How do you get back into a fitness routine?

jenniewb

Kt8 wrote: »

i dont mean addicted in a bad way, but in a good and very healthy way were you enjoy the feeling, as many dont, they see it as a chore going to the gym. you have to go regularly to get that feeling, not just twice a week.
thats where you see results.
and fitness levels do go down, my 3 friends are personal trainers, however this is only when you train hard and regularly. not just as and when.

Thats fine- just wanted to clarify as exercise addiction can be quite serious and can affect the heart and other organs and is a health risk! Its also no fun...an addiction is a compulsion to do something even if you hate what you feel compelled to do as you fear what would happen if you don't go.

I'd say feeling you want to go to the gym is not an addiction unless you begin to tear your hair out -and other people around you's hair out aswell:rotfl: can see where your going with labelling it an addiction but just wanted to clairify as an addiction can be quite serious and does need help asap- its all downhill as it gets worse otherwise!

libbyc3

can I jump in and ask a question, (sorry!)
I've just gotback into going to the gym - after a gap of 5 years and 2 babies!!!, but... I have been every other day for the last 2 weeks and my question is, because I ache I just can't seem to push myself. should I leave more of a gap between sessions to recover? I'm getting a bit despondant as when I get there I can do the cardio suff like treadmill, bike and cross trainer, but not as hard as at the first couple of times, but abs are just a no go.

poppy_f1

do something you will enjoy doing
i bought a pair of roller skates on ebay (4 wheels not blades) and i love them doesnt feel like im exercising when out on them, or sometiumes i will walk the route rather than skate

elfen

Kayleigh, where did you get the pilates DVD from? Always wanted to try it but a little scared IYSWIM....I started couch to 5k and 30 day shred this week - tummy is looking a little flatter and I can do all 8 1 min interval runs - don't feel disheartened if on the c25k you can't do all 8 on the first go, you'll get it by the end of the week

nikki2804

Well i've just aquired (thank you mum) the 30 day shred dvd and it looks good.

I'm hoping to go to the gym twice a week, body combat once a week and zumba once a week. On the other 3 days i'll try to do this dvd.

Was really good last week then I woke up with a horrid cold on Thursday and was told no 'gymming it'

jenniewb

libbyc3 wrote: »

can I jump in and ask a question, (sorry!)
I've just gotback into going to the gym - after a gap of 5 years and 2 babies!!!, but... I have been every other day for the last 2 weeks and my question is, because I ache I just can't seem to push myself. should I leave more of a gap between sessions to recover? I'm getting a bit despondant as when I get there I can do the cardio suff like treadmill, bike and cross trainer, but not as hard as at the first couple of times, but abs are just a no go.

First of all- cut yourself some slack! You have not only had a break, you've had babies! You begin to lose your fitness noticably after about a month off exercise so its no wonder your not able to do what you once were. You have also had your muscles and skin stretched and pulled out of sorts and this will take time to recover. Even then it will likely need to start from sctarch in rebuilding anything but I am not an expert in this at all and I'd suggest you either speak to the gym instructor or rent a personal trainer. Start off slow and build up, nothing worth having is easy- fact of life!!

Leave as much as you feel you need to recover, everyone is different. It also depends what you do, pureist Yoga fans do Yoga every day but I doubt you'd catch an Olympic sprinter sprinting the same sprint every day months on end. A rest is very important- during exercise you tear your muscles, (as you exercise you cause lots of micro tears in your muscles- normal and supposed to happen). Its only when you rest that these can rebuild and recover. When they rebuild its then they get stronger. Resting is just as important as exercising.

Abs are a mixed bag, some people swear by them others don't believe they are worth the effort. I'd say work on your core, this is more important. Abs are only really useful if you are very skinny as any fat around your waist will just be boosted by the muscles which lie underneath. Fat sits ontop of muscles, you cannot see muscles if you have a large enough layer of fat on top. You cannot spot reduce fat and your body will pick and chose where it takes the fat from. Hence "apple shape" "pear shape" ...etc everyone has their own body shape and unfortunetly some of us are destined to never have bodybuilder looking abs.
Its also very easy to do abs the wrong way and push your belly out as you rise- this trains your stomach to pout outwards. Watch yourself in a mirror, its very hard not to do this pushing out thing!
Please don't fall under the myth that abs will reduce your waistline- they will not. You cannot change muscle into fat, you cannot lose inches this way. The only way is through healthy eating and plenty of healthy and varied exercise.

Core work is better I think as it teaches you about your transverse abs. Its these that hold you upright, can hold your belly in and can help with other exercises: if you have the correct posture suddenly you find you can run a whole lot better for example. If you can, try a Pilataes or Core stability class which will have a teacher who can correct your mistakes, try this a few times 'till your sure you have it right then go back again just to make sure. Then your ready to try it alone.

But re: the gym? start of slow and work your way back up, I have not had kids myself so I can't comment on the complications and up hill battle but know it must be hard- its hard enough after a break, let alone the major surgery that is child birth!

Kayleigh09

elfen wrote: »

Kayleigh, where did you get the pilates DVD from? Always wanted to try it but a little scared IYSWIM....I started couch to 5k and 30 day shred this week - tummy is looking a little flatter and I can do all 8 1 min interval runs - don't feel disheartened if on the c25k you can't do all 8 on the first go, you'll get it by the end of the week

I got mine from some book people who come to work. This is the one that I have: http://www.amazon.co.uk/15-Minute-Everyday-Pilates-DVD/dp/0756633575 and it's really good! There are loads of other books in the range - you can see them at the bottom - although I am going to get myself one of the 30 day shred DVD's!

I am going to do some tonight, along with all the numerous sit ups I am trying to do! My tummy went a bit flatter end of last week but then OH come home for the weekend and then a few 'treats' has made all that hard work pointless! Oh well, I will get back into it again! :-)