Sometimes the company of a friend can be one of the strongest motivators to exercise. That’s why we’re telling the stories of five women who have successfully made fitness a permanent addition to their lives, drawing upon their workouts both for inner and outer strength. If you’ve found your will to exercise dwindling lately, read on for inspiration.
When Susan Spidle signed up for her recreational women’s soccer team, she got an instant social life.
Judy Waytiuk treasures the time she spends swimming laps at dusk after a day devoted to work.
It’s easy to assume Germaine Adams is a natural cyclist. But she tells a different story.
Sophia Dembling used to practically force herself to put on her walking shoes.
Sarah Gilbert hadn’t exercised in months when she stumbled onto Erin Carson’s Spinning class.
Lead writers: Christie Aschwanden and Lisa Bailey
Comments (22)
HELP,
I need to excerise but how do I get srarted I’m alone just don’t no what to do for excerise or were or how to start what is the best things for me to do and what excerises should I do need to lose Belly,Butt,Hips all over but most Belly,Butt,Hips Bust would also be nice.
my comment for you ius that you that doing sit up and stop eat when is 9pm take alot of fruirt and water
anyone who has no idea what exercise to do.. i would suggest Leslie Sansones exercise videos
they are walking workouts that are fun and
so simple to do … you can add hand weights to
it when you are ready to Its soooo perfect for
a *simple * workout…. just look her up online and you can order her dvds . She is wonderful!
I had a blood test that showed I was prediabetic. I decided to avoid diabetes at all costs. Already a gym rat, I kicked my exercise program into high gear,
going every day to the gym. Then I lost weight by controlling carbs, not eating them at dinner. You can do it, too!
I said to myself “I am going to lose 7 lbs by Christmas” which gives me less than 2 months. I started off first with buying a mineral bath and drank mineral water the first day (acts as diruetic and detox), then slimming tea (detox) and soup for lunch the next , day 3 consited of oatmeal, my nonfat mocha and soup and spinning on the bike for 30 to 45 minutes and this got me on a roll. Now I bike everymorning before the kids wake up, I feel good and the kids are never rushed and are happy. Lots of water, early to bed and also what helps is wearing your workout clothes to bed so you don’t have to change in the morning. Also, if I sleep in, wearing my gym clothes, I drop kids off at school and go straight to the gym and run for 20 min then free weights, leg lifts and nautilus the next 15 minutes. I give myself 30min. a day and a busy mom of 2 and a student myself I can manage that little time to make me feel good, give me energy to study and keep up with the kids weekly activities. Good luck!! I will keep posted once a week.
I need big time help, I was doing good working out and now I’m back to WISHING I was taking a walk or a bike ride. I dont know how to get motivated? HELP!!
Ladies: the first step is paying attention to what you eat. There’s a infinite number of diets out there, but it really comes down to using common sense. Concentrate on the essential food groups & stay away from the crap. Millions of people around the world are surviving on scraps… you don’t really need those chips, desserts, sodas, etc. Once you start making a real effort here, you will begin to see a difference & feel better, thus becoming more motivated to excersize & improve your health. Further motivation can be found by studying your fat ass in the mirror. Realize what it really is… yellow, greasy, disgusting globs of useless flesh. Think of the chunks or strips of fat you find on meats… it’s exactly the same stuff! Most men realize this, which is why they all joke about you behind your back. Think of fat as the enemy & don’t keep supplying the enemy with ammunition to destroy your body!
don’t gave up, eat 5 to 6 times a day small meals. Drink green tea about 2 to 3 times a day. If you put something in your mouth you need to burn it off. Just go take a 30 min work out side and see the world. Keep healthy snacks in car,and your bag. You just have to say in your head “I can do it.” and you can, but if you want toooooooooo.
I have a problem I have no money to go out and go to a gym and I have no money to go out and get the other stuff I need to excersize I also have no room in my house and it’s now winter where I live. What do I do. Help I also have no friends near me, now that my friend moved away. Can anyone give me some advice I do have a big ball and some very light hand weights but that is all I really can’t afford to go out to the gym or to buy anything at the present time and I need to go from 183lbs. to 145lbs. but I would like to lose about 15lbs. by New Years Eve. then the rest by Spring and to be able to keep it off I have 2 children and a husband that love to eat what they want so far I am the only one with a weight problem my kids are in prefact shape and my husband looks and is in great shape for a 48year old I am 41years old and I had both my children after 30yrs. also I went threw a Hystrectomy about 7-1/2yrs. ago and when down hill for my weight from there. Please if there is anyone out there that can help me with an excircize plan then let me know. Thank you!!!!! Sarah
one of the best and inexpensive workout tool to purchase is a jump rope. You can jump in the basement or garage.. practicually any place with high enough ceilings. Good luck to you
Help! I just can’t get motivated. I just feel so tired all the time. With work and keeping up with the family I do not allow much time for myself. I love cooking and I get comfort in cooking. The bad thing is that I am always thinking of food. I am about 60 lbs overweiht and just turned 51. I used to exercise and keep it down. 20 years ago I was 114 lbs. I just want to look better and feel better. It just seems too hard……Help.
