Does exercising give you more energy?

[YoniBottsBumgina]

We went out for a walk yesterday to a local castle on a hill. Took the mountain railway thing up and walked down some neverending stairs at the end. I commented that my thighs would ache tomorrow, and DP looked incredulous and said "Because of some stairs?" (Incidentally, they don't)

It came around to me saying oh I can't do exercise, it's boring and I don't have the energy. DP reckons that exercise gives you more energy.

Is this true?! Even if it's not straight away - I've always gone through life assuming that exercise is for people who either really like sport/keeping fit etc, or if you want to lose weight. Neither of which apply to me - I'm underweight and have always hated any kind of sport and been useless at exercise etc. I get out of breath if I talk and walk fast at the same time. I can't run for a bus, did the bleep test at school and was one of the first to drop out, that kind of thing. I've always just assumed I was useless at it so why bother.

But I do lack energy, often feel lethargic, lack stamina, I get more tired than I probably should, don't eat well, I've been through periods of depression which I don't know are gone for good, I'm definitely not fat, but my tummy has never really gone back in after having DS which makes me look oddly pregnant whenever I eat or feel a bit bloated. I'm not particularly bothered by this but at the same time it would probably be nice to get rid of it! My main motivation is the energy thing - if I can improve that, that would improve my life immeasurably.

I've come to the conclusion that I am terribly unfit and that my perception of it - about me being rubbish at it - is from PE teachers at school and has no bearing or relevance on real life. You can always build on nothing, right?

So: Which is the best kind of exercise to give you more energy (or does it not matter - I'm considering swimming which I have loved in the past but not always had opportunity to do). I once joined a gym and I swear the instructor was laughing at me (he was hot, too :() because I couldn't stretch past my toes at the initial appointment/assessment thing. I'm a wuss about cold, and I don't want to do anything which potentially causes accidents like contact sports etc.

Also, if you were unfit, how long did it take to start seeing results from doing exercise?

Exercise is most definitely not just for people who want to lose weight, it is good for you, good for your heart and def gives you more energy. Just because someone is slim it doesn't mean they are healthy, their heart may in worse shape than someone twice their size.

I used to hate exercise but now I love it and hate missing out on it. It isn't boring if you find something you like and you sound like you could def do with finding some form of exercise if you are feeling lethargic etc.

Classes are a good way to start if you lack self motivation, and also if you love swimming then start with that as well. vary it a bit so you don't get bored, I do a mixture of gym, pole fitness, badminton and the odd pump or combat class.

Exercise doesnt have to be a form or punishment, do something you enjoy and feel comfortable doing, walking is good provided you keep up a good pace just push yourself a little and your fitness will improve so that you dont get out of breath.

I was also rubbish at any sports when I was at school, couldnt run/jump/throw to save my life, hand eye coordination was crap

Not initially. If you begin exercising after a long period of not exercising, you will feel sore and tired. But, once you are fit, then yes, it is energising.

You'll see results in 2 weeks, maybe not weight but fitness and endurance results definitely! Swimming is good, as is any cardio based activity! Have you tried classes? In my area you have anything from the fitness freaks to 20 stoners and 60+ year olds. Most trainers will tell you to take it at your own pace and its lovely to see people morph over the months. Most attendees started off in the level 1 group and you see them go up and up.

And 100% yes, it does give you more energy. I have gone from a size 18 to a 14 in about 4 months with a horrendous diet and I'm still on the fags. Most importantly my fitness has transformed and all of the little aches and pains I used to have all but disappeared. I was a chronic migraine sufferer and a simple shopping trip would slump me. Now I get tired if I sit still for too long. I still have a long way to go and some bad habits to erase but my energy levels have transformed and I'm now at a place where I want to keep going to see just how fit and energetic I can actually get.

If you're very unfit, in terms of cardio vascular efficiency you should see improvements quite quickly.

Exercise is also known to help with depression.

If you're fit, then everything you do is that much easier.

I wasn't very fit when I was younger, and certainly not 'sporty' - now I'm doing the Shred every morning, do watersports with my DD and walk a lot. So yes, you can build from nothing, and you should start feeling results pretty quickly.

