If you have gone from being completely inactive to fit, how did you do it?

[pandarific]

I'm curious. I'm not asking people who've always been sporty / good at and enjoy team games / enjoy fitness, either.

I'm talking to My People - the two left feet, uncoordinated, 'Ugh, sports day, I'm going to sit down here and make a daisy chain ah shit they've seen me' people.

I really need to get fit. I used to walk a lot and got away with it because I was in my 20s, but after a baby and in my 30s I need to sort it out. Anyone like me managed to become fit? How'd you do it?

I've never been into sport or really enjoyed it. Always happy to walk miles though. I got a Groupon for outdoor bootcamp classes about eight years ago and found I really enjoyed it. Then I injured my knee running just as I was getting into running and contemplating a 5k. Anyway after a half- hearted attempt to get back into things I decided at Christmas that I couldn't do anything about being middle aged, but could do something about being fat. I joined a new small class gym that opened locally in January and did a six week programme of weight training and I've been doing sessions at least three times a week ever since. They also have an eating plan and provide nutrition support. I've lost twenty pounds so far this year and did an eight week lockdown programme with sessions via zoom, which was a welcome focus. Each session by zoom or in the gym takes 45 mins so it's not a huge time commitment. I really enjoy the sessions - no gym posers, great support and tuition and there's a real sense of achievement from completing them because it is hard. Best of all is being able to see physical results - I have never been so toned and actually have muscle definition.

C25k. Was a revelation to me. I remember doing week 5 day 3 and crying afterwards because the fact that fat, smoker, unfit me had become someone who could run for 20 minutes was so overwhelming. Every time I have let myself go off track since I remember that and know its ok and I can do it again :)

For home workouts/treadmill I recommend getting a pedestal fan to put in front of you, it helps a lot.

Oh and I have prolapse (rectocele). You have to brace a bit. I found running with a cup in helped me learn how to do that, odd as it may seem.

Couch to 5k. I used to get out of breath just walking upstairs slowly. It was a revelation. I lost 2 and a half stones and got a lot fitter.

initially just pick something you at least enjoy or can get into (I go into a daydream state with the right playlist and fly through it)

and keep doing it

if weightloss as well as fitness is your aim, then accurate (weigh everything) and honest calorie tracking using an app will really help

@pandarific - I am only 50% "your people" as I was very active in my teens and early 20's. But 2 DC & one accident later and my life looked very different... without exercise for a start! (... and no running ever again!)

Anyways, my way of getting fit was:
1.) booking a walking holiday about 18 months in advance (I always wanted to do this but money/ life got in the way... and now covid-19, so I just gained an other 12 months!)
2.) I started training by going for a long brisk walk every day with a backpack- started off with 1liter water bottle- slowly increasing distance and weight with end goal of 12kg weight and 1x 15 mile walk at weekend. Anything from 3- 6 miles evening walk 4x week. (I have dogs so they need walking anyway!)
3.) A few months in I joined the gym and added 10-20 minutes swimming about twice a week (increasing time to 30-40 minutes. )
4.) Once that felt comfortable, I booked a personal trainer, and told her what I want & can do but also no go areas like the treadmill!
This works really well for me... I do get edgy if I don't go for a good walk and I really miss the swimming!
The key for me was the end goal as well as increasing things at my own pace.
I even found a new sport that I love: rowing!
(After I failed miserably at several classes like pilates and aerobics.)

After leaving secondary school, I did literally no exercise for the next 17 years. The most I did was walking while on holiday every few years, and an occasional swim if the holiday involved a pool.

I ended up in hospital last summer and knew I needed to make changes to avoid killing myself.

I started with making sure I was walking over 6k steps a day.

Then I did a workout video from youtube a few times a week, for 30 mins.

Then I started C25k.

Now I'm doing C210k, with a workout on my rest days. It's still hard and I'm still fat, but I feel so much better. Those aches and pains I had before have gone, my energy levels are much better. My mental health is completely transformed too.

This thread is really inspirational. I have never managed to exercise consistently, and because I am tall and slim I sort of thought I had got away with it - wrong! I'm almost fifty and really struggling. I have started walking a lot (while listening to audiobooks) which is helping but having lots of joint pains which seem to get worse not better? I am also training for a long distance trek but am very worried about how I'll ever manage it. I would also like to do some weights but no idea where to start!

I agree with listening to something while you exercise. I found a couple of podcasts I like and am interested in, choose an episode that's 45 mins and either walk/cycle/row. The time goes much quicker as your brain is engaged in what you're listening to and when the podcast finishes I know I've done a decent bit of exercise. I found podcasts more useful than music for distraction purposes.

