Hi! It may surprise you but I actually think that there is no reason not to finish a workout no matter how ‘unfit’ a person may be. You can always take short breaks and get right back into it, or do easier versions of the moves.

It sounds very mean and too extreme but as Jillian Michaels puts it: “unless you puke, faint or die, keep going!”. Just do it even if you suck. Just finish the damn workout. It’s all about the attitude, it’s not about being good at it. It’s about bulldozing through the nagging “I can’t” and “I don’t feel like it” thoughts! It’s about being mentally strong and finishing what you just started.

Stop convincing yourself you can’t… It’s exhausting (you say you usually end up upset) and the only person that cares is you. Just going for it, failing, learning and trying again is still a whole lot better than giving up.

It sounds super cliché but motivation has to come from within. I cannot give you motivation. You have to find for yourself why working out and being fit is important for you.

Not sticking with it may be the biggest problem of all. It’s a personal journey of trials and errors to find out which diet and workout program works best for you. The best program in the truest sense is not the most effective program, but rather the program that’ll make you stick with it long term.

Hi! The first thing you can do as a beginner to lose weight is to take an honest look at your eating habits by writing down everything you eat for 4-5 days. Look at your food log and try to find ways to gradually improve your choices and habits. I’m sure you already know the common sense rules when it comes to what’s healthy and what’s not. (Check my page “clean eating” for some more ideas)

About Insanity: it’s undoubtedly an effective workout program to lose weight. Shawn T (the trainer) is motivating and looks fine :)… I like how he gets all sweaty and out-of-breath too, suffering with the rest of us, while explaining the moves. He is a treat to watch when he’s shirtless in video #6 “cardio abs”… Even video #11 “max recovery” where he’s wearing a spandex is still eye candy (he’s got such a cute muscular butt aha :)

Anyway, back to the workout itself: if you’re a total beginner with extra body weight, I’m afraid insanity might be too heavy on your joints. But it all depends on your motivation and fitness levels. An easier workout could be Jillian Michaels’ “Ripped in 30 - level 1”. You don’t do any move for more than 30 seconds which makes it a bit less discouraging for a fitness newbie. 

Hi! Your heart and lungs are not used to running. You have to be patient with yourself when you’re beginning a whole new activity. If you feel you really need to stop, stop and walk, but then get back to it as soon as you can. Only by pushing yourself a bit more than the previous time will you be able to get better. Just take baby steps and add one more minute at a time. Preparing yourself a playlist on your ipod might also helps get things going.  

However, running is not necessarily the best aerobic exercise for you. There are other aerobic activities that you might prefer: swimming, cycling, stair climbing, rowing, jumping rope. The best activity is the one you enjoy, one that is safe for you and one that you will perform on a regular basis. 

About your diet: yes, you need to have a regular eating schedule: 5 to 6 small meals a day, or 3 meals a day + 2 snacks, or just 3 big meals a day; whatever works for you, but something you stick with on a daily basis. Try to also stick to the same regular meal times. 

A good way to start for a beginner who wants to get toned is Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels-30-Day-Shred/dp/B00127RAJY

It’s not the latest program but it’s very cheap (or you can downlad it illegally for free, no excuses like I don’t have the money, if you have a computer and you’re on tumblr I assume you know how to find stuff on the Internet…) It’s a good way to get started with fitness and it works.

Hi Rachel, 

Unfortunately it isn’t possible to choose where you want to lose fat. You cannot ‘spot’ reduce. When your body needs fat for energy, it tends to take it from everywhere. That’s why women who lose weight lose weight from their hips, but also from their boobs, their arms, their face. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing an exercise targeting your waist or not, your body only functions as a complete machine, not as different body parts apart from each other. 

However, you shouldn’t worry about losing your butt because it tends to be the last place of fat reserve in our bodies. All women, also the ‘skinny’ ones, have some fat on their butt. It’s a reserve in case of pregnancy.

Fat around your waist can be reduced by eating healthy food and exercising (the type of exercise of your choice, it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner: jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing for at least 45 minutes 3 times per week).

Examples of healthy foods are: 
- Tuna salad
- Tuna sandwich with whole grain bread
- Grilled chicken salad
- Brown rice
- Apples
- Almonds (no more than 25 almonds per portion)
- Low fat Greek yogurt
- Vegetables that you can eat raw without having to prepare them or cook them: cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, cucumber