Chicken bald back

[patsylabrador]

I'm looking for fitness pals on here. I saw a funny quote online that read.... when the bikini ads come out I have to remind myself I have a good personality. I feel like that every year especially as every year I'm getting older and further out of reach of those ideals.

All I want is a goal I can reach ie feel better about myself. To that end I was hoping for a short lived diet/exercise thread that will encourage me. (Its all about me you see!)

 

Today I jogged non-stop for fifteen minutes on the treadmill. It was a middle-aged woman slurry kind of jog and I can in fact walk faster but my heart was pounding and I felt good. That's the first 'run' I've attempted in quite a while. I'm also trying to eat my five a day, I'm very bad at that.

[mullethunter]

Have you tried the 'Couch to 5k' running program?

 

I completed it before Christmas, then did nothing until mid May so I've now started again and am on week 4. Let me know if you want to know more.

[patsylabrador]

Thank you. I looked it up and downloaded a couch to 10k app. I tried it and loved it. Day two tomorrow.

[mullethunter]

Ooh couch to 10k - that's maybe what I should be doing. I think when I get to the 5k I can do a 'bridge to 10k' program.

 

When I got to the end of the C25k at Christmas I didn't want to go on to 10k because I didn't want to spend an hour 3 days a week running, so I thought I'd just carry on running about 5k three times a week. Unfortunately it turns out I need something structured to keep me doing it. That's why I re-started the C25k.

 

So patsylabrador I'm 4 weeks in front of you - I'm on run 90 secs walk 90 secs run 5 mins walk 3 mins repeat. Keep me updated win how you get on.

 

Anyone else fancy it?

 

PS I'm not doing it for weight loss but for fitness and so I can eat more puddings

[Grandmashazzie]

What a coincidence I have just downloaded couch to 5 k Planning to start tomorrow.

[Olly]

Is there a Parkrun near you? I do this most Saturdays and it's great - I walk, not run. I've got osteoarthritis in my knees and was advised not to run although I've heard conflicting advice since then. It is only once a week though.

 

I also do Fitbit Challenges with my friends, nearly always come last but it's a good incentive to get a few more steps in.

[soapdragon]

I have a stepper which I use almost daily....the 'gliding' motion is better for my hip than the impact when walking or running. Also,as its in front of the TV, I get to watch Homes under the Hammer, Escape to the Country etc and can use it whatever the weather. If I can do a circuit of the village on a proper walk then I miss out the stepper but its useful to have. I am convinced that excercise has to fit in with your own personal lifestyle and be acheivable and sustainable otherwise its not going to be effective so very much a case of finding out what works best for you.

 

In the last few months I have put on about 7lb....not eating or excercising any differently and its all round my waist/stomach; guessing classic middle aged spread...doh! Soooo, upping the excercise and cutting back even more on food! I weigh myself every Saturday morning first thing and, if I can stay under 10 st then I am reasonably happy but, if I go over by even one pound, then its a BAD week! It's such a slog......I do so wish I was one of those people who can eat whatever and stay the same weight But I determined not to give in

 

A friend of mine did the Couch to 5k and really recommended it......

[mullethunter]

convinced that excercise has to fit in with your own personal lifestyle and be acheivable and sustainable otherwise its not going to be effective

 

Totally agree with this. People keep telling me I should go running here there and everywhere to nice places, and I'm sure it would be lovely, but I know that if I have to get in my car and drive to somewhere first I'm not going to do it, so I stick to my few routes from home.

 

When I lived by the beach I used to surf several times a week, but now I'm a half hour drive away I hardly ever go. I know that's lazy, but for me that's reality and there's no point pretending otherwise.

[chickencam]

I can recommend the 8 week blood sugar diet. Myself and OH did this before Christmas and lost 24lb each roughly. Once you adjust to the low calorie intake and lack of carbs it is pretty straightforward. We eat huge amounts of veg to make up for the lack of carbs so cauliflower rice etc but because you can eat eggs bacon steak etc it is so much easier to stick to than a standard low calorie diet. We also walk a lot probably about 25 miles a week.

Good luck I feel better than I have for about 20 years

[mullethunter]

I finished week 4 of my C25K today- it was run for 3 mins walk 90 secs run 5 mins walk 2.5 mins repeat. Felt like hard work today compared to Saturday even though it was the same - knees didn't like it. Bring on week 5 though

[patsylabrador]

Hello. Well I'm on week two which is 90 seconds running in amongst walking for around 30 minutes. It's going well. I'm also checking out the Zombies!Run! app which is fun. I started Joe Wickes HIIT training today which I found pretty tough but I enjoyed the challenge.

Olly I read that as Parkour and was very impressed for a while.

I also do all my fitness at home on treadmill and bike and weights and stuff. Obviously I go out for walks but if I'm going to get red, hot and sweaty I prefer to do that without everyone seeing.

I've changed my diet to a much healthier one and have tied jangly bells to what I call the c**p food cupboard.

[mullethunter]

ied jangly bells to what I call the c**p food cupboard.

