Pathetic ...

swest222
swest222 Posts: 455 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape but wow, am I feeling pathetic right now!!
I just did my first "exercise" on the treadmill and lasted 10 mins ... how horrible is that?!?!
Please tell me it gets better!! I was aiming for 20-30 mins per day of at least brisk walking on the treadmill to start out!!!
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Replies

  • LaJauna
    LaJauna Posts: 336 Member
    today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape but wow, am I feeling pathetic right now!!
    I just did my first "exercise" on the treadmill and lasted 10 mins ... how horrible is that?!?!
    Please tell me it gets better!! I was aiming for 20-30 mins per day of at least brisk walking on the treadmill to start out!!!

    It gets better. If you want it to. If you don't quit. If you stick with it. If you .............
  • monkeybelle83
    monkeybelle83 Posts: 141 Member
    It'll get better, just don't give up!
  • bethdris
    bethdris Posts: 1,090 Member
    My first work out was about 10 mins too. A month and 5 days later I can do an hour on the elliptical. It does get better!!! Stick with it. :)
  • lisapickering
    lisapickering Posts: 374
    It gets better! You have to start somewhere. Next workout aim for 11 minutes :smile:
  • JEK717
    JEK717 Posts: 1,497
    today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape but wow, am I feeling pathetic right now!!
    I just did my first "exercise" on the treadmill and lasted 10 mins ... how horrible is that?!?!
    Please tell me it gets better!! I was aiming for 20-30 mins per day of at least brisk walking on the treadmill to start out!!!

    It gets better. If you want it to. If you don't quit. If you stick with it. If you .............

    It gets better!!!!! Every hill always has a beautiful view to look at once you climb to the top. But like LaJauna said...you have to stick with it.
  • ninyagwa
    ninyagwa Posts: 341 Member
    I set a simple goal for myself when I started. I could hardly do five minutes on the eliptical. So I would do the five I could, and then the next time I would try for five more. Now I can do 30 minutes no problem. On the treadmill I can do waaaay more, but I'm not running, I typically go at 3.0 or a little faster, but never a run.

    You can do it! Good luck!
  • music_lover_103
    music_lover_103 Posts: 118
    it gets better...

    but why don't you stick with it and find out for yourself! : )
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    Keep trying! Go again tomorrow for 10 mins, or 12 mins :smile:

    then go the next day for 12 or 13 mins

    take a break once a week (or more if you are really, REALLY tired... but once is good enough for many of us)

