[metalchick]

I have decided to make a positive change and to live a healthy lifestyle. I have given up unhealthy carbs and began to walk with a goal of running or jogging. Things were fine the first week. But now I am super anxious to go for my walk. I go to the park that has a path...and I just sit there. I cannot bring myself to go. This is usually after work and my ankle is injured. But that has never stopped me before until now. Could this be self sabotage? I need to do this for me. I need to accomplish something in my life. This is the usual cycle. I want something so bad, I can see it, but I cannot accomplish it. Does anyone else have this issue?

[Skeezyks]

Well... I don't know as I have any great insights into this to offer. But here are links to 6 articles, from PsychCentral's archives, on the subject of self-sabotage & some related subjects that may be of some help:

What is Self-Sabotage and How do I Stop? | Sext, Text & What's Next: Teens, Young Adults & Technology

Why Do People With Mental Illness Self-Sabotage? | Don't Call Me Crazy

Self-Sabotage: A Pathway to Destruction

Breaking the Link Between Low Self-Esteem and Self-Sabotage

When Negative Emotions Lead You to Self-Sabotage | Weightless

https://psychcentral.com/blog/come-f...dium=popular17

[Deejay14]

Just a thought... have you considered you're anxious because you haven't exercised or you know you're probably not going to by just sitting. My grandmother used to say " Once begun is half done!" and it's so true. Just contract with yourself to do even one minute of steps.

[ken9018]

im always anxious about exercising , I want to do good and start a work out plan to help with my anxiety, but my anxiety prevents me from doing so. I'm hoping that eventually I will work up the courage to overcome the exercise anxiety and just begin. My advice don't give up, keep trying to go for your walks and jogging because in the long run it will help

[DahveyJonez]

You didn't mention how long you've been at it but it is very common to hit 'plateaus' or just get really bored with the same old routines; especially if you've been doing the same trail at the same park.

Yeah, and that dread or reluctance can manifest itself as anxiety.

Why don't you try changing things up a bit? Try HIIT - interval running, like doing high speed, flat-out sprints for a certain distance, jog, or even walk, for another specific distance and then another flat out sprint - rinse and repeat.

You could even incorporate skip roping into it - if you've never done it before, you soon learn why boxers and other full contact athletes use it as an integral part of their training (PC needs a sweating emoji).

Live near a school or other facility that allows access to stadium bleachers? A couple of trips up and down those - also great for developing foot speed and agility.

Alternate days - one day is for a burpee/skip roping/plyometric box jumps circuit, the next session is for hill/stadium bleacher/HIIT - believe me, not only will you loose your anxiety about leisurely jogs in the park, you will start to look forward to them immensely!

[BreakForTheLight]

I get anxious every time before going jogging or going to yoga class. I think it's a fear that I can't do it. And of people seeing me fail. I have a hard time seeing myself as anything else than a fat person who's bad at exercising.

My only solution is to try to push through, ignore the nausea I feel and usually after a few minutes I feel better. I keep hoping eventually it'll click that exercise is nothing to be scared of.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by metalchick

I have decided to make a positive change and to live a healthy lifestyle. I have given up unhealthy carbs and began to walk with a goal of running or jogging. Things were fine the first week. But now I am super anxious to go for my walk. I go to the park that has a path...and I just sit there. I cannot bring myself to go. This is usually after work and my ankle is injured. But that has never stopped me before until now. Could this be self sabotage? I need to do this for me. I need to accomplish something in my life. This is the usual cycle. I want something so bad, I can see it, but I cannot accomplish it. Does anyone else have this issue?

there are thousands of exercises that can be found on youtube! begin in the privacy of your own home and maybe in time, you will gain more confidence and possibly then want to go outside for a work, or even eventually join a gym; think of exercise as a way of staying healthy and with youtube, you can pick and choose the levels and types of exercises that can be done from your home! good luck.

[metalchick]

I think most of it stems from my ankle injury. I walked for about 2 weeks, maybe a total of ten times....and I am in agony. I know I have failed myself and I dont want to fail, I dont want to be in pain. But I am both of these in more ways than one.

[marvin_pa]

Originally Posted by metalchick

I think most of it stems from my ankle injury. I walked for about 2 weeks, maybe a total of ten times....and I am in agony. I know I have failed myself and I dont want to fail, I dont want to be in pain. But I am both of these in more ways than one.

If your ankle is giving pain, then that's a sign that it's still in recovery & needs to be factored into whatever exercise routines you can do. It's no indication of failure. Are there forms of exercise that you can do that won't stress the injury as much as walking might be doing (like the leg exercises you can do sitting/lying down, without putting pressure onto that ankle)?