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.

Well, this is easy then...[yeah I know, easier said than done] but really, it IS easy. Stop purchasing junk food. You will NOT crave it [your self proclaimed addiction] once you stop eating it. Your causing your blood sugar levels to sky rocket and then plummet - which causes the ''addiction/craving'' for sugar..not to mention, I would be very concerned about the onset of diabetes. 

Just think, a healthier you equals a richer life in both health and apparently from what you stated, your bank account! :)

You are really setting yourself up for all types of obesity type of diseases.

BRING food and snacks with you that will fill you up, are healthy.  Stay away from restaurants and obviously, cupcake shops..and say adios to Starbucks. A treat now and then..once a week is well deserved but honestly...and [pun intended] there is no sugar coating to this...you need to go cold turkey on the junk food diet.

You can do it, Safina. You will be amazed at your energy, elevated mood and overall health! GOOD LUCK!

As far as the gym is concerned, if you only visit the gym 3 times a month, it would cheaper for you to cancel your monthly fees and just pay a drop-in fee whenever you feel like going.

^but she is starting back up...right Safina? I think she needs the gym..and she stated she loves the gym...Safina needs to work on her self discipline..for now..I know she needs the gym. At least it's one hour I know she won't be at the cupcake shop! ;)

The gym is a great start.  Go to the gym regardless of what you eat or don't eat.  The gym is for you to release stress, to do good things for your body.  The gym and food really have nothing to do with each other...okay, they do, but if you can rewire your perception so that you go to the gym whether or not you've eaten junk or too much then you'll have a healthy habit to start basing everything else on.

The next thing to do is start planning your days ahead of time.  Okay, you want startbuck's and you want what you want.  Limit it to one fru fru drink per day (I recommend against the sugar substitutes as they don't actually satisfy the craving) and one or two cups of coffee.  You decide when to get the fru fru drink or whether to skip it entirely.  If you wait until later in the day you get a nice little treat, on the other hand, if you get the fru fru drink early on the refill cups of coffee are only 50 cents in CA.  You want cupcakes, we all do.  Save it to alternate days, not everyday.  Take only enough cash to pay for what you plan for and don't use your card for anything or buy a gift card to Starbuck and the cupcake store once a week for the right amount and only use those cards.

There are ways to help manage yourself, but going to the gym is the first key.

Original Post by fitnessgirll:

^but she is starting back up...right Safina? I think she needs the gym..and she stated she loves the gym...Safina needs to work on her self discipline..for now..I know she needs the gym. At least it's one hour I know she won't be at the cupcake shop! ;)

 this is so funny :) ok. I will never go back to that butter cupcake shop. yesterday, I went there to get my cake fix and I brought a book with me to read. the title of the book is " the craving cure- break the hold carbs and sweets have on your life". while I was eating my delicious cake and reading the book, a guy who works there came to me and said in a loud voice: " the craving cure. it sounds like a good book." and he smiled. I was so mad at him because everybody knew what I was reading. LOL

I left that cupcake shop and will never go back.

and yes, I will keep going to the gym regardless what kind of food I eat but I will stop the cakes, brownies, croissants. Not sure about the chocolate because it really elevates my mood. Better than Marijuana. :)

Chocolate, unless you are eating just a bite of dark, bitter chocolate..is BAD for you and does not elevate your mood. Yup, at first your blood sugar rises but it will also cause a marked drop in blood sugar...causing you to have mood swings and all the other stuff I said in a previous post.

A plain dark choc. bar has over 400 cals...that's not even ones with caramel or nuts! But, a very small piece  is actually good for you bc of the cocoa. Chocolate, in its purest form, can lower blood pressure, help muscles recover from exercise, improve skin, provide antioxidants and even give us a thrill that rivals a, ummmmm,  passionate kiss.

BUT...again..small bite of dark chocolate will do....as for it being better than weed......no comment.

Original Post by safina1:

Original Post by fitnessgirll:

^but she is starting back up...right Safina? I think she needs the gym..and she stated she loves the gym...Safina needs to work on her self discipline..for now..I know she needs the gym. At least it's one hour I know she won't be at the cupcake shop! ;)

 this is so funny :) ok. I will never go back to that butter cupcake shop. yesterday, I went there to get my cake fix and I brought a book with me to read. the title of the book is " the craving cure- break the hold carbs and sweets have on your life". while I was eating my delicious cake and reading the book, a guy who works there came to me and said in a loud voice: " the craving cure. it sounds like a good book." and he smiled. I was so mad at him because everybody knew what I was reading. LOL

I left that cupcake shop and will never go back.

and yes, I will keep going to the gym regardless what kind of food I eat but I will stop the cakes, brownies, croissants. Not sure about the chocolate because it really elevates my mood. Better than Marijuana. :)

 

 Oooooh, NOW we are getting to the bottom of the cupcake cravings.....

