From Ironman to couch potato

Step one = get off the couch!

Sometimes it's the hardest thing to do, but once you get that feeling of having sweated and done a great workout, it's amazing how quickly you want to go back and do another workout.

Step two = sign up for something.  Anything.  Whether it's a 5km fun run, a sprint tri, or whatever... once you've put money down on something, you're going to want to be ready for it. 

Step three = eat healthier... now I have NO idea what your current eating habits are so feel free to completely throw this one out the window, but I know that most people could probably eat a bit cleaner than they already are. 

You can do it, but you've got to get your own butt off the couch first - no one here can make you take that first step, only you can do that. 

Hey, thanks for posting this. As the old saying goes, the first step is admitting you have a problem

Good advice given so far. I agree 100% with signing up for a race ASAP. And I wouldn't focus on a rapid weight loss. I'd focus on just getting moving. Start slow. The IM training you did probably is intimidating to you at this point, so don't think about doing that kind of volume--maybe ever again. That's OK.

Ditto - I'm down a good 30-40 pouinds in the last year, year and a half, using MFP.  I wouldn't look to lose ASAP though, aim for a pound or two a week and you're more likely to keep it off.

My advice to you is to take a good honest look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why you have not been active the last 4 years.  Until you can answer that question for yourself, trying to pick a random solution like signing up for a race is not going to solve the problem long term.

Training or being active is a CHOICE.  Everytime we make a choice, there is a reason behind it.  If you can figure out the reasons why you chose not to be active, and address them, it then becomes much more easy to choose to be active. 

For example, if you chose to be inactive for 4 years because of work/career...then signing up for a race at this point likely won't change anything if your focus is still on your job.  But if you're willing to back off your work schedule a bit, then all of a sudden it becomes easier to choose to be active during your free time. 

If you chose to be inactive because you thought watching TV and drinking beer was more fun than training, then you have to address you issues with television and beer first.  Etc, etc.

Great story and sort of what I was alluding to.  If someone can do an IM and then be inactive for 4 years, maybe tri training isn't the best solution for them since there may not have been a desire to train s/b/r.

The OP, or others in his situation might find that spin classes at the gym are what gets them motivated now.  Or hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, etc.  Or gawd forbid...crossfit.  LOL.

Originally posted by COgirl I am right there with you!!!! Did IM in 2008, and have been only sporadically training here and there. it's been nice to hang with my family though I think that finally this year I am back on board, but it took some soul searching and figuring out what my personal goals were. So...I recommend figuring out your goals, and then sign up for something that you REALLY want to do. And start small! I think it's easy after having done an IM to think "of course I can pull off a half marathon in 4 weeks" but then getting discouraged at the lost fitness level. Lastly, don't think of training as competitive...think of it as healthy, helping your long term health and quality of life, etc. good luck!

Welcome back, we missed you 

Greg this thread hits home with me. I came to the same spot as you in a different way.

After 4 years of doing IMs each each, I haven't raced since my last at IMFL in 2011 or trained much. My reasons for the break are different than yours,  I had some major medical stuff with big knee surgery having Lyme and other tick born infection with IV antibiotics for 8 months and my parents both died last year.

After 20 months of not doing much, having some lingering joint issues, I can swim and bike now, but lack motivation to do it. I like having a big goal and for now doing an IM isn't an option with my knees. I'm trying to get excited to do Aquabikes which can be pretty cool. I'm signed up for one end of August. 

Part of the draw to IM and triathlons is to challenge myself. With the status of my knees, I know my fastest times are behind me, and I won't be running like I was. For me getting excited to do something worse (slower)  isn't working. I know I should look at the new me and find goals for the now not the past.

I do know in the last couple IM training years, I with motivation to train at times part due to underlying infection I had and also my focus in the wrong place.

I love to ride my bike, swimming meh not so much. I like structure, discipline, and lifestyle of doing IMs but need to find another way to get that mojo back and find the love of it in an unstructured way. Not exercising is bad for me in many levels....mentally, physically and more. I gained weight and that makes it all worse as I feel like I let myself down and lost much of what I gained.

I need to find my way and for me signing up for just any race hasn't done it.