Just Feeling Stuck

Put on a "walking" outfit, just in case. Lay out your coat or whatever, just in case. Put on your walking shoes, just in case. Go out to get the mail or take something to the car, get something out of the car, ?
It won't work every time, but it will work sometimes. Baby step #1.

Schedule it, put it on the calendar (mental or actual), then when the time arrives, treat it like it's not even a decision, it's just a thing that a person needs to do like grocery shopping, laundry, etc. As a bonus, if you make it a point to choose some enjoyable activity (a good idea), it'll be more fun than laundry or grocery shopping.

Thinking about it all day, IMO, is almost the opposite of what I think is the right approach.

For myself, when I can, I do active things that are so fun I'd do them even if they weren't good for me (but they are). I don't need any extra motivation to do fun things.

My most fun things (rowing boats and riding my bike) aren't possible in Winter here (river ices, snow on roads/trails). In Winter, I use that other strategy: Make a plan, then follow through on that plan as if there were no decision involved. (I mostly stationary bike, machine row - not as fun as the outdoor versions! - and lift weights some.) I also use some challenges to help me set goals/plans and stick to them in Winter.

Speaking of which, there's a challenges section here:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/challenges

Maybe take a look there and see if something looks appealing as a way to get yourself in a more active routine?

I've been pretty active, using strategies above, for around 22 years now (for the first dozen years of which while overweight/obese, BTW.) As a helpful thing, I now start feeling crummy - moody, stiff, depressive - if I slack off on activity for more than a small number of days. That in itself usually is enough to get me going again. It takes some time - some months, maybe? - for that effect to kick in, but I think it will be true for most people who've established a habit of activity.

To get started, group classes or "fitness buddy" approaches help some people - they did help me at first, and sometimes even now. Schedule something where you have a commitment with others, maybe it'll be harder to procrastinate or skip since you'd be letting others down. It can be as simple as a walk and chat with a friend or family member. (Some people swear by getting a dog, so they walk the dog, but I wouldn't suggest that if it's the only reason for having a dog!)

Thinking about whether to do it or not do it, for hours at a time . . . well, it seems like there are happier ways to spend hours. Schedule something reasonably fun - at least tolerable, convenient - practical - then do it. That's IMO where "just do it" comes in.

Best wishes!

I'm riding on the struggle bus.
I'm 5'2" and up to 177lbs.
I get motivated and tired of feeling blah, get on my walking pad for a good week straight and start lifting, and then the bottom falls out; I feel worse about myself than before, and boom - stuck!
I'm battling a bit of depression, nothing serious, though. Menopause hit me at 47. I am all done with that monthly business. Still, I have hot flashes, mood swings, sadness, weight gain, lack of sleep, etc., and I am trying to decide on HRT, but I am scared of the health issues that come with it (cancer, blot clots, etc).
On top of that, I moved to TX for four months to care for my dad in April last year while he was passing away, leaving my husband and children, 17 & 19, to care for him and help my mom. I lost him in July, so it's not a year yet. Hubby had a rare skin cancer while I was caring for my dad, so I had to fly back to Minnesota from TX five times to help care for him, be home a week - and fly back down to dad (so far, hubby is cancer-free).
My daughter is graduating and moving away to college, and that's extremely hard, plus all the stuff that comes with that, all the "last times." I just lost my grandmother at 96.5 years last week, too, and an uncle and cousin as well. Getting older is much more complicated than my parents made it look
I watch my husband lift every evening and go go go even though he's got bad shoulders, knees, and back. I cannot get myself to get up and get moving and STAY moving! I'm sad, defeated, angry at myself. I know I feel better when I move!! Before I had to care for my dad, I was walking 2 miles a day outside in blizzards, rain, and wind. The weather didn't matter; I felt less sadness and was proud of myself. I can't pick myself up, and I'm so angry! I eat well and love to cook, so that's not the issue. I start feeling motivated and proud; then, the bottom falls out. Did I mention I even have my Alexa device tell me to get up, walk for an hour, lift weights, and exercise with a lovely motivational saying? That worked for me for a whole week, and then boom... bottom again; now I ignore her.
Thanks for letting me vent. I'm going to try this again. I have my walking pad out and shutting the computer down for an hour. I'll try to keep this going for the next three weeks so it becomes a pattern.
I want to get my mindset in a better, healthier place before the first anniversary of my dad's passing; it's so much harder than I ever realized it would be and before my daughter graduates in May and gets ready to leave home.
I've printed out my "color-in" tracker and put it on my fridge. I'm hoping I can keep at this. I want to lose 25 lbs. to start and be realistic.
I need all the Motivation I can get.
I'll check back in daily if I'm still keeping at it.
Wish me strength and luck

