Exercise Motivation

Benevolay

Howdy. I've been having a hard time staying motivated to exercise as of late. I started trying to get my life back together in June and vowed to lose weight - and I have been losing weight. However, I seem to lose the same amount of weight whether I exercise or not. I mean, take a look at my recorded weights.

June 29th, 2014: 318 lbs.
July 6th, 2014: 315 lbs.
July 13th, 2014: 311 lbs.
July 20th, 2014: 308 lbs.
July 27th, 2014: 303 lbs.
August 3rd, 2014: 298 lbs.
August 10th, 2014: 295 lbs.
August 17th, 2014: 291 lbs.
August 24th, 2014: 287 lbs.

I walked 60-90 minutes five times per week for the first four weeks. I walked every day the week of July 27th because I vowed to get under 300 lbs. The week of August 3rd, I went back to walking five times per week and lost 3 lbs. The week of August 10th? I didn't exercise at all and lost 4 lbs. This last week, I barely did any exercise at all and lost 4 lbs. again.

I know since I'm a large man, it's easy for me to lose fast weight through diet alone. But when I push myself to exercise, there aren't tremendous differences. My diet has remained consistent. So it's starting to bug me a little bit. It's hard for me to stay motivated and exercise when I can lounge around the house and lose just as much. What is a fellow to do about this?

samwalkerxx

Im in the exact same position! however, by exercising you will become physically fitter:)

ana3067

Well, if you aren't motivated to exercise right now... then don't. It's not a big deal. YOu will become healthier as you lose weight, which might give you more motivation to exercise simply because it will be easier.

Otherwise, consider trying other things out. For me, walking every day sounds boring, but for someone else, my 4hours a week of weight lifting probably sounds boring even though I love it. Try out differnet things until you find something you really love doing. If you enjoy walking, maybe give yourself a goal of regularly going out to interesting places in your city. You could drive somewhere with a nice path and go for a walk. There's a ravine near my old high school that I went walking in once with an ex boyfriend and it was a lot of fun and much funner than simply walking around my neighbourhood.

VelveteenArabian

Walking is better than doing nothing. Walking just doesn't burn that many calories. Try something else that you might enjoy instead - like bike riding, or hiking.

Kalikel

Exercise will make you healthier. It will also give you good habits that you may need when the weight loss gets harder.

Talk to some old people. Ask them about people having heart attacks, strokes, broken hips, liver problems. You'll get an earful.

They don't know the medicine, but they know someone who has these problems,..problems you set yourself up for if you don't eat right and exercise.

Do it for you...for your future self who will be glad you did. Do it for the people who love you.

You will be so proud of yourself later.

Keep up the good work. Your couch doesn't need more *kitten* prints, anyway.

michikade

The battle is won in the kitchen, but exercise will help you maintain most of your lean muscle mass and will help keep your body strong while you lose some of the extra weight.

You don't HAVE to exercise to lose weight, though.

onefortyone

Good job on your success so far!

As far as I know, exercise isn't meant to make you lose weight faster. I eat my exercise calories back. Exercise is to make my muscles, heart and vascular system stronger (I have a blood clotting disorder). I would also like to be lean/strong under my fat so when my fat melts away, I'll look awesome. So to me, losing weight & becoming fitter are two different goals that you can simply achieve at the same time.

Liftng4Lis

Excellent job losing, how exciting for you! Exercise is not necessary for the actually loss part, it just gets you healthier and helps retain your muscle mass.

gregpack

Yes, you can lose without exercise as you have found out. As a matter of fact, it may be easier to lose scale weight without exercise because certain things can really ramp up your appetite.

I would however, recommend that you exercise some for the health benefits. Weightlifting is especially important as it will help you retain lean mass as you lose. You actually probably have a lot of muscle mass on your body now. The real trick is to retain as much of that as possible as you lose weight, My advise to retain would be don't lose too fast, eat plenty of protein, and tell your body that you need to retain that muscle to survive. You can do that by lifting heavy weights to failure. You don't have to lift weights every day There are huge benefits even to one brief session per week if done correctly. Google "body by science". Another good primer on a minimalist fitness lifestyle is the free ebook "primal blueprint fitness."


Finally, I just wanted to say congratulations and give you continued encouragement. Just keep plugging away at what you're doing and you'll be a different person by Christmas. I remember when I got under 300 for the first time in twenty years and it's a huge accomplishment- And I ain't goin' back!