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!!

Lorns - no, not seeing much weight loss atm but then im not exactly stickly to my diet either

i have a very high heart rate (i am up to 159 within 2 mins of exercising!) and so i dont really feel that tired after half an hour - i sustain a steady pace and average about 150 on the heart rate monitor. Does this sound ok?

now the weather is getting better i will hopefully get out for walks a bit more too.

i am just lacking motivation - even though i am yearning to be back to my normal size this summer

Lorns - Really needed to hear that. babies are worth it of course but it's quite depressing to see what happens afterward!
What difference does bf make - good or bad - just curious? Found (last time) that didn't even begin to lose until I'd stopped.

Wow Dinny - 7 miles - that's fantastic!! I'm only good for a 4-miler once a week these days (knees are shot). I am using MBTs to run - can't run on anything else anymore without knees hurting.

Morning ladies - I start my running tomorrow. Just ned to keep motivated because I know that come tomorrow I will have loads of reasons to put it off until Tuesday!!

Marls001, I've got MBT's too. Had mine almost a year. I haven't run in them though, well, apart from the bus a couple of times!! Walking can be challenging enough in them sometimes, especially uphill!
How do you find them? Have you noticed any change in your shape since you have been wearing them? I think I've got a bit more 'lift' in the bum area, but that could also be due to going to the gym. Sadly, the cellulite hasn't magically disappeared, as is suggested in the hype for them. They are however, very comfortable, although I do sometimes find that they make my lower back ache. This could be due to where they're correcting my posture.

Hi everyone, found you

I'm a runner!!! (thx Laloop!) seriously, if I can run, anyone can. Top tip from me is a)as Lorns said, get a proper pair of running shoes and b) build up slowly if you're new to it to allow joints, muscles etc to cope with the extra pressure

Exercise has been sporadic over the last couple of weeks since ds decided gym creche was not for him, poor thing was v upset . Still running on Sunday mornings - about 3.5 miles (thx for the link dinny, that's fab). Parents down to stay next week, so should get a couple of gym sessions in

Dinny, 4 miles one day and 7 the next [impressed emoticon] there's no way I could run 2 days in a row. Go girl!

McDreamy, what's your plan for tomorrow?

Hi everyone, can I join in here?

Im desperate to lose about 10lbs - a stone.

I joined the gym a month ago and have been going about 3 times a week and fitting in Davina workouts at home when I can.

I am starting to notice myself toning up but not losing weight the way I would like and the belly is flabby as ever!

New start for me tomorrow - aim to drink much more water and cut down on bread - see if that helps

Can I join in as well?! I've just started running but still have 2 stone to lose, so I'm managing a mile, but have to stop a few times along the way to walk a bit - I'm definitely running more than walking and I love the feel of it, but it's hard work..!

What's the best way to improve quickly - is it to keep going with the running/walking idea?

Hi everyone!

Dinny - the endorphins really kick in after exercise don't they - especially running! How often do you aim to run in a week? Exercise bike might be good if you're motivated as you can get on it when ds is asleep.... etc. Watching tele makes the time go faster but just watch your working as hard!!! The body likes variety and cycling is non-impact.

Mandymoo - Do you use a gym (or x-trainer at home)? I've given the advice below to a few people...
Warm up should be about 5-7 minutes - a brisk walk on the treadmill or low level on the cycle) so you just feel warm. Current research says stretches are an option but I like to stretch the major muscles I'm then going to work. As far as your CV, it's good to work within your target heart rate zone. You can look at those pretty charts on the machines, but they're not acurate as they don't distinguish between a 30 year old who's fit and one who's not. There is a formula for getting an accurate reading which means recording your pulse over several days and then doing some maths. If you want that, then let me know!

If you're working in your correct target heart rate zone then you should be feeling fairly puffed whilst exercising. I am 37 but find the charts on the machines telling me that I'm not supposed to be working that hard
as my heart rate is too high. If I stayed within the limited "they" set I wouldn't be working at all!! Why not increase the level or the stride pace. Are you going fwd as well s backwards on the mchine - with arms and without for core stability (postural control?. What about varying the machines you're using to challenge your body more?

If you go to a gym can you attend a few classes in the studio or aqua classes. Hace you had a gym programme set by a member of staff? Use us to help with your motivation!!

Marls100 - When you bf the body needs and stores more energy. You need to eat more to produce enough milk and provide for your own nutrients. With ds3 I found I didn't have enough milk but was exercising as I had with the 1st 2. Perhaps just dealing with 3 children and the sleepless nights was taking its toll?

Me again - don't think it would let me write any more in the message!!

Marls and Mummypenguin - MBTs. Didn't know they were supposed to help with cellulite!!! I can't wear these as I have to wear orthotics as I have pronating feet (flat feet!!). As MBTs have an arch support within them it would be overcompensting if I then wore my orthotics (designed for my feet) with them. Shame though!!

How do you know if you have pronating or supernating feet. Well look at the soles of your shoes. If they go down predominantly on one side, then the liklihood is that you may have one or the other. I found as soon as I got my orthotics right my kness and back were much better!

McDreamy GFI you know you'll feel better once your out there - set a sensible goal!

Skibump - Hope you feel able to try the creche again in a few months. Great your parents are down this next week. My DH is away all week and I'm paying a fortune to both the regular childminder for DS3 and a babysitter on numerous occasions for DS1 & ds2! [ENVY]!!

