Conference rocks::weight_control

    
    	You may also want to look in ELESYS::AEROBICS
    
    	It's great that you know that looking thin and being in-shape
    	are not the same.  Every body needs exercise to stay healthy.
    	If friends make remarks, tell them your doing it for your health,
    	not just your appearance.  Weight-bearing exercise, performed
    	while young, will help reduce the risk of ostheoperosis (ack,
    spelling!!) later in life, besides the benefits to heart, lungs, etc.
    
    	Motivation can be tough, I know.  For me, I have to just make
    	up my mind, set a date, and get on with it.  From there, results
    	are what motivate me!
    
    	RE: gyms ... not all of them are costly.  My club has an annual
    	fee of around $149 (last time I checked).  That's less than $13
    	a month!!!
    
    	Karen
    

    A couple tips from someone who is *definitely* exercise challenged.
    
    - I am more motivated to do activities I enjoy for their own sake,
    rather than "for exercise".  For me, this causes problems because all
    the things I enjoy are outdoor summer things, so I'm struggling to find
    winter activities.  But things you might want to think about...
    
    Tennis, raquetball, skating (ice or roller), biking, hiking, skiing,
    dancing, aerobics classes, fencing, swimming, golf, etc.  There's also team
    sports, even for people like me who are really inexperienced and
    athletically challenged - Digital has quite a few teams, including
    soccer (indoor and outdoor) and basketball.  Think about things that
    aren't traditionally considered exercise, such as dancing - I can do two
    hours of contra dancing, and it's so fun that I don't notice until
    afterwards that it is also exhausting and works up a sweat (ie: good
    exercise.)
    
    I have more fun with things like hiking and biking if I have a goal. 
    So, in the spring and summer, hiking with a picnic lunch and a spot in
    mind to eat it is nice.  Check out the book "Short Bike Trips in
    Massachusetts."
    
    - You say you are a loner in exercise because of comments - maybe you
    need to find an exercise partner who has the same attitude about it you
    do.  This helped me a lot.  Two low-motivation, self-concious
    exercisers can really support eachother.  Me and my buddy started
    biking together last summer - great fun!  Also, I am more likely to
    keep commitments I make to other people than myself - if I promise
    someone "We'll go x-country skiing saturday" I am less likely to bag
    out.
    
    Also I am more motivated with more social activities - team sports,
    group hiking trips, dancing, etc.  Get involved with a club that does
    activities... (check VTX for notesfiles pertaining to activities of
    interest.)
    
    - a schedule helps me.  Same with classes (aerobics, dance, whatever.) 
    Because then it becomes a stable part of my schedule so I have fewer
    excuses.)
    
    - Remember that it is one day at a time - when trying to get up to
    motivation to exercise right now, you don't have to think "Oh, I can't
    stick to this forever, I might as well go today."  Each time you go has
    it's *own* value, whether you go tomorrow or next week or never.
    
    Good luck!
    
    D!

    I agree with the previous reply -- choosing activities that you deem
    fun are more likely to keep you motivated.  I tried joining a gym and
    doing aerobics, but was never motivated to drive to the gym after
    working all day, and the aerobics classes killed my calves.  Also,
    being rather clumsy and "slow" to grasp the steps, I couldn't keep up
    with the classes and ended up with very little benefits.
    
    I used to do gymnastics in my school days, and loved bouncing around on
    the trampoline.  So, I purchased a mini trampoline and some fun
    cassette tapes for music and began jogging on it every night, gradually
    increasing the time from 15 minutes to almost an hour.  This is fun for
    me, and I don't need any motivation to do it.  Weights are a different
    story though.  I have to literally force myself to pick them up at
    least three times a week to tone the different muscle groups.  I find
    that setting a schedule and doing them in front of the TV definitely
    helps.
    
    The comment about your boyfriend hit home.  My husband is not an
    exercise buff, and really resented the time I designated for working
    out because it took time away from "us".  (We are not together
    anymore.)  Guilty feelings made me stop exercising completely and I
    gained 50 pounds and felt horrible.  About 6 months before we separated
    I had to force myself to start-up again, regardless of how he felt
    about it.  I don't know if this is relavent to your situation or if the
    next paragraph is more on the mark.
    
    I know what you mean about feeling self-conscious and the "comments". 
    When my ex first saw me exercise he was fascinated and made
    off-the-cuff remarks (jokingly), but after awhile it was just like any
    other routine couples fall into.
    
    About comments from others.  I usually enounter this too.  I'm a size 4
    or 5, and people think I can eat whatever I want and stay this way, and
    don't understand why I am so devoted to working out and watching my
    diet.  It feels degrading at times (Oh, go ahead, Roberta, eat the
    candy bar; you have nothing to worry about, etc.)  In fact, even at a
    size 5 I could still lose another 12 pounds and look fine.  I'm
    naturally petite and when at my proper weight am only a size 2 or 3. 
    It's genetic in my family... my sister is the same way.
    
    Anyhow, I've rambled.  Hope you can reconcile the feelings you are
    having and become motivated.  Just have fun with it!!
    

    A comment from someone who doesn't exercise.
    
    It might help to try to incorporate more exercise into your normal
    life. For example, Park at the end of the parking lot. When ever you
    have a chance to walk throught the day (even to go to the restroom)
    think "I am up, I am a high energy person" and then walk quickly and
    with purpose. Use the stairs instead of the elevator , even if it is
    several floors. When at your desk try to move around a lot, shif your
    weight and tense and relax your muscles etc.
    
    Of course if you can find some fun active acitvities and incorporate
    them into your schedule that is ideal, but Some of us find that there
    are so many demands on our time it is hard to add the activities.
    However no matter how busy you are there is always time to raise your
    metabolism by the things I mentioned above.
    
    Best to you
    
    Len
    

    I just thought of something else - perhaps a goal in mind will help
    keep you motivated.  People who are trying to lose weight often find
    motivation is tracking their progress down the scale. Maybe you can
    find something similar.  What are you trying to do?  If you are trying
    to build muscle mass, you could measure your arms.  If you are trying
    to increase your endurance, you can track how long you can participate
    in <aerobic activity of your choice> before you konk out.  Or how much
    weight you can lift, etc.  Or if you just want to tone up, you could
    take pictures of yourself (or rather, have pictures taken) and watch
    what affect exercise has on your body.
    
    Diana

    Hmm, haven't checked in here in awhile!
    
    Well, I know women who are a size 8 and look thinner than I do, because
    their body shape is different.  I have naturally small hips and legs;
    all my excess weight sits in the top half of my body.  So, although a
    size 4 or 5 is small to others, it actually doesn't feel comfortable on
    me.  People would never look at me and say "she needs to lose weight",
    but I know at what size I look and feel best.
    
    If your boyfriend is encouraging, then by all means, take advantage of
    it!  Many of my friends don't have supportive spouses so consider
    yourself blessed!
    
    -Roberta