Started exercising 01-13-07.

[Mom2Ashli]

Mom2Ashli, I too have a bad knee. I started going to Curves last March. Since then my knee is a lot stronger. I don't have as many aches or pains as I did prior to working out. Give a try, but go slowly, you won't notice the difference right away. I didn't realize my knee was getting stronger until one day it hit me, my knee didn't hurt and hadn't hurt for awhile.

I looked at Curves and it seemed like all the machines use your legs to push things. Just bending my knees to put shoes on I hear all the crackle in my knees and they hurt.

 

[Jennifer S]

I looked at Curves and it seemed like all the machines use your legs to push things. Just bending my knees to put shoes on I hear all the crackle in my knees and they hurt.

I had a friend who went to Curves. She had a bad knee before she even started there and Curves made it worse. The doctor gave her a note to get out of her contract w/ Curves.

I think it all depends on what is wrong with your knee. Maybe go to the doctor before you start exercising. I hear the elliptical is pretty good on the knees.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I've been exercising for years and there are STILL mornings that I have trouble getting going and want to just stay in bed.

The best thing I ever did was start going to the Y in the morning before work. I take my stuff and shower and dress there. It became a part of my ritual for going to work, there is never anything else I have to do at that hour and the best thing about it is the people I met there. The same people are there pretty much every day, and we have a nice little community where we all encourage each other. The other cool thing is that by 6:30 am-I'm done!!

The other thing is to keep the workouts varied and set mini goals. I do treadmill and weights 3 days a week and I swim three days a week. The treadmill was getting boring so I decided to try the Couch to 5K running plan I read about on the WISH boards. There are plenty of machines there and they even have some early AM classes that I can take to spice things up.

Don't despair-you're doing something so great for you and once you start seeing results it will help you want to keep going.

 

[Hercules10]

I loooooove going to the gym. Lots of hot, sweaty women in tight spandex rolling around on the floor. What's not to like for a guy?

Oh yeah...every once in a while I'll get in a work-out too.

 

[Tantor]

I loooooove going to the gym. Lots of hot, sweaty women in tight spandex rolling around on the floor. What's not to like for a guy?

And this is why I have a treadmill at home!!

 

[hydster]

I'm no fan of exercising but I do love how I feel after my run! DH and I run 4 days a week at the gym on the treadmill. Then we also do Yoga 3 days a week and some strength/weight training as well. I am slowly getting where I want to be but it's taking a lot longer than I wanted *Yep I'm very impatient* and it's hard to go sometimes but I do feel much better now!

I agree with the others about switching it up. After 4-6 weeks your body needs different exercises to keep you off the plateau! Good for you though at keeping going with it!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Mermaid - WOO HOO FOR YOU!!!! The first week or two is the hardest, but you're already halfway there!

I also started last week. So far I've only gone to the gym 3 times, and I'm doing the interval training on the elliptical machine. Tomorrow is my first session with a personal trainer. It's a pretty good deal - $119 for 3 hour long sessions, or 6 half our sessions. I'm also splitting the cost with a friend since we're going to do it together. My dh thinks personal trainers are a rip off, but I'm not very disciplined and I need someone to tell me exactly which machines to use and how to use them. I'm going to Cancun at the end of May so I need to get my jiggly self into shape fast!

Just keep telling yourself when you're ready to fall off the elliptical machine or when you have to drag yourself to work out that in a few weeks you're going to look HOT!! Another thing that helped me (and this sounds so cheesy) but I had my dh take a very unflattering picture of me in a swimsuit, and I keep it in front of me when I work out. It helps remind me of the reason I need to keep going. It really does work!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Congrats on starting an exercise program! I don't really like to exercise either, but I LOVE the way I feel afterwards! Try to focus on that, and remember the more you do it, the better you'll feel.

Also, when I used to work out at home, I would tape my favorite soap each day, but not watch it until I got on the stair stepper the following morning. There were times I could barely drag myself out of bed, and I only did because I wanted to see what was happening in Pine Valley.

Stick with it, you'll be glad you did!

 

[camreesmom]

Congrats on starting an exercise program! I don't really like to exercise either, but I LOVE the way I feel afterwards! Try to focus on that, and remember the more you do it, the better you'll feel.

Also, when I used to work out at home, I would tape my favorite soap each day, but not watch it until I got on the stair stepper the following morning. There were times I could barely drag myself out of bed, and I only did because I wanted to see what was happening in Pine Valley.

Stick with it, you'll be glad you did!

this is what I do also. I've been riding the exercise bike at home and I told myself that the only way that I can watch the Y & R episodes that I have tivo'd is to ride the bike! It helps me get thru it. It's really hard exercising when DH is laying on the bed watching me!

 

[Mermaid02]

I was watching "Charmed" which I TiVo but then I decided to watch the trip planning DVD. I find Disney motivating. Sounds crazy but it's true.

I've been disappointed that the scales aren't showing my hard work- but a month ago I could not have stayed on the elliptical for 30 minutes- now it's a workout, but doable. I'm sure that after my metabolism catches us- the weight will start to come off.

I need a new hip and the elliptical is gentle on the joint. There's no "impact" since my feet stay on the pedals. I encourage people with joint problems to talk about this with their docs!

 

[KimR]

I'm another one who hates to excercise but love the way I feel afterward. I do enjoy walking and although I know it's supposed to be good for you, I really don't feel like it's very effective. I guess I need to walk faster to get my heart rate up more but then I wouldn't enjoy it anymore! I guess I'm just lazy.

 

[Hercules10]

I've been disappointed that the scales aren't showing my hard work-

In all honesty a bathroom scale can be affected by temperature, humidity and the time of day you weigh yourself. And remember muscle weighs more then fat! So if you pack on some extra muscle you may not even see a weight change.

I bet your clothes fit better don't they?

I.e don't go by what a bathroom scale says.