I didn't realise I was so unfit
MysticalT
Posts: 267 Member
My weight has been around the same for the last year. I am sick of being fat but I find it so hard to stick to the calorie allowance each day. The only way it works is if I eat exercise calories, or some of them anyway.
Today I was really geared up for the 30 day shred ......I managed 7 minutes and couldn't continue. Last year I could do the full 30 minutes. My only exercise is walking the dogs and I usually skip that as I make dinner whilst he walks them. I work all day and I'm shattered when I get home but my job is more mentally exhausting than physically.
What can I do? I know walking more will improve my fitness but I just don't have time to do more than half an hour if I went on the dog walk. Do I keep trying the 30 day shred or is it pointless? Just 7 minutes and I ache everywhere.
How do I improve my fitness in a way where I don't just feel like giving up?
Today I was really geared up for the 30 day shred ......I managed 7 minutes and couldn't continue. Last year I could do the full 30 minutes. My only exercise is walking the dogs and I usually skip that as I make dinner whilst he walks them. I work all day and I'm shattered when I get home but my job is more mentally exhausting than physically.
What can I do? I know walking more will improve my fitness but I just don't have time to do more than half an hour if I went on the dog walk. Do I keep trying the 30 day shred or is it pointless? Just 7 minutes and I ache everywhere.
How do I improve my fitness in a way where I don't just feel like giving up?
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Replies
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I used to be really fit and then broke my ankle. For the first time in long time I did some exercise today and it almost killed me!
7 minutes is a good start but I think it might help to build up to it. Make yourself walk the dog. It's healthy to get the fresh air and will shake off the office blues. How about getting a Fitbit or something similar?1 -
Honestly, I find that exercise helps the mental fatigue of a long day at work. I am always sad that in the summer I can't run after work like I can in the winter and instead have to get up at the crack of dawn to run before it hits 80°F and sometimes even 90°F.
If the 30 day shred is what you have then keep at it. So today you did 7 minutes. Walk tomorrow and then Wednesday do 8 minutes. I'd suggest alternating a high impact with a low impact activity just like you would if you were running. As you keep at it you'll be able to go longer and longer. When I started running I couldn't run for more than 30 seconds at a time. I now run half marathons. I did that by slowly improving over time. Why should it be any different for you?5 -
Keep at it. Your fitness level will drop if you're not exercising, but it will come back pretty fast once you get in the habit again. Keep pushing yourself to go a little longer in your workout, and before you know it you'll be doing the whole 30 minutes again.
I had to stop running for a while due to an injury. When I started up again, I was lucky if I made it a mile. It only took a couple of weeks until I could do (slow, belabored) 5K again. Now 5Ks are easy, and I keep getting faster.2 -
Only one way I personally know of to improve your fitness level. Today you did 7 minutes. Tomorrow, try for 8. Day after that push for 9. By then end of the week maybe you will be at 10mins.
Try and do 5 push ups today. Then try for 6 tomorrow, and so on and so forth. Fitness is a journey and a lifestyle not a destination.
You set attainable goals, put in real effort to reach those goals, then set new ones to aspire to.
3 weeks ago my wife and I started getting up at 5:45 every morning to go for a walk. We live on a hillside and our walk starts with a 10min steep uphill. The first couple days I thought we were going to expire by the time we got to the top. Now we are cruising up that hill. Still breathing hard by the top but moving up it faster and easier every day.
2 weeks ago my wife got under a squat bar for the first time in her life. 5x5 20lbs to start. Today she's tossing weight onto the full olympic bar. Her goal is 200lbs squat by mid Aug. She is going to have to work really hard for it.
I used to squat 315lbs and deadlift 350. That is my goal. Going to take me probably 6-8 months of dedication to get back there after years of neglecting my fitness and lifting.
Goal+effort=achievement.
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If 30 day shred is too difficult, try something else, like Leslie Sansone videos. There are lots of videos on YouTube. Try 30 day shred again when your fitness is a little better.0
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Try 8 minutes tomorrow!! Small victories0
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I have set some PBs running after horrible 12h+ days at work - just tell yourself your mind has had a workout but not your body!0
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Make time. I know you said you don't have time but you have to carve out time for yourself and your fitness. I work 10 hours a day and I make a point to:
Wake Up:5am
Workout: 5:05-5:30am
Shower: 5:30-5:35 5:40am( I don't wash my hair everyday, thank goodness for dry shampoo!)
