First steps to getting healthier
Discussion
I've just been reading a thread about the guy getting help about his alcaholism and getting off it and it's inspired me to do domething I've been meaning to do all my adult life - get healthy, or atleast start getting healthier. I've just never plucked up the courage to do it before.
I'm not massivly overweight or particularly big, but since starting an office job about 5 years ago I've done no exercise...literally nothing worth mentioning (apart from the obvious with the OH
). I think I could do with losing a few stone as when I was in a very active job in a warehouse I was a few stone lighter. I eat ok, don't snack al all really and don't drink alot. It's not really about losing weight or looking better but more about the fitness and getting into the habit of keeping myself in better shape.
So from tomorrow I'm going to start jogging in the mornings as soon as I wake up, usually at about 6am when the 8 month old wakes.
So basically I'm writing this to try and incentivise myself to actually start and carry on doing this but also looking for any tips to start off with. I'll only be starting with a 20 min jog up and down the road and seeing how bad that is!
I'm not massivly overweight or particularly big, but since starting an office job about 5 years ago I've done no exercise...literally nothing worth mentioning (apart from the obvious with the OH
). I think I could do with losing a few stone as when I was in a very active job in a warehouse I was a few stone lighter. I eat ok, don't snack al all really and don't drink alot. It's not really about losing weight or looking better but more about the fitness and getting into the habit of keeping myself in better shape. So from tomorrow I'm going to start jogging in the mornings as soon as I wake up, usually at about 6am when the 8 month old wakes.
So basically I'm writing this to try and incentivise myself to actually start and carry on doing this but also looking for any tips to start off with. I'll only be starting with a 20 min jog up and down the road and seeing how bad that is!
Good luck!Well done for making the effort after years of no exercise. My two pence worth would be if you could substitute the running for cycling perhaps, I do some running but find it hellishly boring - the scenery goes past so slowly! Whereas cycling gives you a sense of speed and exhileration and is non impact, so is obviously going to be kinder to your joints IMO. 
My thoughts are take it slow, dont try and build rome in a day and do something you enjoy!
The year before last I bought a decent mountain bike and started taking oit round north wales (40 mins away) I never really thought of it as a work out but it got me fit and I lost weight where as in the past I've tried to get fit and loose weight because it was constantly on my mind it was very hard work.
Do differnt things eg do a run 1 morning then a bike ride the next, maybe some wights or pressups the next, keeping it different all the time this way you dont get bored and get much faster gains.
Good luck.
The year before last I bought a decent mountain bike and started taking oit round north wales (40 mins away) I never really thought of it as a work out but it got me fit and I lost weight where as in the past I've tried to get fit and loose weight because it was constantly on my mind it was very hard work.
Do differnt things eg do a run 1 morning then a bike ride the next, maybe some wights or pressups the next, keeping it different all the time this way you dont get bored and get much faster gains.
Good luck.
I was in a similar position to you. Years behind a desk left me quite overweight.
I had been in and out of gyms for a bit but never really picked anything up. I then started running with the couch to 5k plan. That was about 7 months ago. I have now lost 2 stone and 3 inches from my belly and can now run competitive 5K races, I am currently training for a 5 mile road race. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 minutes.
The trick is to find something you enjoy as a long term hobby, for me, I have discovered it is running. I know now that when I have got down to my target weight I will be able to keep it off by running.
I had been in and out of gyms for a bit but never really picked anything up. I then started running with the couch to 5k plan. That was about 7 months ago. I have now lost 2 stone and 3 inches from my belly and can now run competitive 5K races, I am currently training for a 5 mile road race. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 minutes.
The trick is to find something you enjoy as a long term hobby, for me, I have discovered it is running. I know now that when I have got down to my target weight I will be able to keep it off by running.
944fan said:
I was in a similar position to you. Years behind a desk left me quite overweight.
I had been in and out of gyms for a bit but never really picked anything up. I then started running with the couch to 5k plan. That was about 7 months ago. I have now lost 2 stone and 3 inches from my belly and can now run competitive 5K races, I am currently training for a 5 mile road race. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 minutes.
The trick is to find something you enjoy as a long term hobby, for me, I have discovered it is running. I know now that when I have got down to my target weight I will be able to keep it off by running.
Well I've done day one of the 2 month plan! Damn well nearly killed me. Went for about 5 mins walk, then about 15 mins running then walking then running etc, then a five minute walk home.I had been in and out of gyms for a bit but never really picked anything up. I then started running with the couch to 5k plan. That was about 7 months ago. I have now lost 2 stone and 3 inches from my belly and can now run competitive 5K races, I am currently training for a 5 mile road race. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 minutes.
