Fat hill climber?

[BaggyArsedMunroBaggerWannabe]

Hi. Age 40. I weigh just under 15st. Zero fitness. Size 18. Haven't exercised for more than a week or two at a time at any point in life since leaving school
I would like to become a hill walker.
Any advice? Has anyone achieved similar?

You can keep your hillwalking fitness up by adding more walking into your daily routine.

Good on you. Just get out walking as often as you can, to nice places.

If you are confident at reading maps, buy an OS map of your area and discover the footpaths.

There's a loving supportive organization called Walking Women who do walking holidays of various lengths, levels of difficulty.

I'd recommend the Ramblers - if you look on their website you can see what walks are planned near you and go on one to see if it suits you. www.ramblers.org.uk
I've been walking with them for years and they have a good variety of different lengths of walk and levels of challenge, friendly bunch.

Get the children started as well. Make it something fun for them and they may grow up with a love of being out there with you. We have done quite a lot of walking holidays with the kids. They are older teens now and no longer so keen but we have had some brilliant days out in the lakes. Pack drinks and a picnic for them.

Get some good all-weather walking boots and go for it. At your weight, I'd add Nordic poles for going back down hill.

Walking uphill just takes glute power & breath. Stop frequently - Wainwright says that admiring the view is a good way of catching your breath, and always allowable!

But walking back down even by a different route, is often tougher on your body, especially your knees.

Get a good OS map, find out from your local National Parks/TIC if there are some set walks with little guide pamphlets, and go from there.

Whereabouts do you want to start walking? There may be walking groups you can join.

But mainly - go for it!

I zig zag like mad walking downhill, to reduce pressure on my knees.

Good for you OP. I am just posting so I can come back and read all these great tips. Get the best shoes and socks you can and beware chaffing! Don't wear anything new on a particularly long or challenging climb. Go! Climb! Be proud! And update this thread from the summit!!!

Can also recommend "Britain's best small hills" as a book. Brilliant for starting out because you can guarantee a stunning view (and therefore a sense of being worth it) at the top, but we also use it frequently when we can't don't want to do anything mega long or strenuous.

Can also recommend bridgedale walking socks, I love them! Good luck, it's a fab way to spend a day/afternoon

Also Bing maps has an OS map view. You can't print it off, but useful for checking routes in your local area. There's lots of, "oh I didn't realise there was a path there, and it links up to there..." Dog walks are no much more interesting!

You can do this! Not only does it help with weight loss it gives you space to think.

I have the Solomon boots too - they are fab. Paired with a snug pair of walking socks. The shop I bought them from let me try them on first - with my boots so I knew they were the right fit and didn't have any seams that rubbed.

I have soft shell walking trousers - they are the Alpkit ones (who unfortunately only do to a size 16 atm). I also just use leggings and carry a pair of waterproofs in case it gets blerrrggh.

Start out slow and steady, layer your clothing, take a hair bobble if you have long hair - the wind on the top of a hill always conspires to blow it into your mouth and poke it into your eyes.

Walk down stairs at each and every opportunity to build up your going down the hill muscles.

There are loads of navigation courses which are really useful - not least to meet other people who are starting out. I can recommend this instructor (Facebook link). She is really patient, and has managed to teach me how to read a map and basic survival bits, talks shit and solves life problems. Based in the peaks but happy to put on courses in other parts of the country.