Toughest part of starting a fitness program?

[Blondell]

What would you say is the hardest part of starting a fitness regimen?

[Audrey]

Finding the time to do it (or rather for some people, stop making excuses why you don't have time to do it).

[Meechel]

Mine was like a switch went off when I had some rejection in August and my pics from my sister visiting just made it final.

I will say if your head is not in the game I feel you won't get as far.

The partial article on rationalization I put in my journal is so true (maybe I should post it here?) and once you get past all of your excuses and find your Why it will be easier.

[Inatic]

making the decision to stop denying the shape i was in. Once i committed (to myself) that i was going to do it, there was no going back.

[FitnessModerate]

The toughest part is convincing yourself to go to the gym even though you absolutely don't want it. Then slogging through the first few weeks until you finally discover that you actually like this exercise thing. Then a few weeks more of "liking" and you graduate to "loving it".

I'm lovin' it! (not McDonalds)

Also a key point is not to beat yourself up for the poor shape that you started out in. It's already a huge, positive step to start consistently working out. The results happen slowly - but they do happen. I feel better now almost 2 months into my fitness program then I ever have since I was 13.

[sarahlou]

The traditional gym. I didn't know how to use any of the equipment - never even rode a bike so there was the equipment intimidation factor and then there was the human intimidation factor - the smirks of the cardio girls and the other gym snobs that made it hard for an overweight girl to go without feeling out of place and like a failure. I finally realized that there were other avenues specialized gyms and videos. My first successful foray into fitness was Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds - it was a god send! Got me moving and helped me gain confidence that I leveraged into joining a popular national gym for overweight women.

[Carolyn]

If I see someone overweight in the gym I always want to say to them how great their doing. I know it's tough to get in there, especially if you feel out of place, but I know when someone gives me a compliment it makes me push harder.

[lissaheiser]

Getting the program right. Making sure you fit in all the meals and do your workouts. The whole package.

[Noel Clark]

Being honest about what I was eating... :dope:

[FitnessModerate]

Being honest about what I was eating... :dope:

Oh yeah that's one of the biggies, to own up to one's totally failed eating habits.

[GraceGirl]

The hardest part about starting for me was starting! Once I got over myself and admitted I needed to get in shape, I got off my rear and got moving! After that, I was constantly competing with myself, so stopping wasn't an option (until I was 30 weeks pregnant).

[MichelleS]

Being honest about what I was eating... :dope:
yes this was the hardest part for me I counted my cals but I counted junk and if my cals were up they were just that gone at like 5pm.

[CCMAK5]

Finding the time to do it (or rather for some people, stop making excuses why you don't have time to do it).

:yeahthat:

This is me EXACTLY.

[Pleiades]

For me, it's finding enough exercises that I can do with the equipment I have to keep me from getting bored. I know how to eat (though I don't always do it) and I think I have a decent understanding of how to choose the right exercises, but being able to make do with my equipment is challenging. I have been really, really good about sticking to exercise for the last year or so, and it's actually been easier since I started weight training. I've been changing it up, but it's only recently that I've started to focus on compound movements. I'm getting ready to change my routine again next month, and the toughest part right now is picking the right compound movements that I can actually do.

Wow, that was redundant.

[vicky]

The hardest part about starting for me was starting! Once I got over myself and admitted I needed to get in shape, I got off my rear and got moving! After that, I was constantly competing with myself, so stopping wasn't an option (until I was 30 weeks pregnant).

Same here!

[Meechel]

For me, it's finding enough exercises that I can do with the equipment I have to keep me from getting bored. I know how to eat (though I don't always do it) and I think I have a decent understanding of how to choose the right exercises, but being able to make do with my equipment is challenging. I have been really, really good about sticking to exercise for the last year or so, and it's actually been easier since I started weight training. I've been changing it up, but it's only recently that I've started to focus on compound movements. I'm getting ready to change my routine again next month, and the toughest part right now is picking the right compound movements that I can actually do.

Wow, that was redundant.

If you post your current workouts and what you are thinking of doing someone from here will pipe in and help.

