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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To try the Michael Mosley 'Truth about Exercise' plan

54 replies

CountryMummy1 · 21/01/2015 14:14

I have failed miserably at my New Years resolution to get fit. I am very overweight but have managed to start going to Slimming World and have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. The exercise however is not going well. I am just so knackered at night after looking after 2 little ones all day and then cooking the tea, I end up in bed by 9pm. So far this year I have done 10 minutes on the exercise bike once! Not good! I do do about 7000 steps a day looking after the little ones so I am not a complete sloth.

I have just watched The Truth About Exercise and the recommendation that we do 2 bursts of 20 seconds vigorous exercise 3 times a week... And that it has the same benefit as doing 2 to 3 hours a week. The research behind it seems fairly sound.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this or is it too good to be true?!

OP posts:

UriGeller · 21/01/2015 14:31

I have done HIIT (high intensity interval training) in the past and it did work.

Mine went like this: I used an exercise bike and did 45 seconds REALLY hard pedalling and 1 minute resting, repeating five times.

It has to be REALLY REALLY hard pedalling for the full 45 seconds, its harder than I thought but its over and done in 10 minutes.

Its supposed to raise your metabolism too and keep it raised for the next 24-48 hours.

I need to haul the exercise bike back in from the shed i think!

kewtogetin · 21/01/2015 14:36

How have you 'failed miserably'? We are only 21 days into a new year! You're looking for an easy option, minimum effort with maximum results but it simply doesn't exist. You have to spend energy to make energy, your reasons for not exercising are excuses, and pretty lame ones at that. If thus means something to you, if you really want to get fit and healthy and load weight then you're going to have to suck it up and move yourself. I know I sound harsh but it's only because I used to be like you, I have 2 small children too and sometimes when my husband gets home going to the gym is the last thing I feel like doing, but I do it and when I'm finished in always so happy that I went. The first few times will be tough but worth it. I'm full of energy now and actually 'need' to go, exercise has made such a difference to me. Don't look for an easy way out, aren't you worth a bit more time and effort than that?

CrystalHaze · 21/01/2015 14:37

This is meant in the gentlest possible way, but I think you need to give done thought to changing your mindset about this. You say you've 'failed miserably' at your resolution to get fit, but we're only 3 weeks into the new year.

Try to think if this as a long-term lifestyle adjustment, rather than a success/fail/instant fix type of thing.

You've lost 7 pounds already - you're no failure. Be gentle and speak kindly to yourself :)

RiojaHaze · 21/01/2015 14:38

You may find as well that the more exercise you do, the less tired you are in the evenings.

CrystalHaze · 21/01/2015 14:38

some thought, not 'done' thought

CrystalHaze · 21/01/2015 14:40

Also, if you're very overweight that sudden bursts of very high intensity cardio are probably not a great idea (I'd worry about too much strain on your heart).

Start gently, build the intensity as you get fitter.

ghostyslovesheep · 21/01/2015 14:44

You can exercise with small children - go for a brisk walk - run round the park etc

You haven't failed you haven't started yet!

Try and do 30 mins every other night before you have a bath/ shower - I used to do cardio and weights while they played in the bath

LurkingHusband · 21/01/2015 14:48

Another year, another Michael Mosely diet ...

FindoGask · 21/01/2015 15:12

I think it sounds like bolleaux for a number of reasons, but mainly I can't see how sessions that short, even at high intensity, would give the same benefits as longer periods of more regular exercise, so long as the more regular exercise is strenuous enough! Mostly I exercise on my own but when I go to classes (body pump or body combat mainly) most people in there don't seem to be pushing themselves very much at all. I really think you have to exert yourself to levels which might at first feel at least a bit unpleasant to get benefits from exercise.

Speaking of benefits, those probably won't include weight loss, at least at first. A lot of people will even tell you that exercise on its own does nothing for weight loss. I don't agree - exercise especially in the morning definitely speeds up your metabolism. But you still should be careful not to overeat.

I do agree though that if you want to start exercising it would be best to start relatively gently and then build up. But regularity is the key - I would recommend every other day to start with.

And you have definitely not not failed miserably! Be kind to yourself. It is only January 21 and you are still trying to find what will work for you. I see so many people start over-ambitious exercise regimes and then get disheartened and stop entirely. The key thing is to build to a level that feels sustainable - and even enjoyable! - so that you're not setting yourself up to fail.

FindoGask · 21/01/2015 15:14

ps, a lot of people recoil in horror at this, but I find morning exercise fits best for me, as I work full time and have children too, and am also jiggered by 9pm. If you have a partner who can field any early demands from the rugrats, then you can have done your exercise for the day before they're even up and dressed.

TantanNoodle · 21/01/2015 16:54

That type of exercise won't have any impact on weight loss though, if that is what you want to get out of it. I think by same benefits he means in terms of cardio fitness.

I agree with Findo if you are knackered early, then maybe the evening isn't the best time for you. Finding when works for you is really key if you want to sustain what you do, along with enjoying it. Also, exercise will give you more energy so if you get into a routine you probably won't feel so tired, although I know it's counter intuitive

Froggio · 21/01/2015 17:10

you have lost 7lbs in 2 weeks so you're doing something right with your nutrition and eating. You therefore are not a failure.
Eating better should start to have an affect on how you feel - I lost weight last year through giving up sugar. My appetite settled down and my energy levels increased.
you can lose weight without exercise. I lost weight without exercise BUT I actually list inches and toned up once I added exercise in and the changes were noticeable. My back toned up, I lost inches on my legs, tummy and arms. I only did 2-3 lots of high intensity 20 minute bursts a week but got good results from it. The exercises were classic 'planks', press ups, intense bursts of 20secs of star jumps or high knee kicks. Just getting out of breath for 20 minutes. Start slowly though. Look up 10 minute interval plans on you tube and start doing one or 2 per week.
worth reiterating, you are not a failure.

SquinkiesRule · 21/01/2015 17:32

I just can't exercise at night. It wakes me up and I can't sleep. I have to do cardio in the mornings, then take a shower and eat. If I can get to do 40 minutes each morning or even three mornings a week I feel so much better.
My friends Dh used to get up early while everyone else in the family slept to do his cardio alone. Then he'd shower and wake the family. Worked for him for years while his kids were in school.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/01/2015 17:44

There seems to be growing evidence that HIIT is better than long moderate intensity exercise (including for weight loss, though that may be for doing a bit more than 2x20 secs 3 times a week). What consititutes 'high intensity' will vary according to the individual. If you're unfit then 20 seconds of say jumping jacks might be enough; if you're fitter then eg burpees.

I agree with those saying it can be a good idea to exercise early rather than late.

Why not give it a go? Try to find some exercises (easy with google) which are high intensity for you that don't require much by way of preparation, and do them first thing.

araiba · 21/01/2015 18:13

sounds bollox to me

if you have been losing weight, how are you a failure? keep going and you will find exercise actually gets easier and you will be less tired also

Nomama · 21/01/2015 18:22

Like the intermittent fasting diet this does sound wrong, but there is a lot of very clear science about it - and it is becoming clear that this, done properly, could work well for the currently sedentary person.

More research is being done and the effects of very short HITT workouts are startling. I'm currently researching this for myself (and a paper I am hoping to write for my PhD proposal) and have been impressed with the standard of research and the duplicability of the studies.

It is a truth that exercise doesn't make you lose weight, but it does have other effects that make weight loss more likely, physical, physiological and psychological effects that are measurable and reliable.

GoddessWhoWalksEarthAsWoman · 21/01/2015 18:31

Well done on losing 7lb. As to Michael Mosley talking bollocks - I think not araiba! He is god in my world for it is due to his 5 2 fast diet that I truly am a goddess . His stuff works if you try it and OP you have not failed.

FindoGask · 21/01/2015 18:37

Nomama, I'd be really interested to see some of this research if you could link me up. I had a think about trawling google scholar earlier when I was writing my post to see what the size of studies were, what sorts of exercise were compared and what outcomes were measured - was it VO2 max or weight loss or what. But basically I got distracted!

ginmakesitallok · 21/01/2015 18:46

My dp did the research that Michael Moseley's horizon programme and book are based on. They are now doing research into older people and hit, and are setting really good results. The original research wasn't about weight loss, bit looked at vo2, blood pressure and cholesterol. He did a book too, if you want a link pm me.

Abra1d · 21/01/2015 18:49

Go on to Youtube and search for Fitness Blender HIgh Intensity workouts. Some of them are just 15 minutes or so long.

FindoGask · 21/01/2015 18:50

cool! I'll do that.

Incidentally I'm not doubting that HIIT is effective - most of my workouts are based around HIIT type training. I am doubting that 2 x 20 seconds, 3 times a week is effective. I can't get my head round that at all.

ginmakesitallok · 21/01/2015 18:51

The original paper is in British journal of endocrinology, easy to find, just have s look for the most accessed article [proud emoticon]

ginmakesitallok · 21/01/2015 18:54

Whoops meant BMC of endocrine disorders (I think)

CurlyRedHairNow · 21/01/2015 18:57

I love fitness blender

Search for Hiit the ground running. That is a good work out. I do substitute some of the tabata moves for a few classic jillian moves which i think suit what I need more.

Hiit like a girl is only 20 ish minutes long.

i rate the science but I couldn't hack the 5:2 reespek to anybody that can.

CarbeDiem · 21/01/2015 18:58

Another saying it's probably bollocks - it's too short.
Also agree HIIT is great for helping you drop lbs.
When I don't have the time or inclination to follow a video - I'll go in the kitchen, stick on my head phones with my stop watch in my hand (mobile phone) and do 20 mins of crazy. I do fast running on the spot and star jumps mostly but pretend skipping works well too :)
Start slow - 20-30 seconds as fast as you can then rest for a minute or even 90 seconds in between if you need - do as many times as you comfortably can then start slowly to build up.
It makes me feel better to know I've done something and it's done in no time at all.

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