[Alia]

Over the years, I have tried (and failed, usually) various home exercise equipment. I have purchased ab-rollers, ab-rockers, twisters, steppers, treadmills, riders, bikes, you name it I have seen an infomercial on it and got it.

Usually, within 6 months each piece of equipment ended up being a repository for laundry awaiting ironing. Eventually, they would end up in the trash, or given away to someone else who heard of the miracles they could produce and wanted to try them. I was always relieved when they left the house because they were a permanent reminder of my failures.

At one time, there were no less than six pieces of home exercise equipment in my basement. But time passed, and the only piece that made it through the insanity of my expanding waistline during the 80's and 90's was one of the last I purchased: a recumbant exercise bike. A good one, too. Solid. Has a weight limit that is slightly more than I weigh.

Upon diagnosis with D, I had my DH haul it upstairs and put it into the place where the television was before I decided it was not helping my weight situation and got rid of it.

I needed a plan, but it had to be one I can use. I have to lose this lard.

I started out with walking, just walking. There is a small park near our home with an oval walking path that is a quarter mile around. The day after I was diagnosed, I knew what I had to do. I got dressed, put on my beat up old sneakers and got my butt out there on that track.

Huffing, puffing and sort of embarassed, I trudged through two circuits around before I couldn't go any further. Red-faced, sweaty and breathing heavy, I walked to my car and sat crying in it for a few minutes. How did I get to this point? How could I let my body just go all to h ell to the point where even walking was both painful and a supreme effort?

Humiliated, but determined, I came home that first day and thought about the whole experience. I was only out about fifteen or so minutes, my back was screaming in agony, my feet hurt and I was drenched with sweat. I was convinced that everyone else who was walking that track was looking at me and thinking, "Pfft, who does she think she's kidding? She looks like she might keel over any second now!"

The house was quiet, my husband was at work. I decided that no amount of my own pity party was going to get me to lose weight or get fit so I shrugged it off and climbed onto that bike in my living room. I rode it for fifteen minutes at a very low resistance level and then called it a day.

The next day, I got dressed and walked that track. The day after, the same. Soon I was able to walk three times around. Soon after that, four times around. Five days a week. Sometimes six.

Six weeks or so later, I now can get around that track four times at a good clip. Then I come home and ride the bike for a half-hour. During the half-hour on the bike, I increase the speed from 12 to 16 mph and increase the resistance to 6 for one minute every five minutes.

Last Monday, we received a check from the sale of my husband's old lease car. We went out and purchased a good elliptical machine. I can only do two minutes on it. Right now, at least. But I know I can do this, I CAN exercise. I have not felt this good, both physically and emotionally in at least a decade. I am not going to give up anymore. I am not going to feel sorry for myself anymore, because I have the power to affect my body in a positive way.

When I get toward the end of my 45 minutes a day of working out, I feel myself getting tired. Sometimes it is because I exercise at the end of the regular work day, sometimes it is just because I don't really love to exercise. When I am working through that last aching five or ten minutes on the bike and the urge to quit early hits me, I start running this little mantra through my head with every pedal:

I don't want to be so sweet,
I don't want to lose my feet,
I will watch the food I eat,
So I'm going to keep the beat.

Hokey, maybe, but it keeps me going until the end. I still don't care to exercise, but I don't hate it nearly as much as I thought I would.

It is my own private h ell. But at least I am not suffering as much these days.

[Abra]

Good job, Alia, and well written too!

[Granny Shanny]

Way to go, Alia, and good for you for sharing this. You aren't alone in your distaste for physical exercise, and you've just given me a much needed kick in the pants. Thank you!

[Gordonm]

No exercise is easy. It takes discipline. You seem to have overcome the hard part. The results are enough motivation. Keep at it. I applaud anyone who keeps at it with a positive attitude.

[GrammaBear]

Alia
Thank you for sharing your story. It gives me hope that maybe I can get similar results, because I really need the exercise!!

[sumi]

Well said, Alia. I'm so glad you wrote this. I have just returned from almost 2 months away and needed some motivation to get back to my own routine.

[mortis505]

It must have been difficult to share your story. I applaud you. And it may seem hokey, but if it helps with your motivation, then I say keep doing it.

[Moonglo]

Well said!

I know what you mean about not loving to exercise... sounds like you're doing much better than me, and I am really trying! You're an inspiration- keep up the great work, and hopefully I'll be able to think of you when I get tired and keep going.

[Dis-N-Dat]

That's so terrific Alla! Color me re-motivated! I like your little ditty too, it's got a nice little beat to the rhyme. I'm going to use it during my strength training (upper body workout with cans of beans ).

[davef]

Originally Posted by Alia

I don't want to be so sweet,
I don't want to lose my feet,
I will watch the food I eat,
So I'm going to keep the beat.

Alia,

All I can say is I love it and well done you

[KatGirl]

That's a great story. Thank you for sharing.

I was in the same boat as you several months ago. Right after I was diagnosed, I joined a gym and started going 3 times a week. At the beginning I was only able to do the elipitical for 15 minutes. I was really embarassed because I saw others on the machine for much longer then me.

Over time I have been able to increase my staminia. I am now doing 60 minutes 5 times a week. In addition, on 3 of those days I do 30 minutes of weight training with a personal trainer. The other two days I run/fast walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes.

Two weekends ago, I completed my first 5K run in 37 minutes.

Keep up the great work. It's always hard to start a workout program no matter what shape you are in. You have just proven that it can be done if you put your mind to it.

[TommyC1]

Originally Posted by Gordonm

No exercise is easy. It takes discipline. You seem to have overcome the hard part. The results are enough motivation. Keep at it. I applaud anyone who keeps at it with a positive attitude.

I got no discipline. Get bored too quick. Got a Nordic Track that can actualy make time stop. It is good for hanging laundry though.

Lucky for me I've always enjoyed walking. I like XC Skiing too if it ever snows. I like paddling. I like biking but the traffic scares me so I don't much.

Anyway for me I had to find things that I don't mind doing that work my body. I walk most days at lunch. Fast enough to get a good sweat going. I ski and paddle when ever I get the chance. Gotta work on the biking. Stupid cars!

I agree with Gordon on the positive attitude.

Good one one you Alia! The most important thing is to stay with it what ever it is.
I like your song. You ought to record it. Get a single out. I'll buy it.

[Bull]

Good for you.
Remember this, you did not get this way over night it happened over the course of years, It will not fly off it will come off slowly over time. Keep it up!!

Remember this also....Time flys so as the days turn to weeks to months the pounds will melt off!!

[Caravaggio]

I applaud you for your efforts. My advice, though, is to find something you enjoy. AND, who says you have to do the same physical activities on specific days week in week out? There are so many interesting things you can do to keep yourself active and moving, far more interesting and enjoyable than being stuck on an elliptical machine. You just have to try them out to find out.

[lark 27]

I enjoyed reading your post. Even when we don't enjoy the exercise, I know I do enjoy seeing the results! Very cool to hear of your progress and that re-motivates me. I've taken the last 4 days off from running due to some pain in my foot, but am looking forward to putting one foot in front of the other tomorrow to continue my quest for positive progress. I would further encourage you along the lines of Caravagio to find something you like because that is essential for me. I'm too weak to habitually do something I just don't like.