I am busting out of my clothes! Why can't I just go and lift some weights or something?

[Anonymous]

I am not a fat person, but I jiggle quite a bit. As I am looking down at my belly as I type, there is a mushy roll of blubber overflowing over my pants. I hate wearing short sleeves as I can feel my arms flapping away with every movement. I think about working out all the time and even try and schedule it, but I just can't take that first step.
How do you motivate yourself to JUST DO IT!!

[Anonymous]

How old are you? My body changed drastically at 30. Everything that was naturally toned just turned to blubber, my metablolism failed me and I gained weight just looking at food. I had my thyroid tested and it was ok. After baby #2 I am still 20 pounds overweight 16 months later! Yay! Take it easy on yourself. Maybe walk at lunch, do you have Comcast, ON DEMAND has tons of short exercise videos to do. Do them!

[Anonymous]

Once I had children it got tough. I used to work out every day. I have always enjoyed working out in the company of others. There's something about it that motivates. Anyway, when I realized I could no longer exercise just where and when and how I wanted to, I made some compromises. There is a Jazzercise class that meets Mon-Thurs at my workplace. All I have to do is change my clothes and walk across the street. Is it my absolute favorite form of exercise? Probably not, because I've never been much of a dancer and sometimes I feel a little silly. But I've made friends there. And consumer reports actually gives Jazzercise high marks, because it is one of the few exercise routines/classes/equipment that actually works the whole body -- both cardio and resistance training. It is affordable for most pocketbooks. Still, I miss the fancy locker rooms, the lingering in the steam room, the soft towels . . . you adapt.

Some days I literally force myself to go running or to WSC by myself. I'm always glad that I did. But some days I disappoint myself.

And we're saving for a treadmill, because it will be easier if it's "just there".

I also go to an ashtanga yoga class every Friday at 6. My husband "lets" me.

They say it takes 3 weeks to make something in your life a routine. Experiment with that: try some kind of exercise routine for 3 weeks, and then see where you are.

[Anonymous]

i've just gotten into the habit of eating less and it has helped a lot. i had a tire of blubber around my waist but lost 20 lbs over a couple of months... without really incorporating regular exercise. i try to do active things on weekends but i don't ever go to the gym. somehow, it's stayed off.

[Anonymous]

I find it helpful to create a specific action for each day of the week and say that to myself. A generic -- "I will exercise and lift weights" has never really been helpful for me. Instead I say, "On Mondays, I go to the 7:30 a.m. step class at my gym. On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., I lift on my back, biceps, and triceps." Etc. Anyhow, that's how I have gotten through it. Still some days I don't make it.

Best wishes.

[Anonymous]

Getting started is the hardest part. Maybe you could write down a schedule for yourself that includes exercise. For some reason, writing it down helps me stay committed. Also, keeping a food diary is a big incentive for eating healthfully. You'll think twice about popping those cookies from the office kitchen in your mouth if you know you have to document them in your journal.

Anyway, this is something I think we all struggle with. It's just easier to do nothing. Another tip: try not to over think it. Just get up and go for a walk or something. Don't give yourself the chance to talk yourself out of it.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP -- how did exercise go this week?

Workout questions are one of the more common ones here. I wish we could come up with some sort of DCUM checkin/accountability system.

[Anonymous]

I am really impressed by all the DCUMs who are out exercising early in the morning. This I cannot do. I mean, on the weekends I can get to the gym by around 10 or so, but you won't find my running the streets at 7 AM. It's too bad, because research shows that if you exercise in the morning, you'll feel better for the whole day, and jack up you metabolism for the whole day as well.

I forgot to sum up my main point about Jazzercise: I go because it is easy to fit it in to my schedule. It's not my favorite kind of exercise, but it works. The most important thing you can do to ensure that you will exercise is to pick an exercise form/place that is convenient. You can do a search for Jazzercise on google, plug in your zip code and probably find one around the corner. Or don't do Jazzercise. Just find something that isn't too much work to schedule in.

[Anonymous]

Get a workout partner. A standing appointment with a friend you really enjoy spending time with.

[zumbamama]

Find a Zumba class! You will work EVERY part of your body and its crazy fun!

[Anonymous]

Maybe try Self.com or Shape.com? They have online exercise regiments. Do you have comcast? On Demand offers many exercise programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fat person, but I jiggle quite a bit. As I am looking down at my belly as I type, there is a mushy roll of blubber overflowing over my pants. I hate wearing short sleeves as I can feel my arms flapping away with every movement. I think about working out all the time and even try and schedule it, but I just can't take that first step.
How do you motivate yourself to JUST DO IT!!

I don't know, but when you find the answer can you share? At 40-something, it just doesn't hang the same if you KWIM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP -- how did exercise go this week?

Workout questions are one of the more common ones here. I wish we could come up with some sort of DCUM checkin/accountability system.

OP here. It didn't happen! I am still thinking about it! I like the idea of a DCUM check-in. Well, tomorrow is another day!