Exercising with WLI - how’s it going?

[tryingtobesogood]

Morning

I am in my 6th week of WLI and have lost 11lb. I feel so much better for it and have decided to up my exercise to get fitter and healthier. I am going to post my daily exercise achievements here for accountability. Does anyone else want to do the same?

My aim is to be able to:

1. run 5k
2. cycle with my husband on our holiday
3. be able to run for a train without wanting to cry

tonight I am going to a beginners running group to start 5k running training. I’ll report back how I get on.

@tryingtobesogood I’ll take any minor excuse to buy myself a new gadget so have some waterproof Shokz bone conduction headphones with a built in MP3 player. I’ve loaded it up with upbeat, shouty rock/metal/2000s pop punk and I have it good and loud while I swim lengths. It’s brilliant I can block out everyone else in the pool and just sing in my head as I go up and down.

I do think if I had some of those headphones I would swim more. But I gave up my lovely gym with the heated outside pool to pay for my WLI 🤦‍♀️

How's everyone doing?

I got back on my treadmill tonight and loved it! And I've set my alarm to get up and swim early tomorrow. Really hope I keep this up as I desperately need to re-build muscle and get stronger. I'm so frail which is not good as I'm only in my 40s. I want to be a 50yr old that can run ultras or swim the length of Windermere :)

@NowTimeToGetStrong

Wow those are amazing goals! Can you set goals of events at different times of the year? Just small.ones at first? I have friends that do tris, iron man, mud runs and all that sort of crazy stuff and I know they book in advance to plan training and it keeps them focussed.

In terms of the day to day stuff, I find having a routine helps, but allowing flexibility when needed. It just becomes habit then. I try to swim and do my classes in the same day each week.

I have always walked and swam a lot and have always had really strong legs, but my arms are like t rex arms. Small and useless 😂 I have recently started Body Pump as I want toned arms not the really wobbly jelly things I have now. I am 50 next year!

Hope you’re enjoying your swim!

I made it to the gym yesterday and did my upper body workout with the pulleys. Don’t think I got there last week, or only once. Though that probably meant I got more work done.

Now for the first time I feel like the weight loss is affecting my strength, although I was also just quite tired yesterday. I can still lift the same, but it felt heavier. Not surprising, I suppose, since I’ve lost 21% of my body weight in 4 months. BMI is 27 instead of 35. DH said this weekend that I look more sort of vulnerable now. Important to keep up the training.

I have a nasty pain in one shoulder. Will ask the osteopath about it.

Just cooling down at the end of week 5 run 2 of C25k, next run is a huge step up, go from 8 min jog, 5 min walk, 8 min jog like I did today to 20 min continuous jog. Bricking it a bit.

:) I would.like to be like one of those friends of yours!! But I'm a loooong way off! Small steps! I have a rough 5 year plan which will see me running an ultra in about 4/5 years (so around age 50/51). But it might not happen! However, i guess if I keep the goal in mind, then I will be fitter then even if I'm not exactly the ultra runner I'm picturing!! Aim for the stars and all that!!!

You r right, I will start to set some smaller goals. I am a better runner than I am swimmer, so I'll stick with running goals this year! Maybe a 10k end of the year and 1/2 marathon sometime next year and see what happens! I'm a terrible.swimmer but i did go this morning and do some lengths and I have my new club session again Monday. I think my swimming goal for this year is simply not to be the slowest in the club! I would like to move up one spot in my lane so I am actually keeping up and am a similar level to at least one other person!!!!

You r right about routine, I am trying to find one. It definitely helps me to stick with exercise if the routine becomes habit :)

I know what you mean about arms! I really dislike my upper arms! I'm.sure.mine are waaay more jelly like than yours!!! 💛 We will get there! 💪

Well done for getting to the gym :) it's horrible feeling less strong isn't it, but if you keepmuo.with the exercise I'm sure your strength will improve. In my case I feel so frail but am confident the swimming (and running) will build my strength back.

Hope your pain improves

💪💪

Amazing - this thread is so inspiring.

well done @InfoSecInTheCity on reaching week 5, I bet you will surprise yourself with how well you do the 20 minute run.

@NowTimeToGetStrong I've always fancied being one of those people that do an Ironman (woman?) or ultra marathon, it looks like the most amazing achievement but I fear I may have left that one a bit late now. I am envious of your treadmill, I am saving up to buy one, but also need to clear out the spare room to fit it in, that is a mammoth task in itself.

@PurpleCoo I have memories of body pump in the past, it always gives me terrible DOMS. Hope you get along with it better than me. Maybe if I had stuck with it I would be super strong by now!

@shrinkingthiswinter That is interesting that your DH thought you looked more vulnerable. Hope the shoulder pain goes away soon

I'm off to dancercise tonight, I am hopeless at following the steps but so is everyone else.