Hopeless at exercise

Theresa_SG
Theresa_SG Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Started 19 days ago, 10lb down. Am cycling around 40km a week which I find ok. I'm hopelessly unfit. Today I decided to add a little more exercise and tried a 20 minute HiiT session. Managed 10 minutes and had to stop (felt sick). I hate how exercise feels, it doesn't make me feel good, and I find it boring. Hoping I'll break through this the same way I broke through the hunger wall in the first week.

Replies

  • jon2412
    jon2412 Posts: 61 Member
    You’re not hopelessly unfit, you’re already doing cycling and HiiT sessions! You’re doing much more than anyone who sits on the sidelines!

    What do you like doing the most of - can you do more of that? What are your goals and targets that motivate you? Doing something because you think you ought to is likely to be a bit boring so do it because you can and want to and have a purpose behind it :-)

    I’m a recent convert to running, it’s still tough and some days I hate it BUT I love the feeling of achievement and how it helps with my weight managements. When I joined some races I just remember it’s ‘one foot in front of the other until someone gives you a medal’ !

    Good luck and keep at it !!
  • Jancandoit7
    Jancandoit7 Posts: 356 Member
    I'm 60 and started hopelessly unfit :p ( much more unfit than you I'd imagine). I have lots of nagging aches and pains but found that walking is what I like best- (I also get really bored with exercise). Started with only 1 mile and now do about 3- for me it's about being outside-fresh air, sun, and walking in a pretty place makes it very enjoyable. I crank up the tunes and just get into a groove.
    Sounds like you're off to a really good start- you just need to find something you actually like doing. When weather is bad I get on my BORING recumbent bike-at the start I could only do 10 min! Now I can do 30 because the walking has really made my legs stronger. Losing 10 pounds in 19 days seems quite extreme-are you eating enough to have the energy to exercise? I've lost 18 pounds in 16 weeks and think that's fabulous! How many calories are you eating per day?
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    @Theresa_SG The underlying principle of My Fitness Pal is Calorie Deficit, based on the balance between your Calories In (what you eat or drink) and Calories Out (what you burn through physical activity). You're doing 40km riding, and that's a lot of activity compared to some of us. No need to beat yourself up for not doing some other traditional exercise in a gym.

    How many calories does that cycling burn for you? How many calories do you eat? Just record it all accurately in your MFP chart, and watch those lbs come off. Congratulations on what you've achieved so far.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    hiit 19 days after making new changes is really going in at the deep end. it's like doing open-chest surgery as soon as you can find your way around your new medical school. don't let something like that tell you whether or not you're 'good' at exercise.

    or whether you like it. there's all kinds of 'exercising'. maybe that one's not really for you.
  • Theresa_SG
    Theresa_SG Posts: 3 Member
    Yes you are absolutely right. It was the ability to do manageable chunks at home in a short timeframe which appealed and fits in with my hectic life. Shall have to do my homework I think!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,689 Member
    After cancer treatment, age 44, I was hopelessly unfit, too. Did some yoga, did some weight training, tried other stuff, no magic, but felt a little better after a few months.

    Eventually, randomly stumbled into joining a rowing team. Loved rowing. Loved, loved, loved. Did it lots. Became a competitive athlete (so so improbable - friends dumbfounded).

    Fast forward: Now an unusually strong, fit 62 y/o. So happy. So much more healthy. All kinds of wonderful rower friends.

    Advice: Find something active you love. Doesn't matter what, there are so many choices: Crossfit, interpretive dance, roller derby, landscaping, tennis, kayaking, carpentry, hockey, rock climbing, hiking, you name it.

    Try stuff, find it, love it, do it. Before you know it, you're not hopelessly unfit.
  • chocolatekettlepot
    chocolatekettlepot Posts: 1 Member
    YES to the above! I used to be really fit (ex-mil & rep footballer) then left & got squishy. No sport, no gym, nothing but lots of chocolate...
    Fastforward 5 years & my passion is now firefighter competitions - so I train like crazy at the gym; spin, boxfit & weights, hiit & the like too. It took me 6 months to find that groove & build on it. I used to come home from classes with my legs shaking like crazy, feeling so ill!

    You can & will achieve - it just takes time to find that groove, the things that light your fire. Try lots of classes & sports. Be kind to yourself, you will find the right way :)
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    Start where you are. Walk, ride your bike, dance, garden, rake the yard, doesn't matter! Hopefully, if you try enough stuff, you'll find something you think is fun, just like @AnnPT77 !

    (I love lots of different activities: hiking, biking, jogging, skating, swimming, kayaking, ...)
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    We all have had to start where we find ourselves and move forward from there. You can too!
  • ms_maruska
    ms_maruska Posts: 119 Member
    No need to force yourself into doing something that doesn't really appeal to you. You can try and find an activity that "clicks" right into your lifestyle :)
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