The trick is to find something you enjoy as a long term hobby, for me, I have discovered it is running. I know now that when I have got down to my target weight I will be able to keep it off by running.
I've got my route now so just got to keep at it!!!
Right 6 weeks in, running 4 or 5 times a week and I think it's working. I started on the plan but am now really just increasing the distances bit by bit each day.
The first few weeks were really bad, but like someone said earlier in this thread, rome wasn't built in a day! So for anyone thinking about starting to get fitter from a point of no ecising AT ALL the couch to 5k is a great starter rather than just 'going for a run'. Gives you a routine to focus on etc.
Weighed myself for the first time in months a few days ago 13.5 stone, not sure if it's up or down but I've done the belt up a notch so must be working. I'll weigh myself at Christmas as my aim is to keep at it until then though as I'm already getting the hang of it I'm sure I'll carry on after.
Just wish I'd done it years ago!
The first few weeks were really bad, but like someone said earlier in this thread, rome wasn't built in a day! So for anyone thinking about starting to get fitter from a point of no ecising AT ALL the couch to 5k is a great starter rather than just 'going for a run'. Gives you a routine to focus on etc.
Weighed myself for the first time in months a few days ago 13.5 stone, not sure if it's up or down but I've done the belt up a notch so must be working. I'll weigh myself at Christmas as my aim is to keep at it until then though as I'm already getting the hang of it I'm sure I'll carry on after.
Just wish I'd done it years ago!
chrisp84 said:
Right 6 weeks in, running 4 or 5 times a week and I think it's working. I started on the plan but am now really just increasing the distances bit by bit each day.
The first few weeks were really bad, but like someone said earlier in this thread, rome wasn't built in a day! So for anyone thinking about starting to get fitter from a point of no ecising AT ALL the couch to 5k is a great starter rather than just 'going for a run'. Gives you a routine to focus on etc.
Weighed myself for the first time in months a few days ago 13.5 stone, not sure if it's up or down but I've done the belt up a notch so must be working. I'll weigh myself at Christmas as my aim is to keep at it until then though as I'm already getting the hang of it I'm sure I'll carry on after.
Just wish I'd done it years ago!
Weigh yourself before Christmas. The first few weeks were really bad, but like someone said earlier in this thread, rome wasn't built in a day! So for anyone thinking about starting to get fitter from a point of no ecising AT ALL the couch to 5k is a great starter rather than just 'going for a run'. Gives you a routine to focus on etc.
Weighed myself for the first time in months a few days ago 13.5 stone, not sure if it's up or down but I've done the belt up a notch so must be working. I'll weigh myself at Christmas as my aim is to keep at it until then though as I'm already getting the hang of it I'm sure I'll carry on after.
Just wish I'd done it years ago!
You were apparently "13.5 to 14 stone" back on 11 October and today you're 13.5 stone. Well done on the exercise but WTF are you eating and drinking?
Get a weight chart going and weigh yourself first thing in the morning on the same day each week. Then plot it on the chart. If you're doing some exercise but congratulating yourself in the tuck shop when you get home you're not going to get much lighter. You may even put on weight.
Post your weight here in a month and if you aren't under 13 stone Christmas is banned for you.
el stovey said:
Weigh yourself before Christmas.
You were apparently "13.5 to 14 stone" back on 11 October and today you're 13.5 stone. Well done on the exercise but WTF are you eating and drinking?
Get a weight chart going and weigh yourself first thing in the morning on the same day each week. Then plot it on the chart. If you're doing some exercise but congratulating yourself in the tuck shop when you get home you're not going to get much lighter. You may even put on weight.
Post your weight here in a month and if you aren't under 13 stone Christmas is banned for you.
No can't ban christmas! I really don't know what my weight was 6 weeks ago, although I haven't changed my diet but I don't think it's too aweful.You were apparently "13.5 to 14 stone" back on 11 October and today you're 13.5 stone. Well done on the exercise but WTF are you eating and drinking?
Get a weight chart going and weigh yourself first thing in the morning on the same day each week. Then plot it on the chart. If you're doing some exercise but congratulating yourself in the tuck shop when you get home you're not going to get much lighter. You may even put on weight.
Post your weight here in a month and if you aren't under 13 stone Christmas is banned for you.
It'll be interesting to see how it changes.
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