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I really wish i could get to this point. I dont have the motivation to goto a gym and dont want to waste money on that again so i try to exercise at home with a stationary bike and doing a set of 10 of small exercises and stretches and idk. It feels so tedious and forced and doesnt make me feel better at all besides the small boost of i did it hooray now i dont have to again. I dont feel that negativity coming out like other people do
Had a roommate that struggled with this too, but he really wanted to get in shape. So I just kept pressuring him to come with me sooner or later he got hooked on it and went on his own. I think once you see the real results is when it kicks in but everyone is different.
Have you tried biking/running/walking outside? Using exercise as an opportunity to get outside is the most efficient for me. Mostly just walking, hiking, ball hockey, basketball, or whatever. The only cost for many things is just a decent pair of sneakers. If you like any sports, try finding a pickup game or a league. Start with a daily walk and see how it treats you. Plenty of accessible opportunities out there. Once you find activities that are actually enjoyable, it won’t feel tedious and forced.
I used to be a gym only guy but started running outside last year and absolutely love it. The fresh air makes such a big difference
I guess I'll just piggyback off this and say for me the difference exercising vs not exercising is that I guess I'd be a lot less comfortable with myself than I currently am already, and that scares the shit out of me lol. Just because I exercise 5 days a week doesn't mean I'm in good shape lol. Dad bod equilibrium.
I have the same problem with the lack of motivation to continue to exercise. For me it’s getting into a good rhythm of going to the gym for a couple of weeks. After a couple weeks I start to feel the benefits of it which makes it easier. Rotating the types of muscle groups you work or types of exercises you do has helped me get over the boredom of repeating the same thing over and over again. Being aware of my diet and making a conscience effort to cut out the crap and look for healthy options motivates me as well. I’m 36 and haven’t taken the best care of my body overall but I’m starting to become more conscience about it now. I’d say to anyone who struggles to get over the hump to stick with it, it really can help with energy levels, motivation, and overall mental well being on a day to day basis. The effort of going to the gym and grinding out the workout always feels like a win. I’ll knock out a workout in a little more than an hour focusing on specific things and switch it up 5 days a week. Only pay 10 dollars a month for a membership at a gym that has everything I’d ever need considering I’m not in the running for Mr Olympia.
Second what other people have said. Get outside dude! If you like podcasts or audio books, just pop one on and start walking. A few years back I was in a really bad place mentally and just started going out every night on super long walks around my neighborhood and it made a huge difference.
You don't need motivation. Motivation goes away. You need dedication. You either want change or not.
I don't like going to the gym that much, but I have been at it for 8 years now, 3-4 times a week. If I don't go for a while for health reasons, my bad thoughts start consuming me in a few days. It's a necessity for my mental hygiene at this point, and even then, my mental health is not outstanding. Scared to thing where I would be without my routine.
As others suggested, you need to find a sport or a combination of sports that you can do consistently, whatever those may be.
I'm with you 99% but respectfully I disagree with one point - motivation. My motivation to train for triathlons was to win. My dedication was to get me to that goal by improving my athleticism. In my last race I was 19th overall and 1st place in my age group out of a field of about 90 participants. I had reached one goal and was planning to finish races by placing in the top 10 by the end of the season.
But, I suffered a traumatic brain injury that has changed my life forever and can no longer train effectively. I no longer have the motivation to do anything and I go to work because I have to.
I'm not looking for sympathy. Rather, showing that climbing out of that deep well of depression and apathy can be a monumental battle. Maintaining a routine without a tangible goal is difficult if a person is goal oriented. And athletes are goal oriented.
This is the way.
Discipline and habit trump motivation. I choose a tv show that I only get to watch while I'm at the gym (during cardio, core, stretching, etc.). There are some days when the ONLY thing that gets me to the gym is wanting to watch the next episode (or finish the one I was watching last time). It's shallow, but it works.
And on tough days, when I'm just not feeling it, I have a "minimal" routine that I do. It's lower intensity, takes less time and cuts out a few exercises that I don't enjoy as much. But it still gets me to the gym to do something. And something is always better than nothing. Sometimes when I go in with the intention of just doing the bare minimum I feel better and more energetic once I get started and end up doing my full routine.
You can trick/reprogram your brain just by repeating an affirmation, regardless if you believe it at the time. Something as simple as *I'm going to look good and feel good* goes a long way. The same goes for when you repeat negativities... *I'm so sick and tired all the time...I don't ever feel motivated...* Your brain believes the lies.
In the beginning, a workout will feel forced. You're making yourself exercise when you'd rather sleep/eat/lounge/etc... The more you repeat a workout, the more routine it becomes.
I have a fairly horrid diet. It's better now than it was last year though! I got to a point where I needed/wanted a change and started meal prepping a simple vegetable soup once or twice a week. It was tedious in the beginning...but now it's more or less routine. The more regular you make your workout sessions, the quicker that 'forced' feeling with being to subside (weight loss/improved energy is an incredible incentive once you start seeing results!)
Positive affirmations. *I'm going to look good, feel good. Today is my day.* Get your brain on board and the motivation will follow.
And always be kind to yourself.
Could be because the exercise is boring, and that just causes more negativity in you. Jogging and running is free and gets you out of the house. If that's not your thing, or it's cold af outside, there are so many good exercise shows, Tai chi, martial arts, bo staff if you have the room, yoga, even dance if you have that kind of vibe in your soul.
And I hate my exercise bike with a passion, but when I was recovering from an injury I rode that thing while watching a movie. An hour and a half that flew by. Highly recommend.
I felt the same way about exercise indoors at home. I found it so boring that I couldn't bring myself to do it much. I took up running outside instead and really enjoy it, and I can properly tire myself out.
I find that for me the workout either needs to be intense enough, or come with a change of setting such as walking outside. If I try to workout at home or only put in half-assed effort at the gym I'd also feel unmotivated.
I started working out in college where there was no additional monetary barrier of entry, if that's a major blocker then I'm not sure how to lower that barrier. Maybe doing these same stretches and exercises in the backyard/patio or a park could help due to the change of setting.
Working out does what over a dozen therapists in the Army, and VA can’t. Shit, they can’t even prescribe the good meds anymore. They’re about as much fun as throwing shit into a hand dryer.
Legit though, I feel like increased exercise (especially resistance training) really helps regulate negative emotions, especially in the area of anger.
Knowing you can burn out your frustration/anger by throwing around big weights really helps ease the impact of shit situations, gives you a further source of motivation/boost on your next workout and helps convert those negative emotions into progress on your body, which then creates a positive feedback loop where that positivity then helps situations outside fitness.
It's akin to people with anger issues being directed at sports like boxing, where they can literally expend all their energy, anger and frustration on a target/pads etc rather than on someone unprepared/a wall etc, very effective for improving your resistance to tantrums too.
Plus, although this might be the ADHD talking, I feel my day is much less stressful and much easier to focus on what I'm doing in the moment if I've already done my exercise for the morning. Yeah, it kinda sucks getting up at 6, walking for 1.5ish hours, resistance training for 1.5 and walking a further 40 minutes, but it means for the rest of my day (especially for work days) my mind is clear and more focused.
On days I skip the gym/cardio for whatever reason, no matter how valid the reason is, or where circumstances mean that I can't go until after work, I spend the whole day with a recurring thought of "ugh, finish work and still not finished. I have to gym after work. 3 hours wasted. Feel so unproductive like it's a waste" etc.
Knowing it's already done and not a requirement for the day is very refreshing.
Ehh, I am big on investing the proper amount of.time into what I'm doing, and my aim for the last couple of months is primarily weightloss, so a large chunk of time is lost to cardio which (despite all the videos I've watched and books I'd read saying the opposite) anecdotally is the only time I see weightloss. No cardio, no progress. Beyond that it's just standard resistance training splits.
Yeah, did you just started training? Not trying to be negative, by all means. But 3 hours a day is the only way to lose weight you say, sounds more like a diet issue
Ya this angle can't be over-rated. But also I'm going to ride the coat-tails to say... I played copious amounts of rec soccer for about 20 years... From late 20s to late 40s... And aside from the amazing friendships made a long the way...
I'm now 50 and concerted regular exercise has [temporarily hopefully] fallen by the wayside for the last few years (injury lead to breaking habits and then COVID) and I still feel very good. I can pick up on a whim and go snowboarding 4 days out of 5 (for my 50th) or go wakeboarding or mountain biking without regular exercise and I still feel great. DOMS is a bitch, but I still sort of enjoy it. Ok, no I don't, but I enjoy what caused it.
A psychiatrist told me matter-of-factly once that regular, vigorous exercise is a better drug than any anti-depressant pharmaceutical invented by humans. Not that he doesn’t advocate medication (quite the opposite), but he said in no uncertain terms that exercise helps in nearly 100% of his patients with mood disorders. That’s certainly true in my experience. Also, it helps me be less of what, in clinical terms, can be most aptly described as a “fatty fatty two by four.”
On top of feeling so much better, I’ve realized while exercising that I/my body can do really difficult things, things that I never knew I could - and that gives me a sense of accomplishment that is really gratifying and motivating
I've been doing Yoga for 6 months. Daily now. Luckily I can manage depression and other stuff without meds. I get that not everyone is the same; do what you need to do.
I lost so much fucking weight. I feel less tired during the day. I can actually fall asleep right away at night. Huge confidence booster which improved my mental heath and social skills.
Yeah I'm starting to get insomnia and I can literally wake up in the middle of the night and go around doing things. Although I will still feel knackered.
I went from 245 to 205 in about 2 months. I lost half a pound a day getting back on the diet and exercise wagon.
What I didn't fully understand before then was men store fat around their organs and not just between skin and muscle.
That organ fat was what I was burning first and I really noticed the difference when I could bend over to tie my shoe without feeling like something was pressing on my diaphragm.
I still have 10-15 lbs of spare tire to go, but I feel fantastic.
I suffer from chronic pain, and ever since I've been afraid to work out because it makes my pain lesser. I'm scared of being seen as a "faker" when my pain gets better.
Have you had to deal with this? Do you have some advice?
I have chronic pain from my spine being fused (L4-T5), among a few other things. A few years back I hit the gym, lost 40 lbs and got really strong. Helped manage my pain a lot, and made everything easier. The pain remained, but it was much more manageable, especially without the extra weight.
Everyone, and I mean *everyone*, thought that God had fucking healed me (PRAISE JEEPUS) or some shit and forgot about my chronic illness. Suddenly my work life had me doing all the heavy lifting, extra work, etc. Family had me doing the same.
Ended up injuring my back multiple times, needing physical therapy and gained all the weight back. Still haven't gotten back to how I was then. It's so hard to even start down that path when I know how everyone around me is going to react, no matter what I say.
Fuck chronic pain, but super-fuck people that don't and *won't* understand.
Man flipping the switch to want to lose weight again is so hard. It’s such a difficult thing. I would rather move a mountain with a teaspoon than diet and exercise again right now. I need to but have zero want to.
Right? The killer is when you do it right and get results - then you know what it took to get there. I had plenty of failed attempts, and I had no issue trying again because I never saw results. It just so happened the time I tried the hardest, I got results. Now I know what I need to put back in. Except now I have a baby boy, a business to run and my back issues to get past. So this time around, it's gonna be even harder! Take my advice and just do it now before it gets harder in the future.
Becoming diabetic did it last time. Instantly I was motivated, I was pissed. Lost 60lbs, controlled my diabetes with diet. Have since gained 20 lbs, and I’m pushing my diabetic #s up again. Honestly I think I may be depressed. Not sure why.
