I Had my surgery on December 19th and started at 228.5 pounds. I have lost 25.5 pounds so far. I know I need to get myself to a gym or something but can't get motivated. I am a full time 3rd grade teacher and then teach dance every night. I'm exhausted by the time I get home. Suggestions???

Get a fitbit. It measures steps and you can add your dance. I can't always get to the gym but I am working my way up to 10,000 steps per day.

I can relate to the exhaustion after a days work for sure. Someone (can't remember who) told me a while back that if the exercise doesn't get done first thing in the morning...it simply will not get done. That really resonated with me because even though my job isn't high stress, just the effort of getting ready, putting in my hours and driving back and forth is mentally exhausting. By the time I get home all I want to do is strip everything off and lay down...exercise is the LAST thing I want to do after work so for me it must be done first thing in the morning before everything else...even if this means getting up early to do it.

Something else that has helped me is to say to myself "Okay, I'm only doing ten minutes!" This is because I personally do not have a love affair with exercise and I never have, and there's a good chance I never will. But once I put in my ten minutes those endorphin's kick in and then I want to keep going. There are a lot of DVD's with routines that are only 10 minutes, so maybe start out with something small like that a few days a week. Once you start losing more you'll be motivated to keep going and either add more days, more time, or maybe even other types of exercise.

For me its also important to have what I need to exercise at home. I've gone the gym membership route and then if I don't go I beat myself up internally for not going which only fuels negative feelings about myself and my ability to stick with something. For some people the act of paying for the membership is enough to motivate them to go. I'm ashamed to admit that for me the cost is never a motivator and I've paid for countless unused gym memberships in the past. Having the equipment at home leaves no room for excuses. I don't have fancy equipment but what I do have is good enough to accomplish what I need to do. I have an elliptical machine, a second-hand treadmill, lots of exercise DVD's as well as hand weights, ankle weights, resistance bands and giant inflatable ball. I also bought the shake Weight to do arm work. If you don't have anything, start asking around. I'm willing to bet that your family and friends would be more than happy to donate unused exercise equipment to you. It just seems to be one of things that 'everyone' has. If that isn't the case, you could stop by a few garage sales and probably find some decent equipment for dirt cheap prices. Especially at moving sales as people generally don't want to have to move that stuff when its not being used anyway. If all else fails just do a search on the web for exercises that don't require any equipment. Believe me, there are tons of exercises that can be done using nothing but your own body weight as resistance...like lunges (for example).

Also, if you have cable there are many channels that have exercise shows/yoga etc. If you have a DVR you could record them and then play them and follow along when you feel up to it. Good luck!

Edited January 19, 201412 yr by shamps4all

Ditto the previous comment...if you don't do it first thing in the morning, it will not get done. Regardless of how hard you try or say you'll do it after work, there will always be something that prevents it.

Now listen, I am not a morning person by nature, but after many failed attempts at getting into an evening workout routine, became one! I used to wake up at 5:45, shower and rush out the door to work. Now I get up at 4:15 (I know, "4:15, that's nuts!"...but it gets easier over time.) and workout for an hour. I've been doing this for almost 3 months now and actually look forward to working out! I give myself a break on weekends...still exercise, but sleep in a little later.

As the weight comes off, you'll find your energy level increases exponentially!

Regardless of when or how you do it, just make sure you do it!

Good luck!

While I agree with the other posters in that first thing in the morning is usually the best chance for success, I also understand it isn't always possible. I find the hardest part about going to the gym is actually going. I am fine when I am there, sometimes even enjoy it, and I always, always feel great when I leave! It is the getting there that is the biggest challenge! So sometimes I simply have to make myself. Even when I am tired, even when I can find a thousand excuses, I am learning to suck it up and just go.

Remember this is the hardest part and it starts getting a little bit easier.

Funny thing is, even when I am dog tired, the gym energises me and I find I am more productive as a consequence. I get home from the gym with more oomph than when I get home from the office.

How much energy are you using when you teach dance? It could be that is exercise in and of itself.....