Starting Over

[Jaded]

Just looking for a little support as I begin my journey back to fitness.

January 2008 I started working out (lifting 3x a week and cardio 3x) and for the first time in my life felt healthy and was starting to look halfway decent. I lost 30 lbs in about 5 months time. (Gee, commitment to a clean diet and dedicated exercise DO work better than any miracle pill) I had always felt overweight and tried many times to lose weight without any success until last year.

Then in December I went to the emergency room with a blood clot on my lung. It came out of nowhere and sort of shook me up. Here I was feeling so awesome and I felt like my body had betrayed me. I haven't been able to do any cardio or heavy weight lifting since then and I've just let myself spiral into depression. I've only put on about 10 pounds, but I really want to get back to where I was before. I now have Doc's okay to start exercising again, but I am finding it hard to find the same motivation.

Any tips to get started again or words of inspiration would be appreciated.

[pierini]

My suggestion is to take little steps and jump back on the fitness saddle slowly. Brisk walking is always a great way to start. Don't get an all or nothing mentality and realize that something is better than nothing.

Start an online journal here like many do. You'll get great support. I, for one, will be following your journey and privately cheering for you in cyberspace.

You can do it IF you want it badly enough. Do you?

Have a great day and count your blessings.

[Jaded]

Thank you Pierini. I had to sit down and ask myself if this was still really important to me and if I am really ready to commit to this. The answer is a resounding YES!

I will try to remember that something is better than nothing.

[pierini]

Hello Jaded,

Here's something I wrote a while back that will help drill into your head the something is better than nothing mindset:

http://pierini-fitness.blogspot.com/...n-nothing.html

Have a great day!

[ihatepeas]

Hi, I've found this forum to be very encouraging as well as educational. I hope you get the same out of it. Good luck on your journey.

[Jaded]

Thank you. I had a good upper body workout last night and cardio today. I just need to keep at it until it becomes habit again. It looks like there is an awful lot of information available on this site. Now I need to make time to go through it!

[kitty1977]

Hey there Jaded,
Congratulations on being able to work out again. That's a start. Two years ago, I was just getting back into shape after getting out of it for a while and then I sprained my ankle. I know what it's like to have a disruption. The doctor told me I probably wouldn't be able to walk for a month. Not only could I walk a month later, but I was up on my mountain bike riding trails. I did this by taking baby steps.
I realize that a sprained ankle is different than a blood clot by far, but I think it's important in both cases to take baby steps. Start walking and doing exercises on a stability ball. I have a blog with stability ball exercises if you are interested. Then move onto riding a bike and lifting lighter weights. Maybe find a buddy to work out with. Hang in there and good luck!

Brianna
witnessforfitness

Hi and welcome to Discuss Fitness. Start by taking baby steps. You have been there before, so you have already shown yourself that you can do this, and you know how good it feels. In no time at all you will rebuild good habits. Lots of us here at DF will be cheering you on!

[Jaded]

Thank you to everyone for the encouragement. I think all of you are right about baby steps. I started my old running program again (from ground zero), but it felt really good to be making the effort. I even surprised myself in that I was able to complete the 2 minute interval of running with little strain.

I've been doing a lot of reading around here for ideas and advice. What an awesome website!

[kitty1977]

I am glad that the information was helpful to you. If you have more questions please feel free to write at anytime. I have a video blog that focuses on getting back into shape and taking small steps.

Have a great day!
Brianna
witnessforfitness