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!!

as im just cutting down the portions of what i eat

I'm following ww point system but I have reduced my portion sizes and I am eating more fruit & veg. My downfall is that I love making cakes and biscuits for DH and DTS so I have to discipline myself to have tiny portions.

Hi all
Thanks for the non smoking support, and glad a few of you 'came out!!'. I too didn't smoke much - only 4 a day kind of thing. But I would go mad when out on the razz and smoke 30 easily. So I just decided I had to stop. I went to the docs last week and told her how much I smoked. She said seeing as it wasn't much, I did not need to quit yeah whatever - I know I need to. If I don't stop now, no matter how 'little' I smoke, I know I never will.
So today is the 4th day. Had major pangs on the 2nd, but am doing ok. Am not drinking alcohol this week so far, so maybe thats why.

Anyway I rambled on again. Sorry folks!

Sounds stupid but Im frightened to stop (I'm a 10 a day girl) in case I put on all the weight I have lost so far.

Want to slim right down so I can afford to gain 7lbs or so back.

Ah, Pecka, you only put on the weight because you eat more to compensate for not smoking. You need to find something else to occupy your hands or chew on celery or carrots.

I know what you mean Pecka. I too am worried about giving up now and the consequences. But I'm going to try and stick it out, and just eat cherry tomatoes when I get the urge!!

Well I've been running on and off for about 2 years doing some 10week programm which says it will get you running 20mins non-stop by the end. Last week I was still on week 2, although I admit I had weeks on end when I didn't do anything.

But even when I did it loads I never got anwhere. Last week I was running 2mins, walking 1min x5. Then this week I got an MP3 player. How on earth listening to music can make such a difference I have no idea.

I'm planning to run 20mins tomorrow, have a break Friday and then run 20 mins on Saturday.

Will go running 3 or 4 times next week. Then unfortunatly I'm going to Uganda for 2 weeks and won't have chance to run. So I'm hoping it won't be too hard to get back into it when I get back.

I am so chuffed at how much more I can do this week compared to alst week.

Bethoo, saw your picture, he's lovely. How are the doggies taking to him?

Just been for a run - ran for about 15 minutes then walked for 2 and ran another 5 before I got a stitch. Came in and did Tae Bo abs and glutes but it was killing me so I gave up half way through

mummypenguin = my parents took the dogs a week before i had him. i am at theirs now, the dogs sniff his feet then wander off. they adore my dad and pretty much ignore me! i gave those buggars 6.5 years of my life!!!!lol. my dad will look after them for a while longer while hayden and i adjust as since leaving the hospital we have not been home!
my exercise today was walking into town and back so prob done at least three miles! naturally it was counteracted by the double decker and creme egg i had!

Stripey - I know exactly what you mean about listening to music when running. If I did not have my mp3, there is no way I would be able to do 1 minute let alone 5. I think the music just lifts you, and you can say to yourself ok - I will stop running after this song has finished. You urge yourself to go on, and its a great motivator.

No gym for me today, haveing a kinesiology session to figure why I am not losing weight. My friend says it could be down to the following - 1) Perhaps I have used my weight as a way to protect myself against men, and not feel attractive 2) I could be allergic to something I am eating, she will found out what 3) I want a baby so badly, my friend is interested if my body is holding onto my fat so it can prepare itself for when I get pregnant.

All sounds pretty off the wall stuff doesn't it. I will report back later with my findings!!

mucky - yes i know what you mean about Music as it helps you to focus on other things and keeps your mind of the machine that youre on...music is important and good luck to find out the prob too.

What do u all do on the days youre not in the gym? as im going to the gym 3 times a week....i can feel it in my legs and my stomach today...ive had an emergency csection on 1st oct 2004....im out of the woods now?

Morning everyone

Not sure how much exercise I'll get done today but will try to fit in at least 30 minutes of something. Very excited about trip to TKmaxx now, will try to go today or tomorrow - going to try to pick up some gym kit too while I'm there if I see any bargains

Have a great day everyone

Bethoo, sounds like you've got great support from your parents, it's lovely that they look after the dogs for you, and that your parents, especially your Dad, have a bond with them. Yes, it's annoying though when they freeze you out!

Don't worry about the chocolate - enjoy!
The baby is lovely, well done to you. I bet you're enjoying him. I love them when they're tiny like that.

mummypenguin - i am looking forward to when he is bigger as it scares me when i think how vulnerable he is at this stage.
no phys for me today, ust had massive bowl of ice cream. roll on another 5 weeks before can seriously train!!!

Biglips, managed to get to TKmaxx today - think you've saved me a fair bit so thanks again

Got a high impact ShockAbsorber sportsbra for £5.99 (RRP £26) - it's a quite nice bright pink colour. Also got a black Naturana sports bra for £2.99 so reckon I saved at least a tenner on that one too! Also bought myself some half-price nike cropped running pants. So very pleased indeed with my purchases

Going to try to go to gym tonight but it's turned out very miserable and wet here, may be difficult to motivate myself to leave house but will do my best.

How's everyone else

cool.....as ive got the shocking pink one too !... ill be going to the Gym tmrw...got abit of a sore tummy though where ive worked out yesterday..

God I wished I lived near a TKMax, will see if I can hang on until the end of the month and get one when back in the UK. TKMaxx = Cheap as chips!!

The kinesiology session was very interesting. This sounds crazy, but my lack of weight loss is linked emotionally with my boyfriend and his behaviour towards me. Apparantly I feel safer while bigger, its a protection against him and 'other men'. This sounds really strange I know - scientifically and all that, but it makes sense to me.

Anyway, I was going to go to the gym this morning, but nearly had a panic attack from a major crisis. Maybe I will go in a couple of hours, once I have got my head together. I just really want a cigarette now to be honest. Sorry not quite as upbeat today am I...ignore me. Jog on!

Hi everyone - life busy as usual!!

Well done on the sports bra front. I used to live near a TKMAXX, but now don't (want the shocking pink colour) . Just another reason to move back near London (live near the sea but never go near it as it's pebble beach!!!!). When I first moved to the area I tried running along the prom - very bracing and WINDY!!!

MuckyAnthea - I didn't know kinesiologists could decipher that sort of stuff. I thought they were more about food intolerances etc. Did she suggest how to overcome the diagnosis!!!

Sorry to hear about your crisis - but well done on the not smoking front. "When the going gets tough... the tough get... err (hopefully going!!)"

Bilips - csections should only be a problem in the first 12-15 weeks after birth, unless you had major scarring. Definitely out of the woods!!

Wow 1.5 hour at the gym - that's a long time. It's good that your going to go 3/4 times a week - that's enough to get results (with sensible eating!!!). What about those classes. Any that your like to add variety to your workouts?

Hi everyone.

I was quite active over the weekend. On Saturday, I did the advance Taebo followed immediately by the 8 minute Taebo intense work out. DH was really impressed. In the afternoon, I took the DTS for a 2 mile walk in the pram. Pushing two 3 yo in a double buggy whilst walking at a brisk pace is a great workout for your upper body as well as your heart.

On Sunday, I got up at 0730 and went for a two mile run. My legs felt really heavy as they were still recovering form the intense Taebo workout that I had subjected them to the previous day. I felt better afterwards however and did some tummy exercises.

DH and I spent 3 hours in a local wood in the afternoon with our DTS and on the way home, they were snoring. We wore them out by walking up steep hills. I'm sure they will thank us when they are older!

Good for you, speedymama. I didn't manage anything over weekend. Need to get back into exercise routine this week.

i asked on the other thread but can i join this one too? I have two stone to loose. Also can anyone suggest a way to fit running into my life. I am a single parent who works full time but i love it and really miss it!

Prettyfly, welcome!

I go running first thing in the morning but I have my DH who is still in bed so is with our 3yo DTS.

I work 3 days a week but DTS go to nursery 4 days a week so on the 4th day I can go running once they are at nursery.

Could you go during your lunch break? What about weekends? Do you have someone who could babysit for an hour to enable you to go for a run?

I don't always get a chance to go running so I do a lot of exercise DVDs and this really helps to improve my fitness level too. Could you try something like that?

On this thread, Davinia MaCalls DVDs are very popular as are Taebo by Billy Blank. If you are after a very energetic cardio exhausting DVD, Nell McAndrew's Peak Energy is a killer.

Good luck!

Hi everyone. This looks like it might be the thread for me!

Just starting to run again regularly a year after giving up the gym. I'm managing 3 mornings a week, plus a karate class, 10-15 mins yoga most mornings. I'm only getting to about 2 miles - mainly because of lack of time as I'm not that fast yet and I have to get back by 6.45am-ish so that DH can get off to work. Is 3 times a week really going to be enough? It's a bit of a struggle to manage that often tbh. Just for general fitness, weight maintenance and muscle toning. Is it better to run longer on the flat or run a little less far but with some hills?

Any advice much appreciated Thankyou.

Hi Omrian

I think 2 miles is enough considering time constraints. If you do it 3 times a week that is 6 miles a week.

When the run becomes easier try increasing the pace by lengthening your stride and pumping your arms more. You will then find that you will be able to run further in the same amount of time. On my run, I have a killer hill in the middle and that really slows me down but I am focusing on increasing pace and trying to reduce the time that it takes me to complete my 2 mile circuit.

To put it into perspective, my DH runs half marathons but atm, because of work, he is doing one or two two mile runs a week to maintain his fitness levels. Plus he does a fair bit of walking to and from the tube station and his place of work.

Out of interest, how long does it take you do to do 2 miles. I'm really slow at the moment and it takes 23 minutes whereas my DH does it in 16 minutes.

Good luck!