I'm in bad shape and have little free time or self control. What's your advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Focus on food first. Add exercise later.

Totally agree. You are not going to exercise your way to being healthy if you are overeating or eating a bunch of crap. While there are people who have lost weight eating nothing but McDonald's cheeseburgers (see Youtube) to do so means a religious devotion to calorie counting that is probably more than you want to take on.

Look at every plate this week and ask what can I trim out of my meal each day. Start substituting lower calorie options for some of the dishes you are currently eating, and reduce the portion sizes. Eating 20% less on your plate takes no additional time or effort on your part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't actually want to do the work to get in shape. That's your entire problem. Almost nobody you know who is in shape has tons of time. It's a fallacy to think you can't be in shape because you're busy. We all are. The difference between people who are in shape and you is that they prioritize working out and taking care of themselves. That might mean waking up an hour early to workout or staying up an hour later go do it. They don't magically have more time than you, they sacrificed something (sleep) you won't in order to be fit.

It takes no more time to eat nutritious food than it does to eat crappy food. Again, you're choosing not to.

There is no shortcut. You either make yourself work out or you don't. You either pay attention to your nutrition and buckle down on calories or you don't. It's as simple as that. If you're unwilling to do it, you don't actually want to get in good shape. But it's pretty insulting to pretend that other people are in shape because they somehow figured out a loophole you haven't. It totally negates the hard work they have put in by pretending they must have somehow stumbled upon a magic solution you haven't.

I’m sure people will slam PP for being harsh, but it’s the damn truth. We have so much time. It’s about choosing how to spend it. A life changing moment for me was when I was in OP’s place—feeling tired of being overweight and out of shape. I joined a gym and got 3 sessions with a trainer. We kept struggling with finding a time to meet in the evening. She finally looked at me and said, “What are you doing at 5am?” I said, “Sleeping.” She said, “I’ll see you here at 5am tomorrow.” That was 10 years ago, and it was the best thing that ever happened. I don’t always love getting up so early, but do always love the feeling of finishing that work-out. I’m 51 and in the best shape of my life. When I started this I had a 2 year old and a 5 year old. If you want it to happen, you will make it happen.

I don’t think it’s harsh but it does smack of being myopic. Some people have long commutes. For example, I am up at 5 am but am doing things (finishing packing lunches -the things that need to be heated, getting ready for work). I get home from work and then it’s sports for my kids, study for work certification, dinner clean up, kids to bed, prep for the next day and boom it’s 10 pm. I don’t even sleep 8 hours. Getting up at 4:30 won’t happen because I am already in sleep deficient.

Then do it at lunch. Or make your husband pack the lunches. Do it on the weekend. It's not myopic. Its the truth. We all have kids and jobs and extra shit that keeps us busy. Everyone can fit in three 45 minute workouts a week. Everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't actually want to do the work to get in shape. That's your entire problem. Almost nobody you know who is in shape has tons of time. It's a fallacy to think you can't be in shape because you're busy. We all are. The difference between people who are in shape and you is that they prioritize working out and taking care of themselves. That might mean waking up an hour early to workout or staying up an hour later go do it. They don't magically have more time than you, they sacrificed something (sleep) you won't in order to be fit.

It takes no more time to eat nutritious food than it does to eat crappy food. Again, you're choosing not to.

There is no shortcut. You either make yourself work out or you don't. You either pay attention to your nutrition and buckle down on calories or you don't. It's as simple as that. If you're unwilling to do it, you don't actually want to get in good shape. But it's pretty insulting to pretend that other people are in shape because they somehow figured out a loophole you haven't. It totally negates the hard work they have put in by pretending they must have somehow stumbled upon a magic solution you haven't.

I’m sure people will slam PP for being harsh, but it’s the damn truth. We have so much time. It’s about choosing how to spend it. A life changing moment for me was when I was in OP’s place—feeling tired of being overweight and out of shape. I joined a gym and got 3 sessions with a trainer. We kept struggling with finding a time to meet in the evening. She finally looked at me and said, “What are you doing at 5am?” I said, “Sleeping.” She said, “I’ll see you here at 5am tomorrow.” That was 10 years ago, and it was the best thing that ever happened. I don’t always love getting up so early, but do always love the feeling of finishing that work-out. I’m 51 and in the best shape of my life. When I started this I had a 2 year old and a 5 year old. If you want it to happen, you will make it happen.

I don’t think it’s harsh but it does smack of being myopic. Some people have long commutes. For example, I am up at 5 am but am doing things (finishing packing lunches -the things that need to be heated, getting ready for work). I get home from work and then it’s sports for my kids, study for work certification, dinner clean up, kids to bed, prep for the next day and boom it’s 10 pm. I don’t even sleep 8 hours. Getting up at 4:30 won’t happen because I am already in sleep deficient.

Then do it at lunch. Or make your husband pack the lunches. Do it on the weekend. It's not myopic. Its the truth. We all have kids and jobs and extra shit that keeps us busy. Everyone can fit in three 45 minute workouts a week. Everyone.

This is so true. You have to prioritise exercise or it won’t happen.