Cook Lunch/Dinner: 5:40-6:50am
Get the Man and myself ready and make breakfast: 6:50-8:15am
Leave for Work:8:20am
Like i said i work 10 hours a day and get home around 830pm. I make a point to wake up and drag myself to do a workout. It can be the elliptical or a kettlebell workout. I tried the 30 day shred and thought it was too boring and not as fast passed as i wanted. I also walk on my breaks at work, 2 15 minute ones and about 30 minutes on my lunch break. IF i don't hit my 8k step goal by time i get home, i walk in my living room. We can watch t.v together but instead of sitting i walk and use hand weights to get an extra umpth in!
Why not batch cook or cook before you go to work to allow you time to workout?
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Do you not have time or not taking the time to exercise? How much non work time do you spend in front of a screen?0
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I saw double standards in your OP.
It says you usually walk the dog but skip it thus "he" walks the dogs while you do dinner and then you do not have more than 30 minutes to walk if you went on the walk..
Do the walk for the 30 minutes you have. Then I bet you can find 35 minutes, then you might find 40 minutes for the walk.. Then as you get better you might find you want to do the shred.. You might eve find that you want to do the shred and the walk..
Just do the walk, start there!.0 -
Also, since no one else mentioned it, MFP is designed for you to eat your exercise calories. Granted a lot of people will only eat a portion just in case they aren't completely accurate, but most eat back anywhere from 25-50% at least. I usually eat back half on smaller workout, more if I have a really large adjustment (multiple workouts in a day).0
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If you are making time to sit in front of the TV you absolutely CAN make time to exercise... there was a time when I made time to sit outside throughout the day to smoke at least 5 cigarettes a day... THAT was more than 6 years ago... there was a time...when I HAD to sit and watch the 6 oclock news... now I spend at least 1-1/2 hours at the gym 4 days a week... because I have to... because I want to... because it is better than the alternative I would be facing 20 years from now... 40 years from now...2
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Sounds like many excuses to me. Just do it.0
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Thank you all for the replies. I used to go on the dog walks on my own after work but there has been some instances of dog thefts and assault against women walking dogs in the local area so now I wait until he gets home, by which time I'm getting dinner ready.
I have set my alarm to get up earlier, that's when I was going to do the 30 day shred. Whatever I do it has to be quiet so I don't wake the whole house up!
I will try again tomorrow I think. 7 minutes is better than 0 minutes right?0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Do you not have time or not taking the time to exercise? How much non work time do you spend in front of a screen?
I rarely spend any time in front of a screen, even when I'm home I'm working most nights or studying. I've never been a big screen person thankfully
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The first time I tried 30DS I did not even make it through the warmup. Now I consider the whole thing a warmup. Just keep at it!0
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I think you'd be better off using your full 30 minutes with an easier exercise routine than just getting in 8 or 9 minutes and then stopping. You could try mixing it up a little. Like 5 minutes of jumping jacks or stairs and then 5 minutes of something slower (walking, dancing etc), 5 minutes of higher intensity etc.0
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Exercise resets me mentally. I'm not happy at my job, and exercise is a means of blowing off steam. You have to want to become fit. Pick a time and don't make excuses. It's a life style change, not a quick fix. Seven minutes is a start, and better than nothing.1
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I didn't get up in time for the 30 day shred this morning but I did go on the dog walk, a shorter 20 minute walk as the weather is rubbish but it's an achievement still
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Tell your 'he' that if he wants to eat he can fix his own kitten for supper, you're walking the dog.0
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30DS is a hard work out and a proper thigh killer. I did day one and needed a week off to recover and I'd consider myself above average in the fitness and strength levels, I mountain bike and climb for fun multiple times a week and am a few pounds above my ideal weight.
Failing isn't that bad, the workout just isn't right for you at the moment. I've just started Body Revolution and it's much more reasonable in phase 1 at least. Davina is also pretty achievable.
Unfit or fit, if you're working your hardest, you're burning calories.0
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