I wanna - get fit and lose weight!

misterthrifty

Just my opinion but.........

1/ Diets don't make you lose weight

2/ Gyms don't make you fit

People just use these as they don't have the motivation to make REAL changes.

The secret is to think long term, you are changing your lifestyle.....not losing weight. Make small changes to your diet and exercise and see small improvements over the long term and this will inspire you to make more changes.

There is no easy solution, it comes down to:-

Eat less rubbish and plenty of good stuff / get more exercise (brisk walking/ skipping untill you "glow" are as good as anything)

Hope that helps, good luck!

Mr T

loracan1

I've tried running - it makes my shins hurt. Cycling - I'm petrified of the traffic and I'm not good on hills, exercise videos are boring. I've got a weights bench at home which is folded up in the wardrobe - that's effective but I don't like it cluttering up the bedroom.

My local council run leisure centre has a decent gym, I joined on a pay-as-you-go scheme which cost £3 a visit, I've been going 2/3 times a week depending on what I could afford and I've really enjoyed it. The cost is going up to £3.40 a go now and I've decided to bite the bullet and join at £28/month. This includes swimming, exercise classes and the use of badminton courts etc. There are weights machines that target specific areas that no exercise could do so I'm seeing changes fairly quickly. Nice cross section of people going too, I had a fear of being surrounded by lycra-clad svelte 20 year olds but sometimes I'm amongst the youngest there.

So yes, I'd recommend it, but see if you can have a trial first.

cattie

Here are a few things that have always worked for me & continue to keep me nice & trim. Walking at a quick pace is a great excercise, strolling along doesn't have the same effect.

Running up & down the stairs (if you have any in your home). Terrible to start with, but gradually increase your daily ascents untill you can do 8-10 consecutive climbs & not feel you are going to collapse with heart failure.
This doesn't always have to feel like out & out excercise, as you can combine going up the stairs with day to day activities such as housework or trips to the loo. You just ensure you run up the stairs each time instead of just plodding up.

Sit ups, you can hook your feet under an item of furniture to do these, so no need to buy any equipment. You don't have to do a lot, even just a few here & there once or twice a day should help.

Calorie counting has always worked best for me as a way of controlling my food intake. I'm fortunate in that I love fruit, so scoff as much of this as I want & it also helps the cravings for something sweet.
Using low fat spreads & skimmed or semi skimmed milk can make a big difference, as does having a canned or packet soup for lunch.

Good luck in finding what works best for you.

mhutchuk

Needs a walk - so you can get out in the fresh and walk with it, then progress to jogging and running. My poor mutt did all my marathon training TWICE !!! Deserved the medal more than me.

Set yourself realistic goals every 3 months. Why not target a 10K race !! manageable distance for everyone.

Before you start get a check up from your doctor

Mark

Ganyam

If doing exercise like walking or light running, make it last at least 30 minutes. After 20 minutes your body increases the proportion of energy it takes from body fat, as opposed to just using glycogen stores from the food you eat.

teenage_Drama

buy some equipment like excercise bikes or a trainer try https://www.argos.com..do 20 minutes every day and you'll see a big difference in a months time like i did! ive lost 6 inches!

Claudie

Tesco has a Healthy Living special on and have some equipment very reasonably priced. I picked up a gym ball with the pump for only £3.74...excellent for sit ups for anyone with a bad back or shoulders.

Similar to this one

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3023792.htm

Now I just need to open it !

banzai

I've been trying a variety of methods and the best way to loose weight is combine a good diet and good exercise.

A good diet: Usually consists of between 4-6 meals a day, make sure u eat a (fist sized) portion of carbs and protein in each one.

Good exercise: 3+ times a week at the gym if you have time, make sure you do no more than 30 mins of cardio at a time, as any more is actualy counter-productive.

Thats about it really, other than that, if you don't want to waste money on the gym, buy a skipping rope, its great for cardio exercise! I used to skip 30 mins every night before i joined the gym and i lost a lot of weight just doing that!

As already said though there isn't a quick fix! I've tried just eating healthy and not doing a lot of exercise and i've tried exercising and eating anything, it just doesn't seem to work.

best thing is to go with whatever suits your lifestyle best, no point joining a gym if your working during the opening hours.

MimiJane

Last year I reached my highest weight ever after having two operations which rendered me pretty immobile for a while and gorging on chocolates and comfort food. At last, during September, I mentally prepared myself to lose weight once and for all (this is so important!), bought myself a treadmill from ebay and joined nutridiary.com (free) to record my daily calories and chart my progress.

I treadmilled for 20 - 30 minutes daily to music and cut down from about 2500 calories a day to 1500 ... I'm now two and a half stone lighter, have gone down 3 sizes and feel great! I've since increased my calorie intake slightly and only exercise 3 times a week, but you do find that once you start to see progress (which is quickly), you've every incentive to continue.

I considered going to the gym, but it wouldn't be very practical for me and most people I know who go to slimming classes end up giving up at some stage and putting the weight back on, besides I'm stubborn and refuse to pay to get weighed every week (though I appreciate some people need the support).

My treadmill is my best friend ... it's fun, easy, uses up calories and gets you fit.

However you decide to lose weight, good luck and let us know how you get on.

sooztheflooz

Hi Becles,

The Daily Mail yesterday was offering free gym pass for a week - https://www.dailymail.co.uk and click on offers (although I think you need the token from yesterday's paper). It might be worth going along for the week, getting some free advice and continuing with a programme yourself!

Speaking as someone who got married last September, I used to visualise how I was going to look in my dress as a motivator. I managed to lose a stone for the wedding day (although I did work out at the gym four days a week too!)

My tips? Cut back on white bread, processed food and nasty carbs, eat some carbs, but at brekky and lunch and make sure they are complex ones - have an evening meal with lots of veg. Never go hungry!

Drink lots of water - always have a drink first if you feel hungry.

Do exercises for your tummy and upper body - forget about your bum - you'll hopefully have a well corseted dress with your arms on show - and no-one will see your bum! (anyway, you'll need a bit of a botty so your dress sits beautifully!)

Vary your exercise - don't just go flat out on treadmill or whatever at a steady pace. Any good exercise website will give you advice on 'interval' training which apparently helps you burn fat better (I defer to any fitness bods on here who know better, but it worked for me)

Good luck!

Flooz