2021 Fitness Adventures

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Before my wife changed jobs and went from second shift to first I was working out at night after work. Back then my commute was literally 30 seconds. Now I'm working out before going to work and I know I can't ever go back. It's such a great start to the day and I have ample energy.

[doubledeuceR6]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Motivation to work out isn't really something that I consider anymore. It's basically just another task on my list to check off for the day.

Now, there's definitely days where I don't want to do it, but for the most part once I get through the first ten minutes I've broken through that wall.

To me the most important parts of motivation is to be exercising it for yourself and not a result of some outside pressure or influence. The second part is finding a workout or series of workouts that will keep your interest and maybe even find fun. That's going to be different for different people, but just keep trying different things until you find something that clicks.

I would second this.

There are definitely days where I struggle. My gym is literally 1 mile from my doorstep and there are plenty days where I just want to not take that exit and go home. But like tendrils said once I get through those first 5 -10 min that gets me pumped for the rest of the workout.

Mountain biking also motivates me in the gym knowing that I may be just that little bit stronger next time I hop on the bike.

[PVarck31]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

I was actually just about to post in here the same question as the last handful of posts.

I just can't keep doing it. I start and stop, start and stop. I'll keep it going for a good month 3-4 times a week. Mostly weight training and light cardio. But then I just stop going. I don't know what to do. I'm paying every month for a membership, and I go good for a month or so, then take a month or two off. And it just repeats over and over for years now. I start to see a little progress, lose some weight, gain some muscle, then the weight comes back and the muscle goes away.

It's frustrating. I just don't know how to fix it. Like others, I got most of my exercise playing sports. I played baseball for over 20 years, then softball for probably like another 7-8 years. But my arm is shot now. I would love to play again, but just can't.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

What are your reasons for taking the time off? Schedule conflicts? Lack of energy and motivation?

[PVarck31]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

What are your reasons for taking the time off? Schedule conflicts? Lack of energy and motivation?

Mostly lack of energy and motivation.

[pietasterp]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Mostly lack of energy and motivation.

I hear you. It's hard to combat that, to be honest.

One thing that can help is what Fresh Tendrils mentioned prior in this thread, which is motivation doesn't even come into play any more at some point in your life (if you're normal LOL). It's something on the "to do" list that, like most of our jobs, you don't want to do but you have to do so you can go on with your day. Once you change your thinking on it to something like that, it can help (although it's not a cure-all by any means).

Like you guys, I hate going and 100% of the time would rather do just about anything else. I had the COVID excuse for the past year but now I'm back to putting it on my list of things to do before I can go home for the day. Still hate it, but I know if I wait until I'm inspired to go, it'll be the year 2092.

[doubledeuceR6]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Today's workout is going to be another doozy.
Athlean X
11-11-11
11 exercises -11 reps each in under 11 minutes.

Box jumps
Burpees
Bench bottom pistol squats
Burpees
Split squat jumps
Burpees
Clapping plyo pushups
Burpees
Handstand pushups (which I'll improvise with feet on a bench)
Burpees
Plank walkouts
"Gasp for air"


I imagine I'll be somewhere around 20 min.

[DJ]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

PV, I think figuring out what activities you enjoy and focusing on them is a good way to go. I know for me, I grew very tired of going to a gym and lifting weights, so I shifted my focus and found that I really enjoyed running and cycling. With that shift, these activities become "want to" instead of "need or have to" and I believe that has helped solidify better habits in me.

Any strength training I do now is with bodyweight or kettlebell exercises at home.

[doubledeuceR6]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Today's workout is going to be another doozy.
Athlean X
11-11-11
11 exercises -11 reps each in under 11 minutes.

Box jumps
Burpees
Bench bottom pistol squats
Burpees
Split squat jumps
Burpees
Clapping plyo pushups
Burpees
Handstand pushups (which I'll improvise with feet on a bench)
Burpees
Plank walkouts
"Gasp for air"


I imagine I'll be somewhere around 20 min.

Did a little better than I thought I would.

Finished in 13:08

Got a little mountain bike ride in before work this morning. It's been mid 60's the last few mornings so it was nearly perfect riding weather. Had to take advantage, don't normally have days like that in Louisiana in August.

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

I am about 30 lbs over what I should be. I don't lose weight easily and also I had been dealing with stress/depression/anxiety for like 9 years. The stress was making me crave sugar like all the time to. Sense I was able to finally get away from some of that like a month ago I have been trying to get back to exercising ever day other than Friday when I get home late from doing laundry, and getting back to getting sleep has I had also been living on no sleep for a long time. Hopefully I can get back to sleep pattern soon. Some times I have to skip exercising because of back pain I get from having to stand all day at work. So far I have lost about 3 lbs in the last month.