That made me laugh! (We call it the treat cupboard).

 

I'm happy to run outside where others might see me, but want to be on my own.

 

I did wk 5 day 1 yesterday - 3 lots of 5 mins - 1st was really hard, 2nd easy / 3rd in between- weird.

 

Will have to look up Zombies!Run! That sound excellent Someone could make TheresaMay!Run! (Sorry - back in my box)

[patsylabrador]

I'd do a Corbynistas!Run!

[mullethunter]

 

Good to know we're all different

[Cat tails]

I've changed my diet to a much healthier one and have tied jangly bells to what I call the c**p food cupboard.

 

Being a one woman household, I just don't by said c**p. and then I curse myself when I'm on the couch at night craving everything bad...

 

I have been walking most evenings. Around 5 km in a brisk walk and back on eating mostly salads with a little whole grain pasta. Somewhere along the way I started leaving meats out and buy mostly meat replacements or add a can of beans. Not sure how that happened...

 

Did lose 6 kg somewhere. Although I'm still half expecting to find them under the bed or between the couch cushions...

[soapdragon]

Mixing the threads somewhat (having posted this on the hot weather thread already!) I am finding that I just can't eat much at all when its so hot so, even though I refuse to use the stepper - DEF too hot for that - I am just picking at 'light' food. Lots of fruit salad from the 'fridge and tonight OH has made burgers to barbecue but I am just having the courgette, mushroom, pepper and onion kebabs with a small amount of Haloumi cheese...no roll. Somehow, sweet foods (apart from fresh fruit) and heat don't go together for me!

[mullethunter]

Sweet foods fine, but normal 'English' evening meals - no. I almost always do roast on Sunday evening, but not tomorrow. Haven't decided what yet though because not big on salads.

[Cat tails]

For those who are fed up with drinking water:

 

I make some strong tea and freeze it in an ice cube tray.

 

Mostly use fruity tea. Found a nice green tea with lemon, which works very nicely. Would avoid black teas as they will be quite bitter. Just flip out a cube, at some water and I have instant ice tea, but without the bucket load of sugar!

I just add a few teaspoons of tea to a glass and pour on some water and let it stand until it's cooled down.

[soapdragon]

Cat tails...that's a really good idea - see bit below quiche which I typed up before seeing your post !

 

Mullethunter.....Quiche? We have that quite a lot and I tend to bung all sort in....peppers that need using up, odds and ends of cheese, ham or bacon or just onion and cheese. The pastry can be made a day or so in advance and then you can have the finished article hot or cold with veg or salad! Its about the only way I can get eggs into YS!

 

On a fitness note, is everyone allowing themselves a few days off over the heatwave? It's very easy to overheat and then dehydrate. I have a friend who is a fitness fanatic (she did a triathlon last weekend!) and she swears by a sachet of Dioralite before and after extreme excercise. I suppose it sort of makes sense

[mullethunter]

Should've been wk 5 day 3 today, but as it was already over 20 degrees by 8am i decided maybe not!

 

Had a day off work though so went for a surf for the first time in about 3 years - bit like riding a bike once I got to my feet, just a shame about the complete lack of paddling (arm/shoulder) muscles! Lovely to be in the sea on a day like this though

[soapdragon]

Should've been wk 5 day 3 today, but as it was already over 20 degrees by 8am i decided maybe not!

 

Had a day off work though so went for a surf for the first time in about 3 years - bit like riding a bike once I got to my feet, just a shame about the complete lack of paddling (arm/shoulder) muscles! Lovely to be in the sea on a day like this though

 

[patsylabrador]

Right. I've got back into it. I've got 3 running training apps on the go because I'm enjoying it so much and I've been building up my strength for about 10 months so it's not as bad as I thought. Mind you I'm still running very slowly.

I've also rediscovered the joy of YouTube virtual running videos. Today I was jogging along through Far Cry Primal. There was so much distraction that I didn't even think about the fact that I was jogging along. I really recommend for any kind of indoors step style fitness.... It would be good with an exercise bike too.

[patsylabrador]

I've lost track of how many weeks I'm on because I'm using the apps daily. I can jog/slurry comfortably for 25 minutes in the morning and then do another half hour or more of walking later in the day. I've slipped back with weights so I'm planning to start that again today. Ive cut out lots of meat, almost all bread and all pastry although OH and I treat ourselves to a creamy cake on his days off.

Definitely slimmer although I've no idea about weight.

[mullethunter]

jog/slurry

 

Not sure I like the sound of that

 

I'm on week 7 (for the second time around), so running 2 and three quarter miles ish in 28 minutes 3 times a week.

[patsylabrador]

Slurry...yes, I didn't think about that. It's what we call that slow hurry like people crossing a zebra crossing.

Yesterday I did thirty press ups and 60 seconds of plank. It's the most I've ever done and my tummy muscles are reminding me of that. Feels good though, I'd forgotten I had tummy muscles after all those babies all those years ago!

 

When I feel like giving up and collapsing on the floor I think about Ernestine Shepherd....my fitness heroine.