My gym membership
Hi guys,
it is not a fitness question but I don't know where to post this.
I pay a lot for an expensive gym and I don't go. I keep paying my monthly dues hoping that will motivate me to go back and workout. sometimes, I stop there occasionally but maybe 3 times a month.
my diet is not clean and I understand this should be my top priority when it comes to weight loss . I have to admit that I eat junk and I have been under a lot of stress lately. I see there is no point of working out for an hour on the elliptical or the treadmill when I consume more than 2000 cals a day.
I want to cancel but I hate to cancel. I loved that gym very much and it was one of the best motivators for me to lose weight a couple of years ago.
any suggestions?
thanks in advance.
I've found that the eating and exercising go hand in hand....I tend to eat worse when I don't workout consistently, and I don't workout when I eat bad. haha
You have to force it into your routine. I use little tricks like changing into my gym clothes at work before I leave, or making a protein shake...then I HAVE to go to the gym. Even if you can make it only 3 times a week, it's worth it.....I'm not suer what kind of life you have (like kids, etc), but usually you can find SOME way to get it in.
And the eating is KEY! I worked out consistantly for about 3 years before FINALLY losing the weight. I got in a challnge that motivated me to eat 'clean' and workout hard for 12 weeks. SO I commited to 12 weeks and lost even BEYOND my goal.
Sometimes you just have to find different motivators.....like I like new workout clothes. So everytime I start to dread the gym, I buy new shoes or a new top or workout pants and then I get excited to go so I can wear them. Maybe a reward system would help? Like if you go x amount of times for x amount of weeks you get a massage or a purse or whatever it is you want (mine tends to be more new workout gear haha im lame).
Pick a goal....maybe only one...and focus on that so you don't get overwhelmed (since you've been stressed). Maybe start w cutting out the bad food and slowly replacing that...then get back into the workout routine. Or vise versa! Good luck!
How much more than 2000 are you eating exactly?
I am just thinking (without knowing your stats) that if you eat around 2000 cals a day and work out for an hour, you would probably still lose weight. Plus, it would probably make you feel better and you might find some extra motivation.
If I were you I would just make a goal to go twice this week. That's it. And see how you feel.
Original Post by safina1:
. I loved that gym very much and it was one of the best motivators for me to lose weight a couple of years ago.
any suggestions?
thanks in advance.
I often find that people are genuinely happier when they do the things they love. You are not going to the gym and state you are stressed and eating junk. Go back to the gym, since you love it. It will motivate you!
Original Post by safina1:
I see there is no point of working out for an hour on the elliptical or the treadmill when I consume more than 2000 cals a day.
I think that's a problem with how you are thinking about your weight loss. The benefits of exercise dont' just disappear if you eat more.
Thanks guys.
to give you an idea about how bad my diet is
today, my lunch was a cup of hot chocolate from starbucks, a brownie, a handful of almonds, and a small bar of dark chocolate.
I don't really know how many calories I eat per day but my dinner yesterday was a loaf of bread, hummus and about 6 small croissants.
very random and too much carbs and I feel sleepy and sluggish most of the time.
so I say to myself. there is no way an hour on the elliptical will undo this and I skip the gym.
do you think I may quit the junk food if I keep going to the gym ? I don't know.
Original Post by safina1:
Thanks guys.
to give you an idea about how bad my diet is
today, my lunch was a cup of hot chocolate from starbucks, a brownie, a handful of almonds, and a small bar of dark chocolate.
I don't really know how many calories I eat per day but my dinner yesterday was a loaf of bread, hummus and about 6 small croissants.
very random and too much carbs and I feel sleepy and sluggish most of the time.
so I say to myself. there is no way an hour on the elliptical will undo this and I skip the gym.
do you think I may quit the junk food if I keep going to the gym ? I don't know.
Safina,
Stop eating junk. You know it is wrong. You are on here stating just that. Don't exercise to lose weight. Exercise to become healthy and strong and keep that heart beating. And, yes, I do think going to the gym has the possibility of getting you to stop eating junk. You have stated a few times that you are more self aware when you go to the gym. You might think twice about those brownies and croissants when you know you are heading over to the gym in spandex [or whatever you wear]. Look, if it takes fear of humiliation to get you to stop your insanely poor nutrition, then fear is what I will hand you. Please, stop. Your nutrition is just off the wall...and what is frustrating is ...YOU KNOW THAT!
