I have all these tools and still.......don't succeed.........
MonaRaeHill
Posts: 145 Member
I am very fortunate that I have a supportive partner, and a gazillion tools at my disposal but still can't seem to succeed........I am making these discussion posts because I'd be interested in hearing from other peeps who do the same types/styles of exercise and have trouble succeeding. I do a LOT of self-isolating because of my injury, it's not good, but unavoidable, so hearing from others who struggle with the same challenges, can only be a good thing! Bring it! lol.
I don't know what happens for me, but being an emotional comfort eater all my life, I suspect I just get frustrated, resentful and ugly, when I go too long (more then a month) without seeing results.
An autumn 2 years ago, I did everything right (10,000 steps a day, less then 1500 calories) for over 2 months, in order to get psyched up for winter, which is a problem for me. I remember feeling really dismayed that I had actually gained the last 2 pounds of the total (70) that I've put on since my surgery, instead of losing anything. Gah. That's when I gave up, the last time.
I don't know why, I suspect it's a combination of things..........winter was coming, historical DNA tells metabolism to slow down in the winter (that's just a guess); my age, (my metabolism has uber-tanked since I no longer produce much estrogen); my chronic injury (mentioned elsewhere); my disorganized living room, which always needs cleaning, due to having a dog, (cleaning kills me, physically); my studio space being disorganized as well; isolation and just general malaise, I guess. I really just lose interest when I get really tired & sore, and can't eat and don't see results. It's depressing as hell.
I've decided that to give myself the very best chance of succeeding this time, I need to list all my tools, and the things that hold me back, when I falter, as reminders. I figure that Journaling my journey can only help!
So, here goes......tools and goals.......
I am on my THIRD pilates pro gym, as they are not really supposed to sit without being used (dust gets into the mechanism and causes misalignment and grating). I am up to exercising again, 3x a week (for the past two weeks) and need to work in 1 or 2 strength training sessions with it, for next week. Probably just one.........
I Own at least 3 of the classical stretch DVD's and have just bought the body glide DVD, which is really fun! So that's one of the very good tools at my disposal, as I love to dance.
I don't think I stretched enough two autumns ago. Stretching for me, is almost more important then any other type of exercise, due to my injury. It's why I bought the Classical Stretch DVD's, in the first place!~Must remember this, somehow.
I have a TON of protein powders on hand, so there's that. (I always feel so much better, when I eat vegan, which I mostly did, this week). <check>!
I have a dog walker once per week, which I should easily be able to schedule my exercise around. That was the point of hiring her....and was a truly supportive move by my partner......not sure how many times I've actually done this, however........need to do better at making dog walker Wednesday one of my 0 days......weekends, too, because my partner is here, to walk the dog. That leaves 2 days open, to use for 0 days. My partner and I like to walk dog together, on one of the weekend days, which is not really much exercise........although my partner is very flexible as to which day we go.......which is another <check>!
Just when I finally have my partner trained in keeping the bathroom (with the only bathtub), that only he uses, clean, I am too big to fit into it and get a solid soak (this used to be my go-to for muscle tension and strain). Using it now is a constant reminder of how big I've gotten. Maybe that's good, maybe bad, I don't know. I do know that it really helps my injury, so must remember to schedule 3 soaks per week. (2, this last week), so......<(check>....see how I did that...no exclamation mark for "almost"......lol..
I have a great Juicer and need to figure out how to juice all my juice for the week (for shakes), on the weekend, as that takes some organizing and standing for long periods. (I can't stand in one place, for long periods, without everything stiffening up, which is always bad news).
Need to get the living room boxes full of yarn to wind, wound and then put upstairs in storage. Need to keep after the living room, so I am not exercising in grit (which is another trigger to fail). Just got a new vacuum, to help with this. <check>
A very big problem I have is the drugs I take, which help to make me clumsy and brain dead when tired, sufficiently enough to prevent me from creating, which is another big trigger. Have to create at least 4-8 hours a week, or I get antsy and irritable.
Need to start meditating regularly again. Can't list the guided ones I have, there's too many, I just seem to fall off the wagon, frequently, even though I KNOW they make me feel better! Geez.
I go to therapy 4 times a month, and that should be a boon, but it seems I am stuck there, too. My therapist and I WERE doing EMDR, but I find it so destabilizing, that we can only do it, minimally. Therapy has just become my one link to the outside world.........I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, but I DO wish I could shift more of my inner demons.........I'm sure they've got digs in me, that make me slip up..........sigh.......and gah........
What else? I know there's more I should be grateful for, likely, but post exercise, (just did 50 minutes of body groove), I am too tired to think of them.........
What tools do ya'll use for when you get to the point of frustration and impatience for change? How do you keep the struggle going in the right direction when you plateau...........please list your tools for managing........what gives you fun? Joy? Motivation? Blast me!
I don't know what happens for me, but being an emotional comfort eater all my life, I suspect I just get frustrated, resentful and ugly, when I go too long (more then a month) without seeing results.
An autumn 2 years ago, I did everything right (10,000 steps a day, less then 1500 calories) for over 2 months, in order to get psyched up for winter, which is a problem for me. I remember feeling really dismayed that I had actually gained the last 2 pounds of the total (70) that I've put on since my surgery, instead of losing anything. Gah. That's when I gave up, the last time.
