Yeah, I think I am just going to get FAT....

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
I don't really feel like working out anymore. Mostly ever. Yeah, I hate feeling all jiggly-wiggly, but I gotta tell you, this aversion is not subsiding. What shall I do??? I have lost a bunch of weight already so all my muscle has probably fallen off already, working out would just be really hard now.

Assuming I decide to climb back on the wagon, how long before I learn to love exercise again? I feel like a teeny tiny girlie girl.:)

What have you guys done to motivate yourselves out of something that appeared to be more than just a little rut? I think I was having many little "ruts" that turned into one huge, deep, gaping hole. How do I get out??
 
Hi Janice,
Don't give up. Remember that some exercise is important not just for your figure but for health reasons as well. Healthy heart, lower blood pressure, strong bones, flexibility, balance and maintaining a body that will last you a long time. First try to figure why you don't want to exercise and then work on that. For example, are you burned out on exercise..had you been going overboard. If so, set more reasonable goals. It isn't necessary to work out more than 4-5 hours a week, if you do it right. Even less than that is great for health reasons. Aer you tired of the workouts that you have been doing. If so, take a break from them and do something else for a while. Try walking, take a dance class, swimming, biking, tennis or some other sport that you like.
Are you ill? If so, see a doctor, take care of yourself and rest up with less frequent and less intense exercise.
Are you depresed about something? Talk to someone or see a doctor. Depression can make you lose interest in almost anything. Has your schedule become more hectic? Please, remember you have friends here and less us know how you are doing.
 
Janice,I agree with what Cathy said and wanted to add maybe just try going for a walk - not even a long walk. Maybe just around your neighborhood, maybe for just 10 minutes. Do you have a friend or your DH who might join you? Depending on what's fueling this for you, maybe just pulling out some of your videos and watching them would get you motivated. Do you have a favorite? I know if I flip over to FitTV and see people working out I can't stand not joining in (especially if it's Cathe!)!

But like Cathy said: "Don't give up!" There's all kinds of little things that might help you get started again.

Jo
 
Janice, I usually buy a new video to get me back in the mood to work out. I'm just now starting to exercise again after a long absence and the Cathe videos I used to do are intense. I ended up buying her Basic Step video, which includes an intermediate workout...Body Fusion. It has helped immensely. I really felt like a whimp buying a beginner's video, but the way I see it I can always do the Basic Step workout when I'm low on energy or pressed for time since it's only 30 minutes long. Body Fusion is 45 minutes. I'm making great progress and know it's only a matter of time before I'm back to the harder videos.
 
Janice,
Do not get discouraged! I had fallen off the wagon for roughly 6 or 7 months. I just got back on approximately 2-3 weeks ago. I was getting some terrible exertion headaches during the first 2 workouts in the beginning due to foolishly starting out with the advance workouts. I dropped the intensity a little and voila! I am back in the saddle. It really is hard to get out of that rut after not exercising for a while. But the first step is the hardest. Just to make the effort to put on those workout clothes and pop that DVD in is the toughest part, at least for me it was. Taking that first step may seem so overwhelming. But having finished your first workout after a dry spell is so motivating in itself.Of course working out to Cathe makes it soooo much more enjoyable. One possibility that might help you is to get dressed, pop that DVD in and promise yourself to do at least 10-15 minutes. You would mostly end up finishing. Another idea for you is to try a different type of workout. Explore something different. I have discovered kickboxing and every day I have no problem motivating myself to workout. Go ahead, give it a try, just 15 minutes!
BooBoo :D
 
LOL Janice. I haven't been able to get back on anything consistent. From time to time, I get in a slump, and I have so much trouble getting out of it. I kind of get this "whatever" attitude, and I don't like that at all. I'm not even excited about Cathe filming, so obviously something is wrong with me! You know, when I was visiting the forums daily, I did much better. Maybe I should try to do that again. Thanks for asking this question, and I hope you get out of your rut.
 
Don't discourage!!
I've been in sort of a "rut" myself. I've kept my workouts, but not as intense and frequent. One thing i have kept doing is at least weight training one body part per day to keep the muscle. So i take 15 minutes out of my day, pop in pure strength and do a body part training. Usually that leads to me at least wanting to do a little cardio. I've been tacking on a CTX cardio or something similar (sometimes premixes from the blast series, just for variation). I just keep repeating to myself.. any exercise is better than no exercise. Don't know where this slump came from. Three months ago i started running and was setting my goals at a 5 or 10 k by spring. At this rate that won't be happening :-( ;-)
 
Bottom line- Start Fresh! Put your slump behind you(along with any negativity you have built up towards exercising)and make a simple attainable goal that is fun and reward yourself when you reach that goal! Once you feel good about yourself again and have started a routine the motivation will be there!
Hang in there!
 
