Getting fit when you are mid 40 and overweight!

[emmief77]

so I'm unfit, depressed and embarrassed about my size

thought about gym or a home DVD but I am lazy and probably won't do it!!- I seriously need a kick up the ar*e

wondered about joining a club, hoping that a support network will keep me motivated, seen adverts locally for netball and hockey aimed at women only but i'm not sure what age ...

Any advice?

[26Point2Miles]

I joined an outdoor bootcamp

They have eating advice and spin off groups for running/cycling/walking

Best thing I ever did

[emmief77]

Are you similar age to me 26.2miles?

[26Point2Miles]

I'm 46 and run lots. Lost 5 stone low carbing with biwi and keep it off with exercise now. Been going nearly 2 years. We are all ages

[WiseKneeHair]

I did C25K (couch to 5k). I had never been able to run before, even when I was younger and fitter, but this does it so gradually, that you are running albeit not very fast in my case before you know it.
I know a local running club does a C25K program, so you could do it that way if you wanted to join a group.

[emmief77]

Am considering running, as did join a running club in my 30s, but that was many many moons ago pre-kids when I had fewer wobbly bits

I've never been fast, but enjoyed being part of a club and entering races kept me motivated... oh I dunno...

[feetheart]

Do it, do it, do it :)
Running clubs are fab, as is parkrun. Get yourself there and you will never look back.

[generaltilney]

I'd definitely say join a running club, but in the meantime, join us on the couch to 5K running thread? You could start tomorrow I'm 45 and many stones overweight - if I lost four stone I'd still be in the overweight section of the charts [sigh] but I've just finished week 3. Just got to get moving, it's the only way forward.

[lauranorder50]

I'm 47 and weigh 106kgs. I've not long started my current fitness campaign. I lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off for about 9 years. Unfortunately after a difficult phase of my life I comfort ate until I put just about all of it back on.

So, here I am.

Good luck with your future endeavours.

[emmief77]

Aw thanks for the encouragement everyone

lauranorder50 can relate to comfort eating, also boredom eating for me.. why is it so hard?

feetheart super scared about joining a running club, I joined one in my 30s only to find full of men who considered running 10 miles a short run. I didn't go back.

generaltilney will pop across to C25k thread.

[Mitchy1nge]

good luck

most running clubs will have beginner sessions, it's worth a look, or could you start one with friends and do c25k together? (although that is tricky if everyone drops out one by one and you don't feel like keeping it up alone) sweatshop (if you have one near you?) also have mixed ability running groups

everyone starts somewhere and it's incredibly rewarding because you gain fitness so quickly at the beginning when you start running consistently even when that's run/walk intervals

[SuperFlyHigh]

Running works for some, zumba etc for others.

Find something you enjoy and stick to it. Some people detest running or can't do it due to joint problems etc.

[SuperFlyHigh]

OP - boredom and comfort eating you do do when bored etc.

I try to temper that with treats and healthy stuff. Eg baked apple, salads, home made soup etc. rather than deprive myself completely of nice things.

[Mitchy1nge]

I also think walking is seriously underrated as an exercise, maybe because it is more time consuming but it's gentle and effective. Can you get out for a 30 minute walk some days?

[SuperFlyHigh]

Mitchy I agree walking is underrated and you can join groups. Or start your own.

[feetheart]

Def find a different running club :o
Ours has a beginners course and has everyone from super fit young men who disappear into the distance to total beginners who walk/run and everybody in between including a bunch of hilarious over-70s who may not catch anyone up but will talk you into submission :)
What I love is that everyone is very supportive and at events the fast ones are there at the finish cheering on the slower ones even though they could have gone home an hour before.
Parkrun has a similar feel.

[CMOTDibbler]

How about cycling too? Theres Sky breeze rides which are women only and free, so once you can go any distance, you can go out with them, and there are loads of events.

There are cyclists of all sizes - my dh has lost 5 stone so far and has a lot to lose, but can do 70 miles at an average of 16 mph. Fat Lad at the Back do really nice womens stuff in real sizes.

Or do c25k, then go to ParkRun, which is full of normal people and free.

I just sign up for events and then that makes me train! I can't hide from whats logged on my Garmin (you can use mapmyrun or mapmyride for free on a phone) vs what whichever training programme I'm following says!

[slug]

Find something that does not bore you senseless. Dancing is often a good way to start. I used to go rock and roll dancing with a friend and even though we were both fit (ahh, youth) we would finish the evening sweating and out of breath.

Do you have friends in a similar state? I have a few women I work with who I team up with on a regular basis for a swim or walk at lunchtime. We jokingly call ourselves the fat ladies swimming club as none of us are smaller than a size 16, though we differ in our swimming abilities. If you are getting down to your swimsuit in public there's a lot of comfort if you are in a group of friends with similar body shapes. Often the swim is impracticable so we go for a walk instead.

[hazelnutlatte]

If netball and hockey sound fun then why not try one of them? Not all teams are particularly competitive - my DH plays in a mixed hockey team, ages of players are between 30 and 60! They just play for fun, not in a proper league or anything. They are always looking for new players too and ability doesn't matter at all.

[Boysandme]

I must second netball. I have recently started playing again after 25yrs! I am in my early 40s and very overweight. England netball are running lots of 'back to netball' courses around the country.

It is great fun, ours is a real mixture of people aged from 17 to mid/late 40s. We started in the spring and have ended up entering an adult league from September this year. We entered at the bottom division.

I have just come home tonight from a league game where we beat a team where I think no-one was over 25! It is really good fun and a fast moving game.

Look it up, it is pay as you play unless you affiliate to England netball and join a league but you can give it a go for a good while before even considering that.

[AggressiveBunting]

I also like netball BUT I think it's not much use for losing weight, unless you join a team which also does fitness training, say, twice a week, because it's not frequent enough- playing once a week will only burn about 500 cals if you play the whole game in a centre court position. However, it is good for fitness because it's a fast game and therefore knackering, plus it has the social, "fun" factor, which is important in terms of realising the psychological benefits of exercise.

Dont let your size put you off joining. In our league probably about half the ladies are carrying some extra weight but many of them are also very fit, and we all have fun.

[emmief77]

Sorry have not come back here recently, had another bout of depression and have been struggling to get out of bed and haven't been able to stop crying ...

However, had a bit of a breakthrough, got a new job and feeling a lot more positive again and ready to tackle getting fit and losing weight...

I am considering joining the gym in the New Year, as I figure there will be lots of special offers around, but I just don't know whether I have the motivation to keep it up, week in, week out. Plus if I am honest, I am lazy and will probably slack off in the gym if left to my own devices . Classes appeal more, but I have 2 left feet so I would be rubbish at any dance type!

[antimatter]

Can you go for walks at lunchtime?

[feetheart]

Sorry to hear you have been having a tough time.
My advice would be to forget gym membership, it will just make you feel guilty when you stop using it and can't cancel it until the year is up
Have a go at a few classes - I also have 2 left feet and very long arms and legs that I only have minimal control over so am a bit of a liability in any sort of dance-type class. However I love aquafit and am tempted by spinning (as I can't go anywhere or interfere with anyone else :))
I would still recommend running with a decent, welcoming club. Find one that do a beginners course and have a go at it. Once the bug has bitten you can spend all of the money you saved on gym membership on decent trainers and nice running kit or maybe that's just me.