[Pleiades]

If you post your current workouts and what you are thinking of doing someone from here will pipe in and help.
I know, but I'm intimidated because my workouts are weenie :weightlift2:

[Noel Clark]

I know, but I'm intimidated because my workouts are weenie :weightlift2:

Post up...we will help you :D

[RpH]

My problem (probably from childhood) is that I don't like to waste or leave food uneaten. If I'm only eating 3 or 4 oz of sweet potato, I've got to throw away the excess. If I'm eating 5 oz of steak, some has got to go in the fridge for later. I can literally eat 4 times the volume of food I eat at one setting. If I get on a roll, it's hard to stop sometimes.

[StefanM]

The gym is often the "highlight" of my day because I enjoy it so much. Hardest part for me is pushing myself away from the dinner table :zipit:

[Meechel]

My problem (probably from childhood) is that I don't like to waste or leave food uneaten. If I'm only eating 3 or 4 oz of sweet potato, I've got to throw away the excess. If I'm eating 5 oz of steak, some has got to go in the fridge for later. I can literally eat 4 times the volume of food I eat at one setting. If I get on a roll, it's hard to stop sometimes.

Why???? Put it in a tupperware for your next meal of 3 or 4 oz of sweet potato.

I get potatos 3 days a week,

[Anca]

I think the hardest part of starting a fitness program is changing daily habits so that they are consistent with the new lifestyle. That means not just giving up bad ones but coming up from the get-go with substitutes- or else the new program will probably be short-lived.

[Pineapple Girl]

I'd say getting into the habit of it, making working out a "must do" and not an "if I have time I'll do"... also it is hard to find balance with eating and working out without being obsessive about it (at least for me).

[LaLady]

I agree. Consistency is the most difficult to stick to.

[911PRINCESS]

For me it will be figuring out how to stay on track eating on the go. It is easy if you can sit at home and have a microwave and stove nearby but when I don't I get kinda freaked out!

[Blondell]

For me it will be figuring out how to stay on track eating on the go. It is easy if you can sit at home and have a microwave and stove nearby but when I don't I get kinda freaked out!

It took some time for me to get used to taking food w/ me and eating it cold, but once I did, results!!!! :woohoo: :lol3:

[911PRINCESS]

It took some time for me to get used to taking food w/ me and eating it cold, but once I did, results!!!! :woohoo: :lol3:
So I have to learn to eat cold sweet potatoes? Because I will.....
Also do you subsititute deli meat at all for you chicken or turkey or is it too much salt

[Blondell]

So I have to learn to eat cold sweet potatoes? Because I will.....
Also do you subsititute deli meat at all for you chicken or turkey or is it too much salt

I don't sub, I just eat it cold. Actually, I'm @ the point now that I eat it cold at home sometimes. :oops:

[Neely]

I don't sub, I just eat it cold. Actually, I'm @ the point now that I eat it cold at home sometimes. :oops:

Same here.

I'm actually liking cold oats now too :lol:

[911PRINCESS]

oh yea!! Game cancelled so now I can stay home and sit by the stove! :dry:

[Inatic]

I don't sub, I just eat it cold. Actually, I'm @ the point now that I eat it cold at home sometimes. :oops:

i hate warmed up meat, so i always eat that cold once it has been refrigerated. Once tators etc have been cooked, i'll eat it all cold out of the frig..dont care. I ate my oats/eggs cold in the car on the way to the Ga competition.

[Meechel]

For me it will be figuring out how to stay on track eating on the go. It is easy if you can sit at home and have a microwave and stove nearby but when I don't I get kinda freaked out!

May I suggest for on the go you mix your tuna up early (Ileen turned me on to waldens farm 1k island dressing and dill relish :yum:) and that should not be hard to eat on the go.....I also get chicken breast by itself from Burger King drive thru (they know me now and cut it in cubes so it is easier to eat....this is not the preferred method but better then off plan)

Also there are foil packs with chicken, albacore tuna, salmon and reg tuna in them make great portable items.

I have and will eat cold food, while driving and honestly the last 2 months I have gotten really good results and it has been due to adherance. :thumb:

[smuggie]

My favourite cold meal is tuna, veggies, and sweet potato mixed up with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, splenda and balsamic vinegar.