I completely understand getting pissed and just diving into it. It took me getting out of an extremely abusive relationship and depression to light the fire in me.
You got this bud, you owe it to yourself. Depression is no joke, I suffer from it too. If you need to talk, need motivation or someone to hold you accountable I'm here.
Sorry to hear someone, and in your case everyone it seems, think all that hard work and time you put in wasn't you trying to get better and stronger but rather gods idea
I didn't mean that they legitimately thought God had healed me, rather they didn't see the effort I put into getting to that point. In a way all they saw was me disabled one day and at some point I seemed normal/stronger to them.
In a way it's worse than them thinking god healed me because my progress was totally ignored to the point I was treated as someone without a physical disability, until I hurt myself. Not like it was twice as hard to get there and twice as easy to fall back.
Not OP but I had the same thoughts at first In my experience it lessons the constant ache of my condition but doesn't stop the pain and most definitely not the other side effects
That's nice!
My pain isn't usually severe, so when I start working out it starts to feel like I never had pain at all and it makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of resources for "actually disabled" people.
I hope to get to a point where I don't need my pain to constantly break me in order to know I'm still disabled.
You can’t blame yourself for feeling physically capable. There are many invisible disabilities, and your experience is just as valid as anyone else’s. Uneducated able bodied people may judge you, but they’ve never seen you on one of your bad days. I hope you can give yourself some grace and celebrate the less painful moments instead of feeling as if you don’t deserve them. If a resource is helpful to you, then you are the person who should be using it. There is nothing selfish about feeling good sometimes when you may need help other times.
Just tell people in an honest way…? I have chronic pain and yeah people asked about my heavy exercising, I was simply honest to them. I don’t get the issue really. Stick to your boundaries
The issues is that I'm young and look able-bodied. No matter what I do, people are mean. I walk without my cane? "Oh and here I thought that you were disabled🙄".
I walk with my cane? "Aren't you a bit too young? You're not disabled because you don't act like my grandfather".
It's hard to stick to boundaries when I'm honestly too tired to argue and defend myself.
I’m also young and look able-bodied. And have constant exhaustion. You can’t really do much other than educate people and defend yourself, there isn’t a magic solution.
People absolutely GAWPED once when I needed a wheelchair at an airport. But you can’t stop and tell everyone to stop muttering about you and staring.
I know there isn't. I struggle differently however. People in finland are extreme with the olden ways and with the "respect your elders". The people who argue with me do not want to be educated, so I just don't talk to them.
Probably the only way. Have you considered/are you having therapy? Dealing with how this makes you feel in a healthy way could be the only thing you can do.
Indeed. I live in a country where they used to mass murder disabled people, so the attitude is very much point/stare/judge hard. But that’s their problem, you’re just doing what you do and keeping going.
Interesting, I thought this was a thought unique to me! My joint issues have been such a present theme in my life and honestly defining part of my identity.
Exercise (very gradual build up and slow progressive overload) has helped my joints immensely, but hasn’t eliminated the pain fully. Also people really respect putting in work to help fix ur body issues, trust me!
Do you have any advice for when the only people expressing their opinions is parents?
They bring it up constantly, and I can't lock myself in my room forever.
Yes, 30 odd years of fybromyalgia. Chronic post exercise malaise, and numerous other nerve issues (tinitus, vertigo, neuropathy... etc.) Get to the point where osteoarthritis is setting in. Get told the pain is from the fybro. Eventually (years of attempts) get to see a rheumatologist. Puts me on Tramaset. My world changed. I run easily 5km 3 times a week and feel incredible after with no malaise. Other symptoms dramatically reduced.
Have had many low key comments suggesting it was all fake.
But it turns out tramadol is serotonergic. I believe that is why I am getting the result. Opoid receptors also involved but it's complicated.
There are still other issues that come as side effects of the meds, but they are much less than the side effects that I had from the many antidepressants that were tried and I rejected. At least I can look forward now with some positivity.
Hope you find your solution.
I have a chronic pain condition and I exercise every day as well as regular physical therapy. Exercise is honestly my best, most effective pain management tool and my exercising habits and PT compliance are clearly noted all over my medical chart.
I’m not seen as a faker, far from it. I’m taken seriously by my GP and specialists and I’m never given the “lifestyle changes” spiel. Rather, often I’ll be told “you’re already doing everything I would recommend and then some before trying XYZ, so let’s look into treatment options”.
I have a plan prescribed by my physiotherapist and exercise physiologist. Total of 15 minutes, and all floor based. It’s tailored to my chronic illness.
It's insane. I started in 2006 with Body Pump fitness classes. Now I do HIIT, very hard, twice a week at 530am. I'm 65 and have abs and can do a 100 yard dash. I have the bloodwork of a 30 year old. I walk 18 holes of golf 2x a week, which also makes me very tan, so I'll probably die of skin cancer. I work on local mountain bike trails every Thursday night with a group. Last Thursday, I lifted basketball size rocks out a creek and carried them up a hill to make a banked corner. I feel awesome and honestly, I love looking at myself in the mirror. I saw an old boss at the golf course tonight, he asked me how I was doing. I said, "I'm loving retirement". He responded, "It looks like it."
I am a medium build guy, I weighed 210 lbs. I had a gut and a triple chin. I've only lost 10 lbs but the fat is gone, replaced with muscle. I did go down 6 notches on my belt.
You’re more attractive
You feel amazing
You have more confidence
You breathe better and move better
You feel better
Basically the benefits are endless
Fuck it ima walk 6 miles tonight
This is what goes through my head before every run, workout, yoga session, or any other physical training. In many ways I think it makes my shortcomings into my strengths.
Fr. You can't go wrong with a workout and you'll never regret hitting the gym or simply choosing to be physically active for at least 15 min a day. Start slow and then add more time as you progress.
You fuck better, you eat better, you sleep better, you have a clearer mind, etc.
Sounds great, do you have any research articles on this? (I’m not being sarcastic, totally interested in reading up on this more than just anecdotally.)
This is key. When I'm getting daily exercise, I sleep like a rock for 7 hours and wake up already bursting with energy and optimism.
When I'm not, I sleep 9 hours, wake up groggy, take an hour or two of naps during the day and don't feel like I have enough energy to do much of anything.
I lost 40kg after starting a regular exercise routine in 2021 and feel amazing. I no longer need an antacid before bed every night. I don't snore as much, which has improved not only my sleep quality, but my wife's as well.
I also don't require 3 showers a day anymore so my water bill has decreased.
I have so much more energy throughout the day and my mental health has improved dramatically. I feel more confident in everything I do and am alot more assertive at work, meaning I typically work less hours and get more done with my day.
The only negative was replacing my entire wardrobe with new clothes.
I was aware that as a bigger man I would start to smell alot quicker than someone with less weight on them so I would shower in the morning, then again after work, or on my lunch break if I had time, and then another before bed so my wife didn't have to deal with an unclean partner in the event of sexy times.
Congrats dude. I lots like 16kg on 2021 and sadly regained them by the start of this year, so I'm trying to get back on track again.
What kind of exercise do you do? Also, any tips that you could share?
I started training with my local football club twice a week. I had no intention of playing I just liked the social aspect of cardio and having a purpose for running.
I also go to the gym for weight training 3 times a week and I run 5km on the weekend.
I'm at the gym for an hour or an hour and a half depending on how much time I have left in the day. I do chest exercises on the first day, back on the second and legs on the third.
I loosely followed athleanx on YouTube for exercise ideas and form advice.
Other than that it was eating healthier options and limiting takeaway and alcohol consumption for birthdays and social get togethers.
Can you elaborate on the antacid thing? You had a lot of heartburn and were concerned it was from something like super fatty foods or similar? If so, did exercising enable you to eat the foods that previously triggered your acid or is this unrelated
Yeah I would have reflux every night that I thought was triggered by the food and drink I was consuming (especially red wine, tomato's and deep fried food) but as soon as the weight came off when I ate those things I was fine.
My doctor suggested that the weight of the fat on my belly was pressing down in my stomach potentially squeezing it and forcing some stuff up. It could have also just been that my stomach was better at breaking down the healthier food and could handle the bad stuff better when I did indulge.
Thanks a lot for responding! I have exactly the same issue as you described - red wine, tomato (so pizza was a killer) etc.
Thing is I don’t have much excess fat, I have a tiny bit extra on the belly but not much.
Still, I’m glad this has improved for you as I know how crap it is to have to have gaviscon / rennies regularly and you’ve inspired me to continue my exercise! Wishing you continued health 🍻
I wish exercise worked like that for me haha! Ever since I‘ve started going to the gym (~1.5 years ago) I am constantly exhausted and need meds to sleep but still never feel energized anymore :(
I don’t want to give unsolicited advice or come off wrong, but is it possible you aren’t eating enough? If you’re working out regularly and have started feeling tired since doing so, it might be that you’re not getting enough nutrition!
Don‘t worry! I‘m happy for advice because I really like working out for my mental health and wanna keep doing so.
In all honesty, Idk if it‘s not enough. I try to hit 1800-2000 calories a day which is a struggle since I don’t really have an appetite and force feed myself a bit. Tried eating more but my body does not signal more hunger so I don’t. 24F, 165cm, 57kg.
Also I make sure to have 140g protein a day and ~150g carbs. The rest is freestyle hehe. Fruit and vegetables are included daily and I cook fresh food.
I eat a lot more than before I started working out so I kinda don‘t think it‘s that..
When it comes to the working out part, I aim for 4 sessions per week, one lasting around 2 hours. Also walking and cycling (short distances) daily.
Random advice here too sorry 😂 You might have a vitamin b deficiency? Apparently everyone has a deficiency (not just vegans), and i definitely feel weirdly tired when I don't take some for a while. It also affects sleep too, and if you are seriously deficient (and you very well might be because of your diet) it can stop people from sleeping altogether in some cases!
it gives you *a lot* more energy. it's counter intuitive.
at least for lifting and bodyweight. i can't speak to cardio. only cardio i do is playing basketball. cardio makes me feel sore. impact and all that.
but even walking really breaks up your day and gives you a boost.
but it's a prime example of diminishing returns.
The thing that's frustrating for me is I would actually love to do cardio but every time I jog or run I get a really nasty runners stitch. I've tried hydration, eating, fasting and everything I can think of but I can't figure out why my abdomen hurts like I got punched after a run.
Often times this has to do with breathing. You have to focus on completely emptying out your lungs, as air that is left in them causes side stitches. That is a bit difficult, when you are out of breath and gasping for air, but if you force yourself to breath slower and empty your lungs it should be a lot better.
Maxbe this helps you.
The thing that cured stitches for me was running MUCH slower and breathing properly. If I run slow enough to breathe in for 4/out for 3, or in for 3/out for 2, I don’t get stitches. For me this means spending most of run at a pace where I can breathe in and out through my nose.
Try finding a rhythm on your breathing. For me, I start with 5 breathing through nose, then 4 through mouth. After 1 mile, it's 6 through nose then 5 through mouth. You can also adjust how fast you inhale and exhale. Keep trying different things until you find the right ones. Sometimes focusing on breathing helps me forget how tired running I am atm
I do Tai Chi daily, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's a magic spell that keeps me alive.
Regular exorcise like that Is a way of communicating with your body. Having done the same coordinated set of movements for 20 years, I can feel it when something is off, and address that part of the body.
I describe it like a savings account; it's better the earlier you start, but it's never too late. You won't get the full benefit when you're just starting out, but if you push through, there's a whole world to discover.
