Noob :)

Q

quikchik77

New member
I am fairly new to forums in general, so take it easy on me.

I am a 26 yr. old undergrad student studying Actuarial Science, soon to be a student at the University of Illinois in U-C. I am terrible at introducing myself so I'll spare you the boredom...just visit my profile it has more info.

I am here because, in the past, every attempt I've made at exercising consistently has failed within 2 months. The most I've lost during one attempt was 20 pounds. That's great and all, but I really want to lose 50 pounds, so I am hoping that using this forum will give me the support and extra push I need to accomplish my goal this time.

I will be moving out of town to said school in two months and would like to have a good start on my exercise and newly reformed nutritional choices by then so that I may start anew. I want to lose this weight now before it becomes a permanent burden.

In high school, I was an average weight. I wasn't considered overweight, but I wasn't a toothpick. I'd like to return to that body and then some (not that I want to be a toothpick, really I just want to be confident in my skin, so whatever that may take). I like my face, my hair, and my "lady" parts, but the rest never makes me feel good :(

My exercise goals revolve around weight loss and gaining strength. Any tips for what I should be doing? I mean, every time I go to the gym I hop on the elliptical or treadmill for 30 minutes or so, but that becomes so mind-dullingly boring.

Help me!
 
Welcome!

I'll agree the treadmill is boring. I listen to music or watch tv. Maybe try running outdoors if you are able.

I'm always trying to shake things up to keep boredom at bay. Doing new exercises, changing the order of things, different workout times. There is no getting around the fact that working out is far from my favorite activity. At some point you just have to make up your mind you are GOING TO DO IT and at least make it as pleasurable as you can.

For strength I do resistance exercises using dumbbells and body weight stuff like pushups, pullups, lunges and squats. I won't win any bodybuilding contests but just using dumbbells, an adjustable bench and a doorway pull up bar my strength has improved significantly, and my endurance has probably quadrupled on the treadmill. I've never actually been to a gym though, I'm sure there are lots more options there.

But as far as losing weight, I would concentrate on diet first. Track your calories very closely for a week or so and get an idea of where you stand in reality. Most of us get surprised when we do it.
 
Yes the treadmill is boring, but when I was still at my gym we used to have tvs on them so I would just watch a show and sometimes not even realise I was exercising.

Welcome. :waving:
 
I so wish I had a treadmill at home, because one thing I don't like about the gym are all the fit, intimidating people around me. It makes me feel like a slob! Haha. I have to be honest.

I am thinking that when the weather warms up (Illinois winters are the worst), I'm going to buy some new rollerblades and fix up the old bike and make those two options as well. I love being outdoors, so those activities would actually be enjoyable to me.

Thanks for the welcome, guys! I hope to hear more from you in the near future! :)
 
Hey QuikChiK...welcome to the forum. I too am fairly new to these things and feel a little lost at times. That aside, I have already found that this site can be very inspirational and give you a sense of accountability. For me it's easy to let go and no care if I only have to remain accountable to myself, but if I make a pact with someone and create a challenge then the better.

In response to the dull boring motion of the treadmill or other cardio equipment, I totally feel ya. Luckily the machines we have here at my gym have tv's in all of them so I can watch a show or two and not even realize I have been working out for so long. Otherwise I throw on my Zune (MP3 player for all you iPod people, lol), crank up the tunes and zone out.

I wish you the best of luck and we are all here for you. Oh yeh, we all love to see progress pictures. And don't feel embarassed of your looks when posting them, we all have been there or are still there.

Hope to hear back and see you stay committed to improving your life. ~ Scott
 
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See if you can find music with a beat equal to your pace. I've found (when I use to walk...lord I need to get back to that soon) if the beat matches my footsteps, it pushes you forward with the song.
 
Losing weight is mostly diet so I would focus on that. Exercising is great but it's easy to stop. Getting good food habits will keep you going even when you don't want to go to the gym.
 
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