To have gone over to the fitness threads and be now totally demotivated

[notaplasticgnome]

Like a lot of the OPs over there I just want to lose a few pounds, tone up a bit etc.

But so many of the threads start off with good practical advice about walking or exercises, cutting down on processed foods etc. but half way through have been taken over by the huge enthusiasts who come on clapping their hands and going 'no no. A few walks a week or sissy swimming won't cut it. You should be weight training for an hour every morning, followed by a good hour's run and at least four sessions in the gym every week. And of course no carbs after 3pm and sugar on your birthday only....'

AIBU to think some enthusiasts can actually put the less enthusiastic off making small, healthy and ultimately beneficial changes to their lifestyle?

That is great advice Feminine.

Fwiw op, I bet the majority are being -over enthusiastic but without meaning to put you off. Just work at your own pace and you'll get there!

YANBU.

Not been on the fitness boards myself but have been trying to do 10,000 steps a day and I have noticed a difference to my fitness already.

However 10,000 steps isn't all that much really and when people say (kindly meant) "ooh, you'll be doing a 5k run soon" I also feel disheartened because I have ages to go before I could be fit enough to do that. Yet I do feel pleased with what I have managed to do so far and wish I could congratulate myself without feeling that there's a lot more that other people do.

If thats the way it is then YANBU.

I say this as a total enthusiast. I train 5/6 days a week and work in the fitness industry. I lift weights, even my cardio is based around weights and I kick box.

However, its not for everyone. So i wouldn't bang on about what I think the best way is. If someone was asking about toning up or reducing body fat, then I may chip in with my experience. But certainly don't think its for everyone. Free weights etc are very daunting for beginners to and I agree some people can put you off even trying.

There are many ways to lose weight. I just find what I do more fun and can eat loads and still lose fat. Doesn't mean its right for everyone. It wasn't right for me 4 years ago. Now it is.

less fatty food

Not necessarily. At all. Keep (or increase) the fat and cut the carbs instead.

Also - aside from food and exercise, don't forget to drink plenty of water.

You need to sort out in your own mind what you want and what the other posters want.

Some posters have been overweight for some time by a few stone and quite rightly want to lose it and if diet/exercise helps them then good for them!

I'm like you - not a bad weight a few pounds over but I certainly don't need to lose a few stones.

I also have no desire to run marathons, do Iron Man/Woman competitions and I don't like the gym anyway!

However if you really want to e.g. tone arms, sculpt your body more then yes, the more extreme threads may be for you.

Feminine those are some good tips which I will nick!

super.

You put it really well though Feminine - normally I'm all like 'oh F it have loads of pasta/rice etc…'

oh and I luffs microwaveable kale!

am going to buy some cauliflower tomorrow etc and roast and skip the cheese sauce

Sweetheart cabbages are really good too.
Roasted with the outer leaves upwards.Then ,turn at the end to brown a bit...
49p. - ish

A couple of years ago I'd put on half a stone. I'm not overweight at all, but back then that half stone really made me feel crap and it didn't suit me. So I did a simple target and brisk walked 1 mile per day on my lunch break at work. I cut out sweet treats. I stopped eating before I felt full giving my body a chance to digest what I'd eaten. I lost that half stone in about 5 weeks. I started doing a Davina DVD too (love her DVDs!). They really work, short and sweet interval training ...kills but works!

I measured my tummy / hips / thighs before I started and in 3 weeks I'd lost inches - it felt so good. The weight fell off after that.

Eat less. Move more. I have kept that weight off ever since by walking fast every day with the kids on nursery run etc but I've recently put on a bit of weight around my tummy again as haven't been walking as much and have used the car more...doesn't really show on the scales but I know I've been eating loads of crap lately ...so I've started to address that now and eat fruit etc instead of biscuits (easier said than done with two toddlers winding me up all day!).

I tend to think the only way to stick at anything is to be realistic about it as once the pressure is on I just rebel against it

Which davina ? I need the latest one my collection is back when she'd just had Chester who's probably at high school now

Oh and anyone who does weights but still believes no carbs after 3pm, really shouldn't be giving out advice!

Its pointless advice. I had most of my carbs after 7pm yesterday, included haribo and kit kat, it wasn't my birthday .

I promise all enthusiasts are like the people you described OP. Most of us are level headed.