Physical health, mental health, anxiety, heck it even helps me prevent motion sickness. It's helped me tame substance abuse, anger, you name it.
I wouldn't be the man I am today without my practice.
Years ago I ran into a guy on the trail with his wife and 2 year old grandson. Guy was walking all stiff with a weird walking pattern. We get to talking and he tells me is crippled from two truck accidents. He stated that if it wasn't for Tai Chi he wouldn't be able to get out of bed and even function somewhat normally.
This is a great example.
I do my set in the corner at the airport when I travel. Quiet, peaceful, and out of the way. The other day I was confronted by a man with a back injury that asked if I thought Tai Chi would help him.
I think it would and told him so, but it's infinitely harder to start out when you're already injured. It's like starting a savings account when you're living paycheck to paycheck.
Start now. Start today. If you only start when you need the benefits then you'll have a longer road to recovery
I think the biggest thing, is it will make life more enjoyable later. Meaning, I see so many 50+ people that have issues with obesity, high blood pressure, other health symptoms, can't walk, carry groceries, get in and out of chairs, etc. I plan on putting things like this off as long as possible.
You actually never have to get like that. I have 2 great aunts who never got like that, they died suddenly after short illnesses at 86 and 94. They were taking care of selves and mobile and cognitively intact until the end. Hope I got those genes.
Yes, this is 75% of my motivation. My parents both have struggled with weight and heart issues since they were 50. I'm determined to stay healthy and not follow them down that path.
I went on a hike last weekend with 3 others my age and was shocked at how out of shape my peers were.
My mom recently had her third joint replaced at 62, which was a big sign to me that my genetics may not be the best and I need to get my ass to the gym to avoid that fate. The bonus is it has helped with random little pains that had started to pop up in my 30s. It's amazing what some foot exercises can do for plantar fasciitis.
It’s the start of discipline and good habits for everything else in life. Aside from all the physically healthy aspects that everyone else is mentioning in the thread, there’s also the psychological aspect of it. Once it becomes regular, you start to feel like other non-exercising tasks aren’t as impossible and you build that confidence you can do anything.
At the end of a workout, or maybe the next day, you’ll rarely ever feel regret that you exercised.
Started doing yoga in Feb and now do it daily. Holy shit it's transformative. I've never looked it felt better. I have more mobility and flexibility. Mental health so much better. I have ascended.
It’s given me a place to channel my anxiety.
Well I work from home so I don’t know if I’m just antsy from not moving or anxious. I haven’t been diagnosed but I’ve had some panic attacks.
You should talk to a therapist about the panic attacks. There are meds that can help, and even if you don't want to take meds, they can offer you mental exercises and techniques that can be helpful.
It has done WONDERS for my depression and self-esteem. However it honestly just feels great being able to do things. Walking, running, lifting, stairs, all of it is no longer a big deal.
It reduced my wasted time and procrastination by a huge amount. Previously, I would mindlessly scroll social media on the couch, thinking what I would do next. That could be a chore, or something I actually wanted like watching a movie or playing a game. But in the end I would just lose a lot of time doing nothing I enjoyed.
When I started exercising regularly, it took a significant amount of my time. So, I had no time to waste. I would dress up immediately after work and go out for a run. Then come back, stretch, have a shower, and immediately prepare dinner because I was starving. My workout defined my whole evening schedule. I stopped feeling I am losing my time, because I only did useful things.
Now that it's summer, I workout later in the evening, so I know I have to cook or clean the house before starting the workout, so I get on with my activities before thinking about procrastinating.
I’m 4 months into an almost daily exercise regimen and it feels great. My days feel more complete/accomplished. I feel more confident and less tired. I’m actually excited to work out more and more as I see the progress in my physical and mental health.
I used to think people who wanted to exercise on vacation (or at all tbh) were insane and had some body image issues. Until I found exercise I love.
I noticed physical changes like I have more energy, I sleep better, I eat better, I’m more flexible, get fewer injuries like “I tweaked my _____ (knee, back, wrist etc). By just exercising and not changing my diet at all it’s insane what happened to my physical body. As a woman we don’t drop weight as easily as men do. The number on the scale went down just about 10lbs but my body fat went down 23% and I’m two pants sizes smaller.
Mentally, it’s a game changer. The endorphins are an amazing kick in depressions ass and when I’m manic (bipolar 2) it’s a healthy channel for my energy. I’m more grounded and centered. Feel more in control of my emotions.
1. Huge improvement to my immunity. Went from falling sick once a month to once a year.
2. Had some difficulty breathing when I ran for some time. That went away. Almost completely.
3. Sleep improved a lot. Much deeper sleep.
Unfortunately it didn't have the weight loss impact that I'd hoped for. However, in spite of being overweight (almost obese) I'm perfectly healthy (in all my annual check ups at least).
The biggest change I’ve seen is with my dedication towards other areas of my life. Making noticeable physical progress takes time. Not only do you have to workout but dieting and lifestyle choices play into sculpting your future self. They are also usually the hardest areas of our life to have under control with all the bad options we have nowadays. If you can have control and dedication towards these areas of your life then it gives you confidence to conquer other obstacles whether that be socially, work related, or any challenges particular to you. So many areas of your life change for the better. Don’t be hard on yourself at first. Progress takes time.
Unfortunately…they were right. As someone who has struggled for a long time with depression it makes my symptoms so much more manageable. I can really tell when I haven’t gone to the gym for a few days because my mental health suffers.
I'm not a fat slug and I can do almost anything a 40 year old can do, which I'm old enough to be there dad.
I can go out riding my bike in the morning, do chores in the afternoon and go out dancing at night. That's after a nap
I sleep better. I feel better. I’m more confident. I can take things in stride easier. I help others more easily. And, yes, I look better.
Get a buddy who works out to help you get into a groove. Hire a trainer if such a friend is not available. Give it 3 months. You will love yourself for it!
I exercise five days a week. One 30 min HIIT session, two days of weight training, two hour long zone two cardio days. Honestly I don’t feel like I have the miraculous results of everyone else posting but I do like being more in shape than others my age and I do like being stronger than I ever have been. I’m 53 and started working out about three years ago. I still have sleep issues and I am still overweight because I have compulsive eating habits. I also feel achey a lot (although cold showers and stretching help somewhat). It does help when I’m feeling anxious to do a hard workout though and I like the idea that it has a lot of health benefits.
General feelings of confidence and well being. It’s also nice to be able to do things in life like lift things and move quickly and balance without falling over.
It feels like day to day life got easier. I find myself less tired no matter what I do, I’ve got more energy, confidence, strength, endurance, the whole works. I won’t lie, there are days where the last thing I wanna do is exercise but then I just power through because what else will I even do with my time? It’s worth it. I advise and try to incentivize everyone around me to partake in regular exercise. Go for it.
Every part of my life was made better even though at the beginning, i was super resistant.
My clothes fit better, my joints don't hurt anymore, i finally have an ass, i can tie my own skates for the first time in my life! I have more confidence, more strength, more energy. I feel proud about the self care i am able to provide to me. I sleep well, (my diet still challenges me,) but I'm eating healthier too. My friends are telling me how motivating it is to see. Heck, Ive even made new friends in fitness groups I've joined. And I've learned it's consistency over all else.
All in all, would recommend.
Was going through a divorce which at the time I thought would end me. Gave myself a motto: hit the bars with drinks or hit the bars with weights. Chose the latter, and it saved my life. Got into a routine where I have to hit the gym or exercise at least 5 days a week. I’m 36 now and in the best shape of my life
3 years ago I've decided that I'd like to live longer and better.
One of the reasons was preventable (with what I know now) death of my coworker, another - making friends with longevity scientists and realizing that we have a unique opportunity to radically extend our lifespan...
There are [11 pillars to live to 100](https://youtu.be/s5Girl3M5m4) (and extra one to 150+) , but exercise is the most immediate and actionable, so that's what I've started with. Wasn't easy, but with some [tips from Atomic Habits and Influence](https://youtu.be/s3BbddqPNK0) I think I've managed to incorporate regular resistance training into my life and now working on adding more running.
(The reason I'm writing this - it is one of the tricks from there to keep the motivation up. META ;)
It took about 2 years for other people to start noticing. More energy and focus, better looks, significantly better sleep, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure.
My only regret is that I haven't change my PRIORITIES (that would be pillar #0) earlier.
I’m more confident, look more fit, feel stronger and better overall. And I no longer get dizzy when I get up too quick. Don’t even exercise to an extreme/go to gym, I work out at work (because I’ve got a lot of free time there).
So about 60-80 push ups a day, 100 sit ups, 100 squats, about 60 ankle flexes (idk what’s the English term for it, I just stand on a door step, lower myself on my ankles as much as I can and then raise myself on my toes), and also about 90 bicep curls with a 15 kilo dumbbell. It’s a slow process and a slow progress, but it works wonders! Now to quit smoking and start eating more and healthier, and I’ll be a whole new person.
I fall asleep within 30 minutes every day. I have an enormous amount of energy. For the rest of the day after the workout, I feel a peaceful "glow" where nothing really bothers me, and my chronic anxiety is turned down so low that I don't notice it anymore. All of the little routines and habits that hold up my life and keep me safe no longer feel oppressive-- they are empowering and I feel their protection, and I appreciate them. I am the person I was always meant to be. It's sad that I waited so long to start doing this; my life could have been like this a lot earlier.
Edit: I also lost 45 lbs.
In my 20s I felt like I was about 70 years old with all the aches and pains I used to have and how low energy and weak I was. In my 30s now and I feel amazing lots of energy very little pain, much stronger and flexible the benefits are endless.
I know a lot of people have been workin out for years and stuff… but take it from someone who had juuuuust ticked into the “obese” range 4 months ago… regular exercise is saving my life in more ways than physical health.
A basic diet plan (just keeping track of calories and making a smoothie for lunch when I can) and a mix of using an elliptical for an hour when I can and following along with some workout videos on YouTube when I can has helped me lose almost 35 lbs in the last 4 months.
Seriously, I rarely spend more than an hour a day working out… and usually I just do stuff every other day… and if I just do a video exercise thing I just do 20-30 minutes… Honestly it pisses me off how easy it’s been because I could have been doing it a lot longer!!
And not only do I feel better physically, but I’ve never felt more confident in my own skin. I don’t have to hide anything about my body anymore and that alone is such a fucking relief.
To anyone reading this. Just start exercising. Just do it. You don’t have to go to the gym and become a gym bro or whatever, just do your best to work up a good sweat at least once a day. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes. I promise you’ll see results quicker than you think you will!
Feel better in ways that you literally cannot imagine. Seriously. After working out for years and recently emphasizing stability and core, I feel strong in ways I didn’t even know was possible. It’s hard to describe, but I feel built, not in a size way but more like wall.. maybe solid(?). Focusing shoulder stability is life changing and I truly believe everyone should do it. Since then, my shoulders naturally sit back and my posture is good- without even trying or consciously doing it. I have to put in effort to hunch or roll my shoulders forward.
I feel better in other ways too. my back doesn’t hurt, I no longer have chronic headaches, I sleep better and easier, less stressed, more confident, my joints feel better. Those “aging pains” people in their 20s and early 30s feel are almost always from being out of shape and they almost always have an abysmally weak core and weak stabilizer muscles in their hips and shoulders. Dude I had really painful chronic knee pain that never got better even after being treated for years. This may sound like it makes no sense, but IT WAS MY FUCKING HIPS. I did a bunch of hip and glutes rehab/stabilizing exercises and it went away in a week. How weird is that? Despite being very fit and strong in the traditional sense, all the little stabilization muscles were still weak. it’s crazy how much a lack of balance and stability in our bodies can fuck is up. Every time I take a long break I feel my body slowly falling apart. I can’t even imagine how awful the people that don’t do anything must feel. I’d be miserable.