    as long as you keep going, keep pushing yourself, you WILL improve, and you WILL become healthier from this :smile:
  • tolleirrigon
    tolleirrigon Posts: 59
    It will get better, don't worry so much about the speed, just walk! That's a great place to start...
  • jolteon00
    jolteon00 Posts: 89
    Exercise is 50% willpower. Psych yourself out. Say you'll go for 15 minutes twice a day. Then go up to jogging speed for just a minute - but if you're feeling okay after than minute, do another. Don't settle for 40 seconds. Things like that. Mini-goals get me through all my workouts.
    I promise it gets better! Just keep working at it. If you want, programs such as 200situps and 100pushups are designed to work with your ability level. You could try them out :)
  • Kjandcuttysmom
    Kjandcuttysmom Posts: 146 Member
    It really does get better. I haven't been running in a while nor have I exercised lately but when I first started running I would have to run one minute then walk five then run one then walk five and so on until I was able to run and run without stopping. Believe me, the more you do it, the easier it is. Good luck.
    Shine
  • Aileen46
    Aileen46 Posts: 176 Member
    It does get better. Just don't lose hope! And don't forget any effort is better than no effort!
  • stephenrobnett
    stephenrobnett Posts: 8
    Slow and steady, it does get better. It takes a while to build up your strength, be patient.
  • abbie017
    abbie017 Posts: 410
    It gets better! You'll eventually get to the point where your body craves exercise! Stick with it, set attainable goals, and work your butt off!! Good luck!
  • gentlebreeze2
    gentlebreeze2 Posts: 450 Member
    I have a bad knee... and when I first started out, 30 seconds on the bike was all I could do before the pain was overwhelming. Today I did 120 minutes on the bike. It gets better... but pace yourself. Too much too soon, and you might give up. Set a reasonable goal and believe in yourself.
  • krystleRD
    krystleRD Posts: 188 Member
    its gets better... i can last almost an hr on the elliptical.. just take it slow and before you know it ur flying thru it..
  • makena78
    makena78 Posts: 162 Member
    do you have your own treadmill? If so you can try doing what I do. I have trouble staying on my elliptical for more than 15-20min at a time. So what I do is crank up resistance and go for 10-15min several times a day. You still burn those calories while splitting up your workout at least until you can stay on longer. It has worked for me. I've lost 3lbs just this week doing just that and of course keeping my calorie count in check.
    You are not pathetic, you're just a beginner. Don't give up, even those 10min are good. keep it up.
  • skillen
    skillen Posts: 8 Member
    don't beat yourself up....you started out today and you know you haven't done this excersizing thing for a long while (I'll assume). It's always a slow start and you get better everyday.
  • dogluvr73
    dogluvr73 Posts: 17
    Im the same way, it gets easier, I can do an hour on the treadmill as long as Im not bored, so I have to have music or a tv I do light intervals of running at 6mph for 30 seconds.. Take it one day at a time. I just started this eating healthy and I cut back on my soda which was so hard for me and I am still craving it. You will do great
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    I didn't read all of the response but I will say that everyone has to start somewhere!
  • Texaganian
    Texaganian Posts: 67
    That's actually good. My first time on the treadmill was 3 minutes!

    I do 30 minutes with lots of resistance seven days a week now.

    Just keep after it.
  • CmGoode
    CmGoode Posts: 38 Member
    I am repeating what others have said. It will get better. I only lasted 8 min on the eliptical when I started going back to the gym...now I can bust out 30 min with no problem.....well, not NO problem, but much easier than when I started.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I have a totally different perspective on this.

    Here's what I read:
    today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape so I decided to start exercising.
    I just did the treadmill today for 10 mins. I know it sounds low, but it was my first day, and every time I do it, I will get a little better and a little stronger. So give me a high five because I deserve it!

    *high five*! Great first day! Find your rhythm. Even if that means spending 20 minutes just walking on the treadmill. Good for you for starting down this path!
  • WarmDontBurn
    WarmDontBurn Posts: 1,253 Member
    today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape but wow, am I feeling pathetic right now!!
    I just did my first "exercise" on the treadmill and lasted 10 mins ... how horrible is that?!?!
    Please tell me it gets better!! I was aiming for 20-30 mins per day of at least brisk walking on the treadmill to start out!!!

    Pathetic really? You took the first step of many to a happier and healthier lifestyle. I am betting that 10 mins is more then you did yesterday so you are already improving! Do what you can and know that some is always better then none.
  • janemartin02
    janemartin02 Posts: 2,653 Member
    It`ll gets better.start out slow,you`ll work your way up.
    Good luck
    jane
  • tssa
    tssa Posts: 93 Member
    today is my first day .... I knew I was out of shape but wow, am I feeling pathetic right now!!
    I just did my first "exercise" on the treadmill and lasted 10 mins ... how horrible is that?!?!
    Please tell me it gets better!! I was aiming for 20-30 mins per day of at least brisk walking on the treadmill to start out!!!


    Girl, I went thru the same thing. I had all these expectations my first day at the gym and when I got on the treadmill my body was like, "Hold on chick, what the hell is going on?". LOL I only lasted 12 minutes and then left bc I was so disappointment. Before, I was able to walk at 30 minutes on the treadmill, but now only 12 minutes!!! I was down the whole rest of the evening. The next morning after some self-reflection AND speaking with my sisters, I had to re-evaluate my expectations for my workout. I had to say to myself, "Tissa, you haven't been to the gym in months, been smoking and eating terribly, you can't really expect to knock out 30 minutes or so on the treadmill your first day. You need to take baby steps. Feel good about yourself, that you went to the gym and moved." After milling that over for a while, I had a whole new outlook on my weight loss/working out journey.