You CAN do it. I know some people that I Just could not say that to...but I KNOW you CAN do it. So...stop making up excuses...and get back into the 'game'!
I understand your desire to not go to the gym. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized I wanted to be in shape. The hardest part is starting back up. Is there a friend you can go with? Also, make a schedule and stick to it. This past summer, I either went about an hour after I woke up or right after work. Because I had set times, I couldn't skip it. My friends, who just went whenever they felt like it, made it to the gym maybe once a week because they'd find something else to do.
Even now at school, I either go before or after lunch, and all my friends know I do. It's part of my schedule, as if it were another one of my classes.
I do think that going to the gym helps you eat healthier. For me, I see people around me who are in such good shape and it motivates me to work harder.
I hope this helps you and that you can go to the gym. Does your gym offer classes? Those also help plan out a workout schedule for yourself and if you workout in a group, then peer pressure kicks in and you push yourself more.
An hour on the elliptical may not make up for a handful of junk food (and you already know that), but it's sure as heck better than an hour spent in front of the TV or computer stewing about not working out or eating healthy. Not exercising for that reason is just throwing up another excuse.
Clint
fitnessgirl. I am at a point where I am very mad at myself and I feel like I am losing control over so many things in my life. a point where I don't care that much about being healthy. I just want to eat and sleep but I keep paying for the gym because I feel it is something special that I don't want to lose.
who knows? like you said. maybe going to the gym will help me to quit eating junk. I can't promise that I will stop eating junk any time soon but I think I can go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. i don't know if you consider this as a good step.
I also feel very very tired. i think it is a combination of being stressed out and eating too much carbs.
Original Post by safina1:
fitnessgirl. I am at a point where I am very mad at myself and I feel like I am losing control over so many things in my life. a point where I don't care that much about being healthy. I just want to eat and sleep but I keep paying for the gym because I feel it is something special that I don't want to lose.
who knows? like you said. maybe going to the gym will help me to quit eating junk. I can't promise that I will stop eating junk any time soon but I think I can go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. i don't know if you consider this as a good step.
I also feel very very tired. i think it is a combination of being stressed out and eating too much carbs.
and junk.
"Snap out of it". If you don't start feeling better about yourself, nobody will! You are worth MORE than those brownies and croissants. Your diet is DEPRESSING you, altering your moods. Yes, get back to the gym..get back to what you "love", as you stated yourself. Stop punishing yourself...and get back to doing what YOU KNOW IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. You are not a child. You know eating brownies for lunch is BAD...but only YOU can take the first step.
Do you think that everyone that takes their fitness seriously, works out 5 days a week, and eats...for the most part...clean..wouldn't LOVE to eat brownies? Would LOVE to! It's about discipline. It's about knowing your self worth...and stopping the self PITY.
You CAN do it. I know you WANT to do it. So...stop making excuses. We ALL have stresses. Hell, I'm an ex dope addict....and have a MOUNTAIN of issues...life is short...but as far as I know...it's the only one we've got.
It's up to you.
I go everyday at lunch. If it's not far from your work place, maybe you too can make it a habit to go.
Hire a trainer. Knowing you have an appointment with a trainer forces you in the gym.
Take a class (tues/thurs pilates, spin class, or whatever else is offered at your gym)
Buy a new swim suit one size down and hang it up in your closet (or buy some really cool new toy like an Ipod or TV) and tell yourself you're not allowed to use it until you have gone to the gym 50 times (whether that's 50 days in a row or every other day you decide). The sooner you go to the gym, the sooner you can play with your new toy.
The ideas are endless, but I feel like you need to start with your mentality first. Either decide to go or not. I like this quote from a movie "Get busy living or get busy dying" I think you need to decide that for yourself. I prefer to hear from you "Get busy living" and make it happen.
