Help me get psychically fit for the slopes, going skiing in March 😩

[Littlepiggyinablanket]

DH has surprised me with a ski trip to France in March. We are both complete beginners. I am not in anyway fit, slim but can't jog for over a minute. I don't work out or exercise. I have no time for the gym between working full time & running around after dc (who are also coming skiing). I'm completely dreading it. I know I'm not fit enough, I can't even squat for 20 seconds!

Psychically or physically?!

Has he booked lessons?

Could you go to an indoor or dry ski slope and try it out?

Seems a bit of a risky gift! I second pps suggesting of going to a dry ski slope

We just got back and I haven’t done more than walk the dog for the past couple months. It was fine. Slight achy thighs on the blue runs, not problem in the greens. You’ll be ok. You could just do some brisk walking, up and down stairs, keep going with squats and maybe some ab work if you really want to. An ad popped up on my FB feed with a skier work out that looked good. I’ll come back if I see it again and let you know the name

Look up “leg blasters” on YouTube.
jump squats, lunges, things like that are good. You don’t need to do a lot (and I would recommend starting off with very few) just try and do a few minutes a day.

exercises like that, that are practising absorbing downward impact, will be much more helpful to you than “pushing” exercise like static squats or cycling etc.

'psychically' fit for the ski slopes......... are you intending to hold seances on the black runs? See dead people from the ski-lift? Call out messages from dead spirits in the lift queues?

Do some balancing and coordination exercises. Otherwise you are probably fitter than you think looking after kids all day.

(Top tip... weigh yourself and the kids before you go, you will be asked in the ski hire shop)

It's obvious what OP meant don't be that person

I'm going in January and have been doing couch to 5k - currently on week 8. I needed to do something to improve my stamina as when I went last year I could only ski for half the day before tiring out. Hopefully I'll be able to do full days this year.

What a fun surprise!

Two ways to approach fitness.

1. Aim to get fitter before the holiday. If fitting in exercise is tough with dc, then I'd look at keeping it quick. Look at the '7 minute workout' a few times a week, or do 3 minutes sprinting on the spot (for cardio/heart), no need to do hours of cardio to see the benefits, and then a variety of forward/sideways lunges/squats, static and jumping (for legs). Anything is better than nothing.
2. Carry on as you are and see your fitness improve on holiday. You'll use muscles you didn't know you had and you'll be altitude training, so while by day 3 you'll be tired and muscles very tight, by the time you get back you'll feel great! Just go at your own pace on the holiday, stop when you're feeling tired and take an afternoon off if needed.

Just book ski school for everyone you’ll be absolutely fine and sleep better than you have in years ⛷️

Skiing doesn’t really require great fitness IME (unless you’re doing cross country, off piste or black mogul runs). Thigh muscles take a bit of a pasting, so it’s worth doing some exercises for those just so you don’t ache too badly. Some core strength helps with technique. But that’s all.

I’ve been skiing for years with crap cardio fitness - couldn’t run for a bus but could ski all day.

Definitely get lessons for everyone!

I remember this feeling well in my first ski trip! I was not a small woman. I highly recommend ski lessons before you go. General cardio fitness helps as the equipment is heavy and difficult to move in. Things like back against the wall and squat down and hold is a good practice.

Other than that buy a decent pair of ski socks, some blister plasters and enjoy it. I love skiing now but the first time was the hardest.

Yes he has booked us all into ski school, the dc are in one for u12s & DH & I in an adults group. No dry slope near us unfortunately!

Both😩😂

Hopefully not me😜

Use what you have around you. Park at the farthest corner at the supermarket. Go up and downstairs in your house many times a day. Carry the children or their kit and walk faster everywhere. Get sweaty once a day every day.

Hi @Littlepiggyinablanket try '10 minute calorie burner' videos on You Tube. I'm trying to tone up / lose weight as i just had a baby x

OP I would focus on lower body strength rather than cardio - so buy a kettle bell and try to just do 10 mins/day by searching lower body/glute exercises on youtube. And stretch to avoid injury before you go

Even if you are doing all day lessons you will only be out a max of a few hours before then again after lunch - skiing in group lessons is not as intensive as if you are out at 8am on the slopes for the whole day so i wouldn't worry quite so much re stamina, you don't cover as much ground when you are waiting for other members in your group, and prob need to collect kids at 3pm anyway?

You are overthinking it. Walking is good exercise to build up legs and glutes. Pilates or yoga is good for balance and flexibility. Some sports centres do pre ski classes, basically squats and stretches.

I am the least fit person on the planet yet manage to ski fine every year. If you want to feel as if you are doing something then I would check out some pre-ski fitness apps but be aware that they are ridiculously hard for purists!
You could try sitting against the wall (thighs horizontal) for increasing amounts of time. Those train up similar muscles to the ones you need for a drag lift.
But most important of all, once you come in after a day out on the slopes, is to stretch/cool down by doing all the kinds of things you'd do at the end of an aerobic session. That means you have half a chance at being able to move the next morning,,

Brilliant that this absolute clown spamming all the old 'psychic' threads didn't realise this was a spelling error and is actually a thread about getting fit for a skiing holiday! What a muppet 😂😂

😁

I've reported a few threads and told the nightwatch

There's a pilates exercise called a clam shell that builds your glutes. Stronger glutes help to keep your legs in line and reduce knee injuries. Actually twenty minutes of pilates a day and you'll be fine!

Walking a lot and at a fair pace.
Climbing stairs whenever possible.

Plus a couple of short but effective YouTube workouts:

Lucy Wyndham Read:Thighs & Glutes
Rebecca Louise: Best Abs
Bowflex 3-minute plank
Caroline Girvan: Braced Abs & Core

But do not worry - you don't have to be super fit to ski.