How do you stick to an exercise routine? Please answer?

Question

I started exercising by running around the school track everyday but a lot of times I felt too embarrassed when there's a lot of people there since I'm not skinny. I actually have 2 questions to ask: First: How do you not become embarrased when exercising with a lot of people? Second: How do you stick to a routine? Any tips? I feel this would really help me get in shape if I can figure these two out! (If you have time to answer my bonus question that will help me even more, here it is: How do you eat healthy foods everyday?) I feel like, if I can some how solve the answer to these questions, and follow it, it can change my self-esteem and body! Please answer! :) (I'm very desperate to get skinnier!) I'm 14 years old by the way, (It just says I'm under 18, so I wanted to let you know)

Aperfectcircle · Accepted Answer

Congratulations on taking the first steps in getting healthy! So a few things I think you could do to help with embarrassment is to have a friend exercise with you, then you have solidarity and someone you are comfortable with there. Plus a friend will help keep you consistently working out which will help your results so choose someone reliable. Something else that could help with embarrassment is to set a goal for yourself and to keep your mind on that. When you are feeling embarrassed or people are doubting you think of how good it will feel to prove them wrong and to meet your goals and to even pass them.
Now as far as sticking to a routine there are a lot of things you can do to ensure you will. A good reliable workout partner will be a huge plus and will keep you accountable. Also setting a big goal that can be broken down into smaller achievable goals will help you keep track of your progress which is really encouraging and can keep you motivated. Examples of good small goals is getting to the point where you can run a mile in say ten minutes then your next goal could be 9 minutes, or if you can do ten push-ups in a row set a goal to be able to do 15 or 20. Keeping a workout journal lets you keep track of goals you meet and your progress over time. Make exercise a part of your daily routine so it becomes something normal that you do rather than a chore that you put off until you have to do it. Have a regular workout routine but make sure to mix it up so you don't get bored with it as well. Most importantly try to find physical activities that you enjoy and make those a big part of your workout routine!
Also it's important to know that anaerobic exercise like lifting weights, 20-30 second sprints as fast as you can, push ups, pull ups, sit ups, exercises that build muscle will do a lot more to burn fat then just running or cardio will. A good workout plan will have both types of exercises :)
and as far as food you need to realize that just like exercise should be part of your regular routine, so should eating healthy. It's gotta become something you do all the time just take it step by step like instead of eating potato chips with a meal eat carrots. Instead of getting candy eat something like blueberries or cherries. Find good healthy foods that you like. Try to stick with foods that are as close to natural as possible meaning stuff that doesn't have a ton of hard to pronounce ingredients in them. Good luck on your fitness journey!

ak666 · Accepted Answer

From someone who is fit but not fitness expert level:

1. Embarrassment: just don't be. People aren't judging you on trying to improve your health: it's generally a fear we project. Easiest way is to find a partner who will motivate you just as much as you motivate him/her.

2. Motivation: to me the key is to enjoy doing it. I'm not exactly the best in terms of motivation to get fit for fitness sake. I do it sometimes and it wanes and goes. However, I'm always going out and skateboarding on a vert ramp nearby because I absolutely love doing it. That's a very intense exercise I always do no matter what, a lifelong hobby, and then I sometimes throw in extra workouts if I'm starting to get love handles or my six-pack beings fading or want to bulk up (especially my upper body since skateboarding half-pipes doesn't hit those areas so hard, more core/legs).

3. About healthy foods every day, I'm not fantastic about this. That said, I tend to eat a very balanced diet and not pig out on junk. I also use protein shakes sometimes when I did a really intense workout that brought me to muscle failure or close.

4."After you exercise, what do you do so that way it makes sure you lose weight?"

Basically just keep doing it. Again it boils down to motivation and enjoying what you are doing, not doing it to try to reach some goal but doing it for the progress and the fact that you enjoy it.

It also helps if you build some muscle with weight-training activities. Apparently muscle burns fat non-stop, and is part of the reason men have an easier time losing weight than women. I hear a lot of women often trying to avoid doing weight-lifting by complaining that they don't want to look like a bodybuilder. That's kind of demeaning to the bodybuilders who require such intense motivation and a lifelong dedication to get there. That's generally not going to happen to an ordinary person: the muscle will just help firm up your body, improve your posture, strength, and naturally help keep your body's shape.

KittieCat · Accepted Answer

I have to eat healthy foods (with other rules) for my health. If I don't, diabetes, high BP, infertility, and weight gain would be in my future. (I have a condition this isn't everyone). I also feel a lot better when eating healthy and I just don't like unhealthy food anymore. As far as working out I just like it, I do it every morning like it's clockwork. I hate working out in front of other people, just because working out is my alone time and I look like an idiot while working out lol. I'd just force yourself to do it and you'll get used to it

Hidden_P · Accepted Answer

I'm not sharing how I did it at your age.

Best way is keep going no matter how much they laugh. Just stop next to them and say "at least I'm not going to pregnant before prom" and keep running. They will be too shocked to follow and if they do, file a complaint.
After all they started it.

Secondly try to eat Healthy. Allow a cheat day because otherwise it's torture. Weekends is fun free and pizza filled.