I don't know why, I suspect it's a combination of things..........winter was coming, historical DNA tells metabolism to slow down in the winter (that's just a guess); my age, (my metabolism has uber-tanked since I no longer produce much estrogen); my chronic injury (mentioned elsewhere); my disorganized living room, which always needs cleaning, due to having a dog, (cleaning kills me, physically); my studio space being disorganized as well; isolation and just general malaise, I guess. I really just lose interest when I get really tired & sore, and can't eat and don't see results. It's depressing as hell.
I've decided that to give myself the very best chance of succeeding this time, I need to list all my tools, and the things that hold me back, when I falter, as reminders. I figure that Journaling my journey can only help!
So, here goes......tools and goals.......
I am on my THIRD pilates pro gym, as they are not really supposed to sit without being used (dust gets into the mechanism and causes misalignment and grating). I am up to exercising again, 3x a week (for the past two weeks) and need to work in 1 or 2 strength training sessions with it, for next week. Probably just one.........
I Own at least 3 of the classical stretch DVD's and have just bought the body glide DVD, which is really fun! So that's one of the very good tools at my disposal, as I love to dance.
I don't think I stretched enough two autumns ago. Stretching for me, is almost more important then any other type of exercise, due to my injury. It's why I bought the Classical Stretch DVD's, in the first place!~Must remember this, somehow.
I have a TON of protein powders on hand, so there's that. (I always feel so much better, when I eat vegan, which I mostly did, this week). <check>!
I have a dog walker once per week, which I should easily be able to schedule my exercise around. That was the point of hiring her....and was a truly supportive move by my partner......not sure how many times I've actually done this, however........need to do better at making dog walker Wednesday one of my 0 days......weekends, too, because my partner is here, to walk the dog. That leaves 2 days open, to use for 0 days. My partner and I like to walk dog together, on one of the weekend days, which is not really much exercise........although my partner is very flexible as to which day we go.......which is another <check>!
Just when I finally have my partner trained in keeping the bathroom (with the only bathtub), that only he uses, clean, I am too big to fit into it and get a solid soak (this used to be my go-to for muscle tension and strain). Using it now is a constant reminder of how big I've gotten. Maybe that's good, maybe bad, I don't know. I do know that it really helps my injury, so must remember to schedule 3 soaks per week. (2, this last week), so......<(check>....see how I did that...no exclamation mark for "almost"......lol..
I have a great Juicer and need to figure out how to juice all my juice for the week (for shakes), on the weekend, as that takes some organizing and standing for long periods. (I can't stand in one place, for long periods, without everything stiffening up, which is always bad news).
Need to get the living room boxes full of yarn to wind, wound and then put upstairs in storage. Need to keep after the living room, so I am not exercising in grit (which is another trigger to fail). Just got a new vacuum, to help with this. <check>
A very big problem I have is the drugs I take, which help to make me clumsy and brain dead when tired, sufficiently enough to prevent me from creating, which is another big trigger. Have to create at least 4-8 hours a week, or I get antsy and irritable.
Need to start meditating regularly again. Can't list the guided ones I have, there's too many, I just seem to fall off the wagon, frequently, even though I KNOW they make me feel better! Geez.
I go to therapy 4 times a month, and that should be a boon, but it seems I am stuck there, too. My therapist and I WERE doing EMDR, but I find it so destabilizing, that we can only do it, minimally. Therapy has just become my one link to the outside world.........I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, but I DO wish I could shift more of my inner demons.........I'm sure they've got digs in me, that make me slip up..........sigh.......and gah........
What else? I know there's more I should be grateful for, likely, but post exercise, (just did 50 minutes of body groove), I am too tired to think of them.........
What tools do ya'll use for when you get to the point of frustration and impatience for change? How do you keep the struggle going in the right direction when you plateau...........please list your tools for managing........what gives you fun? Joy? Motivation? Blast me!
3
Replies
-
Hi Mona, just want to say that I was you, am still you but now I’m doing cardio in the VERY FUN FORM of Just Dance every day. I’m also injury prone, etc. Well we started off with doing 1 song a day, prob in December. Now we’re up to 2 hours a day, 1 hour in the am 1 in the pm (8 pm). Is your partner a gamer? My husband already had the xbox one (latest version) & we’ve been buying Just Dance for years now. It’s only NOW that I can do 2 hours a day. I was always tired, emotional eater, etc. Now, I’m just eating 2 large meals a day (after morning WO & after dinner) & I’m not really snacking. I eat fruit for dessert. We do Just Dance together. I’ve lost 6 lbs & have gone down from 46K bra size to 40J & I’m now on the tightest bra hook. I’ve ordered a 38J & my pants are starting to be looser. I really do not want to continue to have the Venus de Willendorf body & I do see changes happening. Feel free to friend me if you want. I’ve been here for many years, mostly NOT been here but lol, this is my same account. GL!!!