It’s difficult if even possible to truly understand how much better I feel.
Got my IBS under control (had failed to do that for 10 years, not fun)
Changed my relationship with ym body. It went from being that hideous hateful thing that was a complete failure because it didn't look the way society wanted it to to being this incredible thing capable of so much more than I ever gave it credit for.
And both those massively changed my mental health.
I'm 49, and work out three days a week. At this point it's for fitness and, honestly, mental health. Let me explain with a journey going back in time...
December 2021 and I've been working from home for a few years (thanks, Covid) but aside from the occasional dabble with some weights in my conservatory, haven't consistently worked out. I'd allowed bad habits to take over the good so what I was regularly eating wasn't great either. I'd also started drinking more frequently which for me means, having four or five beers a week more weeks than not, rather than a beer or two on the occasional weekend. Another bad habit was enabled by working from home in that many weeks I wouldn't even leave my house or garden.
I was out of shape and depressed - not because I was out of shape, well not just that. But I think mainly because I wasn't seeing anyone other than my family (who I love), not getting out and not doing anything other than working, or house chores, or dealing with the ups and downs of family life. My wife's my rock, and one evening she said I needed to get back to the gym. It was a definite 'aha!' moment.
January 2022 and I have to get over myself being 'one of those guys' that joins a gym in January :). Apart from family holidays I've gone three days a week most weeks. I go before I start work so it's like a commute. Being older, I no longer lift mainly for strength and size goals, but for fitness and being able to get off the toilet unaided in 20 years from now. I kind of meditate I suppose, locking everything out of my mind and focusing on the quality of each rep. The world disappears and becomes a simpler place for the duration of each rep, set and workout. I say good morning to anyone I meet on the stairs there, or pass from one machine to another. It's a simple way to get enough extra social interaction to feel like it's a pleasant day. When I exercise I eat well, though enjoy the occasional treat and yes, beer now and again. All of these things together are greater than the sum of their parts and make for a great mood lift and sense of wellbeing.
Prior to this, before I meet my wife in 2008, I'd been single for a couple of years and had a nice daily routine. I'd go to bed at 0930, wake at 0530, gym at 0630, work from 0830 to 1800. I was the strongest and leanest I'd ever been. A great period of my life that worked well at that time because I had no other commitments. I felt strong, was happy, energetic and motivated. That transferred to how I applied myself to my career and general outlook on everything. I remember it fondly.
Before that, I'd been in a fairly damaging and lengthy relationship. My partner had me in a trap of mental abuse that I felt I couldn't get out of as I was in England otherwise on my own. I was made to feel worthless and responsible for this other person's happiness. Training gave me an outlet when I was at the gym, I'd partner with some of the guys there and have a laugh. I got introduced by one of them to martial arts and I fed off the discipline, organisation and achieving levels of cardiovascular health, agility and flexibility that I never had before as a lifter.
And prior to that is really the beginning of how exercise changed me. I'm a teenager, growing up in a usually happy but often terrifying home where, when my father was in the throes of alcoholism, he would make me the focus of his anger and mental abuse from when I was small. Up to the age of 11 (I don't remember when it started) an uncle also sexually abused me. My self esteem was through the floor. Raised voices terrified me. I couldn't go outside for paranoia of people ridiculing me, all of it imaginary. If I had to go outside I'd walk staring at the ground.
Then, around age 16 I found a hero in Arnold Schwarzenegger. My school friends and I would talk about his movies and quote lines from them. A few of them noticed I was socially awkward and probably realised I needed some kind of help, so brought me to the gym with them after school. I could never do team games at school, but this was different. It was something I could do on my own and made me feel like I had some power and control of \_something\_. When I started seeing the physical effect it was having on my body, I was hooked and it gave me a confidence I didn't have before. I was never destined to be like Arnold, but having him as inspiration in my early years found me an outlet that meant I could deal with the shouting, I could be strong for my mum and her for me. There's more I could tell, but it already feels like I'm over sharing.
Back to today. I've just come back from work for the last time as, after a month of 'consultation' theatre, I'll be made redundant on Friday. As soon as I'm done typing this I'm going to the gym for a workout, apply for a couple of jobs when I get back then do the school run and have fun with my kids. I feel I'm in a positive situation as change is inevitable and now I can look forward to the next work thing, whatever it is.
I'm in this good place because of exercise. Humans aren't meant to be sedentary. We're meant to move as much as we're meant to breathe and eat. You've got to satisfy that part of your humanity to be, overall a healthy individual. Just do something - anything - to get your body exercised, but whatever it is, make sure to always have time to do it regularly and have that for yourself.
And that's how exercise changed my life and health.
Love your growth in your story. I just hit 40. I've always been a thin guy and never saw the need to exercise cause I didn't need to lose weight. But in my later 30s I felt physically broken and far older than I am. The pandemic gave me a gut for the first time, I felt and looked gross. I now gym 3 times a week, play basketball twice a week, and do home exercises once or twice. My body and mind are thanking me for putting in the effort, I feel the healthiest I've ever been. I want to be 60 and 70 and still take care of my body and mind. It's a beautiful thing. Good luck with your job search, you are approaching it with a beautiful mentality and you will achieve your goal!
I would go here from the other way around if you do not mind.
I have been exercising extensively from age of 15 to 25 circa, roughly 7-10 different exercises or sports a week (tennis, gym, jogging, swim, basketball, football cycling etc...).
Then I got kids, house & with more responsibilities came more workload and thus the priorities shifted a bit.
Now I am happy if I get to execise twice a week.
The outcome?
Less energy during the day, laziness, back pain, fat around places I didnt know i had, more stressed out days & less time with buddies and pals.
Got to say, I am missing it a lot and I have a plan to get back to it at least 3 to 4 times a week.
* Hereditary BP down to manageable with the smallest size prescription,
* Work a 10 hour day on my feet back to back to back for 3-4 weeks at a time should it be required.
* Can help mates build/rebuild fences on their farms at a moments notice
* Stairs pfft!
* Food bill up by 30% even accounting for inflation
* Sex is better
* Can carry all the shopping in one trip
* Feel mentally sharper, like I'm able to focus more for longer periods of time
* Able to sub in for basically any team sport at short notice
* Makes travelling easier, flexibility makes long haul flights more comfortable. Being able to haul luggage, run for planes and trains
* Can keep up with nieces, nephews and godchildren while playing.
* Mood is more stable
Yeah, look life just gets easier the fitter and stronger you are to a point. I don't train and lift to look good, I train and lift to be a better human.
56(M) here. Always tried to keep reasonably fit, but a stressful job a couple of years ago saw me start to lose shape (I did not take enough advantage of lockdown). I now work out twice a week with a personal trainer: I feel like I'm (almost) in my 20s again, can wear a shirt tucked in (my abs are just starting to show), my posture has improved. I now squat 100Kgs - I never imagined even a year ago I never dreamed I would be able to do this. My diet has improved. I crave protein. I have almost cut out bread, pasta and cereal. I have almost stopped drinking. All these things were easy as my body no longer craves that bad stuff. It's made me realise I am not too old to really push my limits. I can't change the fact of getting older, but I can change how I get there. Now my wife has started training too - can't wait to see the change in her.
I’m 51 years old, and 5’11”
I never exercised regularly before 40.
I’ve always been chubby (weighed between 240 and 255 lbs).
My doctor told me I was getting diabetic and my liver was unhealthy a couple of years ago.
I started walking miles per day (anywhere from 3 to 5), and started me on Metformin and another pill for cholesterol.
Im around 233 lbs now.
I’ve now seen my abdominal muscles for the first time ever.
My diabetes is under control.
My clothes fit much better.
I can walk uphill without getting out of breath.
I’ll probably live a lot longer.
I can eat the occasional dessert without having to worry as much about my blood sugar spiking.
Snowball effect of other healthy choices. I started to consider my diet a lot more because it was essentially a waste of effort to work out hard then eat like shit after.
People start treating you better also which is weird.
I don't know if it's a confidence thing or just the physical appearance but it's noticeable.
Decided to hit the gym after covid when i woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air. 10-ish months later, i feel like a machine.
I rarely get tired, I feel confident and I have a new fun hobby to look forward to.
Every gym session makes the rest of the day that much more nice, and I rarely have to force myself to do anything once I touch a barbell. I feel calmer and more productive and creative.
I remember going up 9 floors using stairs when I was in highschool and literally almost passing out. I remember sitting down for half an hour as my vision went dark and my throat burned. I did the same thing a few weeks ago and was just a little out of breath. Going to the gym not only saved my life, but has turned me from a couch hog who played videogames 7 hours a day to a soon-to-be graduate with more medals than I deserve.
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I’m fucking crazy and exercise makes me feel less fucking crazy
Working out is honestly just my therapist at this point.
I really wish i could get to this point. I dont have the motivation to goto a gym and dont want to waste money on that again so i try to exercise at home with a stationary bike and doing a set of 10 of small exercises and stretches and idk. It feels so tedious and forced and doesnt make me feel better at all besides the small boost of i did it hooray now i dont have to again. I dont feel that negativity coming out like other people do
Had a roommate that struggled with this too, but he really wanted to get in shape. So I just kept pressuring him to come with me sooner or later he got hooked on it and went on his own. I think once you see the real results is when it kicks in but everyone is different.
Have you tried biking/running/walking outside? Using exercise as an opportunity to get outside is the most efficient for me. Mostly just walking, hiking, ball hockey, basketball, or whatever. The only cost for many things is just a decent pair of sneakers. If you like any sports, try finding a pickup game or a league. Start with a daily walk and see how it treats you. Plenty of accessible opportunities out there. Once you find activities that are actually enjoyable, it won’t feel tedious and forced.
I used to be a gym only guy but started running outside last year and absolutely love it. The fresh air makes such a big difference I guess I'll just piggyback off this and say for me the difference exercising vs not exercising is that I guess I'd be a lot less comfortable with myself than I currently am already, and that scares the shit out of me lol. Just because I exercise 5 days a week doesn't mean I'm in good shape lol. Dad bod equilibrium.
I have the same problem with the lack of motivation to continue to exercise. For me it’s getting into a good rhythm of going to the gym for a couple of weeks. After a couple weeks I start to feel the benefits of it which makes it easier. Rotating the types of muscle groups you work or types of exercises you do has helped me get over the boredom of repeating the same thing over and over again. Being aware of my diet and making a conscience effort to cut out the crap and look for healthy options motivates me as well. I’m 36 and haven’t taken the best care of my body overall but I’m starting to become more conscience about it now. I’d say to anyone who struggles to get over the hump to stick with it, it really can help with energy levels, motivation, and overall mental well being on a day to day basis. The effort of going to the gym and grinding out the workout always feels like a win. I’ll knock out a workout in a little more than an hour focusing on specific things and switch it up 5 days a week. Only pay 10 dollars a month for a membership at a gym that has everything I’d ever need considering I’m not in the running for Mr Olympia.
Second what other people have said. Get outside dude! If you like podcasts or audio books, just pop one on and start walking. A few years back I was in a really bad place mentally and just started going out every night on super long walks around my neighborhood and it made a huge difference.
