This week has been a tough workout week. I have had to drag myself to the gym Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I mean literally drag myself to the gym. I am not in love with working out lately.
Tuesday morning, I had a session with my trainer at 6am. At 5:30am, my alarm went off. I laid there for 10 minutes thinking of excuses to tell Eric as to why I stood him up. Here is what I came up with:
*I forgot to set my alarm
no, that wouldn’t work, cuz I was awake
*My car wouldn’t start
Nope, couldn’t say that, I hadn’t tried to start it yet
*I didn’t have any clean workout pants left
ugghh…I did a load of laundry the night before
*I forgot I had an appointment
not even believe-able, I’m so anal about being on time…
I was not born with the desire to be active. I didn’t play sports in high school. I hated gym class. I only work out because I HAVE TO. Yep, I have to work out. If I don’t, then there wouldn’t be this
blog. I would just be a fat girl. It would be Jen, a fatgirl. Not Jen, a priorfatgirl.
blog. I would just be a fat girl. It would be Jen, a fatgirl. Not Jen, a priorfatgirl.So this blog is my accountability. I can’t get fat now. I have to keep going. I cannot allow myself to let the excuses win. Because if the excuses win, I loose. I get fat again.
Its been 1.5 years into my journey and it hasn’t gotten any easier to get my butt to the gym. For the rest of my life, this will be my battle. Does it ever get easier? Have you been able to achieve a love love relationship with the gym? Please….tell me its possible.
Someone, give me hope.
On a going green note, my friend Amanda (Hi Amanda!!) from work gave me this link (click here) where we can go, enter a food & get a report of that particular food. It brings up a pretty chart and then you can click for more info to find out:
- Health Benefits
- Description
- History
- How to Select and Store
- How to Enjoy
- Safety
- Nutritional Profile
On that note, I am freakin scared of brussel sprouts now cuz the “how to enjoy” section said “soak them in a bowl of water to remove any insects that may reside in the inner leaves”
UH….EXCUSE ME? INSECTS? OMG! I know I’m being a total drama queen here and I probably don’t want to know about the insects living in the other food I eat, but I would rather be oblivious! Okay, enough of the drama. GET TO WORK! 
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Will you ever luuuuuv it? Here’s the thing….I’ve been going to the gym/working out since my freshman year in college…and at first I did it cause I knew I wanted to lose weight. It’s now 10 years later and for as much as I love the results of working out – lately – I realize that if I force myself to workout when I don’t want to, then that particular workout, probably won’t be as beneficial as if I went when I wanted to. Of course, since you never want to go, I don’t know that it’ll work:-) But, you know what your goals are. You aren’t about to lose sight of them now…taking a day off because you don’t want to go, isn’t bad. In fact, if you don’t want to go, you have the choice not to. For as little as I know you personally, based on your blogs and what I’ve read, even if you decide to not go one day, you know you’ll go the next. It’s as simple as that.
I have one rule that I live by now…since I used to punish myself for not going to the gym everyday…now, if I skip today…I tell myself I MUST go the next…and knowing that I’m giving my body a break is something I have to do (especially since I can’t handle the same kind of physical activity that I used to).
I think working out is a part of your life enough now, for you to know that you won’t want to miss more than a day of working out. It’s ok to rest:-) Personally, I get the itch to exercise after a day anyway. If you don’t, maybe you should try a different form of working out? A new class or something? That always helps me. Hope that helps in some way! (of course its all my own opinion…you do what works for you:-))
Before I got active, I knew that I was going to have to luuuuve it, or I wouldn’t do it. I was prepared to try 1000 things until I found something I liked. Now I have a few things I adore doing and not enough time to do them all! You don’t have to do cardio and weights – you can play squash, swim, row, jump rope, hula hoop, do yoga or Pilates, play on the jungle gym, sprint, you name it.
Another way I’ve made it interesting for myself is by going to walk in nice places. And by setting a challenge for myself – a sprint triathlon. I’m not working out, I’m becoming an athlete. It’s not about weight loss, it’s about living an active lifestyle. I don’t HAVE to do it… I WANT to do it!