1 -
I have multiple pains from old injuries. I have fallen off the wagon more then I care to think about. I guess for me its a combination of sudden stressful and time consuming (weeks) of problems I have to deal with (which means eating things I shouldn't eat because its comforting, combined with falling of that exercise wagon, combined with not enough rest, that makes me fail. It can all just be too much.
I'm way past the point of acute pain, now its just chronic and management. Just. I exercise alone, at home, using videos from ages past. Exercise itself can be meditative. I garden and play a mind numbing game on my cell phone that also allows me to free my mind. Some people color. My hands need to be busy or anxiety can set in.
Walking the dog, assuming its a dog of a good size, is actually exercise, so I'm not sure why you need a dog walker.
Overdoing the exercise, combined with under eating for that exercise, combined with other stuff piled on, is what makes me "fail".
The point is to forgive yourself. I finally got wise, I think, and raised my MFP to .5 a week, not 2lbs, 1.5 or 1. At .5 my calorie allotment went from 1200, 1280 to 1500. MUCH more sustainable, no need to go vegan, or kick myself every time I want a cookie, I just eat that dang cookie. I generally eat healthily if given the time to make my own food.
What is your goal for exercise? To be fit? To lose weight? Or to just feel a bit better?
People on this board can go way too crazy with the "just do it" mantra. Go at YOUR pace. Forgive yourself. Eat the fun stuff in moderation. Rest is vital to well-being and healing. Rest.
Juicing, may not be the best thing for you. Instead of juicing get a blender that demolishes the whole fruit for vegetable, making it easy to drink. Like a Vitamix or Blendtec. You lose all the fiber when you juice. My morning smoothie is one cup kefir, leafy greens, some liquid egg whites, oatmeal (old fashioned, just throw a 1/4 C per serving, dry, in with everything else), a half banana, and frozen berries. In a 24 oz cup, a nice large smoothie that lasts hours in my system. I feel good I got my calcium, some potassium, my fiber, my antioxidents, and protein, all in one great tasting and filling drink. My Blendtec pulverizes everything. I can grab and go or sit and sip. Either way I feel better starting the day with a healthy drink, it sets me on the right path for the rest of the day.2 -
Hi. Yea, I should have said, I DO have a vitamix, which I make veggie soup with, during the winter months (I mix it with the nosoya ex firm tofu), for a protein kick and to make it less sugary (if that makes sense). I did do some straight juicing, but not for awhile. Raw food diet, too, but I have compromised digestion, due to the injury, so that didn't really work too well.
I probably DO have to increase my goal time........thanks for the reminder.......I tend to be a heavy hitter type starter, but long term patience?...not so much. lol. Thanks for the input! 1 -
my trouble is with eating those dang cookies.........can't stop at just one........better off not having sweets at all, although I do have a sweet tooth.......which is why it's better if I just don't imbibe........it's just so addictive.......better then drugs......lol.1
-
And to answer your question.........my injury dictates that I take 0 days, at least every 3rd day, or it's so irritated, that I lose momentum from pain increase levels..........learning to live with it, and give it what it wants..........so that it's more low-level chronic, then wide-scaled debilitating. Hence, the need for the dog-walker. Plus, I really like her, and it's another person from the outside world to chat with! I wouldn't give her up for the world, now. lol.0
-
I think it’s great you’re focusing on all the tools you have! Just remimber that getting and staying healthy is a lifelong project, and the only way to fail is not to try. I read that losing just ten percent of your body weight has huge health benefits, so that my one of my first goals. It’s easy to get so overwhelmed by all the things you aren’t doing that you forget to give yourself credit for your successes. And don’t forget that everyone’s success looks different. Good luck - you can do it!0
-
Janesmith: I LOVE to dance, but alas, my partner is terrified of it. Not sure why, but he's good for me in so many other ways, I try not to mind. I did just find the body groove series, which is a blast! Misty is so fun and like us, she is older (50, I think), so her workouts are all about the 3 minutes of fun dance, vs. do it this way! Right up my alley! lol.0
-
I don't know what your injury is. I read your "About me". All that you've been through, and have to deal with, I think you're in better shape than my wife. Why? You're willing to try.
myfitnesspal is one of your tools. It's your best tool. It's free. You don't need to pay the premium price for the premium benefits. The good stuff is free.
Log your food. Be truthful. Be accurate. That's all it takes. Those other tools, I've got other tools. They're just toys. I take them out and play with them sometimes. The important thing is to log your food.2 -
Jerome:
It's so incredibly easy to just give up........but.......... that isn't really in my DNA, lol (Seriously, my maternal great-great grandmother, got pregnant and had a baby on the ship down here, from Canada, in her 40's, after already having 10 kids,very tough lady, so was my great-grandmother, and all my other ancestors, too! They were all very physical laborers, that pretty much put us to shame, with our very easy lives.
My daughter used to make me crazy.....she'd try something, fail at it and just give up, in the first 15 minutes.........I never could get across to her, that nobody succeeds at giving up so quickly.........but, it's easy advice to give, much harder to try and live it!
I have never failed so many times, at anything! Very dispiriting!
Yea, I'll keep trying, as long as I can. It's the least I can do, as a nod to my ancestors, who made all these toys, possible! lol.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 430 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.9K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions