Exercise Buddies - anyone want to join?

[Lorns]

Hi this a new thread linked to "We want to lose 10lbs NEW THREAD"

I'm a Group exercise instructor/Personal Trainer and have been offering advice to mumsnetters!

Following suggestions that it would be good to start an exercise/nutrition advice/motivation thread - well here it is!!

oooh, sounds great, Lorns! Can I start by asking how many times a week I should aim t0 do Nell McAndrew's Ultimate Challenge for quick results? Three?

or can you suggest a weekely schedule for speedy results (I'm not gym member atm)

Cheers, Dinny

OOh I'm in! I'm going to start going down to our gym next week but not really sure what I'm going to do once I get there. I also want to start running as wherever I am I can run (whereas a gym is more difficult). I am a NON runner and always have struggled, I've downloaded the Bupa guide, is that a good one to follow?

Hi dinny and McDreamy - great to have you one board!

dinny - Am I correct in thinking it has aerobic and conditioning sections? If so then it should be fine. Aim to exercise x3 a week is good!

With any exercise you do, you should feel that you've worked after it or for the next few days. When this feeling passes it means you have plateaued and need to find something more challenging to do. Your fitness level and weight Loss (dependant upon diet) may stay the same ish!

Walking, housework, gardening are all good forms of exercise which can be done with the family (or on your own)!

In the long run it may be cheaper to join the local gym or find some classes halls etc. which are near you to attend. Home DVDs can be expensive!

McDreamy. When you get to the gym, you should get a gym programme. Let them know that you want to start running and could they design a programme to help you. Also you might thinka about attending a classess to get a blaalnce between cardiovascular, conditioning and stretch.
Exercise - start slow - aim for x2 a week. There is no need to go more than x3/4 to see results - as long as your working your body sufficiently!!!

Just looked on the BUPA site and they encourage you to not crash and burn - great advise!! Yes their guide looks spot on.

Why not do a combo of walking with little burst of running to start? Also get some good trainers - Oasics or New balance are great!

Thanks Lorns will you be around to shout at me if I don't go? I really need someone like that or else I will always do it tomorrow!!

Thanks, Lorns - I also really like running but find it hard to get out atm (with these dark evenings). That Nell McAndrew DVD is really challenging and is aerobic and lots of free weights. Also do asthanga twice a week (my adiction)

Have 7lb to lose and want it gone before March - possible?

Hi Lorns, thanks for starting the new thread for us. I've put a link on our "lose 10lbs" one.

Hi dinny and mcdreamy, welcome aboard

Hi again McDreamy!

Came over from the "lose 10 pounds" thread ... Thanks Lorns! So sorry to hear you've been under the weather

Laloop, have been around - haven't had a weigh-in in a while ... will try for early next week. Still have a 3cm dunlap (sorry; not sure if it's slang in the UK but in Texas it's when your stomach "done lap" (hangs out) over your pants) ... Lorns, any idea when (or if!) this stomach thing, post-birth, will EVER go away??? DS2 is now 5 months old. ... May be too early to think about it, but I'm curious?

McDreamy I've been running for over 25 years ... didn't like it at first either but after a while I think you may take to it
Haven't been able to do it here recently; has been below freezing.

Count me in too. I'm a regular on the gym attendance thread, but this looks good too, and Lorns, you'll probably find me picking your brains!!

At the moment, aiming for gym 3 times a week although this week and last, have only managed twice. I am usually in there for an hour, and cycle there and back (approx 15 mins each way.)
In the gym, I do a 15-20 minute run on the treadmill, am trying to work on my running, have been advised on the other thread, that if I find myself plateauing, then increase the resistance on the cardio machines, and have a go at interval training on the treadmill - sprinting for a couple of minutes between jogging/running times. Sound about right? Is this what will ensure the weight coming off steadily? As well as sensible eating too, of course.

I like these threads, they're motivational. It's too easy to put exercise off if you've got nobody to report back too!

Thanks for your words of encouragement Mars - I would really like to run, my DH gets really into it and I am very envious of him.

Hi Marls, good to hear from you again Think I have a dunlap too

Hi mummypenguin, welcome

Lorns, was just wondering about a weigh-in day for those of us who have a few lbs to lose, maybe a Friday like on the other thread so that we can start afresh today?

Mcdreamy, I started running this time last year. I started by using interval training on the treadmill at the gym. Walk then push the speed up for a minute or two at a time so that you are into a slow jog then back to a fast walking pace for two minutes, jog for two minutes etc. Then keep increasing times/speed of the jogging until you can eventually join them up into say a twenty minute run on the treadmill. Then you just need to adjust the speed and length of time up as you feel able.