Couch to 5k

Can you do couch to 5k by jogging on the spot? I have young kids so cant go out and do it.

Brilliant thread!
How'd you get into weights?
I've completed C25K so run 3x weekly
Gave up on yoga as crap at it
Need to change body shape and improve strength
Time is tight though, work FT and have a (fat) horse to fit in too
(And I like biscuits and beer too much)

Oooof me again.
To anyone doing/thinking of doing C25K, I used the NHS one (was coached my Michael Johnson-yum yum!)
And I found the One You forum amazingly supportive
Also podcasts are better than music!
(So many things I never thought I'd type, but it was brill fun!)

You CAN do it 😉😉😉

Couch to 5k and yoga with adrianne for equestrians. It's 30 mins and it doesn't feel like you are doing that much.

Bear with me, I ride but so creaky and old so started doing this every other day. She says it's a game changer and it actually is.

I'm supple, my posture improvement makes me look half a stone lighter and I have an almost flat stomach for the first time in 10 years.

I also do her 10 min neck and shoulder yoga every day. It's a miracle worker good posture for the first time since I broke both my collar back bed when I was 11.

I look better in all my clothes because of the way I hold myself. I've not lost a kg.
Couch to 5k - like do many people i fort of refused to believe it could work. It does and I now run a slow 5k every other day.

Couch25k worked for me. I run so much now, unbelievably to me, I run 3/4 times a week, usually 5/6 miles, then a long run at the weekend.

I did 10 miles yesterday and I loved it. Never, ever ever thought I’d be that runner.

I listen to audiobooks when I run, so very distracting. Or a podcast, basically anything you need to pay attention to.

Please try it! One of the best things I ever did. I was motivated because I went to run for a bus and it was up a steep hill, my legs wouldn’t do it!

This has inspired me - I have the nhs couch to 5k and was using sarah millican but maybe michael johnson would be better
My last run was nearly a month ago though -
I love yoga with adrienne and I also was into Jillian michaels before
three years ago I was fit fit fit but I have had a shitty couple of years and turned to emotional eating and the weight has piled on.

I realised I liked having a hobby and the gym was flexible with my lifestyle (shift worker)

It took me to age 30 to properly get going with the gym, then I fell pregnant and still exercised but not as much as I should of.

Once I had DS I got six free pilates classes through the NHS. This began my current journey back to fitness. I build muscle and tonned up pretty fast I kept up the pilates for around six months by which time I was ready for something a bit tougher. I joined a local bootcamp and that got me fittest I've ever been.

Try different things see what you like. Little steps make big changes

Another one who couldn't imagine ever making it to be end of couch to 5k, obese etc... finished it 3 weeks ago, can now run!

Had a blister this week, meant I couldn't run for a few days. The difference in my mood was nuts. I am a significantly calmer, happier, less anxious person when I exercise.

Would NEVER had predicted it.

Wow - am definitely a dasiy chain sort this thread is very motivational.
I have just started trying to get my daily steps up. I had a massive pulmonary embolism in November and am still recovering. I have been shielding as well so have been pacing up & down my garden, getting up to about 2,500 step. As of last week have now been going out for proper walks but getting tired around 6,000 steps (plus hills make my HR 160+)
I seriously need to improve (regain) my fitness - not sure I am quite up to running just yet. Any tips gratefully received!

Couch to 5k is fab. I started it 4 years ago. Couldn't complete the first session on the first day. But I completed it. And I cracked on. Now I can run a marathon. My thighs do not match my mummy tummy! I took me a while to run 5k in 30 minutes tho. It should be called Couch to 30 minutes running.

I have to get my head into gear and shift the COVID-19 pounds I've put on.

Especially as I left my hair to dry naturally yesterday, thinking I should embrace the curls...DD told me I looked like Maui! (I feel like Maui and wish I looked like Moana)

Zombies, Run. I did 13.4km today, non-stop. Six months ago I couldn't do a press up, and got out of breath going up the stairs.

Another one with hated memories of school PE - always last to be picked for teams, dreadful coordination. Last year started aquacise once or twice a week. Youngest in pool by about 20 years but a really nice bunch. Then found a personal trainer twice a week lots of HIIT and weights. LOVE IT see muscles grow and body fat reduce and NO running. Zoom not the same but keeping it ticking over until I can get back into studio amazing what you can do with justjettlebells and a step

should have mentioned I have a mild (grade 1) prolapse after DS so I suppose I need low impact.

You need proper advice tailored to your condition. Ask for a physio referral. I've been told not to do any running and that lifting weights can make it worse.