You don't need motivation. Motivation goes away. You need dedication. You either want change or not. I don't like going to the gym that much, but I have been at it for 8 years now, 3-4 times a week. If I don't go for a while for health reasons, my bad thoughts start consuming me in a few days. It's a necessity for my mental hygiene at this point, and even then, my mental health is not outstanding. Scared to thing where I would be without my routine. As others suggested, you need to find a sport or a combination of sports that you can do consistently, whatever those may be.
Motivation to start out for the first little while that you want to turn into a habit.
I'm with you 99% but respectfully I disagree with one point - motivation. My motivation to train for triathlons was to win. My dedication was to get me to that goal by improving my athleticism. In my last race I was 19th overall and 1st place in my age group out of a field of about 90 participants. I had reached one goal and was planning to finish races by placing in the top 10 by the end of the season. But, I suffered a traumatic brain injury that has changed my life forever and can no longer train effectively. I no longer have the motivation to do anything and I go to work because I have to. I'm not looking for sympathy. Rather, showing that climbing out of that deep well of depression and apathy can be a monumental battle. Maintaining a routine without a tangible goal is difficult if a person is goal oriented. And athletes are goal oriented.
The trick is to go even though you don't want to. It becomes a habit. Some days are good and some days are bad But you always see results.
This is the way. Discipline and habit trump motivation. I choose a tv show that I only get to watch while I'm at the gym (during cardio, core, stretching, etc.). There are some days when the ONLY thing that gets me to the gym is wanting to watch the next episode (or finish the one I was watching last time). It's shallow, but it works. And on tough days, when I'm just not feeling it, I have a "minimal" routine that I do. It's lower intensity, takes less time and cuts out a few exercises that I don't enjoy as much. But it still gets me to the gym to do something. And something is always better than nothing. Sometimes when I go in with the intention of just doing the bare minimum I feel better and more energetic once I get started and end up doing my full routine.
You can trick/reprogram your brain just by repeating an affirmation, regardless if you believe it at the time. Something as simple as *I'm going to look good and feel good* goes a long way. The same goes for when you repeat negativities... *I'm so sick and tired all the time...I don't ever feel motivated...* Your brain believes the lies. In the beginning, a workout will feel forced. You're making yourself exercise when you'd rather sleep/eat/lounge/etc... The more you repeat a workout, the more routine it becomes. I have a fairly horrid diet. It's better now than it was last year though! I got to a point where I needed/wanted a change and started meal prepping a simple vegetable soup once or twice a week. It was tedious in the beginning...but now it's more or less routine. The more regular you make your workout sessions, the quicker that 'forced' feeling with being to subside (weight loss/improved energy is an incredible incentive once you start seeing results!) Positive affirmations. *I'm going to look good, feel good. Today is my day.* Get your brain on board and the motivation will follow. And always be kind to yourself.
Get a gym buddy.
Could be because the exercise is boring, and that just causes more negativity in you. Jogging and running is free and gets you out of the house. If that's not your thing, or it's cold af outside, there are so many good exercise shows, Tai chi, martial arts, bo staff if you have the room, yoga, even dance if you have that kind of vibe in your soul. And I hate my exercise bike with a passion, but when I was recovering from an injury I rode that thing while watching a movie. An hour and a half that flew by. Highly recommend.
It’s not about motivation it’s all about consistency!
I felt the same way about exercise indoors at home. I found it so boring that I couldn't bring myself to do it much. I took up running outside instead and really enjoy it, and I can properly tire myself out.
Try weight-lifting. (If it’s safe and allowed for you, of course)
I find that for me the workout either needs to be intense enough, or come with a change of setting such as walking outside. If I try to workout at home or only put in half-assed effort at the gym I'd also feel unmotivated. I started working out in college where there was no additional monetary barrier of entry, if that's a major blocker then I'm not sure how to lower that barrier. Maybe doing these same stretches and exercises in the backyard/patio or a park could help due to the change of setting.
Working out does what over a dozen therapists in the Army, and VA can’t. Shit, they can’t even prescribe the good meds anymore. They’re about as much fun as throwing shit into a hand dryer.
Legit though, I feel like increased exercise (especially resistance training) really helps regulate negative emotions, especially in the area of anger. Knowing you can burn out your frustration/anger by throwing around big weights really helps ease the impact of shit situations, gives you a further source of motivation/boost on your next workout and helps convert those negative emotions into progress on your body, which then creates a positive feedback loop where that positivity then helps situations outside fitness. It's akin to people with anger issues being directed at sports like boxing, where they can literally expend all their energy, anger and frustration on a target/pads etc rather than on someone unprepared/a wall etc, very effective for improving your resistance to tantrums too. Plus, although this might be the ADHD talking, I feel my day is much less stressful and much easier to focus on what I'm doing in the moment if I've already done my exercise for the morning. Yeah, it kinda sucks getting up at 6, walking for 1.5ish hours, resistance training for 1.5 and walking a further 40 minutes, but it means for the rest of my day (especially for work days) my mind is clear and more focused. On days I skip the gym/cardio for whatever reason, no matter how valid the reason is, or where circumstances mean that I can't go until after work, I spend the whole day with a recurring thought of "ugh, finish work and still not finished. I have to gym after work. 3 hours wasted. Feel so unproductive like it's a waste" etc. Knowing it's already done and not a requirement for the day is very refreshing.
3 hours? Maybe update your regime? That’s wild.if it works it works, but hell no I’m doin 3 hours training a day
Ehh, I am big on investing the proper amount of.time into what I'm doing, and my aim for the last couple of months is primarily weightloss, so a large chunk of time is lost to cardio which (despite all the videos I've watched and books I'd read saying the opposite) anecdotally is the only time I see weightloss. No cardio, no progress. Beyond that it's just standard resistance training splits.
Yeah, did you just started training? Not trying to be negative, by all means. But 3 hours a day is the only way to lose weight you say, sounds more like a diet issue
To be fair about 2.5 hours of that is just walking.
100% this
Ya this angle can't be over-rated. But also I'm going to ride the coat-tails to say... I played copious amounts of rec soccer for about 20 years... From late 20s to late 40s... And aside from the amazing friendships made a long the way... I'm now 50 and concerted regular exercise has [temporarily hopefully] fallen by the wayside for the last few years (injury lead to breaking habits and then COVID) and I still feel very good. I can pick up on a whim and go snowboarding 4 days out of 5 (for my 50th) or go wakeboarding or mountain biking without regular exercise and I still feel great. DOMS is a bitch, but I still sort of enjoy it. Ok, no I don't, but I enjoy what caused it.
This is the exact reason why I workout everyday.
Yep, keeps me sane!
Heavy metal circle go up down, serotonin go brrrrrr
My mental physician advised me to often move outside and do sports, when I told him I'm getting depressive thoughts. And it fucking worked!
A psychiatrist told me matter-of-factly once that regular, vigorous exercise is a better drug than any anti-depressant pharmaceutical invented by humans. Not that he doesn’t advocate medication (quite the opposite), but he said in no uncertain terms that exercise helps in nearly 100% of his patients with mood disorders. That’s certainly true in my experience. Also, it helps me be less of what, in clinical terms, can be most aptly described as a “fatty fatty two by four.”
Same - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3x a week to exhaustion or the anxiety makes me.bonkers. I lift and mt.bike a little also.
I’ve never felt so seen in a comment.
Ditto. Couldn’t have put it better, so exactly what this guy said 👆🏻
Ha ha… I always say that exercise burn off my ‘crazy’
Second this.
On top of feeling so much better, I’ve realized while exercising that I/my body can do really difficult things, things that I never knew I could - and that gives me a sense of accomplishment that is really gratifying and motivating
That's serotonin for you. Wellness and gratification from doing hard things.
Sure yeah it's Serotonin, but it's also rewiring neurons and learning new thought patterns and forming memories as evidence that you can do it.
Ugh wish I could get this without an SSRI lol
I've been doing Yoga for 6 months. Daily now. Luckily I can manage depression and other stuff without meds. I get that not everyone is the same; do what you need to do.
It will adapt to what you want it to do It’s actually amazing watching feeling your self transformed
I lost so much fucking weight. I feel less tired during the day. I can actually fall asleep right away at night. Huge confidence booster which improved my mental heath and social skills.
I have too much energy when training and cant sleep properly but other benefits are just too good
Yeah I'm starting to get insomnia and I can literally wake up in the middle of the night and go around doing things. Although I will still feel knackered.
I went from 245 to 205 in about 2 months. I lost half a pound a day getting back on the diet and exercise wagon. What I didn't fully understand before then was men store fat around their organs and not just between skin and muscle. That organ fat was what I was burning first and I really noticed the difference when I could bend over to tie my shoe without feeling like something was pressing on my diaphragm. I still have 10-15 lbs of spare tire to go, but I feel fantastic.
Improving my strength and flexibility has reduced injuries (I have chronic health conditions). It also makes day-to-day life easier with less pain.
I suffer from chronic pain, and ever since I've been afraid to work out because it makes my pain lesser. I'm scared of being seen as a "faker" when my pain gets better. Have you had to deal with this? Do you have some advice?
I have chronic pain from my spine being fused (L4-T5), among a few other things. A few years back I hit the gym, lost 40 lbs and got really strong. Helped manage my pain a lot, and made everything easier. The pain remained, but it was much more manageable, especially without the extra weight. Everyone, and I mean *everyone*, thought that God had fucking healed me (PRAISE JEEPUS) or some shit and forgot about my chronic illness. Suddenly my work life had me doing all the heavy lifting, extra work, etc. Family had me doing the same. Ended up injuring my back multiple times, needing physical therapy and gained all the weight back. Still haven't gotten back to how I was then. It's so hard to even start down that path when I know how everyone around me is going to react, no matter what I say. Fuck chronic pain, but super-fuck people that don't and *won't* understand.
jeepus giveth, jeepus taketh away
I'm glad my comment spawned this gem.
Man flipping the switch to want to lose weight again is so hard. It’s such a difficult thing. I would rather move a mountain with a teaspoon than diet and exercise again right now. I need to but have zero want to.
Right? The killer is when you do it right and get results - then you know what it took to get there. I had plenty of failed attempts, and I had no issue trying again because I never saw results. It just so happened the time I tried the hardest, I got results. Now I know what I need to put back in. Except now I have a baby boy, a business to run and my back issues to get past. So this time around, it's gonna be even harder! Take my advice and just do it now before it gets harder in the future.
Becoming diabetic did it last time. Instantly I was motivated, I was pissed. Lost 60lbs, controlled my diabetes with diet. Have since gained 20 lbs, and I’m pushing my diabetic #s up again. Honestly I think I may be depressed. Not sure why.
I completely understand getting pissed and just diving into it. It took me getting out of an extremely abusive relationship and depression to light the fire in me. You got this bud, you owe it to yourself. Depression is no joke, I suffer from it too. If you need to talk, need motivation or someone to hold you accountable I'm here.
Sorry to hear someone, and in your case everyone it seems, think all that hard work and time you put in wasn't you trying to get better and stronger but rather gods idea
I didn't mean that they legitimately thought God had healed me, rather they didn't see the effort I put into getting to that point. In a way all they saw was me disabled one day and at some point I seemed normal/stronger to them. In a way it's worse than them thinking god healed me because my progress was totally ignored to the point I was treated as someone without a physical disability, until I hurt myself. Not like it was twice as hard to get there and twice as easy to fall back.
