I really struggle with exercise !

phiddy23

Hi, I'm 19, 5ft 7 and about 167lbs, I live in the Midlands (UK) but I'm going to uni in Bristol in about a month. For about the last three months I have been seeing a PT twice a week and eating about 1250 cals every day, doing minimum 20 mins on the bike 3-4 days a week outside of PT days. I haven't lost ANY weight, and my PT has recommended me to eat much more (about 1500-1700 calories) a day.

When I scroll through the threads on here it seems like most people really struggle with eating right, which I used to struggle with, but once they get that right the weight seems to fall off. I am the opposite, I have now developed really good food habits and I'm pretty much able to change it as advised without much hesitation. My problem is exercise, I find it SO hard to motivate myself to do it, and to do it properly. My fitness has improved a small amount since June, I used to only be able to do 20 mins on the stationery bike a day, whereas now I can do two seperate stints of 20 mins, but I still can't do more than that continuously. Does anyone else have the same problem?

I'm on a HUGE downer at the moment. I really hate myself, and I hate my life. I'm not even really asking for help because I have learned the hard way that I am the only one who can fix this. Sometimes I'll be feeling really positive, that I'll get in a really good workout and cycle for longer / at a higher intensity, or that I will do some HIIT or something, but as soon as I get on that bike my motivation just goes, and most days (esp in the last week) I'm struggling to find that motivation in the first place.

I'm scared about going to uni because I love drinking and going out but I am accutely aware of what I look like, and I just hate the idea of a) going shopping to find dresses / party clothes / (once I get there) fancy dress stuff to wear on nights out and b) the thought of actually wearing it and being around my flat mates (because inevitably there will be some pretty girls in my flat). I am also just generally dreading living on a daily basis as I get insecure just taking my dog for a walk, let alone walking around a city going to lectures etc. I know that I will get really obsessive about planning my daily outfits and that I will be really self-conscious, whereas most of the people around me will just be throwing on any clothes and won't care.

Buh. I just needed a rant I suppose. I really just can't face life right now (don't worry I'm not contemplating suicide, not really my style haha)

phiddy23

Bump

banshishi

keep eating a little more and take measurements not stand on the scales, also...find and activity you like to do, find some mates to do it with, go indoor climbing, or swimming, or whatever you fancy exercise doesnt always have to be about gyms etc...jog up any stairs you come across, if you are not eating enough calories then you will feel depressed unmotivated, it strikes me that you seem to be doing the same thing cycling, variety is the spice of life, and it lifts mood too. I suffer from clinical depression, so I know how you feel, even if you cant find the omph to do anything new then make yourself go for a walk once a day.

akjmart2002

Try doing something physical that you actually like and look forward to.

If you are burned out with plain old cardio, try a sport perhaps.

Personally, I'm a committed avid rock climber. It's a marvelous sport for mental and physical fitness, and I would rather climb than almost anything else.

You could try:

Martial Arts
Kayaking
Cycling
Climbing
Dancing

Try finding something that has a community around it - you will begin to feel like you are part of something larger than yourself and will be motivated to participate.

Good luck.

phiddy23

Thanks ! I should add that I am now eating about 1600 calories and have been doing so for a week. I intend to keep that up until uni.