How long did it take you to settle in to regular exercise?

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  • jessiferrrb
    jessiferrrb Posts: 1,758 Member
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    for me it really helps to have a set schedule
    monday: post work lifting
    tuesday: before work run
    wednesday: post work lifting
    thursday: rest but hit a step goal
    friday: before work run
    saturday: bodyweight exercises at home
    sunday: cardio dvd

    i tell myself that i only need to hit 5 of the days. but most weeks i hit all 7. i don't know why, but having the option to skip a couple guilt free makes the whole thing easier. this sunday i had a four hour long battle with myself on the couch about doing the cardio because my brain still wants to fight about exercising but in the end i just did it.

    i also used to burn out after i would do marathons at the gym 3-4 times per week for a few hours each. i find 7 days at about 35-50 minutes is sustainable. and i'm always dividing things into increments, like if i have a 3 minute interval coming up i tell myself "you can do anything for 3 minutes" or in lifting "you can do anything for 5 reps" and i just think about that increment not the 4 after it. lol.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,598 Member
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    'bout a month.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    I got into a regular routine right away because I was working with a trainer and desperate to lose weight. At the same time, 2+ years later, sometimes I still have to force myself to go to class.
  • bketchum1981
    bketchum1981 Posts: 130 Member
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    I go to a studio that has a ton of variety of group fitness classes. Highly motivating to be with positive like-minded people. Through this studio (I'm 53) I was convinced I could AND DID just run my first 5K last weekend. I feel the strength I've gained in the studio is directly related to being able to endure running.

    Mental TOUGHNESS is key.

    On vacation this summer I MADE myself run! Very rewarding to overcome that challenge.

    Im even looking for more 5Ks to keep that extra challenge out there.

    Even though I had been going to this studio for a year, I made it my personal challenge to TRY every class at least once. I've met that goal and find myself staying for two classes sometimes as a dare from others at the studio.

    My next challenge is to participate in 24 events to collect the tshirts to have a quilt made.

    Until two years ago, I had done a lot of different videos at home, walking,elliptical, treadmill running but the studio where I go now is FAR AND AWAY my best fitness discovery EVER!!
  • Rururiri
    Rururiri Posts: 31 Member
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    Everyone else is different but for me it took me 6 months to get into the lifestyle of working out frequently. Now, I can't stop working out. When I first start out, my husband kept on begging me on working out. He was some sort of bribing me to do it. It took half a year before I just do it on my own :P
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
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    Exercise to me it's a mental thing. I tell everybody I know that 90% of your workout is walking into the gym and the other 10% is actually doing your workout.

    For it to become a regular part of your life you have to enjoy it and it has to be physically but more importantly mentally challenging. To put things in perspective when it's nice in the summer and still warm enough in the spring and the fall the last thing I want to do is be in the gym doing cardio I'd rather be walking. Also I don't want to be in a swimming pool during the summer when I could be in the ocean.

    It's like anything else if you would enjoy it you're going to get bored with it and tired of it and you're not going to succeed you'll quit. There's a lot of good stuff on YouTube as far as workouts and varying stuff. Personally I like the Tony Horton Beachbody workouts I like his concept of muscle confusion and change in the workout every month.
  • S2tupidAss
    S2tupidAss Posts: 25 Member
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    Despite on having maintained a consistent workout regime, I've failed multiple times to stand up and do something. However, I would advice you to start with smaller attainable goals before you jump higher. As for now, am on my 3week everyday workout. It becomes not an obligation anymore but something to do to make life interesting.
  • glassofroses
    glassofroses Posts: 653 Member
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    jessiferrrb wrote: »
    for me it really helps to have a set schedule
    monday: post work lifting
    tuesday: before work run
    wednesday: post work lifting
    thursday: rest but hit a step goal
    friday: before work run
    saturday: bodyweight exercises at home
    sunday: cardio dvd

    i tell myself that i only need to hit 5 of the days. but most weeks i hit all 7. i don't know why, but having the option to skip a couple guilt free makes the whole thing easier. this sunday i had a four hour long battle with myself on the couch about doing the cardio because my brain still wants to fight about exercising but in the end i just did it.

    i also used to burn out after i would do marathons at the gym 3-4 times per week for a few hours each. i find 7 days at about 35-50 minutes is sustainable. and i'm always dividing things into increments, like if i have a 3 minute interval coming up i tell myself "you can do anything for 3 minutes" or in lifting "you can do anything for 5 reps" and i just think about that increment not the 4 after it. lol.

    I definitely agree on having a schedule. It stops you from trying to eek out of things when you shouldn't.

    Mine looks a bit like this:

    Monday: One hour kickboxing training session
    Tuesday: Home kettlebell/medicine ball workout or Rest.
    Wednesday: Two one hour kickboxing training sessions.
    Thursday: Two one hour kickboxing training sessions.
    Friday: Something fun but active and/or a one hour sparring session.
    Saturday: One hour kickboxing training session or a 3.5-4mile run.
    Sunday: Something fun but active or Rest.

    Monday to Thursday is non-negotiable. I pay for a specialist MMA gym and I have to do four sessions a week to get 'value for money' so I do 4 sessions no matter what. Unless I'm really ill (I had a spate of illnesses in January including a chest infection and sinusitis and then a bad kidney infection in July), injured (my joints are ridiculous) or I have to take care of my parents (both very ill).

    How I actually started though? An exercise DVD three times a week in my kitchen, firstly for 30 minutes then 45 and then 60. Then I added yoga once a week. Then I added KB twice a week and eventually dropped yoga/the DVD. By that time I was committed to training and upped my sessions to where I am now. Don't think that you have to go full steam ahead with exercise. Pick an achievable amount of times a week you can workout and stick to them no matter what. Forget motivation, that's *kitten*. Willpower is what gets you there. Commit and do it when you say you're going to. It took me probably 5-6 months to get into the routine I'm in now but my 'easier' three days a week routine was something I did from day one. Repetition is what makes exercise easy, you do it enough times you stop questioning when it's going to get easier because it just is. Good luck on your journey! :smiley:

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