Tbirdgal_Stef wrote: »

I'm riding on the struggle bus.
I'm 5'2" and up to 177lbs.
I get motivated and tired of feeling blah, get on my walking pad for a good week straight and start lifting, and then the bottom falls out; I feel worse about myself than before, and boom - stuck!
I'm battling a bit of depression, nothing serious, though. Menopause hit me at 47. I am all done with that monthly business. Still, I have hot flashes, mood swings, sadness, weight gain, lack of sleep, etc., and I am trying to decide on HRT, but I am scared of the health issues that come with it (cancer, blot clots, etc).
On top of that, I moved to TX for four months to care for my dad in April last year while he was passing away, leaving my husband and children, 17 & 19, to care for him and help my mom. I lost him in July, so it's not a year yet. Hubby had a rare skin cancer while I was caring for my dad, so I had to fly back to Minnesota from TX five times to help care for him, be home a week - and fly back down to dad (so far, hubby is cancer-free).
My daughter is graduating and moving away to college, and that's extremely hard, plus all the stuff that comes with that, all the "last times." I just lost my grandmother at 96.5 years last week, too, and an uncle and cousin as well. Getting older is much more complicated than my parents made it look
I watch my husband lift every evening and go go go even though he's got bad shoulders, knees, and back. I cannot get myself to get up and get moving and STAY moving! I'm sad, defeated, angry at myself. I know I feel better when I move!! Before I had to care for my dad, I was walking 2 miles a day outside in blizzards, rain, and wind. The weather didn't matter; I felt less sadness and was proud of myself. I can't pick myself up, and I'm so angry! I eat well and love to cook, so that's not the issue. I start feeling motivated and proud; then, the bottom falls out. Did I mention I even have my Alexa device tell me to get up, walk for an hour, lift weights, and exercise with a lovely motivational saying? That worked for me for a whole week, and then boom... bottom again; now I ignore her.
Thanks for letting me vent. I'm going to try this again. I have my walking pad out and shutting the computer down for an hour. I'll try to keep this going for the next three weeks so it becomes a pattern.
I want to get my mindset in a better, healthier place before the first anniversary of my dad's passing; it's so much harder than I ever realized it would be and before my daughter graduates in May and gets ready to leave home.
I've printed out my "color-in" tracker and put it on my fridge. I'm hoping I can keep at this. I want to lose 25 lbs. to start and be realistic.
I need all the Motivation I can get.
I'll check back in daily if I'm still keeping at it.
Wish me strength and luck

Maybe I'm wrong, but reading this it feels like you're using binary settings: Do all the (perceived) good things, or . . .don't.

Taking a big bite of calorie restriction, exercise, tracking both, cardio+lifting in the exercise all at once . . . that sounds like a lot.

You've been through a lot. You deserve some grace. (How would you behave, what would you say, if a close friend was going through all that, having helped and cared for everyone while dealing with fear and grief? What would you say if that courageous, coping-against-odds friend felt like a failure?) You're a hero, a champ. You've done much to be proud of already!

Is there a reasonably easy, small, positive change you can make that actually feels good, feels nourishing?

If you feel better when you move, move a little more, in some truly enjoyable way. I can't tell you what that would be. Maybe window shop (walking), visit a botanical garden or wooded trail that's lovely? Maybe 10 minutes of stretching first thing in the morning? Maybe eat what you've been eating, with just a 10% portion reduction, or more braising/baking vs. frying, cut out one sugared beverage (not necessarily all) if you consume those, start each meal with a big green salad and some good-tasting fruit-infused sparkling water or hot tea, before moving on to more calorie-dense foods? I don't know what would be easy and enjoyable for you, but is there something?

To be clear, I'm not saying "do all of that", I'm saying "pick one pretty-easy thing". If you can take a step, feel good about that, maybe there's energy for another step after a bit. Take some small steps, patiently, over a period of time . . . it can be surprising how they add up.

Best wishes!

Do something that you enjoy doing and not something that you feel you should be doing. Are you slightly competitive? Try to find something where you can celebrate improvements. Do you enjoy being among others? Maybe a team sport. Enjoy being alone, maybe taking photos, watching animals? Go hiking out of town.