where to start?

brat

calleyw wrote: »

I am not interested in weight loss at the moment. I know what to eat etc and what exercise I prefer for that. Either walking or cycling. I am well aware of my issues with food. Its something to tackled. But it will take a while to sort it out.

I was asking about fitness and Flexibility and what is best for that. seems everyone has latched on to the weight issues. Which is not what I was asking about.

I mentioned about the weight so that nothing was going to be suggested that would put massive pressure on knees and ankles.

yours

Calley

You need to be clearer then, so that people don't waste their time making responses they think you want to hear, when in fact you don't.

My advice still stands. take it or leave it.

TeamPlum

calleyw wrote: »

I am not interested in weight loss at the moment. I know what to eat etc and what exercise I prefer for that. Either walking or cycling. I am well aware of my issues with food. Its something to tackled. But it will take a while to sort it out.

I was asking about fitness and Flexibility and what is best for that. seems everyone has latched on to the weight issues. Which is not what I was asking about.

I mentioned about the weight so that nothing was going to be suggested that would put massive pressure on knees and ankles.

yours

Calley

I know this is the internet but that comment came across really arsey, which is irritating when we've taken the time to try and help you.

Food and exercise are branches on the same tree, you can't really tackle having a bad back etc through exercise alone, similarly you can't really have much fitness and flexibility until you lose weight. It's the weight that is making your back hurt.

Money_maker

TeamPlum is right about the weight causing back/knee/hip problems even with good flexibility. I do body balance which is a mixture of yoga, pilates and tai chi. Everything moves a lot more freely after a class and I'm gradually improving my flexibility. Any of these static floor classes will help as will addressing your food issues.


It'll also help your confidence which in turn means you put more effort into classes and feel absolutely great afterwards.

bouicca21

I learned to swim, then started going to the gym. My local (council) gym offers 4 sessions with a personal trainer (who designs activities suitable for individual needs) at a cost that is refunded if you stay the course and do all 4. The gym still has a core of incredibly fit muscley people but they have been very successful in attracting older people who need to get fit.

Gloomendoom

calleyw wrote: »

I am well aware of my issues with food. Its something to tackled. But it will take a while to sort it out.

Sorry, but losing weight isn't rocket science.

You simply eat less. How long can that take?

Ilona

calleyw wrote: »

I do know what to eat. Plenty of veggies, some fruit. lean protein, fish and a bit of dairy and small amount of carbs. With the odd treat here and there. That is works for me.

Yours

Calley

Hi, Can I ask how much weight you have lost so far on your healthy eating regime? Is the weight coming off slowly which is why you think it might take a long time?

Five stone overweight for someone who is 5ft 4ins tall, is such a lot, because it is the weight that is preventing you from getting fit. A small frame carrying that much weight is bound to put massive pressure on your joints. Perhaps swimming is the best exercise for you.

Ilona

Benners123

By posting this, you've already started! So great work

I would recommend taking it slow, as joint pain can cause you to be lethargic to keep the exercise levels up. This isn't professional advice, but from personal experience. I have particularly poor joints in my lower body.

I think you should find an activity you enjoy doing, and just keep it up and start testing yourself. Sayn you walked 2 miles in X time, try and knock a few seconds off that time every time you walk. The quicker you get you can begin to see and feel a difference.

Good luck on your journey!

Elfbert

I've just started with the Couch to 5k app - I know you said you don't want to do running or anything, but if you have a bike/exercise bike you can still use the podcasts (I use the ones from the NHS) and instead of running when it tells you either up your pedalling rate or up the resistance. I am 'doing' Couch to 5k with two friends for support, and they both have disabilities meaning they can't run, so one is doing it on a cross-trainer and the other on a bike

I like it because I need to be told what to do, rather than go to the gym and faff about from one machine to another, so the woman in my earphones keeps me on the right track

Good luck in finding something which works for you.

olgadapolga

Hi Calley,

I started to improve my fitness by walking. It was hard work as I was so terribly, terribly unfit and massively overweight (BMI 46 when I started) but I started, which was the main thing.

Started walking a mile and gradually increased it over time. That mile took me forever and at the end of it I just collapsed into a read, sweaty, unpleasant to look at heap on the sofa. But I went out the next day, and the one after that, gradually increasing the distance and my speed. Thirteen months later, I can easily walk 8-10 miles at 3-4mph (sometimes faster if I need to). And I no longer collapse onto the sofa, I come into the house and get on with things.

I also started cycling. My local council run cycling sessions and I started off on a 3-wheeler recliner, going round an athletics track. I think that the first session I covered 5 laps maybe (1.25 miles). This has now increased, over the last 10 months, to a daily 25-mile cycle ride on a 2-wheeler.

Now I'm comfortable with the walking and cycling, I want to do some other activities such as trampolining, swimming and running. I did think about classes but I'm really not into group sessions. I'm also going to do some strength training when I find a gym I'm happy with.

My exercise regime was about losing weight to start with. I did also restrict my calories. It took a while to realise that weight loss is more to do with food than exercise and that exercise is for fitness. I have also realised that food is just fuel, nothing more. My BMI now sits in the healthy rnage.

I have also discovered that increasing fitness/activity improves energy levels - I have so much more energy now that I cannot "sit and veg" on the sofa anymore, I have to be doing something.

Start slow and build up. Walking is simple, and free. As is cycling, assuming that you have access to a bike. Swimming around here costs the earth but I have found some free sessions to go to. But you have to make the start. I read a comment somewhere along the lines of time will pass anyway, so you can either just get on with it and see the benefits in a year's time, or you can leave things as they are, not do anything and regret wasting another year. For myself, I am glad that I started my journey to a better me as over the last 13 months I have lost 9.5 stone (133 lbs/60.5kg) and am so much fitter and healthier. I feel amazing and just wish I'd done it sooner.

I'd also recommend looking at the "my fitness pal" website, they have a great community forum.

I think that overall my message is - start now! It doesn't have to be a huge effort, as I said, I started off walking a mile but you don't have to do that much. It's about doing that bit of exercise every day and building up from there.

Good luck.

Herongull

Go for walking, cycling and swimming. Start gradually and build up.

Have a look at: https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk

When you are confident enough, consider joining a walking or cycling group that includes beginners walks or cycle rides as well as longer and harder walks or cycle rides. If you enjoying going out with the group, you will naturally get fitter and stronger as you progress as well as making new friends.

I am involved with an outdoor club that covers a wide range of outdoor events including shorter evening walks in the summer - say 3 miles - as well as some long tough walks in mountains. We also do fairly easy cycle rides (25 to 30 miles). http://www.clog.org.uk. This is for people living in and around London but there are similar groups in different parts of the country.