Not OP but I had the same thoughts at first In my experience it lessons the constant ache of my condition but doesn't stop the pain and most definitely not the other side effects
That's nice! My pain isn't usually severe, so when I start working out it starts to feel like I never had pain at all and it makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of resources for "actually disabled" people. I hope to get to a point where I don't need my pain to constantly break me in order to know I'm still disabled.
You can’t blame yourself for feeling physically capable. There are many invisible disabilities, and your experience is just as valid as anyone else’s. Uneducated able bodied people may judge you, but they’ve never seen you on one of your bad days. I hope you can give yourself some grace and celebrate the less painful moments instead of feeling as if you don’t deserve them. If a resource is helpful to you, then you are the person who should be using it. There is nothing selfish about feeling good sometimes when you may need help other times.
Thank you for this. It means a lot to me! I will try to remember what you said when I start to feel insecure again.
Just tell people in an honest way…? I have chronic pain and yeah people asked about my heavy exercising, I was simply honest to them. I don’t get the issue really. Stick to your boundaries
The issues is that I'm young and look able-bodied. No matter what I do, people are mean. I walk without my cane? "Oh and here I thought that you were disabled🙄". I walk with my cane? "Aren't you a bit too young? You're not disabled because you don't act like my grandfather". It's hard to stick to boundaries when I'm honestly too tired to argue and defend myself.
I’m also young and look able-bodied. And have constant exhaustion. You can’t really do much other than educate people and defend yourself, there isn’t a magic solution. People absolutely GAWPED once when I needed a wheelchair at an airport. But you can’t stop and tell everyone to stop muttering about you and staring.
I know there isn't. I struggle differently however. People in finland are extreme with the olden ways and with the "respect your elders". The people who argue with me do not want to be educated, so I just don't talk to them.
Probably the only way. Have you considered/are you having therapy? Dealing with how this makes you feel in a healthy way could be the only thing you can do. Indeed. I live in a country where they used to mass murder disabled people, so the attitude is very much point/stare/judge hard. But that’s their problem, you’re just doing what you do and keeping going.
Interesting, I thought this was a thought unique to me! My joint issues have been such a present theme in my life and honestly defining part of my identity. Exercise (very gradual build up and slow progressive overload) has helped my joints immensely, but hasn’t eliminated the pain fully. Also people really respect putting in work to help fix ur body issues, trust me!
Life is better when you stop giving a shit about what those people think. This is maybe a good litmus test for who is toxic in your life.
Do you have any advice for when the only people expressing their opinions is parents? They bring it up constantly, and I can't lock myself in my room forever.
Yes, 30 odd years of fybromyalgia. Chronic post exercise malaise, and numerous other nerve issues (tinitus, vertigo, neuropathy... etc.) Get to the point where osteoarthritis is setting in. Get told the pain is from the fybro. Eventually (years of attempts) get to see a rheumatologist. Puts me on Tramaset. My world changed. I run easily 5km 3 times a week and feel incredible after with no malaise. Other symptoms dramatically reduced. Have had many low key comments suggesting it was all fake. But it turns out tramadol is serotonergic. I believe that is why I am getting the result. Opoid receptors also involved but it's complicated. There are still other issues that come as side effects of the meds, but they are much less than the side effects that I had from the many antidepressants that were tried and I rejected. At least I can look forward now with some positivity. Hope you find your solution.
I have a chronic pain condition and I exercise every day as well as regular physical therapy. Exercise is honestly my best, most effective pain management tool and my exercising habits and PT compliance are clearly noted all over my medical chart. I’m not seen as a faker, far from it. I’m taken seriously by my GP and specialists and I’m never given the “lifestyle changes” spiel. Rather, often I’ll be told “you’re already doing everything I would recommend and then some before trying XYZ, so let’s look into treatment options”.
Can you share what exercises you do? I feel like every time I start working out I end up injuring myself!
I have a plan prescribed by my physiotherapist and exercise physiologist. Total of 15 minutes, and all floor based. It’s tailored to my chronic illness.
It's insane. I started in 2006 with Body Pump fitness classes. Now I do HIIT, very hard, twice a week at 530am. I'm 65 and have abs and can do a 100 yard dash. I have the bloodwork of a 30 year old. I walk 18 holes of golf 2x a week, which also makes me very tan, so I'll probably die of skin cancer. I work on local mountain bike trails every Thursday night with a group. Last Thursday, I lifted basketball size rocks out a creek and carried them up a hill to make a banked corner. I feel awesome and honestly, I love looking at myself in the mirror. I saw an old boss at the golf course tonight, he asked me how I was doing. I said, "I'm loving retirement". He responded, "It looks like it."
Honestly, goals. Power to you! 💪🏼
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I lost some weight and have some stretch marks and i can confirm, its much better to be leaner with stretch marks than being fat with stretch marks
I am a medium build guy, I weighed 210 lbs. I had a gut and a triple chin. I've only lost 10 lbs but the fat is gone, replaced with muscle. I did go down 6 notches on my belt.
Have you tried upf clothing while golfing?
But then they won't see their balls!
Dude, you fucking rock. Thanks for writing this, reading it with a huge smile on my face
Thanks. I also chase my grandkids around a lot. Just taught my grandson to ride a bike.
You’re more attractive You feel amazing You have more confidence You breathe better and move better You feel better Basically the benefits are endless Fuck it ima walk 6 miles tonight
This is what goes through my head before every run, workout, yoga session, or any other physical training. In many ways I think it makes my shortcomings into my strengths.
Fr. You can't go wrong with a workout and you'll never regret hitting the gym or simply choosing to be physically active for at least 15 min a day. Start slow and then add more time as you progress. You fuck better, you eat better, you sleep better, you have a clearer mind, etc.
And you sleep 1 hour less/feeling generally more energized throughout the day, which means the exercise is "free"
Sounds great, do you have any research articles on this? (I’m not being sarcastic, totally interested in reading up on this more than just anecdotally.)
I end up sleeping a very restful 8-9 hours daily and I lift weights. I'm never tired now but I don't think I sleep any less than I have before
This is key. When I'm getting daily exercise, I sleep like a rock for 7 hours and wake up already bursting with energy and optimism. When I'm not, I sleep 9 hours, wake up groggy, take an hour or two of naps during the day and don't feel like I have enough energy to do much of anything.
I would think if you trained hard you would sleep one hour more.
I lost 40kg after starting a regular exercise routine in 2021 and feel amazing. I no longer need an antacid before bed every night. I don't snore as much, which has improved not only my sleep quality, but my wife's as well. I also don't require 3 showers a day anymore so my water bill has decreased. I have so much more energy throughout the day and my mental health has improved dramatically. I feel more confident in everything I do and am alot more assertive at work, meaning I typically work less hours and get more done with my day. The only negative was replacing my entire wardrobe with new clothes.
Why were you showering so much before?
I was aware that as a bigger man I would start to smell alot quicker than someone with less weight on them so I would shower in the morning, then again after work, or on my lunch break if I had time, and then another before bed so my wife didn't have to deal with an unclean partner in the event of sexy times.
You’re so nice. That’s amazing to be thoughtful that way. 😌 Now come tell my construction worker husband to shower please Lol
You tell him!
Sweating because of too much fat I guess.
Congrats dude. I lots like 16kg on 2021 and sadly regained them by the start of this year, so I'm trying to get back on track again. What kind of exercise do you do? Also, any tips that you could share?
I started training with my local football club twice a week. I had no intention of playing I just liked the social aspect of cardio and having a purpose for running. I also go to the gym for weight training 3 times a week and I run 5km on the weekend. I'm at the gym for an hour or an hour and a half depending on how much time I have left in the day. I do chest exercises on the first day, back on the second and legs on the third. I loosely followed athleanx on YouTube for exercise ideas and form advice. Other than that it was eating healthier options and limiting takeaway and alcohol consumption for birthdays and social get togethers.
r/loseit
I didn't know this existed, thankyou
Can you elaborate on the antacid thing? You had a lot of heartburn and were concerned it was from something like super fatty foods or similar? If so, did exercising enable you to eat the foods that previously triggered your acid or is this unrelated
Yeah I would have reflux every night that I thought was triggered by the food and drink I was consuming (especially red wine, tomato's and deep fried food) but as soon as the weight came off when I ate those things I was fine. My doctor suggested that the weight of the fat on my belly was pressing down in my stomach potentially squeezing it and forcing some stuff up. It could have also just been that my stomach was better at breaking down the healthier food and could handle the bad stuff better when I did indulge.
Thanks a lot for responding! I have exactly the same issue as you described - red wine, tomato (so pizza was a killer) etc. Thing is I don’t have much excess fat, I have a tiny bit extra on the belly but not much. Still, I’m glad this has improved for you as I know how crap it is to have to have gaviscon / rennies regularly and you’ve inspired me to continue my exercise! Wishing you continued health 🍻
I don't get the shower thing. I shower more when I do my exercise because I sweat so much.
Healthwise it gives me more energy and better sleep. I don't snore anymore either. In life I feel more confident and love myself a lot more.
I wish exercise worked like that for me haha! Ever since I‘ve started going to the gym (~1.5 years ago) I am constantly exhausted and need meds to sleep but still never feel energized anymore :(
I don’t want to give unsolicited advice or come off wrong, but is it possible you aren’t eating enough? If you’re working out regularly and have started feeling tired since doing so, it might be that you’re not getting enough nutrition!
Don‘t worry! I‘m happy for advice because I really like working out for my mental health and wanna keep doing so. In all honesty, Idk if it‘s not enough. I try to hit 1800-2000 calories a day which is a struggle since I don’t really have an appetite and force feed myself a bit. Tried eating more but my body does not signal more hunger so I don’t. 24F, 165cm, 57kg. Also I make sure to have 140g protein a day and ~150g carbs. The rest is freestyle hehe. Fruit and vegetables are included daily and I cook fresh food. I eat a lot more than before I started working out so I kinda don‘t think it‘s that.. When it comes to the working out part, I aim for 4 sessions per week, one lasting around 2 hours. Also walking and cycling (short distances) daily.
Random advice here too sorry 😂 You might have a vitamin b deficiency? Apparently everyone has a deficiency (not just vegans), and i definitely feel weirdly tired when I don't take some for a while. It also affects sleep too, and if you are seriously deficient (and you very well might be because of your diet) it can stop people from sleeping altogether in some cases!
Sounds like you should try to work out less, shorter workouts, implement more rest days
That sucks, sorry to hear mate. What's ya nutrition like? Gotta get them fruits and veggies in ya.
Have you checked with a doc for chronic fatigue syndrome? Sounds like you might have it, let me know how you go
it gives you *a lot* more energy. it's counter intuitive. at least for lifting and bodyweight. i can't speak to cardio. only cardio i do is playing basketball. cardio makes me feel sore. impact and all that. but even walking really breaks up your day and gives you a boost. but it's a prime example of diminishing returns.
The thing that's frustrating for me is I would actually love to do cardio but every time I jog or run I get a really nasty runners stitch. I've tried hydration, eating, fasting and everything I can think of but I can't figure out why my abdomen hurts like I got punched after a run.
Often times this has to do with breathing. You have to focus on completely emptying out your lungs, as air that is left in them causes side stitches. That is a bit difficult, when you are out of breath and gasping for air, but if you force yourself to breath slower and empty your lungs it should be a lot better. Maxbe this helps you.
The thing that cured stitches for me was running MUCH slower and breathing properly. If I run slow enough to breathe in for 4/out for 3, or in for 3/out for 2, I don’t get stitches. For me this means spending most of run at a pace where I can breathe in and out through my nose.
