I need to take up a sport/ hobby

[Cakefolk]

I need to get fit and healthy but I need a sport which will become a hobby long term which I will enjoy. I have a knee problem at the minute so anything with twisting the knee is out at the minute. I have really no idea what to do. Please help!

Yes obvious it will have to be something I enjoy, that is about all I know. Probably something alone to begin with.

Starting with mild as I can just about walk in a straight line at the moment and have a habit of randomly falling over!

Thanks @Giveover80 I'll give it a go. I have been making a effort to walk more, it's just the getting going to begin with and the dawdling I do a lot of that!

Lifting every time for me, it's changed my life. It can be solitary (one of the things I like about it) and entry level is low as you can start with things that aren't too heavy. I see people at my gym with little fitness starting out all the time.

But I agree with the PP it needs to be what you enjoy which we can't guess. I would never have thought I'd enjoy lifting as much as I do so its worth experimenting with different things

I would if never even thought of lifting!

Swimming can be good if you have any bad joints. I have pain in my knee and hip and find swimming and cycling good, but walking increases my pain, running is out!

Yes I was thinking cycling or swimming just a bit self conscious for swimming at the moment. I wouldn't trust myself with running

Does it have to be sport sport? I bloody love cycling and ride my bike everywhere- but to the shops, work, appointments etc. I don’t have time for long rides but I cover plenty of miles and go at a decent heartbeat-raising pace, so it’s great for the fitness that’s part of an active lifestyle. You can improve your fitness no end by ditching the car.

Give it a try. I love it so much! I've gone from never having found any exercise that I can be very bothered with to training for a powerlifting competition. Getting strong feels wonderful.

Agree with lifting. I dabble with kettlebells and dumbbells and I do now have a barbell at home too which I'm getting used to. I don't lift religiously as I've been ill off and on this year, but I find it quite motivating as the progress at first is quite steep (I started v low weight). It's also so easy to do alone at home with little time.

But my main stay is yoga. I do about 20mins a day and it really does change my shape (much leaner and I move so much easier and my body is just less squashed up and clunky!) and puts my mind at rest. Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is free and her videos are fantastic.

Thank you all! I am going to take a look at Yoga too.

I went from swimming, progressed onto gym classes, then joined the gym, then got a trainer, and now lift 3 x a week. It has changed my life!

I still do a bit of other cardio, so I alternate between doing the couch 2 5km so I can get to my local ParkRun which I also see as a social opportunity. Or I might have a swim one week or go to a spin class. In between some yoga.

I'd also like to find one social fitness activity, so I have badminton and bacchata (salsa) to try. I saw some people doing salsa outside and it looked so fun.,

Would you be better off just ditching the car and incorporating some more active movement in your day to day and doing seated or low impact exercises on YouTube to build your stamina and nurse your knee then progress onto a sport. You'll be more likely to succeed at the sport if your not injured and have a basic level of cardio so you'll enjoy it more.

Alternatively walking football/ Rugby / netball are around to encourage people back to activity.

Lifting or Pilates

I do Reformer Pilates in a class (which I love), and some weight training at home. Careful with your knees though, it can put a strain on them if you do too many lunges or squats.
To get some cardio in I just walk a lot.

This is the thing, i am scared of hurting my knee. I'm in physio at the moment and it's going ok. I've had an issue with it for about 8 years . I do walk a fair bit at the moment but my knee still gives way randomly so I guess I have lost all confidence. Sounds daft really!

Swimming was my first thought also. Or aqua aerobics.

@RayKray how do you get started with lifting? Do you just have to join a gym and ask about it at induction? Can obese people do it (size 18)?

Yep you can join a gym and they should show stuff at induction. I started like that and had a great time for many months. I now have a PT who does a programme for me and makes sure I'm doing the lifts right which is a great idea if you can afford it. It'll be much more efficient at getting you where to want to be and less chance of injury. But I got into it without. Where I am there are all shapes and sizes training and they adapt the programmes accordingly. So I'd say you can start at any weight. I'm a powerlifter and all shapes and sizes compete, from sub 47kg women to 84kg plus. If you weigh more you can usually lift more. Google Bonica Brown for an awesome 84kg + lifter 💪

I got this book when I started out which was v helpful at explaining the principles.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess amzn.eu/d/hyQznox

I started doing a cross fit type class at size 18. In a year I was doing Olympic lifting and running 5-10km 3 times per week. Absolutely talk to someone in a local gym, it could be great.

The thing that helps longer term is getting stronger. The stronger your body is the more resilient it is to injuries. That might need to be done carefully but not getting stronger won't ever help it. I've had all sorts of niggles, my body is really good at resolving them now I'm strong. So you're doing the right thing looking to do that.

I also do a mobility programme alongside my lifting called Simplistic Mobility Method which you could have a look into.

Seriously give cycling a go.

Instantly you're transported back to feeling like a kid and it doesn't even feel like exercise.

It is very addictive, excellent cardio, easy to build into your lifestyle and soft on your joints.