As a normie, I think those of us that have been out of the athletic game for a while approach getting fit with kind of unrealistic goals, get frustrated when we don't immediately achieve them, and then quit. That has been something that has been a challenge to me in both weight training and in cardio.
The cardio in question for me is running
I'm not talking about running competitively with the little number attached to your shirt. Although I am talking about running competitively but only against yourself. This is where a little app that I have referenced in the past called Strava is absolutely essential to your growth.
There are many other apps like it, but I have found Strava to be the best in terms of lack of advertising, usability, and features that are offered in the free version. In particular, I like the fact that it will track all of your runs, and arrange them by a wide array of options. By default it will only put runs of similar length on the chart, so you can see your progression over time.
So despite the fact that I only recently started doing this with any level of dedication i can see my gradual improvement over time which is nice because when I am actually out there doing the run, it doesn't seem to be getting any easier in my mind. However, once I finish (and normally I'm frustrated with myself that this is still difficult for me to run a 5k) I am able to look at my history going back as far as I want and see that yes, I actually AM improving.
The thing is, the improvement is extremely gradual, but that is what a lot of normies don't seem to understand. You aren't going to magically become a lot faster just because you go running twice a week for a month. It takes a lot longer than that for you to get stronger.
But this is the idea: Deciding to become involved in fitness, it is imperative for you to look at the long game here. Several years from now you will look back on this time an be extremely proud of yourself for being several minutes faster per kilometer than you were when you first started.
Will the time come that I no longer feel like a 5k is "hard"? I don't think so, but that is because I am a competitive person, and will always push myself. Strava enables me to slow down to the pace I was doing 2 months ago so I can see exactly how much easier it is due to the work I have put in. I don't feel as though this is possible without this technology since we are talking just slight adjustments to pace that are almost imperceptible when you are going them.
So the point of the story is this: Take it easy when you are getting your cardio up, and use a tool like Strava so that you can see that yes, you are indeed making progress - it just isn't so easy to see while you are actually doing it.
Strava is a free download and all of the features that I use on it are available in the free version. I am not compensated by Strava in any way. I just believe in their product.
I am not a professional trainer nor a dietitian. I am merely recounting what I did in order to lose over 50 lbs and gain muscle mass while still living a fun life and I think it can work for other people as well
Upvoted by @isotonic, the @runningproject funding account.