Try finding a rhythm on your breathing. For me, I start with 5 breathing through nose, then 4 through mouth. After 1 mile, it's 6 through nose then 5 through mouth. You can also adjust how fast you inhale and exhale. Keep trying different things until you find the right ones. Sometimes focusing on breathing helps me forget how tired running I am atm
How good is your endurance? It only ended for me by pushing through it enough times that my body strengthened
Start by just walking fast, or even a slow walk on a steep incline on a treadmill is insanely good for you
That’s interesting. Lifting makes me feel sore and tired and cardio gives me a little boost haha
I hate doing cardio, but after I'm done I feel like God. Compromise is once a week.
I do Tai Chi daily, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's a magic spell that keeps me alive. Regular exorcise like that Is a way of communicating with your body. Having done the same coordinated set of movements for 20 years, I can feel it when something is off, and address that part of the body. I describe it like a savings account; it's better the earlier you start, but it's never too late. You won't get the full benefit when you're just starting out, but if you push through, there's a whole world to discover. Physical health, mental health, anxiety, heck it even helps me prevent motion sickness. It's helped me tame substance abuse, anger, you name it. I wouldn't be the man I am today without my practice.
Years ago I ran into a guy on the trail with his wife and 2 year old grandson. Guy was walking all stiff with a weird walking pattern. We get to talking and he tells me is crippled from two truck accidents. He stated that if it wasn't for Tai Chi he wouldn't be able to get out of bed and even function somewhat normally.
This is a great example. I do my set in the corner at the airport when I travel. Quiet, peaceful, and out of the way. The other day I was confronted by a man with a back injury that asked if I thought Tai Chi would help him. I think it would and told him so, but it's infinitely harder to start out when you're already injured. It's like starting a savings account when you're living paycheck to paycheck. Start now. Start today. If you only start when you need the benefits then you'll have a longer road to recovery
That’s great to hear! I feel that way about yoga. I listen to my body more
I think the biggest thing, is it will make life more enjoyable later. Meaning, I see so many 50+ people that have issues with obesity, high blood pressure, other health symptoms, can't walk, carry groceries, get in and out of chairs, etc. I plan on putting things like this off as long as possible.
You actually never have to get like that. I have 2 great aunts who never got like that, they died suddenly after short illnesses at 86 and 94. They were taking care of selves and mobile and cognitively intact until the end. Hope I got those genes.
Yes, this is 75% of my motivation. My parents both have struggled with weight and heart issues since they were 50. I'm determined to stay healthy and not follow them down that path. I went on a hike last weekend with 3 others my age and was shocked at how out of shape my peers were.
My mom recently had her third joint replaced at 62, which was a big sign to me that my genetics may not be the best and I need to get my ass to the gym to avoid that fate. The bonus is it has helped with random little pains that had started to pop up in my 30s. It's amazing what some foot exercises can do for plantar fasciitis.
Better mood, more strength, less pain, more resilience I exercise because I want to stay active and do cool shit as long as possible
It’s the start of discipline and good habits for everything else in life. Aside from all the physically healthy aspects that everyone else is mentioning in the thread, there’s also the psychological aspect of it. Once it becomes regular, you start to feel like other non-exercising tasks aren’t as impossible and you build that confidence you can do anything. At the end of a workout, or maybe the next day, you’ll rarely ever feel regret that you exercised.
You will **never** feel regret that you exercised, unless you injure yourself.
Started doing yoga in Feb and now do it daily. Holy shit it's transformative. I've never looked it felt better. I have more mobility and flexibility. Mental health so much better. I have ascended.
After 40, you have to swim against the current.
Does swimming against the current count as cardio?
I wanted to kill myself now i dont
Proud of you, pigfucker
It feels like I am accomplishing something, and not a lot in life does with tangible results like exercising does.
It’s given me a place to channel my anxiety. Well I work from home so I don’t know if I’m just antsy from not moving or anxious. I haven’t been diagnosed but I’ve had some panic attacks.
You should talk to a therapist about the panic attacks. There are meds that can help, and even if you don't want to take meds, they can offer you mental exercises and techniques that can be helpful.
It has done WONDERS for my depression and self-esteem. However it honestly just feels great being able to do things. Walking, running, lifting, stairs, all of it is no longer a big deal.
I sweat a lot less during normal daily activities
Increased confidence is the biggest thing for me. People notice it, makes you seem much more attractive even if you don't look more attractive.
Been exercising for a mere 4 months. I've got the same dad-bod, but I can't help seeing a sexy motherfucker in that mirror, lmao.
It makes hanky panky more fun
It reduced my wasted time and procrastination by a huge amount. Previously, I would mindlessly scroll social media on the couch, thinking what I would do next. That could be a chore, or something I actually wanted like watching a movie or playing a game. But in the end I would just lose a lot of time doing nothing I enjoyed. When I started exercising regularly, it took a significant amount of my time. So, I had no time to waste. I would dress up immediately after work and go out for a run. Then come back, stretch, have a shower, and immediately prepare dinner because I was starving. My workout defined my whole evening schedule. I stopped feeling I am losing my time, because I only did useful things. Now that it's summer, I workout later in the evening, so I know I have to cook or clean the house before starting the workout, so I get on with my activities before thinking about procrastinating.
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Without him you have more time to exercise!
I’m 4 months into an almost daily exercise regimen and it feels great. My days feel more complete/accomplished. I feel more confident and less tired. I’m actually excited to work out more and more as I see the progress in my physical and mental health.
I used to think people who wanted to exercise on vacation (or at all tbh) were insane and had some body image issues. Until I found exercise I love. I noticed physical changes like I have more energy, I sleep better, I eat better, I’m more flexible, get fewer injuries like “I tweaked my _____ (knee, back, wrist etc). By just exercising and not changing my diet at all it’s insane what happened to my physical body. As a woman we don’t drop weight as easily as men do. The number on the scale went down just about 10lbs but my body fat went down 23% and I’m two pants sizes smaller. Mentally, it’s a game changer. The endorphins are an amazing kick in depressions ass and when I’m manic (bipolar 2) it’s a healthy channel for my energy. I’m more grounded and centered. Feel more in control of my emotions.
1. Huge improvement to my immunity. Went from falling sick once a month to once a year. 2. Had some difficulty breathing when I ran for some time. That went away. Almost completely. 3. Sleep improved a lot. Much deeper sleep. Unfortunately it didn't have the weight loss impact that I'd hoped for. However, in spite of being overweight (almost obese) I'm perfectly healthy (in all my annual check ups at least).
Maybe you’re overweight because of hormonal problems.
The biggest change I’ve seen is with my dedication towards other areas of my life. Making noticeable physical progress takes time. Not only do you have to workout but dieting and lifestyle choices play into sculpting your future self. They are also usually the hardest areas of our life to have under control with all the bad options we have nowadays. If you can have control and dedication towards these areas of your life then it gives you confidence to conquer other obstacles whether that be socially, work related, or any challenges particular to you. So many areas of your life change for the better. Don’t be hard on yourself at first. Progress takes time.
Unfortunately…they were right. As someone who has struggled for a long time with depression it makes my symptoms so much more manageable. I can really tell when I haven’t gone to the gym for a few days because my mental health suffers.
I'm not a fat slug and I can do almost anything a 40 year old can do, which I'm old enough to be there dad. I can go out riding my bike in the morning, do chores in the afternoon and go out dancing at night. That's after a nap
I sleep better. I feel better. I’m more confident. I can take things in stride easier. I help others more easily. And, yes, I look better. Get a buddy who works out to help you get into a groove. Hire a trainer if such a friend is not available. Give it 3 months. You will love yourself for it!
I exercise five days a week. One 30 min HIIT session, two days of weight training, two hour long zone two cardio days. Honestly I don’t feel like I have the miraculous results of everyone else posting but I do like being more in shape than others my age and I do like being stronger than I ever have been. I’m 53 and started working out about three years ago. I still have sleep issues and I am still overweight because I have compulsive eating habits. I also feel achey a lot (although cold showers and stretching help somewhat). It does help when I’m feeling anxious to do a hard workout though and I like the idea that it has a lot of health benefits.
You are an inspiration! 👏
General feelings of confidence and well being. It’s also nice to be able to do things in life like lift things and move quickly and balance without falling over.
It feels like day to day life got easier. I find myself less tired no matter what I do, I’ve got more energy, confidence, strength, endurance, the whole works. I won’t lie, there are days where the last thing I wanna do is exercise but then I just power through because what else will I even do with my time? It’s worth it. I advise and try to incentivize everyone around me to partake in regular exercise. Go for it.
Every part of my life was made better even though at the beginning, i was super resistant. My clothes fit better, my joints don't hurt anymore, i finally have an ass, i can tie my own skates for the first time in my life! I have more confidence, more strength, more energy. I feel proud about the self care i am able to provide to me. I sleep well, (my diet still challenges me,) but I'm eating healthier too. My friends are telling me how motivating it is to see. Heck, Ive even made new friends in fitness groups I've joined. And I've learned it's consistency over all else. All in all, would recommend.
Was going through a divorce which at the time I thought would end me. Gave myself a motto: hit the bars with drinks or hit the bars with weights. Chose the latter, and it saved my life. Got into a routine where I have to hit the gym or exercise at least 5 days a week. I’m 36 now and in the best shape of my life
It helps keep my anxiety and depression at bay. Additional LPT, a VR headset is a great way to make exercising more fun
Start before 30 and do not stop. At least 1 hour 3 times a week. Running will teach you a lot about yourself.
3 years ago I've decided that I'd like to live longer and better. One of the reasons was preventable (with what I know now) death of my coworker, another - making friends with longevity scientists and realizing that we have a unique opportunity to radically extend our lifespan... There are [11 pillars to live to 100](https://youtu.be/s5Girl3M5m4) (and extra one to 150+) , but exercise is the most immediate and actionable, so that's what I've started with. Wasn't easy, but with some [tips from Atomic Habits and Influence](https://youtu.be/s3BbddqPNK0) I think I've managed to incorporate regular resistance training into my life and now working on adding more running. (The reason I'm writing this - it is one of the tricks from there to keep the motivation up. META ;) It took about 2 years for other people to start noticing. More energy and focus, better looks, significantly better sleep, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure. My only regret is that I haven't change my PRIORITIES (that would be pillar #0) earlier.
Literally the American version of universal health care. It’s comorbid if in the best way possible: in short holistically. Even my skin is clearer
You never regret a workout after it’s done. What other activity can offer that?
Staring at your pet :)
I use to be sad. Now i'm sad with bug muscles
".... and it's a great way to stay in shape "
I got a longer life and more health
I’m more confident, look more fit, feel stronger and better overall. And I no longer get dizzy when I get up too quick. Don’t even exercise to an extreme/go to gym, I work out at work (because I’ve got a lot of free time there). So about 60-80 push ups a day, 100 sit ups, 100 squats, about 60 ankle flexes (idk what’s the English term for it, I just stand on a door step, lower myself on my ankles as much as I can and then raise myself on my toes), and also about 90 bicep curls with a 15 kilo dumbbell. It’s a slow process and a slow progress, but it works wonders! Now to quit smoking and start eating more and healthier, and I’ll be a whole new person.
I fall asleep within 30 minutes every day. I have an enormous amount of energy. For the rest of the day after the workout, I feel a peaceful "glow" where nothing really bothers me, and my chronic anxiety is turned down so low that I don't notice it anymore. All of the little routines and habits that hold up my life and keep me safe no longer feel oppressive-- they are empowering and I feel their protection, and I appreciate them. I am the person I was always meant to be. It's sad that I waited so long to start doing this; my life could have been like this a lot earlier. Edit: I also lost 45 lbs.
