squeak
New member
I think everyone has a few hurdles to clear when they commit themselves to losing weight, and I'm sure that everyone's is different.
For me, getting nutrition in order was pretty easy. Eat three nutritious meals with appropriately sized portions... check. Eat less sugar... check. Drink more water... check.
I lost about 20 pounds doing nothing more than changing what I ate and when (I used to be a 2-meal-a-day gal and ate a lot of fast food). What is proving to be my first really big hurdle is exercise. I've been making a lot of excuses for not exercising... not having the right shoes, not knowing the access code to the fitness center at my apartment complex, etc... but one by one I have stripped away those excuses and yet I still haven't been able to lever myself out of my armchair and get myself moving. I think I've finally figured out why.
I'm embarrassed/self-conscious about my weight. I am extremely intimidated by the simple likelihood that there will be someone else at the fitness center when I go. I don't like the thought of being watched... of being judged. Intellectually, I know that I am watched and judged every day when I venture out to face the world, but something about exercise makes me feel particularly vulnerable.
Though I know that I could certainly get out and walk briskly or exercise along with a DVD in my living room instead of going to the gym, I feel like getting past this barrier is an important step in my journey. Does anyone have any suggestions, thoughts or anecdotes to share?
For me, getting nutrition in order was pretty easy. Eat three nutritious meals with appropriately sized portions... check. Eat less sugar... check. Drink more water... check.
I lost about 20 pounds doing nothing more than changing what I ate and when (I used to be a 2-meal-a-day gal and ate a lot of fast food). What is proving to be my first really big hurdle is exercise. I've been making a lot of excuses for not exercising... not having the right shoes, not knowing the access code to the fitness center at my apartment complex, etc... but one by one I have stripped away those excuses and yet I still haven't been able to lever myself out of my armchair and get myself moving. I think I've finally figured out why.
I'm embarrassed/self-conscious about my weight. I am extremely intimidated by the simple likelihood that there will be someone else at the fitness center when I go. I don't like the thought of being watched... of being judged. Intellectually, I know that I am watched and judged every day when I venture out to face the world, but something about exercise makes me feel particularly vulnerable.
Though I know that I could certainly get out and walk briskly or exercise along with a DVD in my living room instead of going to the gym, I feel like getting past this barrier is an important step in my journey. Does anyone have any suggestions, thoughts or anecdotes to share?
most gym members are only interested in doing their own thing, if you have an MP3 player to listen to it helps keep your mind focussed on your workout. sometimes having a workout buddy can make you feel less self concious at the gym.