I hoping that someday I will love working out. Right now I am in the same boat as you except I am still on my weight loss journey. I hate exercising. I love sports but hate the boring gym and weight loss videos. I find myself making excuses in my head about why I should skip the exercise today. I have to fight it everyday. I sure do hope it gets easier at some point.
Katie, that’s a really good point, that if I skip a day, then I will probably want to go the next day.
And I am the first to keep telling myself this is a lifestyle, not a race. So if I don’t go one day, I’ve got the rest of my life to be there so what’s one day?
Jessica, I agree…I find myself spending more time making excuses in my head. Maybe I need to find a way to be positive about the gym, then I won’t dislike it so much. Positive thoughts create positive experiences and negative thoughts create negative experiences
Today is thursday & I have school, so no gym today. Maybe that will help my attitude!!!
And THERE is the common sense and kick up the arse i needed for today. THANK YOU!!!! xxxx
Glad I could help Liz!!! I’ll need a kick in the arse to get me started tomorrow morning. 5am personal training appointment and so I’m sure I will come up with some pretty elaborate excuses!
Variety in the workout and group fitness keep me going! Of course some good tunes! Setbacks are human….a day here or there. No biggie! Keep the journey moving! ONWARD!
I’ve been working out for 4 years now, still hate it. I think I need to try some new things but I just look at it like a task that has to be done. Like blow drying my hair (hate that too). But it’s a pretty easy decision most days, hmmm, do I want to eat today, …or not? No contest.
You may not ever love it, but you will grow to crave it the longer you do it. That can be a good thing.
Personally – I love working out now because of how strong I feel, and I know that my body wants to me to do it.
Days off are important though, you don’t want to overtrain.
I so appreciate your post! Because if you’re still struggling with the details then it must be ok for me to be struggling, too. Although your food choices don’t seem to be an issue. Could I ask if you’re into an eating system that works for you? Do you ever fall off the wagon?
Beyond that all I can say is congratulations for dragging yourself even when you didn’t want to. I hope I get there someday!
Jen, There is HOPE!!!! I AM PROOF!!!
I started running in March 2007. Did I love it? Nope. But, did I still do it? Yes, but only because I had to (ie: First I was a student and then I was a coach, so I had to show up!) Even a year ago, some of my running buddies were talking about if we ever experienced a runner’s high…that great feeling that you get when you run that MAKES you continue running that day and the days to come. Had I had one? Nope. And really, I didn’t think I was ever going to be a “runner” and experience the magic of running. But, nevertheless, I kept going. I slowly added distance to my runs and increased my speed. I found a purpose for my running (ie: raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), and guess what? Almost two years later from the day I started running, I can NOW say that I LIKE IT!!! I know the magic of a runner’s high! I have reached the point.
However, I will say that there are days when I don’t want to run. I am NOT in the mood. No matter what my husband says, I am NOT experiencing the runner’s high that day. And I have accepted that. Not every day is perfect. But, at least I am out there doing something, being healthy, experiencing the magic of what my body CAN DO (because of ME)!
I definitely agree that your body will CRAVE working out if you don’t go for a while. On the other hand, everybody has ups and downs, and I don’t think you HAVE to go to the gym 5x a week for the rest of your life. There will be weeks where you aren’t into it, and maybe that’s your body’s way of telling you it needs a rest. In the meantime, fake it till you make it. That’s what I always tell myself when I don’t feel like going to the gym!
Lori, I hope your right, I hope that I learn to “crave” it. That’s a pretty good point, that I may not love it, but I may crave it.
Holly, you know, I never realized how little I talk about my frustrations with eating. I will post about what I do, too much to type in a comment. Look for it Monday or Tuesday!
You may have a hard time doing it but,just reading some of your posts your just an inspiration. I know if you can do it so can i!
Fortunately for me, I do like exercise and always have. But there are still days when I’m SO not into it. Depending on how the rest of the week has been I may force myself to do it, or do a limited version (a bare minimum), and sometimes I just decide I need a day off.
