What do you say to yourself when you get a craving or don't want to exercise?

Cravings -- in order for me to fulfil a craving for a chocolate bar, for example, I would have to go out and locate one. That's just too much bother. In order for me to fulfil the craving for chocolate cake I have right now, I would have to get home, find a recipe, hope I have the ingredients or go shopping and then make one. Way too much effort.

Exercise is part of my day. I walk as transportation.

cravings - if i have room for it, or can make room for it, ill have it, if its something i have in the house. if its something i DONT, ill generally plan to get it next time im out (i will not usually go to the effort to go out right then to get anything. way too much effort). i will not put it on my list. if i remember - chances are, i really DID want it. if not - it was fleeting and i did not really want it.

exercise - due to medications and wonky side effects theyve had on HR and BP in relation to cardio, I havent been allowed to workout most of this year. so, its been a moot point. but typically, its a habit. and one that, in general, I enjoy for the most part. I only 'made' myself do it 2-3 days a week, but most of the time did more. I had days where I had to do it, because i knew other days that week I would not be able to, and invaiably they would be days when I didnt FEEL like it- for whatever reason- but as long as i was not truly SICK or contagious, it was a matter of making myself go. no different than you make yourself go to work when you dont FEEL like it. just something you have to do.

I don't really get much in the way of food cravings. Like pizza is something I crave and enjoy, but we have pizza night once per week...usually on Wed or Fri so I know it's coming and something to look forward to. I eat well for the most part, but "naughty" I have no problem fitting in at some point in a given week.

Most of my exercise is recreational activity that I enjoy, so it's not very often that I don't want to go do it. Most of my exercise is cycling, mountain biking, and walking my dog. I do something pretty much everyday, even if it's just getting my dog out for a walk. I typically feel "off" when my schedule gets overly crowded and I'm unable to get out and do something. I don't particularly enjoy being cooped up and sitting around...I do enough sitting at work, so getting outside to move feels really good. I only have three of what I would consider "workouts" per week. Two days in the weight room and one spin class. I do these over my lunch break as the gym is right around the corner from my office and it's a nice way to break up the day.

The only time I really don't do anything is if I'm ill or my schedule is jammed and I don't have the time...and on the rare occasion that the weather is extraordinarily foul.

Cravings - I can’t really help here. I don’t think I get them; is that an oddity? Different foods sound good at different times and sometimes I eat them then and sometimes not. I think it is more availability related than anything else.

Exercise - I never want to exercise, but almost always enjoy it while doing it (and glad when it is done). The key for me is doing it first thing in the morning. I walk with my husband in our neighborhood for 3 miles (with elevation change, hello Rocky Mountains). Having an exercise buddy also makes you feel obligated to get going. And then we use our BowFlex weight machine (obviously not at the same time). I add in stretching/yoga too. It’s pretty much a given that if the afternoon rolls around, it won’t happen for either of us. FYI, we are definitely morning people. Also, I (have to) remind myself often of this: You’re retired, you have the time!!! So, even with it an enjoyable habit, pushing yourself may be necessary. Although Nike is not my sneaker brand of choice, their motto is a good one: Just do it!

I don't say anything. I pretend I never heard me to begin with, that way I don't have to respond to myself. If that makes sense.

I eat what I want, I just keep it within my calorie goals or, at the very least, I make sure to not go above my maintenance calorie goals.

As far as exercise goes, right now I just try to go for a few small walks a week.

I've had quite a few life-changing events happen since July, so right now my focus is just on logging every day (even if I go over). Between January 1 and mid July of this year, I lost about 40 pounds, but was trying to lose 2 pounds week (1200 calories day/exercising for 30-90 minutes most days), but it wasn't sustainable. In late July my grandma died and I made a major career change. Since that time, I've upped my calories to a goal for losing 1 pound a week and I just exercise when I can. I've actually still lost an additional 11 pounds since relaxing my diet/exercise routine.

I've shared all of that to say, don't worry about "fighting" cravings, just make choices that keep you within your calorie goals. And while exercise is an important part of wellness, it isn't necessarily an essential part of weightloss. (Notice the distinction between the two.)

Anyhow, that's just my 2 cents. Best of luck to you!

Cravings: I usually have just a little bit depending on what it is and how bad I want it

Exercise: Knowing how good I feel afterwards is a good motivator for me. My inner struggle this morning was that I was tired but I had to get up and let the dogs out and feed them. So I got up, tended to my doggies, made myself some coffee and then changed into workout clothes and got on my treadmill. Once I got going, it wasn't so bad. Only got a mile in before needing to take a shower and get to work, but it's a mile I might not have done if I let my brain talk me into sitting on the couch.