Having trouble convincing myself that I need exercise...

LenGray
LenGray Posts: 858 Member
edited November 13 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone!

So, I've been counting calories for a little while now and I know that I need to start exercising. The only thing is that I'm doing pretty well at my logging. Like, I'm within my calorie limits and not feeling too hungry plus I'm satisfied with my food choices.

For the past couple of weeks, I even let myself walk away from the site and just eyeballed my calories, thinking that if I failed to maintain my weight, that would be a definite sign that I'd need exercise later on down the road. But, then I didn't. I maintained my weight successfully.

I know that I like exercise when I do it, but it's really hard to convince myself that I need exercise right now. This is especially difficult since I usually do weight-lifting and feel super hungry after working out, which makes it harder to stay in my deficit.

Any advice, anecdotes, or a proper kick in the hind end is much appreciated because I'm not really sure what would serve my goals best right now.

Replies

  • mgalovic01
    mgalovic01 Posts: 388 Member
    The hardest part is debating will I or wont I. You just have to get going one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. Don't think much past that. Keep doing that, and once you get going it's easier to keep going. Exercise is good for more than just controlling your weight.
  • quiltlovinlisa
    quiltlovinlisa Posts: 1,710 Member
    I exercise because I feel so much better. It wasn't easy and it didn't happen immediately but a year and a half later, I can say, totally worth it.

    I'm more relaxed, I deal with stress better, I'm happier and when I started a new job that involved sometimes taking over 10,000 steps in six and half hours, I totally was up to the challenge without pain and fatigue, something I never could have done before.
  • Barbonica
    Barbonica Posts: 337 Member
    If you are super hungry after lifting, you might want to consider changing what you eat before your workout. I lift (a lot) and find that if i don't have a small snack including some long lasting carbs an hour or so before the work out, plus a protein shake after, i am ready to chew someone's arm off. If you are eating a piece of fruit (even with some cheese or peanut butter), you are burning the sugar carbs off very quickly - try a slice of sprouted grain toast or some other grain based snack.

    Find something you love doing (make it your hobby).

    Finally, make exercise a priority. Decide that you will lift, or run, or play tennis or whatever and write it in stone on your calendar. It is mental - you HAVE to work out just like you HAVE to eat dinner. Don't let it become optional. (assuming you decide you really want to exercise)
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    I hope I get out of work early today, so I can go for a bike ride. :smiley:
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    op, you don't 'need' exercise objectively speaking. so maybe trying to find a reason why you do is the wrong approach for your personality or your priorities. i only do it because i like it, otherwise i'd be fighting myself 24/7 and ain't nobody etc etc.
    Barbonica wrote: »
    if i don't have a small snack including some long lasting carbs an hour or so before the work out, plus a protein shake after, i am ready to chew someone's arm off.

    hee. yup.


  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    edited November 2016
    Create short term goals. Choose a program. And train. -->Your body. Your mind.

    For satiation: Prepare food (protein) for the week. Eat slowly. Drink water (stay hydrated).

    ETA: try intermittent fasting too
  • judithcamilleri
    judithcamilleri Posts: 6 Member
    edited November 2016
    If you want to work out, budget eating before and after! It will help with hunger. Also, exercise will help the weight come off faster and you will gain health benefits such as lower blood pressure, stronger heart, stronger core, less overall body pain, better skin.

    If you are losing weight without it, that is amazing! For me I cannot lose weight without working out, and I get all the physical benefits too. That is why I do it. :) But I will be honest, I literally had to start with 5k steps a day. And then I built up to what I do now, which is intense cardio and lifting routines. Hunger is always a challenge for me and I really have to be conscious about eating 1 hour before and after.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    You can lose weight by just cutting calories. It's like, white rice has the same calories as brown rice, so why not eat what you want? As in, don't exercise if you don't want to ... that's the short story.