I think there truly are some people though that never truly love it. I don’t truly love cleaning my house, but I like a clean house – so I do it. That may be how you have to look at exercise.
How much variety do you have in your workouts? Can you throw in a few different things to shake it up. Go rock climbing, bowling, ice skating, take a class … something that requires you to be physical – but it’s not a gym workout. Gym workouts get boring quick!
I know the weather probably isn’t conducive right now, but try taking your workout outside. It feels a bit weird at first, but once you get started it is such a neat way to do something different, and a great workout.
I will never totally love it, although I am always glad I’ve worked out after the fact!
But my brain sounds like yours, I can come up with about 200 execuses not to!
Hang in there!
You will love it. I used to love Love LOVE it! I used to spend hours there in my single/skinny life when I had a gym membership. Seeing results and feeling my muscles is what excited me and got me to the gym. I even changed my major from psychology/music to exercise physiology, because of my love for the gym. It was also within 1/4 mile radius, so maybe that’s why? When I moved and had to drive drive over 10 miles to get to a gym, it became a chore. But before that when I lived close, I started making goals (to be ACE certified, increase my V02 uptake, decrease body fat%, compete in a local fitness competition someday, become ACSM certified) and these things kept me at the gym. I am fascinated with anatomy and how our muscles work. If you are interested, look up “The Strength Training Anatomy Book.” Maybe finding another thing to control when it comes to exercise (like exactly which muscle you are working, and what it looks like) will change your perception. There is one for women too.
Maybe finding something else about the gym/exercise (other than keeping you in shape) will help you to love it. I loved feeling my muscles work, and having all the equipment to work with, that I didn’t have at home. It was a great place to blow off steam also.
When I think about things in my life that I don’t love, but have to for whatever reasons, I trick my brain into loving it. I make it about something else. Maybe you can make the gym about something else. Sorry I’m not much help, but I think you will love it someday, if you truly want to and when it isn’t about the work. *shrugs*
sorry I’m not any help!
I hate the gym. But I quite like doing gym type workouts at home! I think I’m just self conscious with people around me.
I also think you need variety to hold your interest: HIIT, turbulance training, badminton, table tennis, aerobics, etc etc.
I think most people find their physical niche once they get active. The alternative is just being sendentary, which just makes you feel yuk!
Hope you find your niche Jen!
Tusc
I am not sure I will ever LOVE work outs…..Maybe the best we can hope for is it becoming a habit……at this point that is what it is to me….I just do it, like showering, or brushing my teeth.I don’t really love doing that stuff, I just do it because it needs to be done.
ahhh..i just ate brussel sprouts today!!! eeek i think i would die if i found something in those. yukckk. As for your workouts…does your gym offer classes? alot of people at my gym that hate working out will take some of the more fun classes like Zumba(latin dancing). I just started taking boxing and i am absolutely loving it and its a great workout..try to think outside the box maybe there is something out there that you will like! good luck chica!
“I was not born with the desire to be active. I didn’t play sports in high school. I hated gym class. I only work out because I HAVE TO.”
Wow, I could have written that. I don’t think I will EVER love it, even WHEN I become fit and healthy, exercise is just not “ME”.
Same as I don’t love salad, I’m trying I really am but I’m just not feeling the love. *sigh*
It will be interesting to see how things work for me – this time back I am really enjoying the gym….and working to break up monotony. Except the treadmill! I want to get the weight off before I start road running, as my knees are pretty wrecked! But once I’m down to a comfortable running weight, I’ll hit the streets again.
I try not to mind-screw myself about working out. I plan to go, and I just go. So far, so good. But you are far beyond where I am, and I am SO impressed my the way you are sticking to it. I’d echo what the others say about rest (physical AND mental) rest days….they help make it more palatable. I also try and remember belonging to a great gym is a luxury many people cannot afford. Keep up the great work, Jen…you inspire ME!!
Oh, and insects? Good protein I hear…lol
Jen — I’m impressed that you get up at 5:30 to WORK OUT! I get up to go to work at that time. And for me, getting to the gym in the evening can be a challenge. I can’t imagine the gym. Keep it up skinny girl!