It's really rewarding as it really doesn't take long until you feel able to do more. When I first started I struggled with a few minute's jogging, now I can run for a steady half hour (or further if outside as scenery keeps you going).

Go for it!

I will thanks but I need people to shout and scream at me a little when I keep making excuses not to go . I can't start til Monday as DH is away and I have no childcare til then but during the week I have no excuses really.

I need nagged at too sometimes to get to the gym, so we'll all have to keep each other motivated

Skibump is a runner too so she may have some tips as well

Sounds like a deal!

Hi Mummy penguin - welcome! Yes to increasing resistance, also maybe duration on a CV machine!

Mars100 - dunlap - like that!! Lets see 2nd child, only 5 months post natal... You're doing well! Everyone is different - it depends on age, skin stretchy-ness, how much you stretched, if your breast feeding etc. etc. Also depends onweather it si fat or just skin.

Relaxin (making you more stretchy) stays in your body up to 6 months post baby. They say it takes up to 1 year for your body to go back.

McDreamy - let us all know when you're going running.... We're in it together!!!

Dinny - 7lbs in 4+ weeks erm - how much has your weight loss been so far per week. Maybe increase your exercise (muscle weighs more than fat) and see if your diet is balanced!

Laloop - weight-in day sounds good for Fridays. If feel it's as much your thread as mine!!!

Hello - thanks for the welcome.

Lorns - have been doing WW for 3 weeks and my weightloss has been Week 1 = 4lb, Week 2 +4lb, Week3 = 1lb. So, 9lb in three weeks! Am amazed, actually. Especially as don't really have a lot to lose (am 5.6 and half and my target is 9 stone)

so, up the fat-burning, you think? onder why I had such a small loss this week!

Also, Lorns - thinking about running and dark evenings...
I have just bought a pretty good Polar HR monitor. Do you think running around the Green outside our house could work as a way to train properly? It's safe and it's about 1,000 steps all the around it. Could it work doing intervals on it?

Hi Re monitor - How are you checking your target heart rate out?

Running round the "green" could work but might be hard work on your knees with all the turns. You would have to vary direction as well every 2 laps or so. Dark nights are a problem if you're unable to exercise in the day. What about early morning before breakfast (dare I ask!!)

Your weight loss sounds good so I hope your loss is achievable. Weight loss is usually very good at the beginning due to fluid loss etc and then slows down a bit - you're doing great1

Hi, do you mean what I'm using as my target? 65-50% of my MHR - that's right, yes?

The Green is quite big - I once counted it was 1,500 of my steps around it. Why would I have to turn the other way after a couple of laps?

Mornings are impossible as ds gets up at 5-6am without blinking fail!

sorry, 60-70%!

btw, it's like a big village green with a playground, pond, cricket pitch, two football pitches on it - proba takes 10 mins to walk round (can you tell I'm desperate for you to say it's big enough, lol)

Lorns - i have a stone and a half to lose (preferably by the summer!) and am currently doing 3 or 4 30 mins sessions on the cross trainer. Is this enough to aid weight loss? If not, what should i be ideally doing? TIA X

Hi Dinny

My ds3 gets up early too - why!!?? WOuld you have someone to helo look after ds early mornings? Just a option.....

Your green sounds great - my old "green" was lots smaller!!! Why change direction? You will ahve to see how you go, but just going in one dirction can put stress on just one side of your body - your always turning r,r,r,r - hence the change!

Re your target heart rate 60-70% sounds good to aid weight loss!

Hi mandymoo welcome! - are you seeing any weight loss with what you're doing at the mo? What about your diet??? When you go on thex-trainer do you feel puffed or could you go for longer??

Just a tip for everyone...

I ended up teaching 4 classes today (only usually teach 2 on sat) - far too many and did I put as mcuh effort into the last as much as the first? NO and my joints didn't thank me either!!

Don't be tempted to go from class to class and fit as much into your time at the gym as poss. Use your time wisely and put 100% effort for a much shorter duration. You will work more efficiently and effectively.

Lorns maybe one day they'll sleep till a more sociable hour! My dh has to leave for work at about 6.45, so kind of difficult to get out first thing. However, just been for a run (3 miles) round and about lit busy bits of the village and it was great - kept hr in target zone and really enjoyed it (used this website here to work out milegae.

going to do a 7-mile run tomorrow first thing (as dh not rushing off to work!)

really tempted to buy exercise bike to do in front of TV - worth it?

LOL Lorns, I said you'd get your brains picked.

It's great though, to come here for advice, and thank you for giving it!