    It's all about progress and not getting down on yourself. Baby steps and gradual progress is key. Right now I'm up to 15 -18 minutes on the treadmil at a moderatly slow pace, which I admit it's not much but it's working for me. How do I know? Because when I walk out the gym, I drenched in sweat, my legs feel like noodles, and I'm tired but I FEEL GREAT. I'm planning to work up to at least 20 mintues at a brisk pace by June and I plan on walking my first 5k by the end of summer.

    So don't get so down on yourself. You made a committment to work out least 10 minutes on the treadmill, that's way better than not doing anything at all.

    Good luck to you and feel free to add me if you like. :happy:
  • suzooz
    suzooz Posts: 720 Member
    Don't tell anyone, but it can actually get to GREAT in a very short time.

    A couple of months ago, I started working out with Wii Fit, and they asked me to jog around this little island, which took about 5 minutes. I thought I was going to DIE! I HATED the running, and really couldn't see why anyone in their right mind would actually choose to do the Free Run.

    A month ago, I tried the Free Run for 10 minutes, and I was hooked! There's just something about that "runner's high," which I hadn't felt in a long time. Now I'm up to 30 minutes (if I don't do strength/yoga first), and I have to "reward" myself with a 10-minute Free Run on the days that I do Strength/Yoga training. Who knew that a reward could be exercise and not an extra-calorie, but healthy treat!

    SHHH. Our secret!
  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    you guys are awesome!! I want to thank you all for your kind words .. I was feeling kind of pathetic because today
    I woke up and thought "today is the day"! .. no more excuses, let's do something!

    Ive been "thinking" about it for ages but never actually done anything about it!!!!!

    Ive never been on a fad diet or really exercised, I think because I was afraid of failure.
    then I jump on this treadmill and boom ... 10 mins!!! wth?!?!

    my goal was 20-30 mins and I failed the miserably .. but then again as someone pointed out, at least I did more then I did yesterday!! .. and tomorrow's a new day right?!?!? :)
  • kristarablue
    kristarablue Posts: 702 Member
    So let me normalize this for you. First of all you ROCK!!!!! Starting to workout when out of shape can be the most excruciating, difficult, heartbreaking and daunting thing you can do and I admire your courage for starting. This will probably one of your most difficult workouts both emotionally and physically you will have. Remeber, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." - confucius I live by these words, you can not fail if you never stop trying...Please don't forget that.

    I am going to share with you part of the blog from my first day of trying to run back in Aug. of 2010. I could not run 50 feet at the time, trust me it will not take long for you to feel more confident because your work out today was really well done even if you don't believe it. YOU DID GREAT

    Here is my first day:

    Ok so today was my first day on my couch to 5K and I am sorry to say, but they are sadly mistaken. I am not sure they fully understand what a couch potato is, I think they may have their definitions confused. I did not have my stop watch so I counted in my head and I am pretty sure that my seconds for the walk were much longer than my seconds for my run. I did four rotations, that was about all I could do, I was coughing and sputtering like an 80 year old that had smoked for 90 years and continued to do so even after they were on oxygen for the past 20 years but just refused to die. Which by the way if someone had been witnessing the sad state of my fitness they may have called 911 due to my lack of ability to breath. And by the way, I hated every single min. of it. No I did not enjoy one moment and I was so pleased when it was finished because I don't have to go through it again tomorrow. My hip hurt, my shins were in agony and the inside of my leg almost to my groin felt like I was in labor (although so did my breathing so we were good).
  • shekaiser
    shekaiser Posts: 5 Member
    I just read an interesting article about how our brain works when faced wit a workout. We actually tell ourselves that we can't and we shut down. The article suggests that when you feel you can't, try to think about somehing else and keep going. So if you can only go for 5 minutes, push it to 6. Day by day...you will get there!
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