Sarah – There are a few things you can do to begin to loose the weight – even with no money to spend:
1. Drink lots of water each day – min. 8-10 glasses. (no cost for the water)
2. Don’t eat after 7:30 at night. (Only consistency required-not cost)
3. Try to get min. of 7 hrs. sleep each night.
4. Reduce the sweets, desserts, chips, cookies, bread, etc., then eventually eliminate them. (budget savings, whoopie!!!)
5. Eat LOTS of fruit and vegetables – cut back/out red meat. (another budget saver…)
6. Do stretching exercises each morning when you get up. (no cost)
7. Take a multi-vitamin each day. (Can purchase with money saved on meat cutback)
8. Begin cooking meals for the family that are healthy for everybody – no fried foods, more vegetables, less/no red meat, more salads with low-fat salad dressings, use mustard instead of mayo on sandwiches.
9. If you can get out of the house AT LEAST three times a week and walk for 20 – 30 minutes, would help to burn calories and boost your energy. (no cost – and you will really enjoy the ‘alone time’ break from the kids and hustle-bustle)
These are small easy steps – but with CONSISTENCY – you will begin to see the weight drop. YOU CAN DO IT, GIRL!!!!!
MARLENE, YOU ARE A PEACH…SO KIND TO SHARE WITH SARAH!
HAPPY NEW
YEAR
I WISH I CPOULD FIND A BUDDY TO WALK..LOVE TO WALK AND TALK…NO ONE I KNOW SEEMS INTERESTED, THOUGH YEARS AGO I PUT AN AD IN A LOCALPAPER, GOT TWO BUDDIES, ONE WENT ON TO RUN THE MARATHON.
LOLA,
First and foremost, I’m so glad that I ran into your questions. You’re not alone. A lot of women struggle from this. There are some options for you. 1) Work out with a friend or relative that is very positive and motivating and knows quite a bit about proper forms of excersising. 2) Start with home videos before joining a gym so that way you know proper forms and techniques. 3) Buy a book or magazine and master the techniques used in the illustrations. TIP: It helps to buy fitness books/ magazines that have pictures so that you don’t have to imagine. 4) Last, but not least, buy a heart monitor so that you know how much your burning calories, etc., keep track of your progress on a notebook, and start slow so you don’t burn yourself out. I hope this helps. Good luck!
Any suggestions? I work from 3:30 to midnight. If I have to work overtime sometimes it is noon to midnight or I work from 3:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Other than getting another job are there any suggestions to help me with a more consistent eating pattern.
Has anyone else dealt with this? I seem to constantly be on a roller coaster.
Starting out can be intimidating, especially if you’re joining a new gym alone. Start with little exercises now and then – I do lunges while I brush my teeth in the a.m. and p.m. It eliminates the “I don’t have time” excuse and makes it seem effortless. You also end up brushing your teeth for the recommended full minute. Firm buns and healthy teeth!
halo i dileverd my second child befor two month and i whant to loose 14 kg and i cant go to the jem becouse no one will stay with children in the house so i want to do somthing please please
thanks
Once you figure out if you have Thyroid issues, or menapausal, or if you are already just way overweight you can figure out what to do. Go Slowly, I started working out 10 min. every couple of days on a good stationary bike,Intervals, working my way up to 30 min. increasing the level(now I’m up to Level 15 at 75 to 80 min. 6 days a week) Now I have included a good rowing machine and I can see the changes in my body and I have dropped 30 pounds. Eat a lot of fruit and veggies. I’ve kind of leveled off lately so I’m rethinking my strategy. I’m also 52 years old but look 45.
IaCEcc I remained happy having visited this site.
wher i live you can join a fittness center at our hospital for 15 dollars a month,most people spend that much goin out to eat.i started a month ago and am already starting to feel better im soo happy the hospital offers this,as of now i walk the treadmill 40 minutes a day and the stairclimber 30 minutes a day , whats a hour and 20 mins outta your day when mosy people sit infront of the tv that long each nite,even if you cant afford a program like that just start out walking around wher you live for 30 mins, also ive seen a lot of stationary bikes at garage sales , just do somthin anything 30 minutes a day is better than zero minutes a day,
Pat,
Good point. your body is what you eat. That simple.
There is tones of eating healthy books that can help you and educate you how and what to eat. One of my favorite book is “The Eating Clean Diet” by Tosca Reno. Also, you may want to consider buying “The pH Miracle For Weight Loss” book. Once you dicipline your self to eat healthy, the rest would just fall in the right place. Trust me on this one. Good luck!