find something fun for YOU is key. Keep exercising- even the stuff you don't enjoy but keep trying new things. Then when you do find something you like, or at least something you like more than other stuff do that one more.
Everything is easier now that I'm 20 pounds lighter, but the exercise bike still feels like torture because it is SO boring to me. Swimming, on the other hand is very hard for me right now as I'm reintroducing a more structured swim workout. But I find so much fun that it is very enjoyable.
So hang in there and good luck!0 -
It doesn't get easier. Once you accomplish a goal you set another one.0
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I weigh 256lbs = 18st 4lbs (was 271lbs = 19st 5lbs) and I have to admit I am not enjoying exercising at this weight. I do remember loving exercise when I was lighter in previous years. Just wondered when did it get easier and more enjoyable for you? Thanks in advance!
I am finding that I look forward to my workouts a bit more now than I did when I started - not in the OMG GIMME SOME SWEAT! way, but more in the I know I feel better after so lets do this. I am also finding myself wanting to do physical activity more - last weekend I went kayaking. I weigh in at 217 lbs, and I have no upper body strength to speak of yet, but I had a blast.
Finding things that you like is important - if you hate running? you're not going to hate it less to start.
Getting more flexible and feeling confident in the exercises (repetition can help here for a bit) leads to better confidence and hopefully some level of enjoyment.
Are you setting goals and possibly rewards for your exercise and non-scale victories?0 -
I weigh 256lbs = 18st 4lbs (was 271lbs = 19st 5lbs) and I have to admit I am not enjoying exercising at this weight. I do remember loving exercise when I was lighter in previous years. Just wondered when did it get easier and more enjoyable for you? Thanks in advance!
It never ever gets easier. You just try to push harder and lift more.ISweat4This wrote: »It doesn't get easier. Once you accomplish a goal you set another one.
I'll echo what these posters said.
It doesnt get easier, you just get better.0 -
I weigh 256lbs = 18st 4lbs (was 271lbs = 19st 5lbs) and I have to admit I am not enjoying exercising at this weight. I do remember loving exercise when I was lighter in previous years. Just wondered when did it get easier and more enjoyable for you? Thanks in advance!
It got enjoyable for me when I started doing the things I enjoy rather than the things I thought I should do as per fitness magazines and the like. Exercising for the sake of exercising and just doing some random thing because it''s trendy and hot at the moment sucks...
I primarily cycle and do some rock climbing and a little hiking here and there...I really enjoy all of those things. I did not enjoy doing random crap on cardio machines or bootcamp (HIIT) classes or DVDs, etc...I also really tried to be a runner even though I loathed it...but I was fairly convinced that to be fit you had to be a runner...I know better now...0 -
Adding to the "find something you like" idea, try to find a sport you like that gives you a good workout without having to focus on it. For example, I do kickboxing which gives me a great workout but when I'm in the kickboxing class I'm not thinking about my heart rate, calories burned, time left, etc. I'm thinking about my technique or about opening up my opponent to score a punch or a kick. The workout just happens along the way. I hate running, the stationary bike or ellipticals but I actually look forward to kickboxing.1
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I have never enjoyed cardio for the sake of cardio. Never. But I find I do like slinging iron around, so I sneak a bit of cardio in to the warm-up, and finish with about 15 minutes of intervals which seems to go fast enough that I can tolerate it. What helped with tolerating THAT was making them variable according to heart rate recovery and I liked seeing my fitness improve.1
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I have never enjoyed cardio for the sake of cardio. Never. But I find I do like slinging iron around, so I sneak a bit of cardio in to the warm-up, and finish with about 15 minutes of intervals which seems to go fast enough that I can tolerate it. What helped with tolerating THAT was making them variable according to heart rate recovery and I liked seeing my fitness improve.
I prefer doing my "cardio" this way as well. Using a heart rate monitor to auto-regulate my conditioning intervals based on how quick I recover is the most enjoyable way imo.1 -
It really does get better if you're doing something you want to do. For me, it's DDR and a bike that I prefer, but I have to make myself do some strength training.1
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When I started seeing results and my body changing I enjoyed that and it motivated me to keep going.
When I found boxing and a workout that I enjoyed doing even more than the results I started loving my workouts and looking forward to them. It became a part of my identity and a passion1 -
Whether or not it gets easier is entirely up to you. I'll explain.... when I first started running 5km seemed like an impossible distance and for my first race ever my goal was to come in under 40 minutes. I did it, it was hard but i did it. Since then I've kept on running and gone for longer distances and better times, now a 40 minute 5K is a very relaxing recovery run.
I also found that as I got better at running I enjoyed it more and more even though I'm constantly challenging myself to do better and have gone on to running half-marathon distances, Olympic distance triathlons etc.
I also weighed about 235 lbs when I started running and I can guarantee you that as you lose weight and become fitter many things become much easier.
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It will get easier as you lose weight. I'll give you my background lost 80 lbs over 8 months been maintaining for over 10.
Now here's the fun part it can actually get harder as you lose the weight cuz you'll begin to push yourself more when you realize I can do better. The only limitation you have is the ones you impose on yourself.
Let me give you hope based on my perspective. I'm a big Tony Horton fan P90X is one of my favorites. One of his movements is a 180 jump spin. At 280 I basically shuffled my feet around. At 2:08 I can do multiple 360 jump spins. No let me take away another excuse you may have. I've had a double hip replacement and I have an arthritic knee that will eventually have to be replaced. Remember multiple 360 jump spins you can do it0 -
I hated exercise at that weight, so i juat walked if I did any exwrcise at all. I focused more on my calorie deficit and changing eating behaviors until I was at a place where I wanted to work out and could move well enough to do it. I didn't do much more than walk until I was under 200 (started at 256).1
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I was athletic when I was a normal weight and that was one of the motivations to take off this weight. I really resented that I could no longer run and do the other activities and sports I used to do. (I have lost only 10 lbs. since end of June, and have 90 to go!) But my fitness has improved a LOT in just the last 3 months. I started by walking to work (and now I walk to and from, 90 minutes each day) and recently added two 25 minute swim workouts (I love to swim, but just doing backstroke now) after work and a zumba class on the weekend. I want to add another zumba class.
When I was having problems getting motivated to do my 30 minute walk around an indoor track, I would tell myself, "just do 15 minutes". I reduced my goal and then it was easier to just do that 15 minutes. As it became more regular, I increased the minutes. You might try cutting back your goal until it is easy for you to do, and you are very consistent, then increase incrementally.
I eventually want to jog again and also add more impact to my zumba work-outs. At this point though, I know it would be hard and also dangerous on my knees, so I chose to add the swimming. When I lose another 30-40 lbs. I think I will be ready to add some jogging.2 -
Yes it absolutely does. I used to never exercise outside of casual strolling but now I go running almost every night. Here's two examples of how this has changed just from this week:
1. Went out for a walk on Tuesday night, I "didn't feel like running" but needed to burn some calories. I started walking and then started craving a run! I used to go out for a run and decide to walk instead, now its vice versa!
2. Tonight I was feeling lazy and wanted to take a hot bath. I started to, but just felt awful for skipping my run. I ran!1
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