Can you suggest activities for me to try??

74jax

I used to love boot camps outside but due to an injury can no longer do them.

I was a member of a gym until last November when dad died and I didn't have the motivation or desire to go so stopped my membership.

Now its too expensive to join again and other gyms don't have the classes I did. I never really used the gym, I'm quite competitive so loved the classes and also social side of classes.

What could I take up to keep fit and give me back some energy as I'm just doing nothing. I have weights at home but find by myself I don't want to do it, will just stop, not push myself and to be honest its boring.

I can't run.

I love the feeling of being fit, hate I can't do what I used to be able to, but motivation has gone. Maybe I am just not ready to exercise but I want to just can't find something to do, I did around 6-8 classes a week, didn't mind being up at 6am for class but it's too dark to get up and go for a walk at 6, I wouldn't feel safe.

Hubby and DD wouldn't do a class with me or friends, so it's finding something I can do that isn't a gym or involves running.

I've just had four days at a health spa and did 4 class a day and really want to get back in to it.

Any ideas?

jenniewb

So sorry to hear about your dad and also sorry that you've stopped the gym partially as a result. Is there really no way you could go back even to a council run gym (so cheaper) just for the classes? When I first started at a gym I didn't use the gym; I just did classes and there were many like me. It may feel like you are not using your membership to it's full advantage but that's not the point of a membership; just like people sometimes just sign up to do the classes or just to use the pool and not the gym, there will be others who just use the gym and don't use the pool or go to the classes; you can just cherry pick what you want. Some gyms will allow you to join per month and just a month at a time rather than the year so you can test this out and then leave (just double check with them when you need to give them notice for if you do this).


I know you weren't looking for a gym but I can't think of something which motivates more than being with other people in a class with a motivational instructor. You can make new friends at a class and especially this time of year there will be many new people who sign up who will have not done classes for a while or even done classes before.


I know many people who have fitness trackers and in the past I've had a heart rate monitor which in principal worked for me in the same way as it logged my heart rate and showed the calories it thought I'd burnt as a result. I wouldn't say I found it motivational, as I used it to worry myself in to exercise; if I burnt xxxxx calories one week, well I'd better do the same the next week or I'd gain weight which then started to take over my life. I'd say if you are competitive there is a chance that a fitness tracker could cause you to feel you need to compete with yourself all the time so please be aware of this if you were thinking about it as it was very very difficult for me to get out of that once I was in it.


I'd also say if you were in a major city (London, Manchester, Birmingham...etc) look up class-pass. They are not cheap but if you did like classes it means you can go to many classes which happen at gyms across the country (but most will be in major cities). Again, not cheap so make sure you are aware of the fees before you sign up.


Also if you were just looking to dip your toe in the water again with group exercise of being with people, you coulkd rent out a DVD from the local library; once you feel a bit more active, either move on to another DVD or start going back to classes or try the occasional jog outside (please be aware of your injury though- you don't say what it is but running on hard ground can be a very good teller so speak to a physio based person first if possible to make sure you're good to go). The reason I say running is because there are quite a few websites with runners forums and there is so much advice and help; there are also a few running groups of people who run together; you may find it's something you hear of via word-of-mouth rather than being able to search for them on the internet but of all the exercise I've done in the past I'd say the runners have been the friendliest, least pretentious and most welcoming of all the groups. Yeah you get the odd idiot in there trying to make everyone else feel small to boost their ever reducing ego but on the whole they are a friendly bunch and even if you don't know a runner you will quite often find they smile back at you if you are also a runner on your weekly or daily jog. But again, check you are not going to make your injury worse. I'm in a similar position sadly (too many injuries and physical issues to list...) so I know how it feels to be out of the game. But I will say running outside compared to running on a treadmill is a totally different ball-game and just so much better if you are running with people rather than the data screen (or even TV screen) of a rubberised treadmill.


