If you had 150 days to transform yourself...

[yespleasedoll]

AIBU to ask for all of your top tips and ideas for a real overhaul of your health and fitness.
I've got 150 days until an event and I want to see a difference and be proud that I actually did it.

What would you do?

C25K - and walk outside somewhere on the rest days, ideally somewhere green (good for mental health too)

At least one yoga or pilates a week, or a session or two of another sport you enjoy

Make sure you're sleeping well. Maybe learn some short meditations

If you drink alcohol, cut it right down (no more than two days a week) or cut it out completely

I’ve lost 3st 9lbs (23kg) in 148 days by maintaining a calories deficit and exercising more.

It’s made a big difference to my overall health and fitness.

Caroline Girvan exercise routine, intermittent fasting, and low carb. No alcohol, and at least 8 hours sleep a night.

m Hope all goes to plan!

8 hours sleep a night
10,000 steps a day
10 minute method (insta)
calorie counting
3 litres of water a day
a good skincare routine

A bloody good blow dry that gives you lustrous locks

Oh hell, I misread that and clearly have a filthy mind! OTOH, happy well-matched active sex life is really good for well-being

Increase daily activity (10,000 + steps per day)
Increase water
Get enough sleep
Cut out alcohol

if you have the funds hire a PT to get you started on strength programme.

Peloton!

Callanetics

After what it did to Big?!

Meal prep

I’d cut out crappy carbs. You can go very low carb or just switch to brown rice, porridge oats etc but generally we eat way too much processed carbs.

I’d increase the amount and the variety of veg in my everyday diet. When I’m eating well I aim for 5 portions of vegetables a day.

I’d check my protein intake. It’s very easy to eat too little protein if you’re vegetarian and not keen on fake meat.

I’d introduce (or increase) some kind of cardio, weights and flexibility training. Cardio for general fitness, weights for healthy muscle and better bone density (it gets even more important post menopause) and for flexibility something like Pilates or yoga to help prevent future problems.

If you can, do some of that exercise outdoors in a green space. It’s really good for your mental health and that’s important to your overall wellbeing. If you don’t do something like yoga with its mind-body link, learning meditation and breathing exercises is worthwhile to help reduce stress - meditation actually lowers the cortisol levels in the bloodstream. Stress can effect sleep and cause or exacerbate lots of medical problems.

I found joining Slimming World helped as it gives you accountability and little rewards to keep you motivated. I know it's not for everyone tho.

Go online and find a calorie deficit calculator, make sure you're consistently in a calorie deficit (making sure you have plenty of protein will make this much easier) drink plenty of water, 10k steps per day and make sure you get a good night's sleep every night.

I've been diagnosed with a rare sarcoma and had lots of surgery this year. I am still having surgeries in the New Year but already decided to make some life changes, and be kinder to myself. I am a workaholic, and disabled from some very rare genetic conditions which mean I am usually in the hospital a few times per year having tests, interventions or surgeries. In the recovery room, I made a quiet promise to myself about changing things. Amongst these changes are: (i) reducing alcohol, (ii) travel more, (iii) lose a stone, (iv) gentle exercise with our dogs, (v) decorate the house to make it a home, (vi) find time for hobbies and (vii) be more forgiving of myself and my previous mistakes.

If weight loss is your goal I would do intermittent fasting daily at least 18:6.
with some 48-72 hour fasts thrown in

Absolutely this!

Sleep is the most important thing.

It also makes eating healthier and exercise so much easier too.

If you are looking to lose weight I would go to bed as early as you possibly can (you can’t snack if you’re in bed).

Then I would eat healthy (you’ll be well rested so won’t crave unhealthy foods).

And I would take any chance I can to move my body - it doesn’t even need to be a high intensity class at the gym, just walking and cleaning and finding ways to be active really helps.

I would also possibly have a hair cut too.
You can get moisturiser with a hint of tan which also looks nice.

@yespleasedoll

Walking and walking and more walking. I lost about 1 and a half stone, and dropped 2 dress sizes - through fast, paced-walking (as well as cutting down a bit, and doing the 5:2 diet.) This was over one Spring/Summer a couple of years ago. 4 months actually it took me.

Get the Fitbit app. It transformed my fitness levels, and made me feel bouncier and more energetic than I had felt in 20 years... I get up from the floor now instantly and easily ... Instead of taking 10 seconds, and having to use a table or someone else to help me get up. I walk 3-4 miles a day, every day and never really get breathless to be honest. Could not walk half a mile without passing out before Fitbit.

It measures how many steps you do, how many miles you walk, how many calories you burn, your altitude, and how many heart points you gained :- 150 a week is the ideal minimum amount (for a healthy heart,) according to the World Health Organisation. I usually gain 180 to 200 heart points a week.

I am in my late 50s by the way!

Zero alcohol
Vitamins - magnesium glycinate, vitamin d, calcium, zinc, and vitamin c at the bare minimum
Vitamin C, retinol 0.2% (or tret if on prescription) and hyaluronic acid on the skin
Weight training 3 times a week at least
A non-orange gradual tan like the Dove Summer Revived one three days a week for a light healthy glow
2-3l of water a day

Combine that with a whitening toothpaste and beginning to floss if you don't already, a moisturiser suited to your skin type used twice a day and a varied diet and you should feel amazing and start glowing!

8:16 fasting worked for me. Every month, I noticed a big difference in clothes fitting (I don't weigh myself). It also changed the way I approached meal-planning. I needed to get maximum nutrients in a short period of time, so it was a nice bonus to eat healthier. Healthy eating has now become a habit, as has sticking to regular fasting.

And exercise! Regular walking, swimming, cycling...

And don't forget to drink water. When your body uses/burns fat instead of sugar, your body can become a bit acidic, which puts a bit of stress on your kidneys (a little reminder from my last blood-test).

All the best, OP!

What's the 8:16?

The Six Pack Revolution. Only takes 75 days. Best I have ever looked in my life. Check out their before and after pics on their social media.

Do the January and March wave of the Six Pack Revolution.

Nearer the time - hair appointment, nails, fake tan, spend some money on an outfit.

Exante if you want to shift some weight

No alcohol. Cut out junk food. YouTube workout videos! I use those especially if there is something in particular I want to target. Lots of water.