• Welcome to the Anxiety Community Forum, a friendly space for discussion, help and support with mental health issues. Please register to post and use the extra features available to members. Click here to register.Everyone is welcome!

Trying to start exercising...

bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
I've been really going through it lately, mentally. It's been pretty awful. I worked Monday, but I took the rest of the week off because I'm lacking most of my motivation to do much of anything. Yikes.

I decided this afternoon that I want to start exercising regularly. I don't have a weight problem - I never have - but my weight has been creeping up ever so slowly over the past few years. I'm about 5'11" and now about 175lbs. I'm still thin/average in size, but I've noticed my belly is starting to show a bit of weight. This is weird to me. Haha. Not concerned at all, but an observation. I don't mind a bit of extra weight, but I'd prefer to have some muscle tone rather than plain weight, if that makes sense.

I bought two 10-pound dumbbells to get started with arm strength training. I looked up some exercises online, and I'm starting slow. My arms already hurt. Haha. But it felt good. I also did some sit ups and push ups earlier this evening.

Do you guys have any tips to stay motivated? I've tried exercising before, and I did well for a while then I stopped - for whatever reason. I don't know if I lost motivation or what. I really don't want to do that again, so I need some tips to keep it up. I'm hoping in the next few weeks I can keep it up every couple of days (the weights) and start feeling a difference. I think if I start seeing results that will help with motivation.
 
D

Danny1001

Active Member
Joined
May 9, 2020
Messages
703
Reaction score
115
Hey ya I watch rocky movies .... keep punching


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TruthHurts

TruthHurts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2019
Messages
904
Reaction score
620
When you start to lose your motivation just think about your health. This exercise is going to help you in the long run. It'll help to naturally lower your heart rate, it'll help you keep or get your cholesterol levels within the normal range, it naturally helps to lower blood pressure, heart healthy, it will help to lower stress and anxiety etc. You can always try exercises that your kids might like also do some jumping jacks, play tag, make up fun games to keep them active etc.... jumping jacks are a amazing exercise you'd be surprised and tag can be so much fun plus it can be a great cardio exercise as well. Just get to moving around more you'll notice a big difference.
 
W

Worriedmama

Active Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2019
Messages
207
Reaction score
88
I’m 34 now and I have not missed more than a couple of weeks of exercise since I was 21 (and that was when I had my babies). For me, it has become second nature to work out. I give myself no choice! I also got my husband hooked on it and he has become a personal trainer and we now own a gym together. I think what motivated him was seeing results in how his body looked and what he could do. Make sure you take progress pictures, it’s great to compare pictures of how far you have come. I recently started doing exercises through the peloton app, it’s free for 3 months. Their hiit and strength programs are amazing. I highly recommend joining and being part of that great community! I have never done the same workout twice and it never gets boring.
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
TruthHurts said:
When you start to lose your motivation just think about your health. This exercise is going to help you in the long run. It'll help to naturally lower your heart rate, it'll help you keep or get your cholesterol levels within the normal range, it naturally helps to lower blood pressure, heart healthy, it will help to lower stress and anxiety etc. You can always try exercises that your kids might like also do some jumping jacks, play tag, make up fun games to keep them active etc.... jumping jacks are a amazing exercise you'd be surprised and tag can be so much fun plus it can be a great cardio exercise as well. Just get to moving around more you'll notice a big difference.
Click to expand...
That unfortunately doesn't usually work for me. -_- That's also why I can't seem to quit smoking, too - I want to, but just thinking solely about the health benefits apparently doesn't push me hard enough. The health benefits of quitting (or starting exercise) are certainly worth it, but I need more motivation than just that, I believe.

I've also tried being active with the kiddos before. We had fun, but that was also not motivating enough for me. :(

Thanks for the feedback. I'll still do my best to keep it in mind!

Worriedmama said:
I’m 34 now and I have not missed more than a couple of weeks of exercise since I was 21 (and that was when I had my babies). For me, it has become second nature to work out. I give myself no choice! I also got my husband hooked on it and he has become a personal trainer and we now own a gym together. I think what motivated him was seeing results in how his body looked and what he could do. Make sure you take progress pictures, it’s great to compare pictures of how far you have come. I recently started doing exercises through the peloton app, it’s free for 3 months. Their hiit and strength programs are amazing. I highly recommend joining and being part of that great community! I have never done the same workout twice and it never gets boring.
Click to expand...
Ah, that's awesome! I tried some silly little app in the past and it didn't work, but that may have just been that the app wasn't great. Haha. I'll look into the peloton app and see what I can do.
 
I

iwakami

Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2020
Messages
35
Reaction score
13
I also have low motivation regarding exercise. I managed to successfully embbed some by starting really small. Every morning I would do a light yoga 2 or 3 times a week. Then it evolved into making yoga every day. Then yoga and walking in the afternoon. Nowadays i do yoga in the morning, walk and run in the afternoon followed by weight lifting. Looking back, after 1 year, I'm really proud of the change, but all this to say that the first months i did not sweat at all. I just progressively incremented exercise in very small doses and tried not to be frustrated for being such a small effort at the beginning. Hope to continue this rhythm
 
B

bigjetplane6

Active Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2020
Messages
858
Reaction score
173
bin_tenn said:
I've been really going through it lately, mentally. It's been pretty awful. I worked Monday, but I took the rest of the week off because I'm lacking most of my motivation to do much of anything. Yikes.

