Where to Begin

mpaone24

I have no idea on where to start with my weight loss journey.  I have been slowly changing my diet, and that hasn't been easy.  I have a gym membership but I get home from work and I'm exhausted so I use that as an excuse to not work out.  I wish I could afford a personal trainer, but I know many people are successful without paying all that extra money for someone to tell them what to do.  

I have a couple of workout DVDs, Jillian Michaels beginner dvds for the front and back side, a couple of workout video games for the WII and Kinect. 

Like I said, it comes down to I have no idea where to start.  I know that I need to weight train while losing weight so that I tone at the same time, but other than that I'm at a loss.

Has anyone else been there?  Any advice is great advice!!

Sorry if this was all over the place.

anna.oskar

There is a post above (that says read this before posting) that might be a good place for you to start.  There is a lot of advice in there to get you pointed in the right direction.

Everyone's been there.  It's okay.  It can be quite confusing a the beginning.  Good Luck!

PrincessJas

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_where-to-begin?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:638276e1-9b3a-4e18-8b91-d636dfe7f0a6Post:471e8482-34ba-48f0-8bfd-1fafabb7eac0">Where to Begin</a>:
[QUOTE]I have no idea on where to start with my weight loss journey.  I have been slowly changing my diet, and that hasn't been easy.  I have a gym membership <strong>but I get home from work and I'm exhausted so I use that as an excuse to not work out.</strong>  I wish I could afford a personal trainer, but I know many people are successful without paying all that extra money for someone to tell them what to do.   <strong>I have a couple of workout DVDs, Jillian Michaels beginner dvds for the front and back side, a couple of workout video games for the WII and Kinect.  Like I said, it comes down to I have no idea where to start.</strong>  I know that I need to weight train while losing weight so that I tone at the same time, but other than that I'm at a loss. Has anyone else been there?  Any advice is great advice!! Sorry if this was all over the place.
Posted by mpaone24[/QUOTE]

<div>Have you tried going to the gym before work?  If you can get past the first week of dragging yourself out of bed earlier than you're used to, you're more likely to stick with it and work out more consistently because things (late meetings at work, get togethers with friends, etc.) are less likely to come up and derail you in the morning than they are during the afternoon.</div><div>
</div><div>Start with what you like.  Do you know what you enjoy doing when you go to the gym?  Do you prefer walking or running? Swimming? The elliptical?  The stationary bike?  Is there a class you like?  Figure out what activities you most enjoy during working out (even just which is the worst of all evils, if you dislike it all), and work those into your schedule first.  The more you like it, the more likely you are to want to do it (or at leat not hate the idea of it as much).  Then, later, you can start adding in the workouts you like less or are unfamiliar to you (e.g., after <em>two years</em> of running at least 4 times a week, I only just today made myself do a sprint workout without someone there making me do it).</div>

casims3

What helps me is picking something with a schedule, such as couch to 5k, or p90x.

Right now I'm doing P90x. Each day is already planned out for me, so when I get home, I just do it. I find that when I don't have a set plan, it's easier to talk myself out of doing it.

I understand the feeling of being tired when you get home and being unmotivated. I get up at 5am each day and get home around 5:00pm. Now that I'm in a workout routine, I have more energy and I actually look forward to my evening workouts.

maribeth721

I  think we have all been thru this. Definitely read the sticky at the top of this board. It has a ton of great tips. When you are feeling really crappy and insecure about how you look I almost thing it's even harder to make a change, when you would think it would be the opposite.

Like Princess said - have you ever tried working out before work? I exclusively work out in the mornings before work and I am not a morning person let me tell you. Half the battle is getting out of bed. Once you are standing up you are totally awake and ready to go. Maybe try to commit to just one morning work out a week and the rest in the afternoon, this way you only have to get up once a week and this frees up one evening for you that you can just go home and relax. If you decide you like the morning work outs, you can always add more.

Changing your diet is key. 70% diet / 30% working out. Do you food log? If not, start. Download something like my fitness pal or spark people (both free) and start keeping track of your diet. I thought I was eating healthy and watching what I was eating and I was shocked to find out how much I was really over eating. Once I started doing that the pounds started coming off.

Good luck. You can do this. You just need to motivate yourself. If you really want it, you will make it happen. If you don't, you will find excuses not to.

mpaone24

Def read the sticky above and yes, it was very helpful!  Thanks for pointing that out, I don't know how I missed it.

I haven't tried working out in the morning before work because the gym open at 5am and I begin getting ready for work at 5:30, so I'm not sure that will work.  I have been reading up on various workout dvds that have been recommended through this board, and I'm going to go through everything that I have purchased to see where I stand.

I have began changing my diet, but I haven't tracked yet.  I'm such a snacker and since I work with children, I'm constantly eating, basically when they eat, I eat.  On the plus side, I love fruit so 9 times out of 10, I am snacking healthy, at least when I'm at work.

anna.oskar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_where-to-begin?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:638276e1-9b3a-4e18-8b91-d636dfe7f0a6Post:1674b120-7e53-49e0-beb1-6982e755d0f0">Re: Where to Begin</a>:
[QUOTE]Def read the sticky above and yes, it was very helpful!  Thanks for pointing that out, I don't know how I missed it. I haven't tried working out in the morning before work because the gym open at 5am and I begin getting ready for work at 5:30, so I'm not sure that will work.  I have been reading up on various workout dvds that have been recommended through this board, and I'm going to go through everything that I have purchased to see where I stand. I have began changing my diet, but I haven't tracked yet.  I'm such a snacker and since I work with children, I'm constantly eating, basically when they eat, I eat.  On the plus side, I love fruit so 9 times out of 10, I am snacking healthy, at least when I'm at work.
Posted by mpaone24[/QUOTE]

<div>Definitely start tracking.  Sometimes people (I was one of them) think they're eating healthy and making decent choices but get a slap in the face when you finally look at that daily result page.  It's really easy to be making simple diet sabotaging mistakes.</div>

nicolray

The best thing to do it start better habits.  Bring your gym bag to work, so you can go to they gym right after work and not have to stuggle with going back out again when you are tired.  Make sure you go every day.  Even if you are exhaused, just walk on the treadmill.  At least you are doing something and getting in the habit. 

My trick for food is to never cheat during the week, then  you can enjoy the weekend.  It's more of a treat for all of your hard work.  Also, plan your meals ahead of time(cut veggies for snacks and salads right when you buy the food, you'll be more likely to use it), and make sure you only have enough food in the house to last you for the week.  Also, bring lunch to work.  That way you won't cheat.  And never eat office doughnuts or cake.  Also, if you need to snack, snack on an apple, nuts or veggies...and only 2-3 times a day...even the veggies add up in calories.  Don't fall into the 100 calorie snack pack diet.  It never works.  Just eat food closest to the earth, all of that processed stuff will make you gain weight.

Hope this helps.