[allBthere]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

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[l3ulvl]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

there's also a "routine" element, and I have OCD so I'm not the best example, and my routine only means getting 20k steps a day while playing word games on my phone lol, but if your exercise, whatever level it is (and mine is low), becomes regular, it's just something you do as part of your daily routine



(run on sentence mcgee here)

[bhurst99]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

I passed 3,500 km today for the year but my goal of doing 5,000 km is not looking good. There's simply not going to be enough decent cycling days left in Canada to get it done. Once the November cold, winds, snow and early sunsets start happening that will kill the ability to cycle before or after work.

But the next few weeks should be great. The leaves have started to change and the colours should be spectacular for most of October. It was incredible last year.

I'm definitely aiming to beat my personal best last year which was about 4,200 km. Strava said I did over 800 km after Oct. 1 last year so it's very doable.

[Master Live 013]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Well, I'm definitely on the train now, best shape in at least 4 years for me and no stopping in sight.

But I might be hitting a bit of a mental and physical wall.

Physical because I got it into my head that I would basically have infinite “gains” till the end of times.

Now I'm using one of those Norditrack treadmills. It can go as fast as 12 MPH, so of course I thought: "I will start slowly, but eventually I'll get to 12". Yeah right.

I went from 2.0 MPH to 3.2 MPH, in 0.1 increments but 3.2 is too hard and now I'm going to do 3.2 on 3 consecutive exercise days and then 3.3 on 3 consecutive exercise days and so on and so forth.

Which was the plan all along! "I will increase in 0.1 increments and when I can't anymore I will "plateau" at that velocity, and stay at that velocity until I can go up another 0.1". But now that what I predicted would happen happened it kind of sucks! I delusionally thought (I guess subconsciously) I would simply go on in 0.1 increments forever.

Whatever, with all my starts and stops before I have learned that the most important thing is TO NOT HAVE ANY BIG SETBACKS. Slowing down a bit is MUCH BETTER than going to 3.3 and getting hurt or becoming discouraged and so mentally exhausted that I start doing “breaks”. A day here, a day there and all of the sudden you have gone 2 weeks without exercising. Gotta know your limits Mr. Wayne.

But that ain't the only problem, I'm also just eating one meal a day, that's a problem, right?

Don't get your panties in a bunch, it is a BIG meal. Basically, instead of eating 3 small meals a day I eat 1 big meal a day. I'm a genius! Yeah yeah, I'm sure I'm probably doing it wrong but it is "working" for me.

Plus somehow, I'm wishing that part will solve itself eventually (not sure how). Yep, totally healthy, no problem with thinking something will "solve itself" somehow, like with magic.

I have been consistently working out since (checks notes) August 25th. I'm doing 1 exercise day, 1 day off, 1 exercise day, 1 day off, so on and so forth.

My thinking was: "I have started and stopped so many times throughout the years and the main thing that makes me stop is not seeing results fast enough. Well, I'm too fat to see fast results, gotta give it a year. I will give it a year of non-stop exercise and if by the end of 1 year I'm not happy with the results you can go be a fat **** for the rest of your life. Deal? Deal!"

At first the routine consisted of 6 sets of crunches and pre-set routines on my Gold Gym bike. Same bike I used all these years to start and stop and of course once I actually get going and doing well it breaks down. Panic sets in. "I'm ****ed I'm ****ed, this is a setback, this is a setback". Thankfully my brother had a (basically brand new) treadmill he barely uses so I got on that.

Now my exercise routine consists of 6 sets of crunches with a 5 crunch increase per set per exercise day. Then 64 minutes (4 minutes at 2.0 MPH to warm up, then 60 minutes at whatever velocity I'm at that day) in the treadmill.

Things to work on eventually: 1) My diet. I'm still eating the same unhealthy junk food I did before, I'm just eating less of it. But I don't really know how to cook and don't have money to buy some fancy "already made" healthy meals. Also need to work on the magical “will solve itself” 1 meal a thing.

2) My arms? Crunches are for the mid-section, treadmill for the legs, arms not getting much work :P But that's ok, my arms never really got that fat to begin with, always disproportional to my belly and legs so belly/legs are just catching up to my (relatively) skinny arms

Anyways, I'm doing good, body is noticeably changing, I'm pumped and, if I continue, I should be in the best shape I have been in like 10 years.

Goal is to get to 180 (not necessarily by August). I’m trying to lose weight, not get jacked, that may come later.

[KSUowls]

Re: 2021 Fitness Adventures

Yeah no setbacks is key. I've had it happen so many times where I will be 2-3 weeks into a workout program, tweak something, and lose all motivation while I rest the injury. Better to slow down and be safe.

I just finished week 6 of Focus T-25. This is the longest that I've ever stayed with a beachbody program, first week of the month at work is always extremely busy and usually caps my programs at 3-4 weeks as I lose all motivation after taking 3-4 days off. Since I'm still working from home full time I've decided to start using my lunch breaks as a time to workout, and I've even been able to find some periods during that first week to stay on track.

I have a feeling that all the weight that I've lost over the last 6 weeks will be regained tomorrow with a very unhealthy Christmas breakfast, but at least I'm being consistently active for the first time in years.