Small steps on the right path 5 July 2015 at 10:44PM in Sports & fitness MoneySaving 7 replies 1.4K views

MediaGuy

Hi Everyone.

Just looking for a bit of advice on how to start getting a bit fitter. I know I am overweight/obese. I did join a gym and got tied into the yearly contract but never once went :mad:

Part of the problem is that if I do the same swerve as everyone else and motivation isn't strong. I'd like to just start on the right track and build up over time. What can I do that will help me start, make excuses less and doesn't require looking odd or doing stuff in the house. Oh and without me looking like I am about to expire.

My initial thought is walking to work again may help. Ok so it is only 4 mile round trip but better than nothing. The only downside is that I tend to arrive a bit sweaty at work, which is never a good look!

Advice greatly received.

fairy_lights

If you're not currently doing any exercise at all then anything to get you moving is a good start. If you don't want to get sweaty on the way to work you could leave earlier than necessary so you can take it slow and stop to cool down, and maybe take a change of top with you to change in to.
Exercise is only a small part of weightloss though, if your overweight then it's probably your diet that's to blame. What sort of things do you currently eat?

stephen77

fairy_lights wrote: »

If you're not currently doing any exercise at all then anything to get you moving is a good start. If you don't want to get sweaty on the way to work you could leave earlier than necessary so you can take it slow and stop to cool down, ?

Then walk much quicker on the way home.

Can you get a bus to work? then walk home.

Have you got a bike? As you can cycle slowly to work so you do not get sweaty. Then cycle fast home. As you get fitter, go a less direct route on the way home so you cycle more miles.

silvertabby_2

I started the nhs C25k programme in March and although I thought I would die at first I am now running 5k + on a regular basis and with out trying I lost weight. Friends and colleagues have been so impressed that they have started and experianced the same results. The Nhs website also has other exercises including strength and flexibly which is quite gentle and builds up over 5 weeks.

Metranil_Vavin

Try and take stairs whever possible. I make sure I climb the 3 flights to my office each morning rather than taking the lift. Try and walk everywhere.


Do you have a shower at your office? If so you could take a change of shirt and have a quick shower when you get there?


My OH travels to his office in shorts and t-shirt when it is hot, and then changes into his work clothes there as he was arriving all hot and sweaty too.

ChrisJJ

Am curious as to why you don't want to "do stuff in the house"? Exercising at home is a great way to start, with the added bonus that is you DO look odd (or think you do) there's no-one there to see you!

indiepanda

I think the key thing is finding something that works for you on the exercise front - i.e. that you actually enjoy. It's really hard to keep up something that you're just doing for the end result. Just try lots of things till you find something that you'd do even if it wasn't good for you, because it's fun.

I don't join gyms any more - am really more of an outdoors person so I hike, run and workout with a personal trainer in the park. I also do yoga classes and a dance based class too. Rarely exercise alone as I am quite a social type and plus I am more disciplined if I know I am letting someone else down by not showing up.

I am still overweight (though less than I was) and need to push harder at all of the above (plus watch my diet) to get back to a sensible weight for my height, but I am actually enjoying the process by picking things that are fun to me.

BenjaG

Any diet which excludes entire food groups (e.g. meat, carbohydrates etc) is a bad idea, at any age. Anyway, diets and counting calories make me think of food all day, apart from the fact that for the human metabolism not all calories are equal. Not helpful. To lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way better follow a few simple ASSSS rules: http://better-health-post.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/healthy-weight-loss-bssss-non-diet.html