I definately understand how you feel. When I fall off the wagon, its incredibly hard to get back on. But when I finally do, I feel soo much better, my mood is different. I'm like a different person. So when I've had a lazy week and I'm finding it hard to work up the motivation to get back to the gym, I just remind myself how good I'll feel if I do.
Sometimes its hard to get started again. I find it motivating to start eating a little better, like having a salad for lunch of something. Just removing some of the carbs from my diet kicks my energy back into gear. Also going for walks. Little things.
The best motivator for me is to read LOTS about healthy food and exercise, and maybe find a nice recipe I want to try and have fun cooking it.
Sometimes buying new gym clothes helps. A new pair of sneakers or shorts, or even just some new socks or comfy underwear makes me want to get to the gym to try out my new "toy", or just to justify my purchase.
I don't know if any of this will help you, but it definately helps me. I strongly encourage you to get back to the gym and fix your diet. You say you're feeling stressed, and feeling that you're slipping out of control. I think you'd feel a LOT better if you got back into your routine. Eating right and exercising do wonderful things for your mental health.
Good luck, and feel better!
thanks guys. That helps a lot. I went tonight and worked out for half an hour on the elliptical.I felt exhausted but I know it is ok because it has been a very long time ( five months) since my last workout.
but I also had a big chunck of cake on my way to the gym. OK. I am bad. I will try hard not to eat cakes and I will eat healthy foods.
talking about the gym clothes. it doesn't fit me anymore even the ones I used to wear when I first started when I was obese. it is tight and uncomfortable. maybe I will keep wearing them because this is what I have done to myself.
talking about the fear of humiliation. the good thing about this gym is nobody knows me there :)) I feel very comfortable knowing that nobody judges me. it is a new location. I would never go to a gym where everybody knows me at a size 6 where I am now a size 16.
Sounds like you are using carbs to regulate your mood. Carbs and chocolate contain mood-stabilizing chemicals, but so does exercise. If you do a little bit of exercise, you may be able to stop a little bit of the overeating, and more and more you can replace it.
Good job going tonight...keep it up tomorrow. I find a combination of smaller goal clothes and sometimes just going and doing it anyway...now I have to take my own advice tomorrow.
^I second that comment.
I never went to the gym to get fit. I went to get rid off my stress. After an hour of working out and some time in the sauna, my stress would just melt off.
Do they have a punching bag there? Take some time and hit that sucker. Got stress, nothing is better then hitting or kicking and getting out that frustration
Also 2000 calories is not a lot if you are working out. Take it slow when you change you eating habits. Don't remove any of the foods that you love, but enhance them with a new veggie, a lean protein, some good fats, a serving of yogurt and a piece of fruit. Not all in one day, but add a new one every day or two. You will find that it will become a great new habit.
thanks. Guys. yes, the gym has everything. It is an amazing place and I feel bad because I don't take advandage of it. the problem is in my sugar addiction.
it is a very strong addiction. at one point, I thought there is no point of going to the gym unless I clean my diet but if I wait till I eat clean, I will never go to workout.
so maybe going to the gym at least for an hour a day and get rid of the cakes will be a good start? I know that I will be still overeating but I think this is a small step and a good start.
I wish I knew where you lived ...I would just show up and empty out your fridge and pantry. You won't eat cake if you don't have it on hand/at home. Start purchasing the right type of food. Don't shop when you are hungry. Do you know that by eating sugar...you blood sugar level drops ...which gives you that lack of energy, not to mention causes that 'fake' hungry feeling and CRAVING for sugar. You are craving sugar bc you are eating too much of it.
I'm super proud of you for going to the gym. That is a first GIANT step.
Now....back to the kitchen...throw out everything that isn't a whole food!
Fitnessgirl. I really appreciate the support. :)
You will be surprised because my fridge has no junk food or cakes. I buy those on my way home or on my way to work or during the lunch break. I don't carry cash so I use my card.
I got my bank statement today and it is about 11 pages. LOL I started to notice that I have been to that cupcake store 6 times. I also calculated how much I spent on starbucks. it is insane. no wonder I am over 200 now.
yes, I will keep going to the gym and hopefully one day I will stop eating all the junk. I will see if it makes any difference.
Thank you.
