nikaknits
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stitch by stitch, row by row, meal by meal, day by day
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Dec 21, 2012 21:09:25 GMT -5
Post by nikaknits on Dec 21, 2012 21:09:25 GMT -5
ok, I'm sure I'm not the only one, so I'll be brave and say. I hate exercising... but that's not the problem. My main problem is.... I'm embarrassed to exercise... I can't walk around the block without feeling like everyone is staring out their window at me... I can't even exercise to a video in my home with my children around.. I'm just embarrassed and feel totally humiliated. Totally illogical, I know, and I have tried and tried and tried and tried... Please, any ideas how to get over this?
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Post by DanielleBaucom on Dec 21, 2012 21:37:32 GMT -5
There is no really logical answer to an 'illogical' problem. All the 'logic' I could apply here would do nothing to help you 'get over your problem'. But I understand how you feel. I had to learn to enjoy exercise. I've endured the humiliation of walking into a gym at 215lbs and feeling judged. Whether I was or not doesn't really matter here. What mattered is that I had to decide whether I was going to let other people's possible opinions rule my life or whether I was going to do what I knew was right for me. As I continued to force myself into that uncomfortable zone, I learned a lot about me. That I have worth in God's eyes no matter what my weight; that other people actually respected me for taking charge of my health and that my children need a good role model for fitness. All I can say for you is that God made you special. Don't worry about other's opinions. Pray about what God would have you do, then try to boldly step in His direction! Find some kind of exercise that you do enjoy. There's something out there, I guarantee it!
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Dec 22, 2012 9:20:27 GMT -5
Post by Pearl on Dec 22, 2012 9:20:27 GMT -5
I'm another one who hates exercising as you know if you've read my chats about it in the book. I literally force myself to do it four times a week. But I keep it short, always less than twenty minutes.
Each person needs to find their own way of exercising that is going to be the most doable for them. Serene loves kettlebells but they are not for me. But I do believe in her short and intense theories. Try to find a form of exercise that you hate less than other forms ha ha. That sounds strange, but that has been my method. For health's sake, you simply have to do something, let your family know that. Hopefully your older ones can keep an eye on your 2 and 4 year old for a few minutes and you can shoo them out of the living room for 10-15 minutes and get it over with. You'll feel so much better afterwards. I always do.
I can't trust myself on my own inclination to be motivated about it, I really don't have any natural motivation when it comes to exercise. I never, ever look forward to it, so I just have to turn my brain off and take action. I do that by putting my exercise shoes on, grabbing a DVD and pressing play. Then, there is no going back.
Be encouraged, you can make this change. You don't have to spend hours at the gym. Just do a little something at home as a start and figure out what you're okay with.
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Post by joy724 on Dec 22, 2012 18:41:09 GMT -5
I can only stand to exercise at home - I would be too embarrassed at the gym. What about exercising in the evening after your kids go to bed? That's usually want I do.
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Dec 23, 2012 9:10:21 GMT -5
Post by andreahope on Dec 23, 2012 9:10:21 GMT -5
I can understand your heart. When I was at my largest I would go for walks or bike rides and feel like any car that passed would notice my back end completely engulfing my bike seat. Once I went to a Zumba class at the Y and I have never felt humiliation like I felt that day. I walked in and turned around to position myself and saw my reflection in the mirror that ran across the whole front wall. The problem was, I was in shock and could not believe that was ME!! NO. WAY. I was so humiliated I almost couldn't move. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. I wanted to hide, but how does a hippo hide??? Oh man.........I couldn't believe that that was really what I looked like. I backed up and made myself do the entire Zumba class, but I've never, ever been back to the Y. I could barely walk out to our car afterward I was so crippled with humiliation. I can really relate to you!! But, i think you could find a time and a place that you can exercise without onlookers. Either early in the morning or after your little ones are in bed. Or have a mid afternoon quiet time where everyone reads books on their beds. Start with ten minutes, turn on the radio and do some squats, push-ups, crunches, and leg kicks. You can always work your way up to 20 minutes as you gain strength and lose weight while thoroughly enjoying your THM food. You can DO it and you will be so, so glad you did!!! As I have lost weight, I have gained confidence and usually don't feel the burn of humiliation anymore. You are worth it dear sister!!! P.S. I love knitting too!!
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liz
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Dec 23, 2012 12:24:54 GMT -5
Post by liz on Dec 23, 2012 12:24:54 GMT -5
Sometimes exercise that doesn't look like exercise takes the attention away from you. For example, playing outdoor games with the kids. I make my kids work out with me or leave the room-- I am not a spectator sport. And I never work out in front of hubby!
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kimi
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Dec 23, 2012 15:44:06 GMT -5
Post by kimi on Dec 23, 2012 15:44:06 GMT -5
First, Monica, I'm so thankful that you are willing to say this. Not everyone loves all the same things, and it is hard to persevere when you are feeling judged. That said, I find that I do judge people who aren't size 'perfect' that I see out exercising. I think, Wow! They are trying. They are working towards becoming healthy. They haven't given up.
Flip your situation and realize that you have decided to become healthy. Let your kids see you screw up and look stupid, especially your daughters. They need to know that sometimes in life you are going to have to go outside of your comfort zone and take a risk in order to see a big payoff. You are taking a risk on changing your health and body. It is sometimes daunting just to make that decision. You should be proud that you aren't allowing whatever size or shape you are keep you from getting healthy.