    The long story is that you'll build muscle which will burn more calories. You'll active different parts of your brain and the brown rice of course has fiber and nutrients that white doesn't ... there's more but I'mnot a scientist.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    Strength train for health, power and confidence. Agility train for staying on your feet.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Don't exercise to lose weight, exercise so that when you grow old you are still able to move around and take care of yourself. So that you'll be able to run around with your children and grand kids.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    Don't exercise to lose weight, exercise so that when you grow old you are still able to move around and take care of yourself. So that you'll be able to run around with your children and grand kids.

    Exactly...
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    You don't need to exercise to lose weight. You need exercise to keep the weight off. Initial weight loss is just the very beginning of the process, not the end.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    For most people it's a good idea to take a break from this site.

    I for one also think it's a good goal to be able to get to a point where you don't have to calorie/macros count unless it's pertaining g to a specific goal after weight loss/gain. But some people aren't comfortable with even the thought of it, which is okay too.

    Weight loss or gain is not linear, do don't be surprised when ypu do weigh that things didn't change immediately.

    Short term goals is often easier to hit. Perhaps making short term goals that lean towards your long term goal us a good idea for you.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    Don't exercise to lose weight, exercise so that when you grow old you are still able to move around and take care of yourself. So that you'll be able to run around with your children and grand kids.

    Disagree. People without children should exercise too.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    Don't exercise to lose weight, exercise so that when you grow old you are still able to move around and take care of yourself. So that you'll be able to run around with your children and grand kids.

    Disagree. People without children should exercise too.

    so they can babysit?

    :p

  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Doing exercise let's you eat more. That's good enough for me.

    Also resistance training (any type) helps you retain muscle which is important.
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    For me - exercise is separate from my weight loss journey. I do yoga to calm my soul, stretch my limbs, challenge my body and build strength. I run to feel free, sweat, wake up my heart and body, and give my brain a sense of joy and well-being. I lift weights so I can still move furniture around and lift a case of water into my grocery cart...if these things contribute to weight loss, well then - icing on the cake!!!! :)
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    regardless of whether or not you can lose or maintain weight,; exercise is necessary for a healthy body.

    From your heart health, respiratory health, bone density, muscle mass, metabolic rate, mental health, and more.... exercise is required.

    I like to think of maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping active as the bare minimum I can do to maintain my health and happiness. It is not some punishment or congratulatory activity, it is the minimum required to care for my body. I don't give myself a pat on the back when i brush my teeth everyday, because this is a minimum requirement.

    My suggestion to you is to find ways to exercise that fit your personal lifestyle the best. Lifting makes you too hungry and you don't like it? Do something else!

    From there you can create goals which you can work towards and accomplish.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited November 2016
    You don't need exercise down the road, you needed it years ago, and into the future assuming you want to do what you can control to live a healthy life.

    As others have said, exercise is not needed for weight loss.

    Good luck.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Exercise is like saving for retirement. Many people don't really see an immediate benefit and will put it off, frequently until it's too late.

    Exercise is not necessary for weight loss but people who exercise regularly tend to enjoy improved mood and sense of well being in addition to the more tangible physical benefits and as you get older the benefits are more pronounced.

    In 5 years you'll be 5 years older no matter what you do (unless you invent a time machine) you just have to decide what you want your future to look like.

    This is a real eye opener.....

    sweatscience.com/the-incredible-unaging-triathlete/
  • MiniMansell1964
    MiniMansell1964 Posts: 188 Member
    less calories than you burn = weight loss
    less calories than you burn including excersise = weigth loss + health.

  • Julie9151974
    Julie9151974 Posts: 2 Member
    I am just starting my weight loss journey and have never worked out in my life. I just got a gym membership and am starting next week. Here is my motivation for going to the gym:

    One of my sisters lost a significant amount of weight by focusing on strength training using the machines at the gym. Later she got married and for a long time was eating like her husband who liked fast food and meat and potatoes. She was not working out at the time, but she continued to maintain her weight loss because she had lost so much muscle.

    I learned from her that strength training is the best exercise for losing weight and maintaining weight loss. If you do at least 30 minutes of moderately active cardio during your warm up and stretch after lifting weights than you should be getting enough exercise. I just hope that I will be motivated to get started next week. Good Luck!
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