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Original poster

Healthy living support thread for feminists

357 replies

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 16/08/2015 18:11

In response to a few discussions we've had down the pub - there are some of us who are striving for better health through better diets and more exercise, but who struggle among the usual support groups where it's all about looking better rather than good health. And it certainly can be tricky as a feminist, walking that fine line between not conforming to beauty ideals through dieting and making sure you actually look after your body through a healthy lifestyle.

So here is a support thread for those of us who are trying to eat better and get more exercise.

Me, I could do with losing a bit over 2 stone to get back to a healthy weight. I had an ankle injury after running a marathon about 3 years back, and between not being able to exercise and the stress of my PhD (I'm a stress binge eater) I gained 3 stone and lost all my hard-earned fitness. I'm finally getting back on track, I've lost nearly a stone and am hitting the exercise hard again. The hardest bit has been getting back into running - while my ankle is better, my joints are really feeling the extra weight I'm carrying. It's also hard to do karate when your wobble gets in the way of you doing a good kick and you get out of breath when sparring. So I need to lose weight in order to enjoy my sports hobbies again. I'm taking it slowly, doing Slimming World but not religiously - I'm not in a hurry to lost the weight, but I also need to watch that I don't take it so slowly that it never happens!

Yesterday I ran 8km, which is really encouraging as I was still going strong at the end. Just a couple of months ago I was run/walking 5km and would have welcomed death at the end! So I feel like some kind of switch has been flipped and my body now "remembers" how to run. The down side is that both ankles are aching and stiff today.

My diet has been rather rubbish the last couple of weeks, including a few binges, and I put some pounds back on, but I'm in that good place mentally now and hopefully ready to focus on getting my body healthy again. I loved being lean and fit and athletic, and I'm not getting any younger (thoroughly middle-aged), so I feel like the window of opportunity for getting myself in a sustained state of good health without drastic measures being required is closing!

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 04/09/2015 21:29

My day sounds similar to yours feckity. Everything is aching from yesterday's gym session and I have an all encompassing tiredness that basically stopped anything useful being done. Today has been a bit of a write off, especially since I ditched the balanced chicken and veggies meal I'd planned in favour of chip shop chips. Never mind...I'm aiming for doing well most of the time and I did enjoy my tea.

Original poster
SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 04/09/2015 20:05

I'm very pleased this thread has picked up again, it was very quiet for a while and I was getting worried!

Cycle commute day for me, and then I took DD2 swimming. I'm absolutely knackered! I had regular pizza base instead of cauliflower, I could feel I needed the calories - extra thin crust and my daily allowance of cheese on top, lots of veg. Yum! I am also pleased I didn't even particularly want a chocolate from the vending machine when DD2 got one after swimming.

Early night tonight then trying a new parkrun tomorrow morning.

Will catch up with everyone soon...

OP posts:
feckityfeck · 04/09/2015 15:18

Ugh, I feel like rubbish this afternoon. I think I may have overdone it a bit at the gym this morning, or at least it was too much on top of kickboxing yesterday evening. Didn't feel like I was doing too much while I was there, but I've been really wobbly since I got home, thought lunch would help but it didn't.

I've also had a frustrating time trying to fix some new lights in our kitchen. I was all confident that it was a simple job, but I put one in and it just won't work, and I've no idea why.

So, I'm in a grump in general. Got taekwondo again with dd in the morning too, hope I don't wake up with achy muscles.

YonicScrewdriver · 04/09/2015 11:15

Since I had the kids it's very hard to arrange my life to get enough activity in (driving rather than walking etc) so I'm trying to compensate!

TheVeryThing · 04/09/2015 11:07

Well done Yonic, I didn't exercise at all yesterday and ate junk but refuse to beat myself up over it and will do better today.
I think gradual improvements work better, as only a small minority will be able to stick to a really hard core diet and exercise plan.
However, i think we can be a bit deluded in relation to how much exercise we need to do, and in fact, how much we are actually capable of doing. It's a difficult balance but making people feel bad about themselves is never going to help.
Dh reminded me the other day about my mum's reaction after a friend and I first started going to the gym in our early/min-twenties. She was horrified when I showed her my biceps, as though muscle definition in women was somehow wrong.

