Comments on: Ask Roni: Finding Your Exercise Groove Again.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:36:28 +0000

Great advice!

By: Shay

Shay — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:20:55 +0000

Roni, I just recently found your site and love it. I especially like your advice that you give to people, like this one to Rhonda. These are the kind of motivational thoughts that all of us should work on repeating to ourselves, and coming from someone like you who has been there and is a REAL person, really helps a lot. I turned 30 this year, and was so depressed, I couldn’t get out of bed all weekend. I just felt like my youthful 20′s were wasted being fat and unhappy. I thought I was fat at 16 when I weighed 129… now that I am 30 and weigh 247, I realize how big a part my self loathing has played in my weight gain. As I embark on yet another attempt to lose it, I am happy that I have your site to help me along. Thanks, girl.

By: KK @ Running Through Life

KK @ Running Through Life — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:45:56 +0000

Great tips Roni!!! Thanks for the reminders. And Rhonda, there is NO SHAME in running intervals (run X minutes, walk X seconds or minutes)!!!! Many runners, yes, they are still runners, do such interval training and runs! There is a lot of research supporting the benefits of interval running on your body.

By: LIsa

LIsa — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:20:27 +0000

Maybe Rhonda is running too fast, which is why she ends up needing to walk every so often. Try running a little slower for a longer period of time. And realize that run/walk is how most people get started. Eventually you run longer and farther with each interval.

Also, make sure you take a rest day every once in a while. At least 2 days a week, probably more when you first get started. Your body needs time to recover, heal.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:38:13 +0000

I think funks are totally normal, esp this time of year. I try to use my gym-time as a destressor, but there are some days I just don’t feel up to it.

And I can TOTALLY relate re: the weight thing … 144 was my happy weight; about 157 is where I’m at now. I’m an 8, not a 6 anymore. But that’s ok … because I’m happier now.

I also have no desire to work out like I used to — I’d rather LIVE than live at the gym. That said, I am trying to be kinder/gentler to myself. If I am not feeling a workout, I take a rest day (otherwise, I don’t take rest days, period, and they’re integral to the recovery process). If I am done after 40 min and don’t make the full hour, so be it. I know I’ll make up for it on a higher-energy day tomorrow. It’s so hard to be kinder to ourselves but I know it is how I’m recovering from my old over-exercising ways–by forcing myself to accept that my old routine was too rigid, too ridiculous to maintain forever.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:44:13 +0000

I get in funks too and just got out of one by signing up for a February race. Having a goal definitely helps me stay on track and get excited about exercising regularly! Good Luck!

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:38:14 +0000

Great advice! I easily get bored with cardio. Even in a single workout I might do two or three different cardio machines.

By: McLauren84

McLauren84 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:11:35 +0000

I can totally sympathize with Rhonda–it’s hard to not make direct comparisons between your past and current selves. When I think about the gorgeous body I didn’t even know I had when I was 19, I can’t help but feel a little envious of Past Lauren. But that’s toxic thinking, not to mention completely unproductive. I love your advice, Roni. Sometimes people get so stuck in the past, they forget about the present. I totally agree that if your old routine isn’t working for you anymore, you absolutely MUST change it up. It sounds like Rhonda’s early morning workouts aren’t doing the trick anymore, so maybe she could try squeezing in an exercise DVD after dinner.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:02:58 +0000

I completely understand where Rhonda is coming from. I’ve had to deal with not having the motivation I’ve had previously as well. Thanks for posting this and giving some great advice, Roni!

By: nic.

nic. — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:51:01 +0000

If it’s helpful as a motivator, it’s actually more of a caloric and fat burn to do intervals like running, walking for a period of time, running again, so on.

Not only that, but people don’t just “decide” they’re going to be runners and are instantly running marathons. It takes practice! You’ll get back in to it.

The desire is there so the motivation is soon to follow.