Hi all, stumbled accross this forum recently and have been reading up on lots of stuff. My name is Nick I'm 25 and lookin to get into shape. I know what it takes to get in shape and how to do it. I even have a gym membership and access to healthy food. My problem is I can't keep the motivation it drives me absolutely nuts. I will kick butt for 2 or 3 weeks but then just get lazy again and result back to fast food and alcohol. I find it odd that it's this hard for me to keep going after a couple weeks because I was Vegetarian for 4 years and had no problems with that and was very strict and healthy. One thing is I have a very busy schedule (work 2 jobs) and it's hard to keep a steady eating schedule. I'm tired of failing and making excuses hopefully this forum will finally help me to commit fully and not fail anymore. I am
5'11'' and a few months ago I weighed 201lbs right now I am hovering between 189 - 192 not gaining and not losing over or below that. So we'll see where it goes from here. The only sort if excersise I've really been able to do since I work 2 jobs is walk on my breaks and lunch. So 3 times a day I powerwalk 15mins and then for a 45 - 50 min walk on my lunch. Other than that I have not been to the gym due to lack of time, If I'm not working I'm sleeping. I'm hoping to change that very soon as I am only working the second jobs for a couple more months. Anyways I know it's a long read but I would appreciate your support.

ONe of the most important things you have to keep in mind, there is no such thing a a diet. Its a lifestyle. You may be failing after a few weeks because you change too drastically and then you get tired of it. I suggest changing small things that you can live with, then slowly incorporating other things into the plan.

The walking is good, definitely better than nothing. How about bodyweight exercises at home (pushups, crunches, pullups, squats, lunges).

Are you drinking water? It is preferred to drink atleast a gallon.

ONe of the most important things you have to keep in mind, there is no such thing a a diet. Its a lifestyle. You may be failing after a few weeks because you change too drastically and then you get tired of it. I suggest changing small things that you can live with, then slowly incorporating other things into the plan.

The walking is good, definitely better than nothing. How about bodyweight exercises at home (pushups, crunches, pullups, squats, lunges).

Are you drinking water? It is preferred to drink atleast a gallon.
I know it's not a "diet" I was vegetarian for 4 years and that was not a "diet" it was definetely a lifestyle. I think you are right about the changing to drastically. That's just the way I am kind of an all or nothing type of person. I guess I need to change that and gradually just cut things out until I get to where I should be with "clean eating".

I should probably try to do bodywieght excercises. Only I can't perform pushups because I have tendonitis really bad in my left wrist and angling my wrist like that kills me. It really sucks I have the same problem with any kind of flat bench execises too:mad: . But everything else is perfectly fine. No other pulling or pushing excecises give me problems.

As for water I've always liked it so I usually drink at least 2 litres a day if not more.

I believe that only after doing alot of soul searching, I was able to find my motivation to lose weight. For years I was stuck in the same cycle as you describe. I took some time a developed a game plan, not something that I just threw together over a couple days and said "I hope this works". It's ok to take a couple weeks and truely lay out the types of food that will be necessary and how they will fit into my busy work/life schedule.

For the first month I needed to eat a large volumn of food, in order to stay on task. I found things that I liked that were low in calories and ate a ton of them. Like asparagus (sp?), and I learned to cook chicken breast with a many different seasonings. I took a few weeks to try some different foods and develop the recipes into what I would want to eat regularly. For me this was critical during the first 6 weeks. After the first 4-6 weeks it all felt like it was just a normal meal.

So develop a plan that fits your life and then promise yourself to stick to it for 4-6 weeks, then it will be part of your new lifestyle.

In addition to this, I would like to add that for the first month and a half (10/1/05-11/15/05) I did do cardio about 4x a week, Then my second child was born. All exercise ended at that point and I have just been losing weight through diet alone. I am now weight training as of 9/1/06, but I did lose about 70lbs through diet alone. So, the diet end of weight loss is the most important thing.
Thats my 2 cents. :gl:

Thanks for the reply sounds like you and I have a bit in common when it comes to starting. Wow 70lbs on diet alone that's awesome congrats!
I want to do this and drop weight this is the most I've ever weighed in my life by about 30lbs.