Thanks all.


I really don't know what it is for me. It is more than just a little exercise slump. I have worked out some...mostly walking or jogging outside, but not much weights. Either it is all too tiring for me right now or I don't even want to think about it, its too much. That is the best way for me to describe it. I really want to take these aerobics classes at the community college I was going to, but I feel trapped cuz now my class is online and I don't physically go there any more. It is too far away to really go after work. I looked into some group fitness at my gym but it is so horrible it is not even funny. 2 people in a class, crappy music. Plus, I feel like I don't have the energy to see other people and have to chit-chat. Uggghh. I work full time so it would be late before I got home and I have my Anatomy class too.

I don't want to do videos anymore. I want to sell them all on Ebay and for some weird reason, I feel that would make me feel better. Like, start anew. Get rid of the old, start over. I feel that way with pretty much everything in my life right now. I want to be a new person. I want to meet new people that like me simply because they just met me. Do you think this all symbolizes something? Like I should just take that risk, quit my job, find a job working closer to home and maybe same days as huby...so I don't just have to pass him in the hallway? Maybe I would start liking school instead of feeling like it was one more thing to worry about. Right now I just want to drop out and forget it ever was an option. Obviously that would not help things. Sometimes I think of the possibilities of dropping to part time, or even full time at lesser money and get excited, but then I think of the pay cut. It would be less $/hr, possibly part time instead of full time (which I would sorta like for a while), but it would be a chance to gain experience in the fields I wish to go into. Reality is, I don't NEED to make what I make right now. It is nice cuz I am saving some $$$ for nursing school, but would it be mentally better for me to quit now? Do you think without some sort of a break (no vacation, I used to all for school) something is going to give? I am sooooo concerned with finances and sometimes I think I am not enough concerned about my mental state. I know my family thinks I should just suck it up and stay at my current job until I get accepted to nursing school. In March, I get three weeks vacation. Is staying worth it, I don't feel like I'll last till then?

I just don't know. Gee...I guess I have bigger issues than just working out. I am really sorry to turn this, once again, into a shrink session. Hey, if I had decent insurance, I would go to one!!LOL!!! If anyone unbiased and, more importantly, UNRELATED TO ME can help that would be great! You guys are awesome, I don't know where else to go. Thanks!
 
Sounds like you have alot going on in your life right now and alot of ideas floating through your head. Do not act on anything until you take the time to sit back, put things in perspective and analyze things. Why don't you organize your thoughts,needs and aspirations in a journal and rank them according to importance. Also write down the pros and cons and repercussions of any action or lack of action taken. For example, if you quit your job, you will lose that money (how will this affect your quality of life) and have a gap on your resume that you will likely need to explain to future employees. Quitting work would give you more free time. Can you get more time by organizing your life in other areas.... getting someone to help with the housework occasionally, joining flylady etc. Quitting work is probably a big mistake at this point unless you have taken the time to seriously consider consequences. Journal all your ideas and areas of your life that are bothering you right now and do this in a thorough and organized way. Just don't turn this into a hassle too, otherwise you won't work on it. Keep the task down to only 15 minutes a day. You could do the same for exercise...only 15 minutes a day. A small amount of exercise won't overburden you and will likely lift your spirits up and help with any tension you might be experiencing in your body. If there is anyone you can talk to to help you get things off your chest, do that too. Take care of yourself and try taking these small steps to help you figure out what in life is right for you.
 
Wow! You sure have got a lot going on! No wonder you're not thinking about exercise. How could you possibly have any time or energy left for it? Based upon what you've described, the part-time option at work sounds good to me. Will you also be working through nursing school? If so, it may be a good idea to establish a part-time routine now at work before you start.
 