You are young. Believe it or not,
You might think it's hard now
But it gets worse

Fearless_banana · Answer

Training for me is my favorite part of the day. Putting my headphones on.. blasting my music.. Grunting and tossing weights around.. it's almost therapeutic. During that hour or so literally nothing else matters.. I'm focused and it's almost as if I'm in a trance.. My mindset is.. Let's see how far I can take myself today. I'm not afraid to puke or fall over walking in the gym.. not afraid to pass out.. as savage and crazy as that sounds I love that shit. Those feel good endorphins that I get post workout is the best natural high you could ever get. When I'm training I'll get this amazing feeling when all the blood is rushing towards my targeted muscles of the day.. my skin feels extremely thin.. Vascularity comes out.. Feel like that muscle is about to explode. Feels AMAZING.

meatballs21 · Answer

First: Focus on what you're doing - everyone else is focused on what they're doing. If you go the the gym to look at other people, you're going for the wrong reason.

Second: Find a routine you like and keep doing it. Even if you're lacking motivation to get started, know that future you will thank you for persevering.

Bonus 1: replace stuff you already eat with them. Replace potato chips with carrot and celery sticks. Replace a snack with nuts. Replace pop with flavoured water.

Bonus 2: You lose weight with sustained cardio. Like, walking/running/jogging/biking. If you can do this for an hour (and you might not be able to at first) you're going to start getting somewhere in terms of losing fat.

The other thing is that having more muscle means your body burns more energy at rest. It also makes doing other exercise easier, so combining strength training and cardio is a great idea.

Nuala · Answer

Stay motivated, remember why you're doing this. If you aren't motivated you're not going to keep going. Other then that just keep going after awhile exercise and eating healthy doesn't become so hard. Just ignore them, if they think you can't do it prove them wrong.
After you exercise don't eat a ton of food, drink a lot of water and maybe have a light snack.

I'm also 14 and trying to lose weight, if you want we could be fitness buddy's and try and lose weight together but if don't that's fine.

Anonymous · Answer

You have to get over the fact that there could be people judging you based on your size. The only thing that matters is that you are doing this for you. These people don't matter. In time when you reach your goals, you will remember this and be proud of you. As for sticking to it, try using my fitness pal, its a great community app where you can connect to people all over the world who are trying to lose weight and eat right. Its very motivating. Its helped me stay on track for almost a year now and before it, I'd give up in 2 months. I lost a tone of weight and made lots of friends, Its real good, give it a go.

Austin_With_Numberz · Answer

Well you shouldn't be embarrassed because no one is laughing at someone who is actually trying to exercise and do something about their weight when they aren't. If anything people are cheering you on. Since you are so young the adult thing to say is you shouldn't worry about your weight. But it'd always good to eat right and exercise. I would ask my parents to buy more whole grains. Whole grains are literally the ingredient of a food. Stuff that isn't from the earth but in manufactured and processed is NOT food do don't eat it. To put it simply you should emphasize whole grains (natural foods) and avoid processed meats and treats. To do so is use the resources you have to access these foods and Be dedicated and motivated to your routine. My mom did just exactly that (with barely and exercise) and has lost 40 pounds in 5 months. Tips: Drink a lot of water, go hard all the time, take advantage of rest days. If you hurt yourself you will get thrown back to start over. Hope I helped :)

posted · Answer

It's easy to stick to a routine if you do it every day or so. At the gym people take a day or two off a week, after a while it's second nature.

lovestruckangel · Answer

I agree with meatballs21.

It takea 28 days for your body to get used to a new habit.
You might not always see or feel the changes... but don't give up.
On days you don't feel like exercising, that's when you push yourself harder to do it and you feel so good afterwards.

April10 · Answer

No one is paying attention to you or looking at you. That's all in your head. Everyone is there to do their own thing. They're focused on finishing their run so they can go home. Don't worry about that. Do your thing and tune out everyone else.

Also, like other people suggested, it's really really helpful to have a partner to exercise with. That way when you want to stick a session, you can't because you would be letting down someone else.

Rissyanne · Answer

I exercise in the morning... that works best for me. I get it over with.

Miezko · Answer

Older and wiser makes a great point, having a friend or two to exercise with you is a great way to take something negative and turn it into a positive. The only thing I could really add is just to own it. Be proud of what you do. Shoot even brag about it to your friends.

ugh-why · Answer

I go to a gym whenever I get motivated to exercise, nobody there cares about your body, not really. But if you are still embarrassed or self-conscious, ask a friend to come with you. They provide someone to help motivate you and keep you on track.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

The easiest way to stick to an exercise and diet regimen is to do it with at least one partner. The peer pressure can work in a positive way with this kind of activity.

EllieLexis513 · Answer

I have a friend telling me when I fuck up and make me feel bad. But besides that, I get on the scale all the time and look in the mirror whenever I want a slice of pizza lol.

Anonymous · Answer

I know it's hard to stick to a routine but if you really put your mind to it you can do it. My cousin does 100 sit ups before bed every night and she's been doing it for a while too. You really can do it

Tenseven · Answer

Sheer willpower to accomplish your goal. That is all.

nikki_nikki · Answer

The best way I found to stick with it is to find someone to do it with.

Hunterb · Answer

just put headphones in and run your doing good for yourself ignore the haters

OhioNativeForLife · Answer

First thing is to eat adequate food to support it.

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