I hope you find something; keep your eyes out for a day or week trial at various gyms during the last of December and January as some gyms will offer them and though you have to look hard, in the past I've been able to barter from several gyms and entire January or an entire February of free gym use for free! (But you do really have to search hard at quite a few different gyms to do this!)

MarkFromCornwall

I recommend Pilates. It's great for preventing injuries and avoiding future back problems. Beginners' classes are gentle but advanced classes are quite tough. Also there's a social dimension which I think you are looking for.

Ilona

Hi. When you say you wouldn't feel safe walking in the dark, why is that? Are there no street lights, footpaths, or do you live in a dodgy area? Obviously safety has to be considered. I walk in the dark in my village and feel safe, but then I am an experienced walker usually walking in places I have never been to before.

Take a look at the Country Walking Challenge to walk 1000 miles in one year. I started on December 1st and am up to 63 miles, I will finish on 75 miles at the end of December. I aim to continue throughout the year, doing 3 miles per day. I walk at night around 8.30pm, and I walk fast. 35 minutes to do two miles, 50 minutes to do three miles.

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Latest/Search-Results/Features/Take-the-1000-mile-challenge-with-Country-Walking/

Best of luck whatever you decide.
Ilona

74jax

Thank you all for your replies

jenniewb wrote: »

So sorry to hear about your dad and also sorry that you've stopped the gym partially as a result. Is there really no way you could go back even to a council run gym (so cheaper) just for the classes?

The Council gym has a yearly membership sign up, so although it's a couple of pounds cheaper, I would have to commit for a year, whereas my old gym was just month by month. My old gym was £30 a month just for classes and the council is £28 for classes/pool/gym so much better value. Another downside with council gym is the hours it's open - doesn't open until 7.30am which is too late to allow me to get work for 8.30am.

I know many people who have fitness trackers and in the past I've had a heart rate monitor which in principal worked for me in the same way as it logged my heart rate and showed the calories it thought I'd burnt as a result. I wouldn't say I found it motivational, as I used it to worry myself in to exercise; if I burnt xxxxx calories one week, well I'd better do the same the next week or I'd gain weight which then started to take over my life. I'd say if you are competitive there is a chance that a fitness tracker could cause you to feel you need to compete with yourself all the time so please be aware of this if you were thinking about it as it was very very difficult for me to get out of that once I was in it.
I have a fitbit charge HR, again I haven't used since dad became as I stopped going to gym as I was back and forth to the hospital, I do love it, I would try and do more steps each day etc and loved all my graphs and things (very motivational I found).


you don't say what it is but running on hard ground can be a very good teller so speak to a physio based person first if possible to make sure you're good to go
I broke my ankle and foot a few back and my cuboid never fused back together, so although it's still broke it is now 'normal' for me if that makes sense, it just fused back but didn't join.... Doesn't cause any problems whatsoever except running (shame as I loved bootcamp) and if i lunge with left foot forward (broken one) the pressure of the lung and weights I'm holding hurts it a little.

MarkFromMullion wrote: »

I recommend Pilates. It's great for preventing injuries and avoiding future back problems. Beginners' classes are gentle but advanced classes are quite tough. Also there's a social dimension which I think you are looking for.

I did do a pilates class, only once a week, was great for my core which I loved. I might look at going back to that, I stopped as it was too costly with my gym membership and then that class, but I could look at it again. I do like the feeling of exhaustion after a class though, so would still need some cardio.

Ilona wrote: »

Hi. When you say you wouldn't feel safe walking in the dark, why is that? Are there no street lights, footpaths, or do you live in a dodgy area? Obviously safety has to be considered. I walk in the dark in my village and feel safe, but then I am an experienced walker usually walking in places I have never been to before.

Take a look at the Country Walking Challenge to walk 1000 miles in one year. I started on December 1st and am up to 63 miles, I will finish on 75 miles at the end of December. I aim to continue throughout the year, doing 3 miles per day. I walk at night around 8.30pm, and I walk fast. 35 minutes to do two miles, 50 minutes to do three miles.