Oh Janice.....I was in that slump too, for about 6 months also. I actually "HATED" working out. I broke my neck when I was 17, 13 years ago today in fact, and all that hardcore intensity was killing it. I sold come of my Cathe cardio's on Ebay, and bought some Firms, also BSS3. I do not follow rotations anymore. I do what I feel like doing. If I am tired, I do a Firm, and I really do enjoy them, especially BSS3, I also do Cathe, I also do SS, I do everything, and do what I want. I have excercised 6 days a week consistently for the last 7 weeks, with one rest day per week. I have really begun to enjoy excercise again. Taking all that pressure off myself to keep up with the pounding, and some of these awesome rotations, was ruining all the fun. The Firm can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be, and I add alot of jumping to it, and I get a great workout. No one beats Cathe for UB, and today I am going to do PUB and run/walk uphill on my treadmill for awhile. I also love all of Cathe circuits and do alot of them too, but I love Firms LB, my body really responds to it. I hope you find what works for you, but I found taking all the pressure off worked for me!!!!!!!
Lori
 
When I'm not motivated, I just talk myself into it. Before you start, just tell yourself you'll try it for 10 minutes and see how you feel. After 10 minutes, say - "just 5 more minutes". You'll feel so proud of yourself when you make yourself work-out when you don't feel like it.

Everyone gets these days. Heck, I took almost 4 YEARS off with the excuse of my daughter. It was a good excuse, because she wouldn't give me any time alone. But I am SO glad I'm back into it. It took me a while longer than it should have, and I had to hit my "rock bottom" to get myself motivated. That was the day I had my normal breakfast (Kashi cereal and a high-fiber drink), then went to work. Some evil so-and-so brought in a box of Krispy Kremes and I had one. I went out to lunch with a coworker to Wendy's where I got the ol' "Single Combo with Cheese" (my fav). Then when I came home, my husband, daughter and I went out to our favorite wing joint for dinner. I had reached my maximum non-pregnancy weight of 118 (I'm 5'0" and very small framed). The next week I started taking care of my diet and have been doing Cathe 6 days a week ever since. I've still got another 5lbs. to go before I get to where I want to be, but BOY - do I feel so much better. And I LOVE my shoulders!

It's a mental thing that you have to work through. Maybe you could work out with a friend? I hear that's very helpful, although I prefer to work out alone. I'm a loner - a rebel. ha ha
 
I saw this post after I wrote my other one. Have you seen your doctor? How long has this feeling been going on? It might be depression. Does your employer have an Employee Assistance Program? This is a common benefit in our area and allows employees to go for counselling free of charge for 3 sessions, then if the counsellor thinks more sessions are necessary they will refer you to someone. Most insurances do cover part of psychiatric care.

The reason I'm pretty worried about this is that my brother died of depression a few years back (suicide). Some of what you say reminds me of him, but he didn't let it known to us (or to himself) that he had a problem. I also have a very close friend who struggles with depression. She is now on a medication that works for her and it makes all the difference in the world. And there's me, I have hypothyroidism and when my medication isn't strong enough - I'm very cranky. Once I got on the meds, though - WOW! Hello world! I was back. I didn't even know that I had depression until it was gone.

Your family doctor could be very helpful.
 
Donna...I PM'd you!!

So many things to think about. I just don't know what I'll do. I would be quitting and getting atleast a part time job and then upgrading to full time. I will have to quit my current job anyway when I get into nursing school. Then, I will want a job just like the one I am contemplating now. So really, the absolute only reason to keep my job now is $$. If I drop to part time, I can work weekends in a hospital and see my husband three whole days a week instead of never. Is that worth it?

It is just one of those things, you know. It is soooo scary, making such a huge life change! I know I need to change directions to have any flexibility in my life...for children...etc. I want to have more options in my life. Complicating it is my mom, whom I work with, not wanting me to quit. I think she likes working with me and maybe is scared to see me go. Makes it personal.:(

My school issues are starting to interfere with my office 8-5 job. I can't get in to see advisors, get fingerprinted, etc...after "office hours", so everything is like pulling teeth to get time off work now, since it is unpaid. If my stupid employer would just let me work part time...

Well, I am just going to sit here and gripe all day given the chance and since I should be doing Anatomy homework instead I guess I should go.

I did walk/job about three miles last night though. Problem is, it doesn't make me feel good.....

Thanks guys, I don't know what I would do without you all!!
 
FWIW, I went through something very similar a couple of years ago. After much soul-searching, I DID quit my job and move on. Although it was scary at first, it worked out beautifully. Somehow, we made it just fine without that extra money, and I've never, ever, not even for a single split second, regretted leaving. Bottom line is, you'll either survive or you won't, and most people choose the former.

Things just have a way of working out, despite our fears. I think it's our nature to look forward, not back, for the most part, and we meet each new challenge as it arrives rather than looking back and thinking, "Gee, I wish I hadn't done that."

