Is it late for me?

Be_Moore · Jun 18, 2009

The ticket to the future is always open.

newidea123 · Jun 18, 2009

Hi theresa, are you dead yet?, if not then there is hope and you can always change, even at 35 yrs but i suspect you might want to start now. thanx and don't be too sensitive to the word death.

keithjones · Jun 18, 2009

Welcome to the maintenance phase of life... you passed your prime and though you can still be better than you ever were your body has kicked off the autopilot so to speak. no more neglect without consequences.

I love my cat! · Jun 18, 2009

It is never too late to start exercising! Just make sure you start out slowly to prevent any injuries.

I would recommend getting an iPod/mp3 player and start walking to your favorite songs or podcasts.

I get bored very easily with exercising. The music really helps pass the time.

Good Luck!! :heartbeat

rnffemtguy, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

Negative, you are not doomed! Go see a doctor, get a physical and ask about an exercise/diet plan. It's never too late, especially at 25! Keep motivated and stick to it, there are a ton of internet sites out there to help you along (with your physicians approval of course).....Carpe Diem!!!!!!!!

allnurses Guide · Jun 18, 2009

I would say that if you start to live a healthy lifestyle at 25, and stick with it throughout your life, those diseases that are related to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity, aren't probably going to be affected all that much by what you did between 0-25.

But I'm not a doctor, so, like everybody said, go get a checkup and tell the doc about the extreme amount of anxiety you are experiencing. You know anxiety tends to amplify whatever you may be feeling.

Once you get the OK from the doc, you might find an exercise buddy or an inexpensive gym that has staff to answer your concerns.

It's never too late to start. :yeah:

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 18, 2009

Have you ever seen "The Biggest Loser" on TV? Some of those people are over 50 and more than 100 pounds overweight. Some have trouble walking more than a few yards. And yet ... almost all of those folks succeed in getting back in shape. Very few of them "fail."

If they can do it ... I don't see why a motivated 25-year old couldn't do it. Of course, if you are not really motivated ... or if you aren't willing to work at it ... then that's another story. It's up to you.

kythe, LPN · Jun 18, 2009

You sound like how I felt a few weeks ago. I was very sedentary as a child, but as a teen I started working out regularly at a gym, doing aerobics, and bike riding. Then after my first child was born I went back to being fairly sedentary again. Now in the last 8 years or so of no exercise and a lot of fast food, I've gained 40 pounds.

I'm in my early thirties and overweight now, and I have a family history of obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. It recently hit me that if I keep gaining weight at this rate, just a few pounds a year, in another ten years I will be at high risk for these problems since I will have hit middle age.

About a month ago, I joined a gym again and have been exercising between 4-6 days a week. I'm trying to make it a daily routine to go in. I have started weight lifting, but this doesn't mean working out until I'm sore every day. Sometimes I just go walk on the treadmill or use a stationary bike for a few minutes. I do whatever I feel up to that day. The way I see it, even 15-30 minutes of activity is that much less time that I would be just sitting on the computer or in front of the TV, or whatever.

Already I have noticed benefits of exercise. When I first started, I could last about 5-10 minutes on a treadmill before I felt wiped out. Now I can maintain my target heart rate at about 70% for over 20 minutes at a time without feeling uncomfortable. I've only been doing this a few weeks, but this is a measurable cardiovascular improvement. I intend to keep up with physical activity in the long run. It should be a lifestyle, not just a phase to go through.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

what is exercise? i dunno what that is.
see, i think i have lived such a sedentary lifestyle for....all my life? at 25, i realized that i haven't really been moving much for 2 decades and a half. that's too bad because we all know that exercise helps in preventing many diseases. and my ticket to good health? i just threw it out my window.
at present my paranoia is killing me. everytime i feel some spasms here, or some strange numbness or pain there, a little bloated feeling at some point, or some stiffness somewhere, i just can't help feeling scared that i might be breeding some form of disease or diseases already from all that sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food that i have been ingesting since birth.
at 25, do you think, it's too late for me? am i doomed?:uhoh21:

i did not start exercising until i turned 26. exercise and fitness were unfamiliar to me as a young adult. at the age of 26 i began a consistent exercise program, and i've been exercising routinely ever since. the hardest part is getting started and sticking to it.

i am in much better shape today than i was as a young adult. so yes, it is very possible to change your fitness and health level.

it's up to you.

tishirajan · Jun 18, 2009

I've lost 80lbs since May of last year. I'm 41 and I'm healthier now than when I was when I was 20. It's never too late to begin a healthy lifestyle. You just have to make up your mind to do it. I certainly wish I had lost this weight 20 years ago because I've never felt better.

I started walking 30 minutes a day and have progressed up to an hour. The days I don't go for my walk I feel like I have no energy.

I made a game out of it for myself. I told myself that if I could walk a mile a day for a week then I would treat myself to a new pair of walking shoes. After that, I told myself I would treat myself to some new clothes to wear for exercise if I could walk a mile and a half for two weeks. I also made a chart and checked off the days I walked and that was really helpful to see my progress and it made me feel good knowing that I was actually keeping up with it for the first time in 20 years. I'm up to 3 miles 5 days a week. You have to put your mind to it and tell yourself that you're worth it and you will be healthier and feel so much better.

It's never too late, you just have to make up you mind to do it and follow through. You can do it! If I can, anyone can!:wink2:

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

Wow tishirajan! Fifty pounds is fantastic. Good for you, and congratulations!