Getting fitter (ugh)

[frillyflower]

Hello - anyone got any exercise tips for a lazy, overweight (1 stone) wobbly 53 year old woman who has just been told she has pre-diabetes?

I commute 2 hours each way to work every day and there's no way I can go to the gym before the commute. I only have half an hour every day to spare for exercise. I can't swim at the moment (have healing wound).

I could do running or walking although have never done any running and at a loss to know how to start.

Any advice gratefully received.

How about the couch to 5k programme? There's a big thread on it in the exercise section
Basically starts you off walk, run, walk and builds up over the weeks

Quite a few I know have tried the Couch to 5k programme, it's an easy-to-follow 9-week programme to help you start running. I'm pretty sure each run is 30 minutes.

Your commute sounds punishing, but is there any way you could park/get off the train earlier and walk half an hour to work and back?

In terms of counting calories, join myfitnesspal.com, I've lost a stone using this website. There's a MFP thread in the weightloss section here, add a few of the people on the thread as friends. You get loads of support and help.

Good luck!

x posts!

Thank you very much. Couch to 5K sounds good. Will have a look. I just discovered my fitnesspal. It's good for the diabetes thing because I can track carbs etc. Have been using it 3 days now.

Couch to 5K is fabulous and if the music on the NHS podcast bores you look for other free Couch to 5K podcasts.

If you haven t already heard of the 30 day shred DVD (google it - LOADS will come up on it ) - it might be worth doing it alongside your jogging. People have had dramatic results with weight loss and toning whilst using it :)

I have started one of these pedometer challenges at work - myself and team have each got to vitually walk the west highland way in 4 weeks. you need to walk at least 8,500 steps a day to complete the challenge. It's great because using the pedometer with a target forces you to think about how much you are walking and honestly think it's a real motivator. I am also busy, driving to work, based in office etc but am finding ways to walk more and have started going for walks at night when my DH gets home (sometimes not until 9pm). I can already see a difference in 5 days - I expect to lose a stone in the four weeks. I love walking but have struggled to find time to do exercise since going back to work (my DS is 20 months) - this has given me the kick up the arse I needed. Really recommend it.

I'd second the walking as an excellent starting point too. Other small things can make a big difference - eg. take stairs not lifts, park at the furthest place away from the door etc.