Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050302#Comment_82050302

cinema is perfect if you like that! Saw a 3D film yesterday so effectively that paid for my monthly membership.

I find it so hard to fit the gym in too around FT job/ dog walking/ having to do things to stay alive such as eat. I’ve started looking at my work diary for the following week on a Friday and working out which days I could gym early or do a quick lunchtime session or fit in early eve and I write it on my calendar the plan for the week. Makes it a bit easier

MillQueen

@ArtyJ931, I know, it's so hard to fit in health activities as well as eating and sleeping when most of the day goes on work. I struggle to fit in anything else except work and the gym. It's lucky I'm fairly boring socially, as I don't know how I would fit in a social life as well. I am amazed at people who also juggle a family.

I was intending to make a spag bol, but I discovered the veggie mince was open and I didn't trust it, so I had to use some quorn pieces I had in the freezer instead. So it's basically onions, a big pack of tomatoes, a pack of mushrooms, herbs and paprika, with quorn chunks instead of mince, and a side of carrots. Oh well, it will still work with pasta or a roasted sweet potato, or even toast. I am going to put a few sweet potatoes in the oven now. I am a bit gutted as I dropped my butter on the floor and it went everywhere, so that's a few pounds extra I now will have to add to my next shop, when it probably would have lasted another month.

The most exciting thing all day has been that I now have 54 toilet rolls for £10.

Chocolatefund

If its any consolation, you're doing a heck of a lot more effort then me. I'm not a fitness person at all, and I've literally got a gym 10 min walk away from me.

I'm also boring socially. Definitely helps with saving money.

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050962#Comment_82050962

I wasn't much of a fitness person either, but about 4 or 5 years ago a friend explained about endorphins, that the exercise gives those and after a while it becomes something your body wants. Being a reliable sort, I went every day with my friend as she was wanting to develop a habit and I don't like letting people down. Well it turned out to be true about the endorphins and after a while I started to want to go, and even on days when I was tired, my body made me do it because I felt better when I did. The friend stopped going after a while, but I had developed a habit that went on for several years. I only stopped going when I bought my house last April because my mortgage payments are huge and I couldn't afford the membership. I have gained weight since then and my mood is pretty low and it's hard to get things done and eat right. All of life was better when I did regular exercise, so I am trying to get back to that now. The membership is expensive, so I will be poor, but I figure that good things will likely follow because I'll be more confident and happier again. I think when you work on your body, whether that's through putting good things in, getting more sleep, or even just walking, then good things happen in the rest of your life too. I've seen that for real. I guess it's a bit like with money saving - good habits spill into all areas.

Rhyddid2026

I don't think I have endorphins. I think my body is incapable of producing them 😂

But!! an old friend of mine did once tell me she does so much sport because then she can eat more, and that I found appealing. Unfortunately now my body disagrees and throws a tantrum if I try to exercise, except for yoga and that does not burn many calories (or at least the version I do, in my local gym, with pensioners).

I've just rejoined my local running club though so I am hopeful that I can get to that point before the end of the year 🤞

That is a lovely philosophy to have - "I think when you work on your body, whether that's through putting good things in, getting more sleep, or even just walking, then good things happen in the rest of your life too"

I'll restart my effort to be kinder to my body tomorrow ☺️

MillQueen

@Rhyddid2026, eating more is definitely a good incentive 😂. I find my body doesn't respond well to a lot of heavy cardio, but does really like strength training as it feels easy and low effort compared to getting out of breath. I make good use of all of the resistance machines - I started out by just going around all of the upper body machines on one day and then using all of the lower body machines the next. I like swimming as well, as I get in the pool with a bad mood and once I get out again I've forgotten whatever stress I had.

I'd love to join a running club, but I am prone to plantar fasciitis and running tends to be a trigger. I do incline walking on the treadmill as a compromise. I have to build back up again now, as I used to do an hour or two most days, as I would spend time in the gym and then swim afterwards. My fitness has now left the building after a year of inactivity. I keep noticing I am not as flexible and I generally feel horrible in my body.

ArtyJ931

I run 5k twice a week for cardio and do 3x strength training a week as this is what my personal trainer* said was ideal for my age to maintain fitness flexibility strength and mobility into old age without knackering my body.

Also should be doing 2x 1h yoga a week but that’s often the one I drop as I just do YouTube yoga and it’s easy to not bother. None of the gym yoga classes fit into work etc unfortunately.

*chatgpt

ch3shirecat4

Definitely get into the yoga if you can commit the time. The difference it makes is palpable. i do it twice a week and even go on a yoga retreat in girona once or twice a year. I find it not only keeps me feeling mobile as I get older but also keeps my mind clearer too. I admit its a committment but it is so worth it.

MillQueen

@ArtyJ931, that sounds really good! Chatgpt sounds like an effective personal trainer. I have been given one of those personal trainer induction sessions (free!) where they designed a routine with me. @ch3shirecat4, that's commitment to go on a retreat. The most flexible older people I know are yoga enthusiasts!

I had built up to the plan below over the course of a couple of years (with one free choice for a rest day on whichever day I felt like it). I need to try to build back up, though not quite to this, as I think it was too much time as I was doing less self-employed work and I've had a year of not much exercise at all since buying the house.

I have never felt so good in my health and mental wellbeing as when I was doing the below. It's been harder since moving, as I haven't had the money for a gym membership and work is now a 3 hour round trip (it was 10 mins away before). Much of the time I would have had for exercise is now spent in the car or doing extra self-employed work in my free time to try to earn enough to stay afloat with a big mortgage. If I do at some point move house again, which this makes me realise I ought to, it will need to be right near work.

• Mon - 1 hr strength + 1 hr swim (upper body/core)
• Tue - 1 hr cardio machines + 1 hr swim
• Wed - 1 hr strength + 1 hr swim (lower body/core)
• Thu - 1 hr cardio machines + 1 hr swim
• Fri - 1 hr strength + 1 hr swim (upper body/core)
• Sat - 1 hr cardio machines + 1 hr swim
• Sun - 1 hr strength + 1 hr swim (lower body/core)

• Choice of rest day - or 1 hr exercise only
• Long walks x 2-3 times a week
• Begin all workouts 10 mins stairmaster
• End all workouts 10 mins high incline walk
• Kettle bell squats (3 sets x 5) at home
• Leg and arm core raises in bed AM & PM
• Get lots of sleep and drink water all the time

Dakota_Rose

Cor that sounds like a lot of hard work. I’m not an exerciser by nature but always active I suppose. I’d match you with the sleep and water but other than that, I’d be in the recovery position 😂 possibly why I’ve hit middle age and developed a lot of flab around the tummy area 🙈

Is there anyway you can achieve a daily exercise fix without rejoining a gym/swimming pool or does this feel right for you?