I should probably try to do bodywieght excercises. Only I can't perform pushups because I have tendonitis really bad in my left wrist and angling my wrist like that kills me. It really sucks I have the same problem with any kind of flat bench execises too:mad: . But everything else is perfectly fine. No other pulling or pushing excecises give me problems.
Try out different grips -- pronated, supinated, semi-supinated. You might find that you can use a semi-supinated grip without trouble. If you're not too heavy, you can also try doing push-ups on your knuckles, which will keep the wrist straight (instead of angling and bending it back) and may not bother your tendonitis as much; alternatively, a pair of parallettes could help you. If you're weight-training and the weight you're using is too heavy, you will also have a tendency to allow the wrist to bend back, which could be why it aggravates you on bench press and not the other exercises.

For definitions, look in the glossary: http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=22700

Try out different grips -- pronated, supinated, semi-supinated. You might find that you can use a semi-supinated grip without trouble. If you're not too heavy, you can also try doing push-ups on your knuckles, which will keep the wrist straight (instead of angling and bending it back) and may not bother your tendonitis as much; alternatively, a pair of parallettes could help you. If you're weight-training and the weight you're using is too heavy, you will also have a tendency to allow the wrist to bend back, which could be why it aggravates you on bench press and not the other exercises.

For definitions, look in the glossary: http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=22700

knuckle pushups are another option

My name is Nick I'm 25 and lookin to get into shape. I know what it takes to get in shape and how to do it. I even have a gym membership and access to healthy food. My problem is I can't keep the motivation it drives me absolutely nuts. I will kick butt for 2 or 3 weeks but then just get lazy again and result back to fast food and alcohol. I find it odd that it's this hard for me to keep going after a couple weeks The only sort if excersise I've really been able to do since I work 2 jobs is walk on my breaks and lunch. Other than that I have not been to the gym due to lack of time.
Just a reminder of reality, you are the only one that can change you. It is your choice, succeed or fail, no one else's. You will either do it because you recognize the need or you won't. The other members can suggest exercises and diet, but they can't make you apply them.

It is as simple as that. you can overcome things that might hinder you, if you choose to. It just requires action on your part.:gl:

When I get uninspired, I just take smaller steps and become better prepared… I read this in a self help book some time ago....

For those daring warriors out there who love drastic change, major challenges, declaring war, and going cold turkey, keep remembering Newton’s Third Law of Physics. You brave souls need to be alert, just in case your survival mechanism sends the powerful and protective pendulum swinging back in the other direction. If this occurs, it will usually carry with it massive strength, weight, and determination as it revisits the old and more familiar habits and terrain. The more aware you are of this possibility, the better equipped you will be to deal with it.

Kinda corny, but I like it.:)

Your desire to change MUST be greater than your desire to stay the same.

Thanks for the replies ya'll I know it's all about me and i have to want to do this ONLY for ME. It's time to really do this and not fail anymore my life lifestyle is gonna change and that's it!!!!

I am in the process of getting out of the lozing motivation slump.
I read a book called '7 habits of highly effective people' and like an informercial, it really has had a positive affect on my life.

It's about changing your habits and perception. So far, I've made some real changes in my life and things are looking much brighter in my view.
They were always fine but I've always felt I was not in control of my life. One thing was getting into shape. I looked for every excuse and realized that it's me who's getting in the way of me not achieving my goals. I've got a long way to go but so far so good...

That's my 2 cents!
Best of luck
Don

Awesome I'll have to check out that book and give it a read.:tu:

I should probably try to do bodywieght excercises. Only I can't perform pushups because I have tendonitis really bad in my left wrist and angling my wrist like that kills me.

Hey Bud -

Same problem here - both my wrists are stupid weak - and VERY uncomfortable for pushups. SO - you do them on your fists. Works for me - kind of like a benchpress - keeps your hands more in line with your forearms and doesn't wear on my wrists.

Jon

Hey Nick I know you can do this if you really want it change can and does happen. It is your dream now make it come true. I wish you all the best.

Thanks everybody for your support:tucool: I'm one week in now and going strong. Time to keep it going forever now no more slacking off!!!

if you are anything like me then most of your lack of motivation will lead back to alcohol..
I can totally kick ass for a month or more and then one night I'll go out and get loaded.. then I'll have like 6 cheeseburgers after..
I wake up.. feel like crap.. goto McDonalds since really really greasy food helps with my hangovers.. then I'll spend the rest of the day lying on the couch playing xbox..
usually after a couple days of doing nothing I slowly get myself into a routine again..
and to make matters worse I piss out $100-200 :doh: