Overweight and unfit - AIBU to think a treadmill will help?

[NeighbourhoodonWatch]

So, as title says, I need to lose weight and get fitter.

Reasons for a treadmill:

I get hot and redfaced outside / in a gym so can walk with a fan on and in the comfort (and privacy) of my own home

I suffer from hay fever so walking outside is not fun

I need to lose about 5st and need to start somewhere

Has anyone achieved this? AIBU to think this will help me get fitter (aiming to start with 3 x 30 mins a day for approx 10k steps)?

I would focus more on reducing calorie intake, tbh. It sounds like a good idea to get moving but doesn’t have to be via expensive machinery. Be careful you don’t spend £2k on something that takes up loads of space that you just end up hanging towels on (speaking from experience after buying an exercise bike that suffered a similar fate!).

It's not a bad idea but if you don't exercise currently 3x 30 mins a day is way too much.

You'll either get injured or discouraged if you're busy and miss your target sessions

It HAS to be achievable or you're on a hiding to nothing

My suggestions: 1. buy a cheap 2nd hand one. If it doesn't work out you've not spent too much. 2. Aim for 15 minutes a day & if you want to do more you can, but if 15 mins is all you have time for then you've done your session and can give yourself a mental pat on the back.

Yes getting in 10,000 steps is great start however you do it treadmill is fine. You won’t lose vast amounts just walking as most weigh loss is diet but it gets you in a better place. Good luck. I lost about a stone just upping walking then another 5 stone when I altered diet, walked and some gentle swimming.

Yes great idea, put your favourite programme on and you might forget you're even exercising x

Look at changing your diet too. Its mostly about that.

Hi,have you considered a cross trainer?it works the whole body with much less impact on your joints.
You can often pick up second hand ones quite cheaply people have bought then use as a clothes horse😃
Good luck in your quest to get fitter,remember to increase water intake .
You can do it!

The saying goes "you can't outrun a bad diet". 90% of weight loss will happen in the kitchen, although doing regular exercise is great for metabolism and motivation.

Treadmills are reasonably high impact on the knees when overweight so a bike or cross-trainer may be a better option for pure cardio.

Treadmills are incredibly boring. I usually run outdoors but when marathon training during periods of inclement weather I’m forced into the gym, and running on the treadmill is simply tedious. I don’t know anyone who really enjoys doing it. I think you’re fat more likely to stick to an exercise regime if you at least enjoy it.

Water is another great suggestion, I don't drink enough of that either.

@Dixiechickonhols what you've done is what I would love to achieve (in time)!

If you can afford one, definitely. I lost three stone walking four miles a day. I started off puffed and plodding then got faster. About food, I did reduce my carbohydrate iand sugar intake as well. My body changed shape though, my legs and hips were solid as a rock. Getting puffed meant I drank more water, which led to better hydration and helps weight come off.

I can’t run because of a prolapse, so never got any faster than a brisk walk. See if you can vary your ‘route’ ie. add some incline, it’ll mimic actual walking and vary the muscles you use. Best form of exercise to be kind to your body. Swimming also a nice gentle full body workout, and both are good for the mind. Well done, it’s hard to start.

IME they become expensive clothes horses.

Take antihistamines, use a nasal spray and eye drops if you need them and get some daylight while you walk.

Once you've got an established routine, maybe then you'll decide a treadmill will work for you.

Also, depending on yourweight, a lot of the cheaper machines will have an upper limit that may or may not work for you - I would need a proper gym standard one at my weight.

(I need to lose a good 5 stone as well).

OP, I bought a treadmill for similar reasons but I ended up getting bored and it became an expensive clothes horse.

The best investment I made in exercise was (strangely!) a virtual reality headset! I play tennis and workout games and get a really good workout. If you're unfit, you can build up gradually with things that are less intense too.

Don't necessarily increase your water intake - it has been scientifically proved that we need approximately 2l per day from ALL sources, food and drinks not an additional 2l on top of everything else. Swap fizzy drinks and squash for water, quick fix which isn't too hard to maintain.

As a pp has said the treadmill can be boring. We started at low speed doing 15 mini per day. Once that was easy, not causing breathlessness, increased speed but kept to 15 mins. Now at a speed which is fast enough to be taxing but not running and noticed our fitness has improved greatly.

The 10,000 steps thing was dreamt up by the ad department of a pedometer manufacturer apparently and has no science to back it up. Apparently no much how much exercise you do it won't affect your metabolism as the body cuts down to compensate (Dr C Vantulekan) Research shows that miners use the same amount of calories as office workers. I know this is contrary to everything we've been taught over the last decade but science is constantly evolving.
So as many of the previous posters have said it really is down to 'you are what you eat'

Walk outside - a treadmill deprives you of all the mental and physical benefits being outdoors brings

If you start with smaller goals then that might lead to longer term change than half an hour several times a day.

Like PP say though it's very difficult to out-train a bad diet so it's worth combining increased movement with changes to your diet.

You'll also probably find that it becomes easier to increase your exercise when the dietary changes help lose some weight.

95% diet, 5% exercise for weight. Obviously exercise will tone you but if you keep eating the same you will not loose weight.

I was obese size 20. We got a dog I walked more and lost a good stone. But still over eating so didn’t lose more.
I then joined slimming world which gets slated on mumsnet but suits me as I cook from scratch and can’t be bothered weighing everything for calorie counting.
I lost 5 stone in 8 months. I maintain at a size 12 and feel healthy and well. My basics are walk 10,000 steps. Eat lots of protein. 1/3 plate veg each meal. I eat carbs but mainly whole grain and not buy bucket load. I tend to eat 3 meals, snack of a protein yoghurt and some choc like a freddo or kitkat if I fancy it. I try with water but I’m not always at 2 litres.
I’m not hungry and find it sustainable. I try and eat normal natural none processed food mainly. I do a lot of pinch of nom, slimming foodie and slimming eats recipes.

I think it’s a good idea, no travel time to the gym, doesn’t matter what your wearing, you can watch you favourite show and walk at a steady pace, if you were going to watch it sat on the sofa then it’s a simple win really

Don’t discount couch 2 5k either. I walked (outside) then as my fitness improved did couch 2 5k on a treadmill (I fell running outside and it put me off)

Everyone has to do it the way it works for them.

If a treadmill is your way, do it, get stuck in, feel the gradual improvement and be pleased with yourself.

Do also look at it as looking after your healthy self, and adopt a few healthier eating habits. You can introduce one change but by bit if full ‘cold Turkey’ is not for you. Again, be pleased with yourself each time you make a healthy substitution. Use your successes to fuel your motivation.

Go for it OP!

I hear what you say about getting hot and red faced, but exercise wise the only thing that's worked for me is joining a gym and getting a personal trainer. Having sessions booked means I have to attend and I'm supervised and feel safe exercising.

It's made it easier to adapt my eating habits too.

If you have room and can afford it then sounds like a plan. Perhaps 15 mins every day walking to start, to make it a routine

Yes I have a treadmill and it's nice to use in the privacy of my own home, try the 12:3:30 it's on Instagram basically hard walking at an incline. If you can afford it go for it x

Weight loss is about 90% diet so I'd suggest you focus on that and rather than get a treadmill follow some fitness videos at gone. There are plenty of very good instructors on you tube and insta who are free. If you don't exercise now perhaps try some of these to see if you can get into the habit. Also, re diet I cannot recommend low carb/keto enough for weight loss.
All the best.