Original Post by trikki:

Original Post by safina1:

Original Post by fitnessgirll:

^but she is starting back up...right Safina? I think she needs the gym..and she stated she loves the gym...Safina needs to work on her self discipline..for now..I know she needs the gym. At least it's one hour I know she won't be at the cupcake shop! ;)

 this is so funny :) ok. I will never go back to that butter cupcake shop. yesterday, I went there to get my cake fix and I brought a book with me to read. the title of the book is " the craving cure- break the hold carbs and sweets have on your life". while I was eating my delicious cake and reading the book, a guy who works there came to me and said in a loud voice: " the craving cure. it sounds like a good book." and he smiled. I was so mad at him because everybody knew what I was reading. LOL

I left that cupcake shop and will never go back.

and yes, I will keep going to the gym regardless what kind of food I eat but I will stop the cakes, brownies, croissants. Not sure about the chocolate because it really elevates my mood. Better than Marijuana. :)

 

 Oooooh, NOW we are getting to the bottom of the cupcake cravings.....

 

 LOL. I have never smoked marijuana. I am just saying that people go for marijuana to elevate their mood and it is really hard to break that habit.

I am just happy with my chocolate :)

fitnessgirl. you said that I need to go cold turkey on the junk food diet. would cutting back gradually would be better? I am not sure if I can go cold turkeky on all the junk however, I will start with the cakes, cupcakes and the croissants.

You can go cold turkey. There is no other way..  Cutting out cupcakes but still eating a bag of doritos or donuts or.... is going to do nothing but sabatoge any of your efforts..not to mention...add stress...add depression...et al.  You are not addicted to junk..you are in a mental rut...you know what you want but honestly, aren't willing to give up the 'comfort' of how eating sugary sweets, etc, makes you [initially] feel. 

This is not heroin... your not going to have a seizure if you stop eating junk cold turkey! this is not even cigarretes..this is FOOD. FILL UP ON HEALTHY foods...your hunger will be IMMEDIATELY reduced and within a week..your cravings for the 'bad' stuff will be almost completely gone. Have ONE day that is your cheat day. Having that to look forward to should help. But remember, a cheat day doesn't mean Gorge yourself day. But, if you saw a fabulous looking cupcake in the window of that bakery on Monday...go there on Saturday and purchase it...reward yourself for all that hard work, discipline you maintained all week. And, you will NOT have the guilt of eating it afterwards, either. You deserve that cupcake..it will be a reward instead of what it seems to be now which is a punishment. You seem to be [possibly sub consciously] punishing yourself for 'letting yourself go'. 

What is really motivating you to eat so much junk, Safina? You know it is wrong, right? You know that you are overweight and want to get healthier, right? You are even reading a book about getting healthier...you CAN do this! Stop making excuses up. You are stronger than that!

Original Post by safina1:

fitnessgirl. you said that I need to go cold turkey on the junk food diet. would cutting back gradually would be better? I am not sure if I can go cold turkeky on all the junk however, I will start with the cakes, cupcakes and the croissants.

I think that depends on you, safina. I admire fitnessgirl's diehard approach, but for me and many people I know, it won't work.

Some people find that they have success if they remove all temptation - empty their fridge, avoid grocery store aisles or whole stores. If they have a little, they won't be able to stop. If you're one of those individuals, cold turkey is the way to go.

Others (and I'm in this camp) fixate on whatever they've denied themselves until they snap and, say, eat a whole bag of Skittles (you know, just as a hypothetical example ;) ). However, if they know they can have a small snack if they want it, they don't overindulge. In my case, not denying myself all sugar has meant a marked decrease in my candy/cake consumption - knowing I can have it if I want it makes me want it less, if that makes sense.

Whatever your approach, though, don't use falling off the bandwagon as an excuse to throw your hands up in despair and decide you've ruined yourself for good. Just dust yourself off, try to figure out why you broke your goal, work out a strategy for not making the same mistake again, and go work out your frustrations at your gym.

I am actually not one of those people who have a bite and be satisfied.

Tonight, I went to the gym but only for half an hour on the elliptical.  I couldn't do more than that. I so out of shape. 211 pounds for the records.

I do agree with fitnessgirl that I am in a mental rut. I don't really know why I eat junk food. I am not sure if it makes me feel better or what? I don't know.

If you are spending a lot of money buying individual sweets and such, why not start a sweets-savings account with the money you don't spend on those things in the week to come?  Or stop carrying a card with you!  Just take the money that you know you need for one day.   Eventually you can spend the money on new clothes :]

Or, save that money for 1 incredibly decadent but small treat each week.  I dunno where you are, but I'd save up and at the end of the week, buy 5 Godiva truffles.

Original Post by safina1:

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.

 

 Why "one day"?  Why not today?  What are you waiting for?  It doesn't have to be a New Year's resolution or anything.  Just stop buying the stuff.  Maybe don't go cold turkey, but cut way back.  Make it a friday treat.

Just stopping cupcakes but replacing them with something else daily is not going to help.  but cutting down to once a week gives you the benefits, but without the "i'll never have another cupcake?!?!?!" thoughts.  Once a week you get a treat.  One.  Not gorge-yourself-on-sugar-friday!  The cravings will fade and some friday you won't even want a cupcake.  hooray.