YonicScrewdriver · 04/09/2015 08:37

Ooh, have a nice time, trills. I always feel healthier on holiday, even if I'm eating more, becayse I'm out and about, not chained to a desk and screen!

Trills · 04/09/2015 08:23

Lovely idea for a thread.

I'm going on holiday on Sunday, and I don't really like exercise, but I'd like to be healthier and to talk about it in a place where what's important is how you FEEL, not how you look. (looking better is a nice side effect though).

Than you for linking the PLoS blog, it's very interesting and nicely-written.

YonicScrewdriver · 04/09/2015 08:21

Gym today! Then a latte, yoghurt, blackberries and cereal for breakfast and school drop off. All before 0830!

Feels good.

HelenaDove · 03/09/2015 23:28

I had yet another idiot tell me i could excersise off loose skin today. Why are some ppl so bloody stupid. Sad

Thankyou Holly Thanks Smile

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 21:48

I think there is a lot of misinformation about with regards to weight training and diet in general and in particular for women. The whole "I don't want to get to big" thing but it is slowly changing.

Like I said earlier the Bodybuilder woman wasn't wrong but she could have gone about it in a better way.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:37

Sorry x-post!

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:36

And to be quite honest as thefitfatty said there was just no need for a reply like that. Most people would have understood what she wanted.

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 21:34

Problem is a lot of people lose the weight but don't understand gaining the muscle. In the op I'm talking about's case that Is her problem. She needs to start weightlifting and toning specific areas.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:33

I think the important point is lose weight or gain muscle. The woman was asking how to gain muscle. Not really an unreasonable request.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:30

And what a great idea for a challenge Sera for the refugees. Good luck with that!

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 21:30

Don't I know it mide! I'm really into weightlifting now and I know I need to up my protein, etc to continue the results I'm getting. But after years of disordered eating it's hard for me to eat as much as I need to and not feel like shit. I'm more concerned about encouraging others to follow a healthy, slow path then I am an extreme one which will ultimately lead to unhealthy patterns

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 21:23

I guess it depends on your goal Sera, if it's to strength then yes of course doing a load of bicep curls will improve your biceps. If you want to "tone" a specific area then you need to lose weight or gain muscle.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:16

Well precisely Sera. PELVIC FLOOR anyone! In fact you can probably improve your pelvic floor and eat doughnuts. Bargain!

Original poster
SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 03/09/2015 20:43

You always hear people saying that you can't 'spot tone', which is true in general terms - you can't stuff your face full of infinite doughnuts, then do tricep dips and end up with ripped triceps and a flabby rest of you. But of course different exercises target and strengthen different muscles. I won't get strong shoulders doing squats. I won't improve my legs doing bicep curls. So as long as you're eating healthily and working on your overall fitness, it's a perfectly reasonable question to ask about exercises that target specific areas! How can it not be?! Confused

OP posts:
YonicScrewdriver · 03/09/2015 20:03

I walked back to the station and got fresh air so that's good!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 19:31

It's a difficult one really FF because generally you need to eat more to build muscle. People who've lost a significant amount of weight can be a bit concerned about eating too much in case they undo their hard work.

Sounds like your right about different goals tho, not everyone wants to be as lean as a bodybuilder.

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 18:40

lol feel free to get on your high horse anytime! I'm no personal trainer or even wannabe!

YonicScrewdriver · 03/09/2015 18:30

I ate my healthy lunch too early then had icecream and biscuits as late afternoon snack. Grr!

Gym tomorrow, it's a new day!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 18:28

Ahhh ok, sorry for getting on my high horse erm.... Fatty..... erm fitty..... TheFF Grin

thatstoast · 03/09/2015 18:22

OK, got my trainers on order from JD sports. I might actually make it to the gym rather than the pool.

I went to the doctor today and she reviewed my family history and it's focused my mind on losing more weight. My mother has never really focussed on her health and now has type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol etc and I'm determined to be more proactive.

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