What you should do depends on what fits in with your life that you can realistically do regularly.

Well this sounds positive! :) I would definitely like to go swimming. I'll go tomorrow when I drop DS off at Kindergarten. I did start some before where I'd see how long I could swim for without stopping which was good as I could see an improvement easily, but then I had to stop when I split up with XP as I had nobody to look after DS.

DP suggested cycling to kindergarten but taking an hour-long detour on the way home. That sounds a bit long, but it's doable (perhaps for a shorter time!) the only thing is I don't know if I would end up challenging myself.

Those both sound like good things to start with! I think I started to emerge from my slothful youth when I started swimming and increased the number of lengths I could do and then (by putting on goggles and watching other swimmers!) taught myself crawl (alternating crawl and breaststroke works for me).

There are usually lots of threads on MN with people doing various things - signing into one of those can be quite motivating. For instance, one very popular one is c25k - couch to 5k run - assumes you're a couch potato who can't run at all to start with.

I'm always immediately shattered after a good exercise session but as time goes on I'm energised. Overall, I would say that since taking up exercise (I do incline power walking & progressively heavy weight training - 4-5 days a week) I have much much more energy and also have much more of a zest for life.

Go for it OP!

Absolutely yes! And it gives feel good endorphins. I was always a bit of a lazy arse and was a bit dismissive of "fitness freaks". I have however now got the bug. I do spin classes, Zumba and other classes at the gym

Cycling is also very good, and you can make it useful (eg doing some shopping) rather than just ploughing lengths. I wouldn't start out with an hour's detour though; have that as something to work up to. Ideally do both. I definitely feel I have more energy when I'm exercising regularly.

Pay attention to your diet too - you can't expect your body to do more if it's not properly fuelled.

Thanks for the encouragement :) I dropped DS off at Kindergarten on Tuesday all fired up to do some swimming only to discover it doesn't open until the afternoon except on Wednesdays and Fridays! Perhaps I'll go tomorrow, if it stops looking so grey and rainy.

Cycling with a purpose is a very good point. Shopping would indeed be useful.

I know I should eat better, but I don't always feel hungry, I wonder if this is to do with being less active, hoping that being more active might help, anyway.

I have an irrational dislike for the very idea of running, probably because every time I try to do it it makes me feel so very unfit, but also I don't really like being outside unless I have to be in the cold and wet, and in the summer I tend to faint if I try to run

Zumba sounds quite fun... I wonder if it has made it to Germany.

Yes, definitely. I also found that I needed a good hour or two less sleep per night as well.

The trick to sustaining exercise in your life is to approach it on two fronts. The hardest is finding something you like. The second is to schedule it into your life so that it becomes as much a part of your normal routine as doing the shopping on a wednesday, visiting your mum on a thursday, etc. You need to get out of the mindset of "I need to make time to do xxx" IYSWIM. That's why it's so much harder for women, I think, because we are usually the ones having to take care of domestic stuff and child-related activities more so than men.

Also, although you want to get a little out of breath, don't think you need to do anything too strenuous to get benefits from exercise. Starting off with something that is just bloody hard work is a sure-fire way to put yourself off. You can build up as your fitness and enthusiasm improves. And your motivation will improve the more you do it.

Getting a dog and giving it a good walk once or twice a day is a fabulous way of creating a daily form of exercise that becomes a normal part of your routine and yet will really benefit your health. But it obviously goes without saying that this is only a solution for people who really want a dog, who aren't going to leave it at home all day alone, and who are prepared to put in the effort to train and care for it properly.

Good luck.

DP and DS are desperate for a dog I don't think we can afford one at the moment though, plus I don't fancy walking it in the cold and the wet.

Was going to go swimming today but I've come down with cystitis which is threatening to turn into a kidney infection so I'm sat feeling sorry for myself instead! Plus, by the time I'd got DS to kindergarten I was too late to get an appointment at the doctor's.

Hope you feel better soon.

Yoni - urgh, poor thing.

When you can afford a dog, get one like mine who is less keen than I am on walking in wet and cold!