That's why I like Jillian Michaels. She is motivational without over egging it.

I have depression. I get very disheartened when I struggle through a banana and an apple just to have someone say 'but those have tons of sugar in them.'

Don't feel demotivated OP! I have a lot of weight to lose (stones rather than pounds) but over the last year I've I've started exercising properly for the first time in my life. And in those early days it was mainly 'pointeless walks and sissy swims'. Even now that I work hard in the gym, do weights, boxing and all the other stuff that used to terrify me, I still do those little things during the week.

I have a long way left to go on the weight loss side of things, but I honestly feel strong, fit and so much more confident in my body because, even though I'm still fat, I'm proud of what my body can do. And it was adding those little bits to my weekly routine that has had such a positive impact.

Everyone starts somewhere, so do whatever is going to make you feel like you've done something. When you're comfortable you can push yourself a bit more. It's such a great feeling when suddenly you can do 5 more lengths in the pool than you could the week before, or shave a minute off your walking time.

If I can do it, you certainly can. Tomorrow's a new day, pick yourself up and start again. Good luck!

Please don't be demotivated - everyone on those boards started somewhere. When I see an Uber runner out and about - I have a smug thought that they are unlikely to also have time to run up a fancy dress costume in less than an hour, make a birthday cake in the shape of a random TV character, recite the Gruffalo by heart, pick up lego with their toes as they are folding the washing & listening to the latest round of teen girl fall outs, cook a 3 course dinner for friends that were just passing & popped in but don't feel the need to leave. Not to mention put the bins out on the right night, make sure that there food on plates every night, clean clothes in the morning, and getting up for work in the morning...

I think it is so important to start off small. I have tried before to commit to a massive change by starting a full on fitness program. It has never worked out for me.

This time round I focused on cleaning up my diet (using mfp to track calories) and started walking more. walking more has turned into walking every day and running sometimes. I have generally become much more active, Choosing to go hiking, explore nature reserves, find a fantastic play area for dd and climb all over it with her, go for a run with the dog, go swimming etc etc instead of more sedentary activities. This change has happened over 3 months and I have lost 24lbs And toned up considerably. My legs and arms are much more defined and I have dropped from A size 18 to a 12.

Everyone is differen, but this is what has worked for me. no massive weight training programme, just eating right and becoming much more active in general.

Climbing stairs is a great one, and something that is included in every weightloss programme ever on tv. Try using the stairs instead of lifts and escalators. If you have stairs at home then climb them a few extra times each day. Doing 2 steps at a time is a great little exercise, you can really feel the muscles in your legs working.
I really like this site www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Loseweight/Pages/Loseweighthome.aspx
it has some good common sense advice for people who want to lose weight and improve their health without having to be fanatical about it.

I find pressure disencouraging too. It really makes me walk the opposite direction.

I have become much fitter by taking it slow. 3 years ago I started swimming 1 x week or 1 x fortnight (whatever I could physically manage) and just did it when possible. In 3 months I'd gone down a belt notch and felt better, even though at the start I could only do 8 lengths of the (small) pool. If I didn't feel I could go swimming, I didn't. Then I found the 5:2 diet which fitted perfectly as I could eat what I wanted 5 days a week.

Over time I got stronger and now go much more, but it really did take time. There are still good weeks and bad but starting small was the key for me and trying not to feel pressured (by myself now!) is still important.

single most useful tips: snack as little as possible and make your meals 50% veggies (except potatoes)

Thanks everyone. This thread is really encouraging.

I agree with Meerka that pressure is really off putting - I have to take things at my own pace with exercise, and any well intended advice is really anathema to me.

I started swimming before work once a week a few months back. When I felt more confident with exercise I started the NHS Couch25k app and I'm now on Week 5. I'm really proud of myself and, for the first time in my life, am looking forward to exercising and have naturally increased to do something most days of the week.

Crucially, if anyone had tried to make me start Couch25k earlier, or pushed me to run 5k straight away I'd now be glued to the sofa instead! I think it's really important to feel in control of your exercise rather than feeling like you have to do it - otherwise it's like being back at school being forced to run laps!

This thread is great. I'm currently battling with post hysterectomy/HRT weight gain and want realistic sustainable solutions that I won't abandon after a couple of weeks.