HELP ! Need to add HIIT and strength workout...I just don't want to.

crusherbrickman
crusherbrickman Posts: 46 Member
in Motivation and Support
I'm down 55lbs since Jan 28th, 2021. Achieved by tracking diligently and good walking routine.
Walking is comfortable and easy. I go 5 - 6 miles 5 times a week or so..
I know I need to add HIIT and/weight workouts. I use cant bring myself to do them.
They're hard and I'm embarrassed when the house shakes from me jumping, and getting the dumbells out is a pain, and I'm embarrassed that I've lost so much strength (and yes I'm comparing 52 yo me with 21 yo me).
And I'm lazy. Any tips on how to just get started doing something I pretty clearly don't want to do but know I should and need to do?

Replies

  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,839 Member
    Why do you 'need' to do HIIT? If it's about improving your cardiovascular fitness level, you don't need to do HIIT, there are other ways. Also, HIIT is something you can apply to many types of cardio exercise, you don't actually need to jump.

    As for strength training, it is generally recommended yes. Could be with dumbbells, could be bodyweight exercises, could be kettle bells... Could be at home, or at the gym, alone or with a trainer or in a group class or circuit training.
    Strength training isn't/wasn't my favorite exercise, but I still do it because I know it's good for me and I enjoy seeing myself get stronger. And what I do also makes a big difference. I like some exercises more than others, so I look for alternatives for exercises I like less.

    Aside from choosing a form of strength training you like (or dislike less), it's also just a matter of creating a habit, just like other things we don't necessarily enjoy but need to be done: brushing teeth, doing the laundry, etc.
    Perhaps plan out your exercise for the week and include some bodyweight exercises to start your day, just to get a routine going? Or hire a trainer to get you started?
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    edited August 2021
    First off, congratulations on the weight loss!

    I agree with @Lietchi that HIIT is optional. If walking is your thing and you have time to do it, keep on keeping on.

    As for strength training, it really isn't something you can ignore. Being over 50, you're losing muscle if you're not doing anything to retain it. And if you're embarrassed now, imagine how you'll feel in your 60s. Strength loss is the #1 reason we lose independence in old age.

    But that said, a simple program done a couple of times a week can help you build strength and retain muscle mass. And there's nothing to be embarrassed about, we all start somewhere.

    I encourage you to think about yourself, 10, 20, 30 years from now. What kind of life do you want to have? Then you can see exercise as training. Training to be a better you and have a better life.


    Host of the 40+ Fitness Podcast
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer (Corrective Exercise, Behavior Change, Fitness Nutrition)
    FAI Certified Functional Aging Specialist
    OTA Level 2 Online Coach
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,223 Member
    You don't "need" to do HIIT and strength training, necessarily. HIIT in particular is seriously over-hyped these days. Very few people "need" HIIT.

    Fitness-wise, what I think each of us *needs* to do is decide what our fitness goals are - what we'd like to be able to do or achieve physically - then realistically reconcile those goals with what we'd have to do to get there, and with what we're *willing* to do, actually can and will do.

    A lot can be achieved, gradually, over a period of time, with a reasonable investment of time and energy, for many people.

    But some combinations are unrealistic: To exaggerate, someone who wants to win bodybuilding competitions, but only put in half an hour of lifting twice a week, is destined for frustration. Each of us needs to find his/her realistic path to progress, balancing what we'd like to achieve, with what we're able and willing to do, within a reasonable time scale.

    For an average human, some cardiovascular fitness and some strength are useful, even needful. There should be a path to those, for most people, that needn't be punitive or miserable . . . often, it can even be fun.

    What would you like to achieve, via exercise?
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,534 Member
    Especially when starting something new I try to make it as easy as I can get it and still be able to say I’m doing it. Going from zero to HIIT seems like a big bite. Why not start with some basic strength training, sets and reps and some cardio? Mountain climbers will get your heart rate up. Look on YouTube. If you’re just starting you don’t need a lot of weights. There’s a lot you can do with just 10s and 15s. If dumbbells are really a problem look on YouTube for body weight workouts or get some elastic bands.

    I was in my late 40s when I started working with weights. It was terrific. Unlike the other times, I stuck around long enough for it to start to work. Only 2-3 weeks and I was hooked. Start slow and keep the ramp up slow. Just keep doing it. It works. You’ll see.

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