Log your calories.  Then you start to realize the "cost" of a piece of cake.  I don't eat candy bars much anymore because each one costs me two miles of running.   I would rather those two miles worked off some weight than just cancelled out another candy bar.

After reading the string of responses it's amazing to see how your attitude has changed...little by little it looks like you're taking control of your emotions again and are starting to make changes (you love the gym and have started going again! You don't like eating junk and successfully avoided the cakes in the shop!)

I often fall into spells of not working out and not eating as well as I should, and then I start doing both again and remember how damn GOOD it feels!

I agree with zhowe too--it doesn't have to be a special resolution or anything. I actually find that resolutions don't work--action does--even if it's just small changes to start.

You CAN do it! You might not be able to quit the junk cold turkey but increasing your time at the gym and decreasing the amount of junk is definitely the first step! Every little bit helps!! And like fitnessgirll said: it's all about discipline. It's amazing how easily that comes when you start to make small changes.

Soon you'll get back to your old habits and positive feedback loops where going to the gym feeds into eating better and eating better feeds into going to the gym, and you'll feel in control of your emotional and physical well-being.

Save the cakes for special treats yhey taste so much better that way anyway.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Thanks again for all the support. I wish there was a magic tool to get my mood under control. when I feel down, I eat and I don't care about any kind of fitness in the world. things are not so great in my life these days.

I went to the gym yesterday for only half an hour on the elliptical and couldn't do more than that. I was tired :( but it is ok. I will go again tonight even for half an hour. I understand that I need to get my body conditioned.

well, I ate fish for lunch today. I also don't eat the cupcakes. only my ** chocolate addiction. I had a bar of dark chocolate and a cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks.

how do you guys care about your workout and fitness when you feel down? I think to learn how to handle this.

Your bar of chocolate and cup of hot chocolate just cost you a minimum of 600 calories.

Safina...you can, should, can, will...do better than that!

Does you body need that? NO! Your body actually suffers from that..certainly does not benefit!

Your ENERGY level will INCREASE once you get your NUTRITION corrected. I PROMISE!

I am very happy you ate fish for lunch..what kind of fish, though. What exactly did you have for lunch?

I feel down tons of times. There have been times when I look at my workout like a freaking job that I despise...at least..before I start it. I've been through just about everything..break ups...family/friends problems...drug addiction...professional stress...and the list goes on...but...it's been the exercise that, in the end, has literally saved me. It truly is an AMAZING feeling to be healthy. It's a high that not bar of chocolate or cupcake can give you. I'm not kidding you!

I certainly have a day when I indulge in a cocktail...or have a dessert....but..not EVER a habit.

Habits for me now are being healthy...which include diet, exercise, and healthy social connections. You need to become more involved in your life and LIVE it...stop..PLEASE stop making up excuses...

without that choc. bar and cup of hot choc. today...you would have had 600 plus less cals. to worry about....

not to mention..you are sending your blood sugar levels into shock.

You HAVE to stop the JUNK. I'm not going to be like others and tell you to slow it down...just STOP IT. Like I said..have ONE day that is a reward day...but that's it..just ONE day!

Work it, girl! You CAN do it!!!!!!!!!!!

Original Post by fitnessgirll

 You need to become more involved in your life and LIVE it..

what do you mean by that?

for lunch. I actually had salmon patties and baked catfish. + some salad + a spoon of hummus. 

yesterday, I had lentil soup. 

and i also had a cup of hot chocolate and a bar of dark chocolate. 

so my progress this week so far is I have been to the gym three times ( for half an hour only) on the elliptical. but I run out of breath easily after 10 m. no cupcakes, no cakes, no croissants :)) but there was chocolate/ hot chocolate and bread and yes I eat a lot of nuts.

thanks:)

What I mean by that is that people can get caught in emotional ruts..they let themselves physical and emtionally go. The fact that you are changing your life around your rut [ie: bc your feel your physical appearance/weight has increased..you feel ashamed]. Instead of living your life towards your goals of what you state you want..you instead allow the rut in your life to control you..basically trap you. It can be a never ending circle of never even trying to achieve your goals because you limit yourself/punish yourself for your present situation. It can be emotionally crippling and socially isolating.

So, what I mean is...in order for you to achieve your goals..you must start living the way you would like to see yourself live...immediately.

If you want to be healthier and thinner...then eat a good, CLEAN diet...award yourself at the end of the week with your sinful treat of choice. Not daily or even every other day. Just once a week. Like I said before...those treats will become a positive reward instead of a negative punishment.

No one can do this for yourself but YOU. Exercise and Diet go hand in hand. Actually, DIET is the arm and hand...exercise is just the fingers.

You are going to have to be MORE disciplined. You have made some giant steps in the right direction...now take that final leap.

There lots of things I just couldn't make myself commit to. When it's really important that I do it, I challenge myself to do it every single day for 30 days. No excuses, just go for thirty days. After that you can quit, you can stop, you can do it every other day, doesn't matter. Just get through 30 days. The first few days will be the most difficult. You won't want to go, by the end it will become a habit that you will keep for life.