Every journey begins with a first step on the elliptical

[gwyn]

I have gotten so fat in the past two years that most of my clothes are too tight, and my back problem just never seems to get 100% better. The two might not necessarily be related to each other, but I went back to the chiropractor a few weeks ago after a long time away and my back getting worse, and he strongly emphasized that i need to get stronger. I confessed to him that I don't do the back strengthening exercises he gave me much, because I have so much trouble getting up and down off the floor with my creaky old joints.

I signed up for a place he told me about, called Fitness Together, which is all personal trainer, all the time. You have a regular time for your workout, and the space all to yourself and your trainer, and they work to keep you motivated, steadily increasing your fitness. I HATE exercising. I have never once achieved that high people supposedly get from it (I'm convinced they make that up to encourage themselves to keep going and it's all lies, wretched lies), and I don't feel energized or pleased afterward, only tired and achy. But this shit is so expensive that you kind of have to keep going, otherwise you're wasting your money and it's harder to just put it off as much as you can like with a recurring-fee gym membership. I can still go to the Y and swim, but they'll work with me on cardio, strength, endurance, and strength. We're emphasizing strength, you see.

I'm not looking forward to this in the least -- three days a week, plus nutrition counseling (which, fortunately, I can switch to sessions, because having edited a newspaper about nutrition, there's not a lot I don't know already, and the fact that I know all this stuff hasn't ever affected my ability to eat the things I know are wrong for me). I was very clear with them that the kind of thing many trainers do -- shouting "you can do it", pushing someone past their limit, expecting someone to remember routines -- are exactly the kinds of things that will make me walk right off. They spend a lot of time with you so they can find things that work for you and don't make you hate it. Well. They have an uphill battle with me, but... between my back troubles and my weight, I know I need something.

Man, between this, my mind-bendingly expensive chair, and the chiropractor and massage, this back thing is costing me a fortune. I guess it's a good thing I'm at a point where I have so much work I have to turn things away. And thank god I get to take it off my taxes. Yeesh. My first appointment left me sore everywhere, and that was just an assessment! Tomorrow I go to get a full workup -- heart rates, body mass, etc. So depressing.

This is my second go-round on the fitness bandwagon. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it sticks.

Today's Hawaii pic: an orchid at the McBryde Garden.

Comments

[ratcreature]

I've never experience any exercise high either. I always figured that for it to happen you must exercise so extremely that you normally would be in pain from the exertion, and get the natural endorphins to suppress that for a while, or something like that. And I've never been able to bring myself to exercise like that. I always stop when anything hurts. My self-motivation is just not as good as being on the run from hungry lions (or whatever the situations were this evolved for).

But I hope the strengthening exercises will work out well for you. For a while I did qi gong to help with back pain and it really did make my back hurt less (though no weight loss resulted), but then I couldn't afford the course fee to continue any longer and didn't manage stick with the couple of exercises I had learned on my own. :/

[gwyn]

Yeah, I've thought off and on about things like tai chi, but it seems like it's always classes at the crack of dawn or something, which... no. Or else it's in some place that's out in public, and that's an even bigger no.

[van]

I'm not crazy about exercising, either, but I do love some physical things (like paintball and hiking and going to the beach) and it's the love of those things that keeps me motivated. Maybe it's a matter of finding something you enjoy? I've done tai chi and loved it, partly for the slow strength training but I noticed the meditation time helped me in other ways. My focus and emotions seemed to balance out from the focussed breathing. Lately I've been trying to drink more water every day and I've noticed a big difference in my body chemistry just from doing that. I was telling a friend I don't think the treadmill has helped me near as much as switching away from sugary drinks. I can feel the benefits and that's so strange to me. That means the big impacts on my body/mind so far have been better air and more water, sheesh.

Let us know how you're doing, G. I'm hoping your trainer will help keep you motivated in ways that don't turn you off.

[gwyn]

They did my assessment today and they said I'm actually not in terrible shape. I have too high of a body fat ratio (durr), but overall, I'm average or above average in everything else, so I guess that's a good sign that at least my walking has kept the worst of it at bay.

[klia]

I have never once achieved that high people supposedly get from it (I'm convinced they make that up to encourage themselves to keep going and it's all lies, wretched lies), and I don't feel energized or pleased afterward, only tired and achy.

Same here. In fact, it usually makes me feel nauseous, lightheaded, and headachy (one doc theorized that my body skipped burning fat and went straight to burning blood sugar). I have to be ridiculously careful.

Good luck. It sounds like a good environment.

[gwyn]

Ugh. OK, I'm not going to complain about soreness, since I definitely don't have it THAT bad!! ;-)

[adair]

I can't make myself start exercising. I have lots of books, some 5 lb weights, a pedometer and a device that lets me take weight-shifting steps. I wear the pedometer, but the only way I can take any walk that is not designed to get me somewhere is to walk with music on my ipod. And I don't always take that walk. Having a schedule and someone who is expecting you, and money already spent is a good way to make sure you do the work - it would work for me - but keeping it up when you stop paying for it is a challenge. Walking and weight loss has made me feel better, and I am trying to make it part of my life, but it is not easy. Good luck.

[gwyn]

Yeah -- I have a hard time spending money, even though dad left me fairly comfortable, so actually ponying up charges up front is a hugely motivating factor to show up. I will say though that it's definitely harder to work around three days a week of it!

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Pretty!

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Heyyyy. So, it's 4:50 am, and I'm awake because of anxiety about what I have to do this morning—which is go to the spine clinic and probably get an MRI. I strongly suspect that the long and the short of it will be, exercise, get your back stronger, and lose weight. Maybe we could, you know, combine forces on this somehow? At least have a little support group of two? *hugs*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

YES. I would love to have an "oh my aching back" shaping up and trimming down buddy, so, so much. I think that often has a lot to do with my desire to keep up, that I feel alone and isolated and have no one to talk to about it.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

I sure wouldn't start on an elliptical, but I'm not in good enough shape for it, either. Would it help to set yourself a goal of being able to walk and see things in a great place, or go on an enjoyable trip?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Today they put me on a treadmill, which terrifies me. I wouldn't let go of the bars and when she said to take my hands of them, I went into a total panic. At least, if the weather's nice enough, I can walk up there (it's a little over a mile) and have that count to my cardio!

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

I hope the plan works for you. I have always been crap at keeping up an exercise regimen, for the same reason, so I'm curious to hear how it goes for you!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do too. I mean, I WANT to feel good about it, but it's just not really in my nature to enjoy this sort of thing.

[anoel.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I'm hoping when I have more money next month I can finally start playing tennis more and that'll help with a consistent fitness regimen. I hope it goes well for you :)

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

Some people post about their fitness regime and achievments as a way to keep it going. I'm happy to cheer, poke and pester as needed! With stuff like that you just have to keep going back to it until you've tackled it. Falling off the wagon does not mean you can't get back on it. Clearly there would be some positives for you if you could manage to build up strength and stamina, and maybe reduce weight as well. Best of luck!!!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid of talking about just because I'll be even more boring than I normally am! But year, maybe keeping records will help.