To ask if I can get fitter like this

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m in a state. I’m very fat, very unfit and really need to make some changes.

I’ve got a young family and I’m determined that this year is when I make some permanent and significant changes to my health.

The only exercise I enjoy is dancing and aerobic type stuff. I’ve found some YouTube videos of this type of activity but I’m so out of shape I reckon I’d only realistically manage 10 mins to start.

Is this enough to start with? Will this make a difference and can I build on it.

I feel so ashamed that it’s got this bad but I want to turn myself around.

Diet-wise I am sorted - I’ve had success on a plan which I’ll go back to as I know that’s most effective for me.

It’s the fitness I really want to change. Am I being totally naïve to think staring with 10 mins will be enough to start seeing a difference?

Any advice from people who have lost serious amounts of weight would be gratefully received.

What a good idea. I used to be able to dance all night in clubs (and then walked home, as skint) and was as fit as a butchers dog!

Absolutely NOT BU!
10 minutes is a great start. It's 10 more minutes than before...
Ideally try to extend when you can.
I've been reading some interesting articles about starting exercise, and how you actually feel MUCH WORSE in the first few minutes. The body panics, knowing it is not sustainable long term, and you feel terrible but if you can get through that bit it gets better!
(It;s do do with breathing, oxygen levels etc)
Good luck with it. I love your support group idea as well. I find that logging exercise motivates me.

Absolutely agree that 10 mins a day is a fantastic start OP.
Have you considered counting your steps? I got a cheap pedometer and I swear it's made a massive difference!
Good luck!

Psychomath - definitely not expecting the exercise to facilitate weight loss at this stage! More about improving fitness.

Weight loss will be via a better diet.

I’ve never been ‘slim’ but back in my twenties, I used to be quite fit and that was down to dance and aerobic classes which I could easily keep up with.

My diet was always the barrier to being a healthy weight.

That sounds great - I'm sure you're going to succeed on this. Could you do more than one ten minute session per day?

Yes 10 minutes will help. And soon it'll be 11, 12...and so on.

Walking is a good way to get moving / fitter too.

Good luck op. There is something quite cheering about the thought of you really enjoying a good boogie in your lounge to get fit. It sounds like s great plan. Have fun!

All Joe wicks stuff is based on short sharp sessions. You just need to stick with it, make it part of your daily routine. Once you’re getting fitter think about setting yourself a goal like a 5k run or a swimathon or a sponsored walk or whatever you fancy. Just make it something that you need to train for but something you want to achieve. Good luck and enjoy (you will eventually I promise!)

Look at the Tracy Anderson method--she has lots on youtube and much is dancing related. Good stuff.

Just a little update - I did my first session just after school run. I realised that this is the best time as the baby is calm after the walk and I’m fairly awake and the walk acts as a warm up.

I managed 3 videos of 4 mins each but it was tough. I might try doing 2 tomorrow and 3 the day after working up to 3 a day.

Either way I’m proud of myself and figure the first step is the important one. I’m really going to try to keep going.

I’m very sweaty and quite breathless so I think I’m working at a decent level rather than just prancing around like a tit.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Of course - any exercise is better than none! And doing something you find fun, which isn't going to completely knacker you is 100% the right way to go about it!

Well done for wanting to improve yourself, it can be hard t admit, but even once you've had one day of exercise and healthy eating you're going to feel so much more confident in yourself.

Well done on getting started. One thing that's useful to remember is that muscle will burn calories just by being there, you build the muscle and it will burn calories for you. Have a look at workouts that include resistance or strength in the title.

I've put some beginner videos up here - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/3189196-No-ripping-tearing-or-shreding-its-Jessica-Smith?msgid=77007717 have a look and see if there are any you can do.

Just read your update!

Well done! I might have a look at the videos too!

Well done OP. I will try to join you on the weight loss journey; DH and I have both changed our diets and I am back to pre baby weight (mostly down to not been able to keep food down all through the pregnancy) but still quite overweight so I have started the C25K program but these dancing videos might be easier to do while baby naps as I cant really being baby running with me!!

Hi OP, I'm a bit late to this but wanted to say well done! Building up cardio fitness is quicker than you think. Its like the principle behind couch to 5k (not suggesting you start there) but you start with short bursts of running and build on it week by week and in 9 weeks you are running 30min continually. I really believe if you stick with the plan you have (and make sure you put in rest days as they are important too!) you will be shocked at how quickly you improve!

