Help me find an exercise I will stick to?

[Couchtattie]

Just weighed myself and I’m 5ft and 10 stone now. I’d like to lose a stone. I’ve tried slimming world and just end up missing ‘healthy’ fats like nuts, avocados, peanut butter.

Outwith the weight loss, I actually just need to get my body moving for my general health. I WFH and barely got 1k steps today. My life is so sedentary. I look at photos pre pandemic and I was 2 stone lighter and much stronger and fitter looking. I felt great too.

It’s difficult because back then, I worked in a supermarket getting 20k steps a day so I didn’t have to make time for exercise.

I don’t like anything high impact, would rather avoid classes. Is walking my only hope?

I think classes which you have to pay for (and therefore are incentivised to attend) are the only way, at least until you get into good habits. I go to pilates and yoga classes, and try to get a walk in on the days I don't attend. Do you like swimming? Aquarobics? That's good all-round exercise.

You’re most likely to stick to something you enjoy. I’d start by getting your daily steps up……start by averaging 10k a day over the week, then a minimum of 10k every day, then add some strength training and something for fun.

Is there a way you can fit walking into your daily routine for e.g. walk the school run instead of driving. I also like to do certain things with certain activities like while the kettle boils I always do star jumps. Whenever I go up the stairs I do 50 step ups on the bottom step. Whenever I'm cleaning the house I always play music and turn it into my own dance show where I'm the star 💃 🤣🤣

Thanks, I tried yoga years ago and really enjoyed it. I didn’t feel very breathless at it though and wondered how effective it was?

I was 9 and a half stone before Christmas. My husband and I used to go long walks and I always at least got my steps in. Not blaming him but he’s started training for an Ironman so he’s all this extra exercise to do so isn’t walking as much and he is eating nonstop. Therefore I am getting less exercise and there’s so much food in the house 🫢

If I’m walking, I think I need a group as doing it alone bores me and it’s still dark where I live from 4pm. Have you had any luck with walking groups?

@Differentstarts I like this idea! I could put my earphones in and just walk around the house to get steps too, better than nothing!

When I struggle to get out walking I go to "Get fit with Rick" on YouTube and do an walking workout. I used to do them in the kitchen during long Teams calls in lockdown!

https://youtube.com/@rickbhullarfitness?si=5wj1N5W1boSDjx0e

Dark at 4pm?? Do you live in the arctic circle??

Ah @SingingSands that would be ideal. I vaguely remember losing a fair bit of weight and getting stronger from doing a 30min YouTube workout every day. I have just become so lazy and need to give myself a shake I think.

I had to find something I liked and found indoor climbing/bouldering. There are climbing walls all over the UK so it's worth trying it. It's an all body workout and is a fun and friendly environment.

@MiddleAgedDread near enough! I just checked Google, it’s 5pm it’s dark sorry, but pretty spooky by 4 already. I used to walk my dog before he passed in the dark and was fine. Bit freaked walking alone.

@NoEffingWay that actually sounds really fun. Does it cost much to buy all the gear?

I think a variety of exercise is the best bet. That way you get less bored and if its wet so you cant get outdoors you can do indoor stuff instead.

I would walk as much as you can. Either join a walking group, use a walk as a method of catching up with a friend, listen to podcasts or have a chat to someone on the phone.

Yoga - lots of options on youtube. Try Yoga with Adriene, Yoga with Kassandra, Charlie Follows. They all have classes of different lengths.

I'd also try weight training. Get some dumb bells and look for youtube routines to follow.

Make it a practice to get up every hour from your desk and do something for one minute. Jumping jacks, push ups, burpees. Its only 1 minute.

Walking. Simple as that. But not a stroll, walk with purpose and get your heart rate up. Pump your arms.

All walls have rental shoes, and you just wear normal workout clothing.

If you get into it a pair of shoes costs circa £100, and a membership to a wall costs about £45 a month.

Probably about £12 a time if you don't have a membership but I go about 4 times a week for £45 a month so it's much less expensive that way! A chalk bag and some chalk to go inside it is less than £20 but you won't need that to try it!

The other thing is that it's not reliant on the weather, though most places don't have air-con so it gets warm in the summer.

It's the most inclusive, non competitive, mentally challenging and as you get better, more physically demanding sport but most fun thing I have ever done, 4 years in and I still love it. I was a very committed sofa surfer for years until I got into climbing!