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Latest/Search-Results/Features/Take-the-1000-mile-challenge-with-Country-Walking/

Best of luck whatever you decide.
Ilona

Not totally dodgy, but.... well I don't really know. Near me is the river Tyne and a body was found by a dog walker a few months ago, we've had a couple of people commit suicide in the woods near by and early morning walkers/joggers have found the bodies either hung in the trees or by the river.... I'm not making sound good am i, but honestly the area I am in is ok, just I wouldn't want to be out alone in the dark.

Regardless, i'm going to look at your challenge though, as it sounds quite interesting, it's shame I have no-one to walk with, but no one is interested. Even teh gym I went alone but made friends with the people in the classes.

Thanks again everyone.

thegreenone

Have you considered Nordic Walking? I love it! I don't work so can go during the week but most instructors do a Saturday walk. My instructor had to give up running and was looking for something else to do.


Google Nordic Walking UK and find an instructor near you.


Perhaps a mix up of different things rather than just the gym would help to motivate you. ie. Pilates, NW, a gym class and.... something else????

kerri_gt

Perhaps some different local classes rather than ones all centred around the same gym might be worth a try, you could try different things without long commitment. Would you be interest in pole fitness? It's very sociable, good fun and there's a lot of other associated aeral classes which complement each other you could also try (like hoop / silks) if you liked that kind of thing. You defiantly get a work out, and you could avoid anything that doesn't feel comfortable with your injury.

74jax

kerri_gt wrote: »

Perhaps some different local classes rather than ones all centred around the same gym might be worth a try, you could try different things without long commitment. Would you be interest in pole fitness? It's very sociable, good fun and there's a lot of other associated aeral classes which complement each other you could also try (like hoop / silks) if you liked that kind of thing. You defiantly get a work out, and you could avoid anything that doesn't feel comfortable with your injury.

I have done a couple of courses of pole fitness, I stopped really due to distance, it was 45 mins from home and the timing meant I was out late.

I think you may be right on trying different class at different places.

I'm going to look back at Pilates, look up a Nordic walking group and then maybe look at cardio classes near by.

wijnaldumwilliam

1. Mindful Breathing
This exercise can be done standing up or sitting down, and pretty much anywhere at any time. All you have to do is be still and focus on your breath for just one minute.
2. Mindful Observation
It is designed to connect us with the beauty of the natural environment, something that is easily missed when we are rushing around in the car or hopping on and off trains on the way to work.
3. Mindful Awareness
Think of something that happens every day more than once; something you take for granted, like opening a door, for example. At the very moment you touch the doorknob to open the door, stop for a moment and be mindful of where you are, how you feel in that moment and where the door will lead you.
4. Mindful Listening
Select a piece of music you have never heard before. You may have something in your own collection that you have never listened to, or you might choose to turn the radio dial until something catches your ear.

5. Mindful Immersion
Instead of labouring through and constantly thinking about finishing the task, become aware of every step and fully immerse yourself in the progress.
6. Mindful Appreciation
The point of this exercise is to simply give thanks and appreciate the seemingly insignificant things in life; the things that support our existence but rarely get a second thought amidst our desire for bigger and better things.

Ilona

I believe the above poster has joined the forum to promote their own web site. Their post does not answer the original posters question. Therefore I have reported it as spam.
Ilona

amiaspden

Step aerobics! seriously, I've been doing it for just over a year and it's made a huge difference to me. You can do it in a very small space with minimal outlay for equipment. I got my step from a car boot sale for £3, and I use DVDs from Amazon for about £6 each. I started with "Gilad Step Aerobics" which I would have instantly dismissed based just on the cover art, but the reviews on Amazon convinced me to give it a go and they were right. I've now got his other step DVD and a Kathy Smith one, and I do 2 or 3 step workouts a week, alternating them.