Also remember if weight loss is you goal, its roughly 70% diet 30% exercise required, so it sounds like you are doing all the right things!! Good luck!

Hello all! Well, I started my exercise but I’m in such s shambolic stage my knees couldn’t take the dancing. I feel so ashamed and embarrassed,

I actually started my diet though and am 6lb down now so I’m going to diet, walk fir exercise and once a bit if weight is off I’ll go back to the dancing.

I really need to do this.

My BP and cholesterol are terrible and I’m so scared the doctor will need to medicate me which I’m working to avoid.

Thanks for your support everyone.

Merry I just had a look at the Fitness Marshall videos. They look like a massive amount of fun (have bookmarked and will have a play with them when I shake my cold off, so thank you ), but they seem a bit tough on knees. There's lots of twisting in them and twisting when you're not fully stable is not a good thing.

I think you've done really well to get so many of the videos done. I don't think you've done anything wrong, you're not a shambolic mess, it's just not the right thing for you right now.

There are other exercises that can help you get back to dancing. Just remember how brilliant you are to be doing something about this .

Can you swim merry? If you have problems with your joints and residual SPD it might be an easier way to get exercise. Anything high impact if you're still recovering from SPD and associated joint problems might be difficult.

Have you had a post-natal physio assessment to check your pelvis has re-aligned properly?

I'm 15 months post partum having been on crutches from 20 weeks with SPD. I still get problems when I menstruate or ovulate

Anything you can do to improve your core will help with SPD recovery and overall will help with toning and posture - so Pilates, Yoga, Swimming, plank.

I went to a wellbeing workshop a while a go with work and the lifestyle coach suggested that you break the year into eight 6-wk blocks and make one new change in each block (whilst maintainging the others) rather than trying to do too much at once so you might do something like:

Block 1 - Hydration challenge - gradually increase water intake to 2.5 litres. Replace caffeinated or fizzy drinks with water

Block 2 - Take a walk everyday - build up the time/speed gradually

Block 3 - Swap unhealthy snacks for healthy snacks

Block 4 - Add a weekly exercise class (you could try 6 different things and see what you enjoy) or build up to four HIIT sessions a week

Etc

You could add in cooking from scratch, reducing carbs, reducing alcohol, doing more gardening, taking up mindfulness. It doesn't all need to be weight related to help you be fitter mentally and physically.

Kiki - you’re right - it kills the knees but I have distinct recollection of being able to manage stuff like that 3 stone ago so hopefully in a few months I’ll be able to try again. Thanks for your kind words.

Carrot - that’s all really helpful! Thank you. I am waiting for a post-natal Physio referral to com through. I can swim but I think I might find it hard to fit in with my 5 year old and the baby. Funnily enough my DH and I were talking about it as a possibility last night. It would be tricky but I could try and see how feasible it is as I do like swimming and the thought of being totally alone for a bit each week is very atttactive!!

10 mins is a great starting point and as you get fitter you could add another 10min session in. You'll be well on your way to the 30mins of activity a day that recommended. Go for it!

Merry Don't worry too much about what you were able to do previously, try and concentrate on now and what you can do today. Get stronger and you'll be able to do more dancing. And look after your knees, they'll thank you for it

You'd be better off running outside for 10 minutes and then building up from there, that would do more for your fitness.

I am doing the 30 day shred, I would highly recommend it. I am four stone overweight and totally unfit before I started.
They are 20 minute workouts you do one a day. I have bad knees and they hurt for the first two but OK now. Every 10 days you move to a slightly harder workout.
Good luck op

I literally cannot run - I’d not make a minute let alone 10.

I’ll look at 30 day shred but 4 stone overweight is about a year away for me I reckon so I’m carrying considerably more weight than you unfortunately

There's a beginner 30 day shred which I've found really good--I was so unfit when I started it and although it's been a challenge, I now enjoy it. It's worth trying.

Merry I think the most useful thing you could do now is start to build a habit for exercise. Just carving out the time, getting exercise clothes on and doing 'something' will help you as you lose weight and are able to do more. Get the habit sorted and the exercise will build.