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Dec 26, 2012 16:01:26 GMT -5
Post by mama12 on Dec 26, 2012 16:01:26 GMT -5
great advice from the others! What a role model for your kids to see you exercise. And the idea to just start with squats and lunges and pushups on the knees is a GREAT idea!!! Head out for a 10 min. walk....it usually gets longer b/c it feels so darned good! I LOVE to exercise though it's the outdoors running/walking/biking that I adore. I still have to talk myself into it some days. Take baby steps....you'll notice a difference!
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beckyd
Junior Member
Posts: 121
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Post by beckyd on Dec 28, 2012 0:55:30 GMT -5
Hey - I know whereof you speak. I literally started exercising in my bathroom, right before my shower each morning just so no one else knew I was doing it. I was so heavy that I couldn't walk up my driveway without getting out of breath, and I was concerned that almost any movement had the potential to injure me. So I started out with no more than about 5 minutes of things like leg lifts, raising up and down on my toes, and wall (or against the countertop) push ups. I had worked up to being able to do a variety of movements for 20 minutes within a month, and then I moved to a different room in the house so I wouldn't disturb my husband. I still didn't want anyone else to see me workout though. I hadn't even told anyone I was trying to lose weight yet. I was afraid if I did, and then was unable to lose the weight I'd be even more humiliated, but I was determined to give it a try. I knew God was urging me to lose weight in order to better care for my disabled husband, and to be more involved with my children. I usually get up before anyone else and do my workout while the rest of the house is still sleeping, but once I had really started to lose weight it didn't bother me for the girls to see me in my workout clothes, or catch me in the middle of a routine if I happened to get up late one morning. They are the best thing about losing weight now. They are always so full of encouragement - no matter how much I lose each week, and my middle daughter has become my walking buddy. I'm always quick to thank her for going along with me because I know she would walk much further, and most likely much faster if she were on her own or with another of her sisters. But she has hung in there with me even if I could only walk for 10 minutes on our two closest roads. I can now walk for a mile in my neighborhood (which I think they designed after the Swiss Alps), but I still thank her because she can walk the entire neighborhood, and loves to do so. So get in there. Do something - even if it's only for 5 minutes before your shower, where no one else can see you. After you do that for a week, add another minute, then add two more the next week. Before long you'll be up to 20 minutes. Do whatever it takes to get you started, because that is one of the biggest hurdles.
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Dec 28, 2012 10:59:12 GMT -5
Post by andreahope on Dec 28, 2012 10:59:12 GMT -5
What a great post Becky!! What a sweet daughter you have!!
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Dec 28, 2012 11:25:23 GMT -5
Post by Pearl on Dec 28, 2012 11:25:23 GMT -5
Hey - I know whereof you speak. I literally started exercising in my bathroom, right before my shower each morning just so no one else knew I was doing it. I was so heavy that I couldn't walk up my driveway without getting out of breath, and I was concerned that almost any movement had the potential to injure me. So I started out with no more than about 5 minutes of things like leg lifts, raising up and down on my toes, and wall (or against the countertop) push ups. I had worked up to being able to do a variety of movements for 20 minutes within a month, and then I moved to a different room in the house so I wouldn't disturb my husband. I still didn't want anyone else to see me workout though. I hadn't even told anyone I was trying to lose weight yet. I was afraid if I did, and then was unable to lose the weight I'd be even more humiliated, but I was determined to give it a try. I knew God was urging me to lose weight in order to better care for my disabled husband, and to be more involved with my children. I usually get up before anyone else and do my workout while the rest of the house is still sleeping, but once I had really started to lose weight it didn't bother me for the girls to see me in my workout clothes, or catch me in the middle of a routine if I happened to get up late one morning. They are the best thing about losing weight now. They are always so full of encouragement - no matter how much I lose each week, and my middle daughter has become my walking buddy. I'm always quick to thank her for going along with me because I know she would walk much further, and most likely much faster if she were on her own or with another of her sisters. But she has hung in there with me even if I could only walk for 10 minutes on our two closest roads. I can now walk for a mile in my neighborhood (which I think they designed after the Swiss Alps), but I still thank her because she can walk the entire neighborhood, and loves to do so. So get in there. Do something - even if it's only for 5 minutes before your shower, where no one else can see you. After you do that for a week, add another minute, then add two more the next week. Before long you'll be up to 20 minutes. Do whatever it takes to get you started, because that is one of the biggest hurdles. This is so touching. It brought me to tears.
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nikaknits
New Member
stitch by stitch, row by row, meal by meal, day by day
Posts: 58
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Dec 28, 2012 14:34:21 GMT -5
Post by nikaknits on Dec 28, 2012 14:34:21 GMT -5
Thank you all for the encouragement. I'm trying... I did 20 kettle swings after going to the bathroom yesterday. I know it sounds goofy, but at least I did something.
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beckyd
Junior Member
Posts: 121
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Dec 28, 2012 14:54:43 GMT -5
Post by beckyd on Dec 28, 2012 14:54:43 GMT -5
Yay!! I'm sure you'll do great!
And thank you Anrea and Pear.
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beckyd
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Dec 28, 2012 14:55:22 GMT -5
Post by beckyd on Dec 28, 2012 14:55:22 GMT -5
Sorry - Pearl.
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Dec 28, 2012 15:48:38 GMT -5
Post by andreahope on Dec 28, 2012 15:48:38 GMT -5
YAY Monica!!!!! That's a great start!!!!
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