Can you get really fit without running?

[thisonehasalittlecar]

I'm a yo-yo exerciser, looking to get back into some sort of regime now the kids are back at school. I've tried lots of different things over the years but never really been super-fit. Everyone I know who is very fit is a runner but I hate running-- am tall and fat with big boobs and find it massively uncomfortable on my joints etc. Anyone on here consider themselves pretty fit without running?

[Hassled]

I think there must be lots of ways to get fit without running - for example, I'm a swimmer and it certainly keeps me fit. It has to be something you actively enjoy rather than something you dread doing, or it'll never work out. So what do you fancy? What have you thought you'd like to try some day?

[Kaisha02]

I'm a yo-yo exerciser too. I don't have kids yet but am ttc. That aside, I really do need to start exercising as I've put on a stone in the last year but I have big boobs and find it uncomfortable too.
I'm thinking cycling is the way forward combined with regular walking etc. I lost a stone last year doing fitness dvd's and I did get fit.

[NattyGolfJerkin]

Swimming, if you do it 'properly'

Rowing, either on the water or using a good quality machine like concept2, again, if you do it properly.

HIIT

There are lots of ways to get fit, basically, any regular, good quality aerobic / cardio exercise will improve and maintain fitness.

[thisonehasalittlecar]

I do really like swimming, at the moment it's mainly finding a time slot at the local pool that fits in with my schedule putting me off. hasseled how often do you go and for how long?

[dun1urkin]

I'm reasonably fit. Cycling, spinning, step on the whole. Some swimming.
All the runners I know are always comparing injuries!! (ergo running is bad for you )

[thisonehasalittlecar]

natty I like the idea of HIIT but am scared I'm too unfit for it just now and will stroke out like Andrew Marr!

[NattyGolfJerkin]

If you google "swim for fitness programmes" you should find the swimming c25k equivalent. Here is a Zoggs one

[StripeyMonkey1]

Or try something like Crossfit which does include some running, but not much. Cardio is normally called metabolic conditioning and often involves weights. It's tough but very good and you can start at any level.

[thisonehasalittlecar]

Thanks natty I will check that out!

Stripeymonkey is crossfit a class or something you do on your own?

[Hassled]

I swim usually twice a week but sometimes it's only once. I'm in the pool maybe 45 mins? The first 20 lengths is always a bastard but after that you just get in the zone and forget you're swimming and think about life.

[60sname]

Martial arts kept me pretty fit, though I have no doubt that the fittest people at my gym cross-trained with running

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Cross fit and HIT definitely!

Weights?

I've never seen anyone swim properly... More like just bobbing along staring into space. Never seen anyone swim energetically tbh. I used to go with a friend but wow, it's dull!

I run when I can.... Fresh air, new scenery, music on. Bit of an obstacle course lately. Slugs everywhere to jump over. And newly spawned baby frogs

[Cguk81]

If you have a decent gym nearby the classes are really good for getting you fit. I love spin class and body pump with weights is really good.

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Also, spin classes are great for fitness!

I think best way is to mix it up

[thisonehasalittlecar]

Quite a few votes for spinning and crossfit... I did used to do spinning many years ago and remember it being pretty hardcore. (which is good!)

[thisonehasalittlecar]

Ok crossfit looks scary. Local crossfit gym website has lots of photos of an ex-marine yelling at people.

[KeyserSophie]

It depends what you mean by fitness. Crossfit is great for strength and also for short bursts of fairly intense cardio. It's not good for building endurance- for that you'd need to do lower intensity cardio such as running, swimming, cycling, rowing. Also, Crossfit is hard to generalise about because there's so little regulation about what Crossfit actually is and so what they do often depends on the background of the staff and what space/equipment is available to them. A lot of gyms basically run circuit classes with very little controlled heavy lifting and some of the "trick shots" they teach for competitions (e.g. kipping pull ups) aren't that good as a training tool so unless you're actually going to compete.....

[yeOldeTrout]

I agree with Keyser -- define what you mean by Superfit to answer the question. For swimming, btw, I think 2-3x a week for an hour is a good target, but not enough by itself. Cross train in some other way, so maybe 2 hours week swimming, + 2 hours a week spinning.

I bet Michael Phelps never runs anywhere :).

[thisonehasalittlecar]

trout he does! www.mensfitness.com/weight-loss/burn-fat-fast/train-michael-phelps

[yeOldeTrout]

Not on this routine he didn't... but okay he tried something new and if I were him I'd invent rubbish every time someone asked me what my training routine was, anyway.

I bet Ellie Simmonds probably doesn't run much :).

Whatever exercise you do, it needs to be something you enjoy or you won't keep it up.

[StripeyMonkey1]

Sorry thisonehasalittlecar I missed your earlier message. Crossfit is a mix of weightlifting (think squat, deadlift, press, and more), gymnastics (pull ups, handstands etc) and cardio (rowing, running, air bike ..) all thrown together. The shouting doesn't sound so good though! It might be worth a call to the gym nonetheless to find out what the options are. Crossfit is really effective and I have found it to be supportive for everyone at all levels.

[londonmummy1966]

Running nut here so take with a pinch of salt BUT... when I had a stress fracture in my foot and couldn't run I swam a km a day in 30 minutes and people asked if I'd lost weight. If you want to lose size as opposed to get really fit swimming is good as it is very toning. I found a combination of breast stroke and crawl (so like intervals) worked best for me. However rowing is the best exercise of all - better than running as you use more muscle groups. But you do have to work at it. HIIT on a rower is very good indeed.

BTW I am overweight and have big boobs but love running. You may find that a really good sports bra makes all the difference. I wear a normal bra underneath a high impact bra by Freya and I really do not bounce around at all. If this is what makes you a slef conscious runner then this plus running after dark may help.

[CMOTDibbler]

Yes - how about cycling? You can work really hard at it, you get out in the fresh air, and it can be as social or solitary as you like.

My bil and sil do Crossfit - and get injured a lot. I looked into it, and its extremely unregulated and you'll see people lifting and doing stuff with terrible form which explains the injuries. Its also very pricey

[Runningupthathill82]

Obsessive runner here. When I can't run (ie late in pregnancy, or when I was recovering from a broken foot), spinning is the only other thing I've found that keeps me as fit.

Circuits classes/ HIIT are good too, but I like to do them as well as running.

Think you should give running a go though, there's nothing like it for physical and mental fitness. When I had HUGE boobs (34HH, breastfeeding) the Panache sports bra and the Freya Active crop top sports bra both kept them well and truly under control.

[StripeyMonkey1]

Well, I have done Crossfit for a couple of years and have not been injured. I do agree that you do need good coaching to lift weights properly though.

Cycling is great. I'd combine it with something like yoga ideally, or failing that swimming, for balance as cycling is in a fixed position and can lead to weaknesses such as shortened hamstrings.