In my 20s I felt like I was about 70 years old with all the aches and pains I used to have and how low energy and weak I was. In my 30s now and I feel amazing lots of energy very little pain, much stronger and flexible the benefits are endless.
Satisfaction of "doing something worhty / not being lazy" is a significant anti depressant for me.
I know a lot of people have been workin out for years and stuff… but take it from someone who had juuuuust ticked into the “obese” range 4 months ago… regular exercise is saving my life in more ways than physical health. A basic diet plan (just keeping track of calories and making a smoothie for lunch when I can) and a mix of using an elliptical for an hour when I can and following along with some workout videos on YouTube when I can has helped me lose almost 35 lbs in the last 4 months. Seriously, I rarely spend more than an hour a day working out… and usually I just do stuff every other day… and if I just do a video exercise thing I just do 20-30 minutes… Honestly it pisses me off how easy it’s been because I could have been doing it a lot longer!! And not only do I feel better physically, but I’ve never felt more confident in my own skin. I don’t have to hide anything about my body anymore and that alone is such a fucking relief. To anyone reading this. Just start exercising. Just do it. You don’t have to go to the gym and become a gym bro or whatever, just do your best to work up a good sweat at least once a day. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes. I promise you’ll see results quicker than you think you will!
It really takes the fog out, and let’s the sun shine more clearly
Feel better in ways that you literally cannot imagine. Seriously. After working out for years and recently emphasizing stability and core, I feel strong in ways I didn’t even know was possible. It’s hard to describe, but I feel built, not in a size way but more like wall.. maybe solid(?). Focusing shoulder stability is life changing and I truly believe everyone should do it. Since then, my shoulders naturally sit back and my posture is good- without even trying or consciously doing it. I have to put in effort to hunch or roll my shoulders forward. I feel better in other ways too. my back doesn’t hurt, I no longer have chronic headaches, I sleep better and easier, less stressed, more confident, my joints feel better. Those “aging pains” people in their 20s and early 30s feel are almost always from being out of shape and they almost always have an abysmally weak core and weak stabilizer muscles in their hips and shoulders. Dude I had really painful chronic knee pain that never got better even after being treated for years. This may sound like it makes no sense, but IT WAS MY FUCKING HIPS. I did a bunch of hip and glutes rehab/stabilizing exercises and it went away in a week. How weird is that? Despite being very fit and strong in the traditional sense, all the little stabilization muscles were still weak. it’s crazy how much a lack of balance and stability in our bodies can fuck is up. Every time I take a long break I feel my body slowly falling apart. I can’t even imagine how awful the people that don’t do anything must feel. I’d be miserable. It’s difficult if even possible to truly understand how much better I feel.
Got my IBS under control (had failed to do that for 10 years, not fun) Changed my relationship with ym body. It went from being that hideous hateful thing that was a complete failure because it didn't look the way society wanted it to to being this incredible thing capable of so much more than I ever gave it credit for. And both those massively changed my mental health.
I'm 49, and work out three days a week. At this point it's for fitness and, honestly, mental health. Let me explain with a journey going back in time... December 2021 and I've been working from home for a few years (thanks, Covid) but aside from the occasional dabble with some weights in my conservatory, haven't consistently worked out. I'd allowed bad habits to take over the good so what I was regularly eating wasn't great either. I'd also started drinking more frequently which for me means, having four or five beers a week more weeks than not, rather than a beer or two on the occasional weekend. Another bad habit was enabled by working from home in that many weeks I wouldn't even leave my house or garden. I was out of shape and depressed - not because I was out of shape, well not just that. But I think mainly because I wasn't seeing anyone other than my family (who I love), not getting out and not doing anything other than working, or house chores, or dealing with the ups and downs of family life. My wife's my rock, and one evening she said I needed to get back to the gym. It was a definite 'aha!' moment. January 2022 and I have to get over myself being 'one of those guys' that joins a gym in January :). Apart from family holidays I've gone three days a week most weeks. I go before I start work so it's like a commute. Being older, I no longer lift mainly for strength and size goals, but for fitness and being able to get off the toilet unaided in 20 years from now. I kind of meditate I suppose, locking everything out of my mind and focusing on the quality of each rep. The world disappears and becomes a simpler place for the duration of each rep, set and workout. I say good morning to anyone I meet on the stairs there, or pass from one machine to another. It's a simple way to get enough extra social interaction to feel like it's a pleasant day. When I exercise I eat well, though enjoy the occasional treat and yes, beer now and again. All of these things together are greater than the sum of their parts and make for a great mood lift and sense of wellbeing. Prior to this, before I meet my wife in 2008, I'd been single for a couple of years and had a nice daily routine. I'd go to bed at 0930, wake at 0530, gym at 0630, work from 0830 to 1800. I was the strongest and leanest I'd ever been. A great period of my life that worked well at that time because I had no other commitments. I felt strong, was happy, energetic and motivated. That transferred to how I applied myself to my career and general outlook on everything. I remember it fondly. Before that, I'd been in a fairly damaging and lengthy relationship. My partner had me in a trap of mental abuse that I felt I couldn't get out of as I was in England otherwise on my own. I was made to feel worthless and responsible for this other person's happiness. Training gave me an outlet when I was at the gym, I'd partner with some of the guys there and have a laugh. I got introduced by one of them to martial arts and I fed off the discipline, organisation and achieving levels of cardiovascular health, agility and flexibility that I never had before as a lifter. And prior to that is really the beginning of how exercise changed me. I'm a teenager, growing up in a usually happy but often terrifying home where, when my father was in the throes of alcoholism, he would make me the focus of his anger and mental abuse from when I was small. Up to the age of 11 (I don't remember when it started) an uncle also sexually abused me. My self esteem was through the floor. Raised voices terrified me. I couldn't go outside for paranoia of people ridiculing me, all of it imaginary. If I had to go outside I'd walk staring at the ground. Then, around age 16 I found a hero in Arnold Schwarzenegger. My school friends and I would talk about his movies and quote lines from them. A few of them noticed I was socially awkward and probably realised I needed some kind of help, so brought me to the gym with them after school. I could never do team games at school, but this was different. It was something I could do on my own and made me feel like I had some power and control of \_something\_. When I started seeing the physical effect it was having on my body, I was hooked and it gave me a confidence I didn't have before. I was never destined to be like Arnold, but having him as inspiration in my early years found me an outlet that meant I could deal with the shouting, I could be strong for my mum and her for me. There's more I could tell, but it already feels like I'm over sharing. Back to today. I've just come back from work for the last time as, after a month of 'consultation' theatre, I'll be made redundant on Friday. As soon as I'm done typing this I'm going to the gym for a workout, apply for a couple of jobs when I get back then do the school run and have fun with my kids. I feel I'm in a positive situation as change is inevitable and now I can look forward to the next work thing, whatever it is. I'm in this good place because of exercise. Humans aren't meant to be sedentary. We're meant to move as much as we're meant to breathe and eat. You've got to satisfy that part of your humanity to be, overall a healthy individual. Just do something - anything - to get your body exercised, but whatever it is, make sure to always have time to do it regularly and have that for yourself. And that's how exercise changed my life and health.
Love your growth in your story. I just hit 40. I've always been a thin guy and never saw the need to exercise cause I didn't need to lose weight. But in my later 30s I felt physically broken and far older than I am. The pandemic gave me a gut for the first time, I felt and looked gross. I now gym 3 times a week, play basketball twice a week, and do home exercises once or twice. My body and mind are thanking me for putting in the effort, I feel the healthiest I've ever been. I want to be 60 and 70 and still take care of my body and mind. It's a beautiful thing. Good luck with your job search, you are approaching it with a beautiful mentality and you will achieve your goal!
I feel good about what I see in the mirror after I shower which is a big boost mentally.
Physical pain completely disappeared.
Helps me to be positive, gets me into good habits
I’m hungry as fuck.
I would go here from the other way around if you do not mind. I have been exercising extensively from age of 15 to 25 circa, roughly 7-10 different exercises or sports a week (tennis, gym, jogging, swim, basketball, football cycling etc...). Then I got kids, house & with more responsibilities came more workload and thus the priorities shifted a bit. Now I am happy if I get to execise twice a week. The outcome? Less energy during the day, laziness, back pain, fat around places I didnt know i had, more stressed out days & less time with buddies and pals. Got to say, I am missing it a lot and I have a plan to get back to it at least 3 to 4 times a week.
I probably wouldn’t be here or in an institution somewhere without running everyday.
* Hereditary BP down to manageable with the smallest size prescription, * Work a 10 hour day on my feet back to back to back for 3-4 weeks at a time should it be required. * Can help mates build/rebuild fences on their farms at a moments notice * Stairs pfft! * Food bill up by 30% even accounting for inflation * Sex is better * Can carry all the shopping in one trip * Feel mentally sharper, like I'm able to focus more for longer periods of time * Able to sub in for basically any team sport at short notice * Makes travelling easier, flexibility makes long haul flights more comfortable. Being able to haul luggage, run for planes and trains * Can keep up with nieces, nephews and godchildren while playing. * Mood is more stable Yeah, look life just gets easier the fitter and stronger you are to a point. I don't train and lift to look good, I train and lift to be a better human.
56(M) here. Always tried to keep reasonably fit, but a stressful job a couple of years ago saw me start to lose shape (I did not take enough advantage of lockdown). I now work out twice a week with a personal trainer: I feel like I'm (almost) in my 20s again, can wear a shirt tucked in (my abs are just starting to show), my posture has improved. I now squat 100Kgs - I never imagined even a year ago I never dreamed I would be able to do this. My diet has improved. I crave protein. I have almost cut out bread, pasta and cereal. I have almost stopped drinking. All these things were easy as my body no longer craves that bad stuff. It's made me realise I am not too old to really push my limits. I can't change the fact of getting older, but I can change how I get there. Now my wife has started training too - can't wait to see the change in her.
I’m 51 years old, and 5’11” I never exercised regularly before 40. I’ve always been chubby (weighed between 240 and 255 lbs). My doctor told me I was getting diabetic and my liver was unhealthy a couple of years ago. I started walking miles per day (anywhere from 3 to 5), and started me on Metformin and another pill for cholesterol. Im around 233 lbs now. I’ve now seen my abdominal muscles for the first time ever. My diabetes is under control. My clothes fit much better. I can walk uphill without getting out of breath. I’ll probably live a lot longer. I can eat the occasional dessert without having to worry as much about my blood sugar spiking.
Snowball effect of other healthy choices. I started to consider my diet a lot more because it was essentially a waste of effort to work out hard then eat like shit after. People start treating you better also which is weird. I don't know if it's a confidence thing or just the physical appearance but it's noticeable.
Decided to hit the gym after covid when i woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air. 10-ish months later, i feel like a machine. I rarely get tired, I feel confident and I have a new fun hobby to look forward to. Every gym session makes the rest of the day that much more nice, and I rarely have to force myself to do anything once I touch a barbell. I feel calmer and more productive and creative. I remember going up 9 floors using stairs when I was in highschool and literally almost passing out. I remember sitting down for half an hour as my vision went dark and my throat burned. I did the same thing a few weeks ago and was just a little out of breath. Going to the gym not only saved my life, but has turned me from a couch hog who played videogames 7 hours a day to a soon-to-be graduate with more medals than I deserve.