What is the fastest way to get toned & fit?

Towser

I want to know the fastest way to get toned & fit?
I am late 40's and have twice injured my back now as I have realised I am no spring chicken any more so I have to be careful.
What are the latest gadgets to help me. I still have a heart rate monitor from 20 years ago and want to be with the times.
My weight is stable and I walk everyday with the dog for 45 minutes. The problem is I am not as fit as the 50 something bikini models like Elizabeth Hurley, Cindy Crawford and Halle Berry.
I am prepared to put the time in. Pointers in types of exercises would be great.

brat

The fastest way is to take your time. Don't run before you can walk. Injuries are much more common if you overdo things, and they take a frustrating amount of time to recover from.

Your arms, legs and a positive mental attitude are the best gadgets for fitness.

If you need to lose weight, I'd use 'my fitness pal' app which monitors your calorie intake. It also automatically records your exercise if your exercise routines are uploaded to a fitness app.

Ilona

Towser wrote: »

I want to know the fastest way to get toned & fit?

The problem is I am not as fit as the 50 something bikini models like Elizabeth Hurley, Cindy Crawford and Halle Berry.
I am prepared to put the time in. Pointers in types of exercises would be great.

How do you know that you are not as fit as the people you mention? Don't believe everything you read in the papers. They might be skinny but they could be very unfit. It's all down to airbrushing.

There is no fast way to become toned and fit. It's a lifestyle choice of exercise and diet. Start walking a bit further, a bit faster, join a gym if you like, stop eating rubbish food, and in a years time you will be a lot healthier. A short term fix is like yo yo dieting, it cannot be sustained for long. A two month frenzy at the gym will either become an obsession, or bore you to death then you give up.

Small changes over a longer period of time work best.

Ilona

mickeymouse303

Have you joined a gym? They often have great classes and recommend variations of different exercises for those with injuries/problems. This can safely ease you into a more active lifestyle

Malthusian

The answer to the headline question is to go totally teetotal, switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet, and exercise 3-5 times a week with a structured schedule of competitive sport, gym work, yoga and rest. This is also the fastest way to get disillusioned, give up, and stay unfit, because most people are not ready for it. They will find it miserable and tedious. I know I would.

The fastest realistic way to get toned and fit is to find something you enjoy, work to get stronger at it, listen to your body.

The best gadgets are comfortable shoes and kit. Heart rate monitors are, in my opinion, a waste of time unless you are in top fitness and looking for marginal gains. I wouldn't put any faith in the accuracy of one that hasn't been used for 20 years.

Why not go for a run with your dog instead of a walk? You're already spending the time, no reason not to use it. Look into the Couch to 5k programme if you don't think you're fit enough to run for 45 minutes.

tizerbelle

When you say you walk the dog for 45 minutes a day is that brisk walking all the time or is your dog a moocher? You may want to go for an extra walk each day without the dog and make sure that you are walking with intensity so that you can feel that you are working rather than meandering - I was told that if you can sing while you are walking, you aren't walking fast enough.

[Deleted User]

tizerbelle wrote: »

When you say you walk the dog for 45 minutes a day is that brisk walking all the time or is your dog a moocher? You may want to go for an extra walk each day without the dog and make sure that you are walking with intensity so that you can feel that you are working rather than meandering - I was told that if you can sing while you are walking, you aren't walking fast enough.

I can just see the dogs face when you tell him I'm going walkies without you!

tizerbelle

Deleted_User wrote: »

I can just see the dogs face when you tell him I'm going walkies without you!

If its anything like my dog, its a look of relief - he's a lazy git
There's a 1 mile track from my home that climbs 420ft with the last 0.15mile climbing 70 feet, walking with the dog it takes 45 minutes to get to the top, without the dog its under 20 minutes now (was 25 minutes 6 weeks ago)

Towser

I can just see the dogs face when you tell him I'm going walkies without you!

that is so funny

Towser

Have you joined a gym? They often have great classes and recommend variations of different exercises for those with injuries/problems. This can safely ease you into a more active lifestyle

Yes I am thinking this is the best way to go. I am just procrastinating. When I was fit 20 years ago I was addicted and couldn't wait to go to all the classes and would often double up!

prosaver

go to the gym and do a weight training program same times mon weds friday..and tues thurs do an aerobic programs .(read a book about habits and how good they can be).
.eat the same foods but swop some foods with high protein meats, then a couple weeks later start to eat or wean yourself into healthier foods.
I found if you train and diet its unnatural as your body still needs food to build lean muscle .. you may look the same after week but you will start to feel fitter. As the weeks go on you can introduce a stricter higher protien diet with veg. Probably take 3 -4 months to look lean.
small steps and all that.
have a journal to stop yourself being bored or start a new thread, with updates how your getting on and im sure there will be people to help you along your journey.