Deciding to do something like this is much more difficult than actually doing it. My vote is to go for it. See your husband. Enjoy life. It goes by so fast.

Shari
 
Hi, Janice! Maybe it didn't make you feel good but hang in there, baby! It will; it will! Maybe not as quickly as you would like but whenever I reach a place such as you describe (and, darn, I do that far too often!) I have to remember those sage words, "this too shall pass". And I also know that my self-care is a major component to getting to the bottom of the negative feelings that sometimes come to overwhelm me. So I have to fake it and make myself workout and eat cleanly. And gradually, I find myself feeling like myself and living fully again. That has taken using anti-depressants and talking to professionals as well as to myself to discover what it is I need to do to find my joy again. Honestly, there are times when joy has to co-exist with sorrow, fear and some pretty overwhelming stuff that life throws at me. But it can and does. You will need your physical strength to repossess your mental strength and you are so very capable of doing that. There's a path for you to take to regain your equalibrium. You are a strong, smart woman and you can do this! My advice is sit down and write down your thoughts. Make a workout plan and a plan to implement a few changes to get you back on track. Be pro-active and tell these negative emotions NO! It may take awhile for you to feel like old self but she's in there, Janice. You are a spitfire and you take nothing lying down. Yank her fanny out of this blue funk by whatever means it takes. Get mad. Not at you but at those negative emotions which are stealing your life from you. See your doctor, your clergyman but don't let another moment go by without saying no to the feelings you feel. They are not you. My very favorite adage is, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Change one thing, Janice, one thing at a time and come back to us! I am bombarding you with warmth and love and strength and giant hugs! You are never alone and you are stronger than you know. Your joy is there, don't surrender and let it get away! Fight! Start with a large dose of endorphins and the knowledge that you are on your way back! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Janice rules!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
BRAVO BOBBI!!

Wow!! Janice, please let Bobbi's wise and wonderful words wash over you like a wave of hope and healing, print them off, keep the close to you and read them often. Her words have lifted me up and may they do the same for you.

Funks can be such an insidious thing, creeping up on us gradually and consuming us before we realise we are in it. Don't allow despondency to overshadow the good that is in your life. Try to focus on the simple and positive things in your life. It's so great that you have expressed yourself and reached out to others. Sorrow shared is decreased, joy shared is increased. I wish you healing and joy!

Take Care
Laurie
 
Janice...I'm gonna try to email you off the board if I can get a few minutes to myself. Children have been taking much time lately, but I promise I will try to get an email out soon!!

You are one of my favorite people here at Cathe's. You have such honesty and your direct nature always makes me smile (even though you THINK you're not funny)!! I think we all go through these times when we just don't feel like doing ANYTHING. The problem with you (and me) is we don't FEEL like doing anything half hearted ie walking a few miles, doing an old firm tape or doing anything less than intense as it gives us NO awesome feeling like a "hit the weights hard" type of workout. If we can't workout hard we don't feel like doing it at all. I battled this through my whole last pregnancy. Once you workout hard it's tough to go back to anything "less than intense". Which makes it difficult to do "anything" when you don't have the motivation that you had in the past. When I was pregnant my friends would say "go for a good walk or take a bike ride - you know just chasing kids is great exercise". You and I both know that this is just not enough for us to get that buzz and it almost seems like a waste of time to even bother with it - right? I still struggle on my YogaX day mentally as I feel like I'm wasting an hour and a half doing some whimpy Yoga workout, BUT it's not a waste. There is purpose for this. I finally had to come to the conclusion when I was pregnant that there are times in ones life when you back down a little and just exercise for the pure fun of it. Don't worry about losing muscle - they have memory, they will bounce back. Quit coming down on yourself for doing "less than intense" workouts. You have many other things you are contemplating at the present time and that too shall pass. With all that you're going through I believe it follows that exercise motivation will be challenged as well. Don't think that your motivation is gone forever. It took a few months and I finally got back into the swing of things after the last baby and as I look back the long break was really not that bad and my movation finally returned (and I too thought I would never get it back).

I'll email you regarding the rest. Just wanted you to know that you are very appreciated here at Cathe's Forum and we will try our best to get you through this - you will get through it, but sometimes it takes time.

Briee
 
Janice,

Briee is so right. Ready your posts time after time, there is definitely an undercurrent of "all or nothing". You have got so much going on right now and all of this is no doubt, contributing to a stressed state of mind.

Hopefully you can achieve a balance that will work for you. I see you searching for answers, and that's a good thing...but, you will only find the real answer in yourself.
 
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