Hey Everybody,

Just posted my intro on the daily chat, but I wanted to ask a question about exercise, so I thought I'd start a new thread on it.

How do you all get yourself up off the couch to exercise?? I really enjoy doing it, but I'm in this funk where I just can't move. I've got great videos and I really want to do them. I know how good I'll feel after I do them. I live in the south, so I have lots of opportunity to be outside even this time of year. But there are some days I never set foot outside if I don't have to go to work.
Being off schedule from the holidays hasn't helped. I've been kind of hit and miss with my meds lately too. And that makes things even worse. That said though, I still just can't get moving. Even when I've had a great week mentally I can't seem to exercise. I teach an exercise class and I still can't make myself do it on the other days of the week!!! Tell me that isn't pathetic!!!
Any words of wisdom out there for me. I'm at my wits end, and have also had a bad day from the roller coaster that is depression. Must have taken that second dose of wellbutrin too early. Seem to have gotten a little weepy here. Better head off to bed.
Hope to hear from some of you tomorrow.

Sandy

Sandy, I saw your post, and just wanted to send you a hug... I'm sorry about the meds, hon. I know the problem all too well.
I'm not good about exercising, either (particularly when I'm depressed).
Someone posted something here (can't remember who or where) that struck me, though. She said that on the days when she didn't want to exercise, she would say to herself, "I hate this. I don't want to do it," all the while putting on her running shoes. And then getting on the exercise bike. (or whatever)
I tried it... just acknowledging that I didn't want to do it really helped. It really did help thinking, "I don't want to do this darned exercise," all the while running on the treadmill.
I felt good knowing that, while I didn't want to exercise, I was doing something for my body (and my brain!). It was a sort of, "Just Do It!" moment, you know? You don't HAVE to like it. You just have to do it.
Hang in there, hon...

Exercise is a 4 letter word to me I really dislike it unless I'm doing something I really enjoy, like swimming, playing volley ball, etc.

So, the way I am motivating myself is... summer is coming UHHHHHHH!!!!
I say to myself, I'll just do it for a few minutes, and if I feel up to it, I'll do some more. Another words, start out slow....but start out!!

If I say to myself I HAVE to do 1 hour of cardio... it'll never happen EVER!!!
If I say to myself I will do 15 minutes on the dreadmill, thats more gentle on my brain.... once I do 15 minutes I'll mostlikely press myself to do more since I'm already there.

Does this make sense or do I sound like a fool again LOLOL !!!! (hush ellis)

Over in the "300 pound forum", we have an exercise thread -- where we log our minutes of exercise against our monthly goal. That helps get me going sometimes.

Also, I signed up with a personal trainer -- I meet with her twice a week -- that gets me moving.

Finally, sometimes I just stop thinking about whether I want to do it or not, put my headphones on, and crank up the rock . Sometimes that works.

Good luck to you -- I know how hard it can be to get into an exercise program -- that's why I'm trying to find every trick I can to keep going.

Ughh. I am in the same boat except I don't even really like to excercise. Then I figured telling myself I have to go 3 times a week is a bit daunting, so I gave myself a goal to do it once a week. I'm hoping that works. Maybe as I get into the habit, then I can build up. Right now once a week is not nearly as daunting as 3 times a week.

I think we all have our "lazy" moments, and I am certainly guilty of many of those. But here is what I have been doing.

Recently, I went out and bought a size 12 dress, though at present I am a 22/24 (I was once a 32/34!) and when I feel like blowing off a workout, I put that small dress out where I can see it and visualize myself in it along with a little self talk ("Just think, by summer, you could be wearing that! But it won't fit you if you don't bust a move NOW!"). I also find that when I do a ten-minute workout in the morning, I feel more motivated for the rest of the day to get other work done, and taking an aerobics class (low impact, since I have bad knees) and walking has even helped me not be so stressed out as well as helped me sleep better at night. Oh, the benefits!

Hello, everybody. I too need some help getting off of the couch. I can't seem to get up to do anything around my house. I am here most of the time by myself becaue my husband works second shift and long hours so I just sit on the couch and watch TV and beat myself up about it when I go to bed at night. I have so much work to do around the house, being a stay at home mom and all, but I can't seem to get motivated to do it or to exercise. I have cut back on the sugary drinks but that has been about it as far as my goals. I can't seem to figure out why I cannot get my house clean when it is something I so desperately want to do and why I don't exercise when I really need to and enjoy the benefits of when I do. Any suggestions?

Hey Bloodbought, Why not try just little things at first- instead of making it seem like you have to run a marathon today. For instance, put your excercise clothes and sneakers on when you wake up, so it will be on your mind. And make little deals- like, "I can have a fudgsicle if I do 10 crunches". Stuff like that to get you started! Soon it will just be a regular part of your day!

There's an exercise thread here too, its posted above as a stick... feel free to post away.. the more the merrier

Hi Sandy,

I took Zoloft for several years and it made me very happy just to sit around all day. I knew I was gaining weight but I was so happy I didn't really care. Finally, I asked to be switched to something else. I went on low dose Prozac which has given me back my old energy level and for some reason, now I care a lot more about my weight than I did. I'm not anxious or depressed at all, but I do have a normal range of emotions, which I felt like I did not have on the Zoloft. I feel like I finally found the right medication for me and I feel very much like my old pre-anxious self. The medicine has not caused me to lose weight, but it has given me the energy to get up and do what I need to do. It's not an articificial energy, though, it just feels normal, not sedated.

Maybe you should talk with your doctor about changing your meds? I hope the best for you. I know how it feels to be in your situation, too.

Take care!

Thanks BeachinInBoston, you make it sound so simple. I appreciate the advice and I like the idea of getting up and putting your exercise clothes on so it is on your mind. Today I hope to get some things accomplished and my husband just told me he has tommorrow off so I am happy about that. Wish me luck and the same to all of you.