New to this...Open to advice!

[amandaleigh87]

Hi all!

I am 22 and have been chubby and overweight nearly my whole life. I was raised in a family of emotional eaters and comfort food people. I had a lot of breathing problems as child and asthma and parents that were scared to let me run around. I slimmed down considerably when I became a vegetarian for 5 years, but after returning to meat I have recently moved out on my own, graduated college and become engaged. I do not want to wait for the new year and fad diets. Although I want and need to slim down considerably, that is not the only goal I have. I would like to be much more healthy and incorporate A LOT more exercise into my life.

My challenges are that I have a lot of work to do, and see working out as a chore. I realize that I need to change this mentality in order to become healthy and get on the right track.

Any suggestions on fitness and nutrition are welcomed!

 

[Addiecakes]

My challenges are that I have a lot of work to do, and see working out as a chore. I realize that I need to change this mentality in order to become healthy and get on the right track.

You don't necessarily need to change your attitude that working out is a chore ... I think most people see it like a chore. But the great part about exercise is that once you decide to do it ... once you're finished you almost never regret it, because it makes your body feel wonderful. If you can convince yourself to get started, you likely won't need to keep convincing yourself through the whole workout. It's getting started that's the hard part!

KaraCooks has a really practical philosophy about maintaining personal health through diet and exercise. You should read some of the other posts that she has made.

As a 20-something with a life-long history of obesity and a WHOLE lot more work to do ... I understand where you're coming from and I wish you the best of luck.

Read the sticky posts in each section you visit ... there is a LOT of useful information here and if you are committed to staying with the community here than I'm sure you'll find the support you are looking for.

Best wishes,
Addie

 

[KaraCooks]

Thanks Addie.

Amanda, I don't always like working out. Usually I dread going to do it, but once I'm there I'm ok. My philosophy is that there are things that we all do in our lives that aren't necessarily fun - but we do them anyway because that's what responsible adults do. We pay the bills. We wash the dishes. We do the laundry. We get up in the morning and go to work.

We don't always want to or enjoy it - but we do.

I look at exercise that way. It doesn't mean I hate it, but just that I don't feel I have to be motivated to do it. I just do it and get it done.

And you know ... like I said, when I'm there and doing it, I enjoy it. And I love the way I feel afterward. So it all balances out.

 

[gymfreak1]

When I first started working out it was a chore! After a while of getting in the habbit of working out everyday it's something I look forward to. I use my time in the gym to just be "me", it's my time when I don't have to take care of anyone else or worry about anything, just do my own thing. In the begining it is hard to find the motivation but once you start to see how it changes your life and see the weight loss you will want to do it most days. Just hang in there and great things will happen!