I decided this afternoon that I want to start exercising regularly. I don't have a weight problem - I never have - but my weight has been creeping up ever so slowly over the past few years. I'm about 5'11" and now about 175lbs. I'm still thin/average in size, but I've noticed my belly is starting to show a bit of weight. This is weird to me. Haha. Not concerned at all, but an observation. I don't mind a bit of extra weight, but I'd prefer to have some muscle tone rather than plain weight, if that makes sense.

I bought two 10-pound dumbbells to get started with arm strength training. I looked up some exercises online, and I'm starting slow. My arms already hurt. Haha. But it felt good. I also did some sit ups and push ups earlier this evening.

Do you guys have any tips to stay motivated? I've tried exercising before, and I did well for a while then I stopped - for whatever reason. I don't know if I lost motivation or what. I really don't want to do that again, so I need some tips to keep it up. I'm hoping in the next few weeks I can keep it up every couple of days (the weights) and start feeling a difference. I think if I start seeing results that will help with motivation.
Click to expand...
I don’t exercise, and I always tell myself I should start already... Lol.
But when I have started exercising, what keeps me motivated to continue is thinking about the days I have already exercised.
Like if it’s day 4 of exercising, I tell myself “Day 4, can’t stop now. Let’s make it day 5”. And I just want to keep adding a day to the total number of days and that has helped me. But then life happens and I stop, and I’m back to square one.
I have read that exercising does help with anxiety and stress so it’s a great idea for you to start! Keep us updated!
 
Cuchculan

Cuchculan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2019
Messages
4,800
Reaction score
3,566
Walking and cutting the garden is my exercise. Do a lot of both. Point here is it does have to be something you see people doing in a gym. Many different things can be classed as exercise. At times I even cycle. Rather than getting a train. All counts come the end of the day. If you have something you like to do that you blend in with exercise. I know a good few people who like photography. So they walk or cycle and take their camera with them. Take pictures whilst they are out. A hobby and exercise blended into one. Good luck with everything.
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
iwakami said:
I also have low motivation regarding exercise. I managed to successfully embbed some by starting really small. Every morning I would do a light yoga 2 or 3 times a week. Then it evolved into making yoga every day. Then yoga and walking in the afternoon. Nowadays i do yoga in the morning, walk and run in the afternoon followed by weight lifting. Looking back, after 1 year, I'm really proud of the change, but all this to say that the first months i did not sweat at all. I just progressively incremented exercise in very small doses and tried not to be frustrated for being such a small effort at the beginning. Hope to continue this rhythm
Click to expand...
Good for you! I hope you're able to maintain your regular exercise. It definitely helps. Thanks for sharing!

bigjetplane6 said:
I don’t exercise, and I always tell myself I should start already... Lol.
But when I have started exercising, what keeps me motivated to continue is thinking about the days I have already exercised.
Like if it’s day 4 of exercising, I tell myself “Day 4, can’t stop now. Let’s make it day 5”. And I just want to keep adding a day to the total number of days and that has helped me. But then life happens and I stop, and I’m back to square one.
I have read that exercising does help with anxiety and stress so it’s a great idea for you to start! Keep us updated!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't think that would work for me, because I don't really find the number of days motivating. Haha. I think what would really keep me motivated is seeing/feeling results. So I suppose I should give it a few weeks, up to a few months, so I can actually notice changes. I also like the earlier idea of taking progress pictures, so I think I'll be doing that.

Cuchculan said:
Walking and cutting the garden is my exercise. Do a lot of both. Point here is it does have to be something you see people doing in a gym. Many different things can be classed as exercise. At times I even cycle. Rather than getting a train. All counts come the end of the day. If you have something you like to do that you blend in with exercise. I know a good few people who like photography. So they walk or cycle and take their camera with them. Take pictures whilst they are out. A hobby and exercise blended into one. Good luck with everything.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Cuch! I'm not worried about the gym stuff, and I have every intention of steering clear of gyms. Haha! I suppose I'll keep up the weights, push ups, sit ups, squats, etc for a few weeks and see how that goes. At some point I do plan to incorporate walking into the routine as well.
 
E

E.B

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2019
Messages
1,016
Reaction score
483
I compete in strength sports like strongman, if I can help with anything let me know
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
E.B said:
I compete in strength sports like strongman, if I can help with anything let me know
Click to expand...
Thanks! I found some basic strength training exercises online that I'm starting with. I'll reach out if I eventually get bored of those. :p
 
Izthewiz

Izthewiz

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Messages
677
Reaction score
432
Best motivation I can give is to watch videos of working out and nutrition.
Get whey protein or something like
A local gym would be best as you can hit all muscles, planet fitness it's like $10 bucks a month
I good plan I have used is
Monday-Chest, triceps, biceps
Tuesday- off
Wednesday- back, shoulders and legs
Thursday- Chest,triceps, biceps
Friday-Off
Saturday-Back, shoulders and legs
Sunday - Off
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
Izthewiz said:
Best motivation I can give is to watch videos of working out and nutrition.
Get whey protein or something like
A local gym would be best as you can hit all muscles, planet fitness it's like $10 bucks a month
I good plan I have used is
Monday-Chest, triceps, biceps
Tuesday- off
Wednesday- back, shoulders and legs
Thursday- Chest,triceps, biceps
Friday-Off
Saturday-Back, shoulders and legs
Sunday - Off
Click to expand...
Thank you! I'll consider this as well;
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top