So there’s something I’ve been meaning to elaborate on, which is motivation and structuring things so you’re likely to succeed.
About 10 years ago I bought a fancy $2000 Natulis elliptical machine, which I was supposed to use to get fit. This did not work. I moved like 4 different times, each time with the unweildy beast, which would invariably sit in my apartment unused and silently mock me, when I noticed it.
Having a good piece of equipment is not what you need. You need to decide to get fit and arrange things to promote that goal. This can include things like having the right clothes, shoes, and water bottle; it can also include signing up for a group class, where there is some implicit social pressure to attend workouts and take them seriously. It may also include finding a gym within 5 miles so you have one less excuse not to go.
The gear part is easy but important. When I started working out again I purchased a few essential things. I bought 3 pairs of decent workout shorts for $20 each, like a 6 pack of basic black/blue/grey workout shirts for like $24, a 6 pack of workout socks, a pack of 8 small white towels for $5, and a good 24 oz water bottle for like $8b (I fill it up before workouts from a 5 gallon household water bottle). I already had a barely used pair of fitness shoes I got on sale a year earlier for like $40.
Having this basic but essential set of gear means I have no worries or issues getting ready for a workout. I’m ready to put on my uniform and go. Ironically, I put the elliptical trainer in storage when I moved, about 2 months before starting to get fit again.
Also, as someone who worked out alone in grad school, I find being in a class much easier. There’s something to be said for group reinforcement and having an instructor. Sure, the $179/mo isn’t cheap, but it’s much less than a personal trainer, and look at it this way: how much is good health and weight loss worth? Most people would rush to pay $100 to lose a pound if that meant they could, say, lose 50 lbs for $5000. Well, I’ve lost 35 for under $1k so far. Also, the improvement in well being and energy would sell for thousands more. It already does, in pills that are not nearly as effective. I pay $500/mo for basic health insurance, so paying another $179 to actually be healthy doesn’t seem excessive.
So, again, my fancy elliptical did me no good for 10 years. What I needed was to make a decision and commit and take care of the equipment and logistics that would enable me to pursue my goals (which are still a long way off) unhindered.
Now, I have it easy in that I structure my work hours and have few other commitments, and it will be different for everyone, but people in your life, including work, would likely be encouraging if you need to block out time 3-5 days a week to get into decent shape.
