Excuses - apartments, bladders and anxiety

ep_euphoria
ep_euphoria Posts: 40
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm full of them, but to me they're more like reasons. I know a lot of people will read this and think 'suck it up' which I understand, I tell myself that all the time too, but these are all genuine reasons that stop me from working out. I want to know if anyone has any advice for me, even if it is the deal with it kind - if that's my only option, then so be it.

1. Apartments
I live in an apartment, a small apartment, and the middle storey. I did the 30 Day Shred some time ago and never had any complains from the neighbours, but that was because I could workout whenever I wanted and it was least inconvenient for whoever lives downstairs. I'd workout middle of the day/early afternoon when there is max. noise outside and the least chance of the neighbours being home. I also worked hard to decrease my noise. I hate not being able to workout when and how I want. I hate that I can't do it before work or at night. I hate the space constraints and the heat.
The apartment complex has a gym, which my boyfriend uses, but for reasons listed below - it's generally a no go zone.

2. Bladders
Yes, TMI. But my bladder is terrible. Honestly, this is one of the reasons I will never be able to go to a gym. I can't stop every 5 minutes during a group class and go to the damn bathroom, that's just silly. Not to mention the consequences of squeezing in an extra minute. Yikes!
At home, I can pause my DVD and head the 4m down the hall. At a gym, that's a lot less of an option. At our apartment gym, there are no toilets. If I have to go, I have to walk all across the carpark, pass 2 other blocks and then go up the stairs to mine. It's a real pain.
This also counts for going jogging and for long walks, I just can't handle it.
I have tried doing my exercise earlier, before I drink my water, which helps but does not eliminate the problem. Plus I haven't got the time in the morning to trudge from gym to bathroom three times during my workout.

3. Anxiety
Even if these problems were eliminated, there is no way in my life I will ever go by myself to a gym or jogging outside. It is freaking terrifying. I know I'm a 93lb 20 year old girl, what have I got to worry about? I see people so much older, and larger, and less fit than I am doing it - why can't I?
I don't really know. It's just so damn terrifying and I can't get past it. I'm so ridiculously impressed with every person I see exercising where people can see.
I've tried jogging, but wearing baggy jogging shorts and sneakers is not a nice look with my pale flabby legs shown off to everyone. Tights aren't going to happen, they show it off just as much and I'd burn to death. Sweat pants? Way too warm. I've thought about doing a walk in the morning, when it's still cool, but an hour is a long time when it's early and you have to get to work/uni/somewhere.

I know they're all silly reasons, but they are enough to hold me back here. Especially when I know I'm small and walk a lot, swim at the beach/pool casually a lot and eat carefully - why bother? Yes, that sounds silly and vain. I know all the health benefits for exercise, I've felt them, but then comes the: I'm 20, I can worry about that in 5, 10, 20 years time.

I can't afford a gym membership and couldn't get to one anyway (transport) and won't ever go by myself (my friends don't exercise/I'm not close enough with them to ask). Ugh.

(Just ranting, finished now... feels better seeing how small and stupid these excuses really are.)

Replies

  • frenchprairiegirl
    frenchprairiegirl Posts: 173 Member
    Love it! LOL
  • k2d4p
    k2d4p Posts: 441 Member
    93lbs?! Are you trying to gain or lose? Or just get in shape?
  • muth3rluvx2
    muth3rluvx2 Posts: 1,156 Member
    We all have our stops. It's good that you're recognizing yours and seeing them in black & white. Maybe this will help you determine a course of action. :-) Where there's a will, there's a way.
  • jemmur
    jemmur Posts: 57 Member
    i absolutely understand and sympathise with the anxiousness about exercising in public. the first few times i ran outside, i was immensely self-conscious and it took me ages to work up the bottle to do it. i did and do still get some funny looks but you know what? everybody had to start somewhere - those who did remember how hard it was and tend to be supportive of anyone who's giving it a shot, in my experience. most of the people who stare at me have obviously never tried/stuck it out themselves (and, for all i know, maybe a scowl is their default facial expression lol) so they can go spin on it, as far as i'm concerned!

    besides, the vast majority people people will glance at and barely even register you. they're just not as interested in us as we think they are hehe. i know other runners often catch my eye just because they're moving faster than everyone else but even if someone looks like they're having a really hard time, all i'm thinking is "good for him/her, for getting out and doing it!".

    & have you spoken to a doctor about your bladder? it seems to be a pretty common problem and i'd be surprised if there was nothing you could do to minimise the issue.
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    I know I'm a 93lb 20 year old girl, what have I got to worry about?

    Are you very very short???
  • hemlock2010
    hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
    Do you have interstitial cystitis? I went through that my first year in college--couldn't sit through a 50 minute class without having to leave to go to the bathroom. Talk about humiliating. :embarassed:

    Have you been to http://www.curetogether.com/ ? I think they have a thread about IC.

    For me, giving up caffeine made a huge difference. I think the original cause was some combination of caffeine, chronic low-grade dehydration, stress, and my body's own natural tendency to do weird stuff like that. When I gave up caffeine and started really paying attention to hydration it got a lot better (over a period of 4-5 months--not overnight, unfortunately).

    I do drink caffeine now. Can't remember how long I stayed off it--a few years, I'm sure--but then I started gradually adding coffee with (fingers crossed) no ill effects.
    2. Bladders
    Yes, TMI. But my bladder is terrible. Honestly, this is one of the reasons I will never be able to go to a gym. I can't stop every 5 minutes during a group class and go to the damn bathroom, that's just silly. Not to mention the consequences of squeezing in an extra minute. Yikes!
  • hemlock2010
    hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
    Oh, and about workouts that you can do in your apartment . . .

    Pilates and yoga are both very discreet, and since you don't need to lose weight (but just build muscle), you can probably get practically everything you really need from them. Also, maybe an exercise ball? Or a mini trampoline? I'm not sure how much noise that would make, but you'd be bouncing on the trampoline, not on the floor.
  • really great info hemlock2010 :)
    I'd never thought of a trampoline, that's great thinking.
    I got up early this morning and did a 10min pilates video then a turbo jam video, which was super quiet .

    I'll talk to the doctor about that as well, it's not so bad most of the time, it's just exasperated by exercise - particularly the running and jumping kind.
    I don't drink a lot of coffee, but I am dependent on my one cup every morning and the caffeine doesn't seem to have an energy effect on me - I'm known to drink a coffee and have a nap straight after.

    And yes, I am short, not VERY short (IMO, my boyfriend disagrees :P ). I'm about 5'0, just over and maintaining this weight.

    @jemmur
    Yeah, I try to tell myself this - damn logic getting in the way of my emotions hehe. Thanks for your words!

    Thanks everyone. I love being able to write stuff like this somewhere, such an outlet. <3
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