Hi all, Tim - 33 - UK - 73kg - BMI 23 - Breast Cancer Survivor I had been a habitual gym joiner (9 times in for 13 years). I'd join a gym. I'd meet with the instructor. We'd set a program. I'd go 3 times a week for first week. Then my expectations increased (unrealistically), the excuses started and my interest waned. Eventually I ended up paying for at least 3 months of gym membership without attending. I felt like a failure. A few months later I would pluck up the courage to do it again, convince myself that this time it would be different, and then repeat the same pattern. And then...I found NERD FITNESS! The articles and forums on the site really helped me to analyse why I had failed every time: I was a bad habit builderI had very unrealistic expectationsI did not know what I was doingI did not set targetsI put too much pressure on myselfAll of this was a revelation to me. I honestly thought I was doing right before. Also that the reason I failed was because 'I was not meant to be one of those fit and healthy people'. How ridiculous?! So...this time IT WILL be different! My first step was to make a habit of going to the gym. I did not met with an instructor. I did not set a program. I merely set myself the target of going to the gym 3 times a week. I did not put any pressure on myself to complete anything; simply driving to the gym would be enough, even if I didn't go through the door. It is now 4 weeks down the line and I have reached my first target! I have been the gym and exercised 3 times a week for the last 4 weeks. I have not excused myself once and it now feels about normal to go to the gym. SUCCESS! I now need to level up again... All of my work so far has been cardio based. I find the free weights a bit scary and I am intimidated by the big guys. Because of this, my aim for the next month is for one session a week to involve strength training. I will be planning some exercises with an instructor tomorrow. I will then be doing these once a week and continuing with my cardio in the other two sessions. Here's to NERD FITNESS!