Peckarolloveragain (love the name)can I say PRA for short??? Good to have you on board!
Arre the workouts your doing at the gym making you feel as though your working - what is your format? Good to see your toning up - to do things sensibly does take time and effort. What about your diet - is it balanced?

Dottydot - welcome! A combination of walking and running is great. Over a period of time you will want to do more running than walking. Try to leave a days break in between runs to let your body recover (if possible). x3 a week is sufficient. Ensure that your workout is challenging but achievable! Vary your routes to stop being bored!
McDreamy downloaded the bupa running guide. Bupa.co.uk (running focus).

Hi everyone
Skibump (yay!!! You found us, just need to round up the rest of the "lose 10lbs" crew )
Haven't been around on MN much this weekend. Feel motivated to do plenty of exercise this week though, now that we've got this new thread going. Lorns, you are a great motivator!!!

Catch up with you all soon.

Hi skibump I am following the BUPA running guide for non runners. Day 1 is Run 1 min, Walk 2 min X6 18 min. Should I keep a running diary? I suppose I should really.

Hi to all the regulars from the old thread, only just caught up with this thread, there are an awful lot of replies already.

Well I stayed the same again this week, but that is what I am aiming for now, for as long as possible. Only managed the gym, once again last week, had to wait in on my second session for carpet fitters to come, could only tell me it would be that day, not even a morn or aft, oh well. Will try and do my two sessions this week.

Morning sickness lasted all day yesterday but has been fine today luckily, don't think I could handle another day like yesterday

Hey Mrs Fish - good to hear from you! Has your PT been able to give you good advice re your pregnancy and alter your programme? Has s/he suggested aqua classes? It's good to just think about just exercising for fitness/maintenance now - not to loose weight... Just do what you can in the first and last trimesters. Listen to your body!!

Hope the morning sickness eases off. How come some people don't suffer at all? !!

Mummypenguin Haven't seen anything, but only wear them for running & never else (spend too much time bending down to retrieve toys and carrying around a 35-lb 3-year old + a 5-month old to trust myself wearing MBTs during...)

Lorns that's how they market the shoes, though I didn't buy them for that outcome, rather my posture. Was just looking into them, but when I heard they could be for running, that sealed the deal!
I'd just been to a sports MD about my knees, and she suggested I never run again . MBTs were my last bastion of hope. (See McDreamy? Addicted.) They are 2.5x more expensive than some Nike Airs but have been well, well worth it!! (I'm still running. Would've paid 5x for that.)

Can I ask a question?

I've just started a (gentle) keep fit class, once a week, and I try to get on my exercise every day. Unfortunately the tension has broken so there's little (no) resistance, but just wondered how much exercise I should be doing on the bike each day?

Joined gym last week and had a couple of days of cardio and a swim, then tried yoga which I enjoyed (was crap at it, but lady was nice) then today I did BAT which I found maybe required a little more co-ordination and love of loud driving music than I have. I will try the earlier class next monday.

But after just a week my body is definitely firmer and I have more energy.

Hi everyone.
I have popped in from the gym attendance thread. There are loads of tips on here, which is good stuff!!

I have some questions on exercise, can you help please Lorns?

What is the max time you should be working out to your max heart rate. Does that make sense? My heart rate goes quite high, yet if I chilled out a bit, I would not be working out as hard. So I can be on the cross trainer at 172bpm, I know I should be around 159bpm, if I am at 172bpm for a long time, will that cause problems with my heart in the long term?

Today I started running!!! the bupa way [great link from this thread!], can you please give tips on how to run without looking like a retard? How high should your knees go, and how long should your stride be? I feel like i am shuffleing. I was running today at 7.5 speed, should I running on a higher speed?

I think that is it for now.
byeee!!

I walk at 7.5

Morning everyone
mrsfish, hope the morning sickness stayed away yesterday.
Hi to Lorns, marls, skibump, dinny, mcdreamy, mummypenguin, mandymoo, peckarollover, dottydot, unknownrebelbang and nearly fourbob (hope I got everyone!)

Was going to skip gym this morning because it's a miserable morning outside but am going to force myself as I know I'll feel better afterwards.

Good luck on starting the running today, mcdreamy. Good idea to keep a running diary I reckon especially as you'll soon see progress and that will help keep you going.

I'm going to run on the treadmill today for the first time in a few weeks. I've been swimming loads recently but I can't seem to shift any weight that way so I've decided to stick to gym workouts for a while. Will aim for 5 mins rowing machine warmup, 20 mins run then 5-10 mins reps on weights machines plus stretches (only have 40-45mins as ds2 in the gym creche for an hour).

Catch up with you all later.

Hi muckyanthea

I've just seen this so would like to join.

At the moment I am working out intensely to my home DVDs because I'm finding it difficult to go out running because DH is working away and I have noone to babysit my nearly 3yo DTS.

On Friday I did Taebo Advance Workout and then in the afternoon Nell McAndrew's Ultimate fitness DVD.

Saturday I did Pump it Up in the morning followed by KickBox Bootcamp by Keli Roberts in the afternoon.

Sunday, I walked to Church with DTS in double buggy 2 mile round trip (not far) but my legs were so heavy that I did not bother doing any more exercise.

I'm planning to do the Keli Roberts one again this evening after work and hopefully go the gym after work tomorrow.

Hi speedymama, welcome aboard
Pushing a double buggy for two miles must surely count as a workout in itself I remember pushing dd and ds1 (15mths between them) around in a double tandem pram, was exhausted just getting the blimmin' thing up the pavement kerbs.

It was a workout because the outward journey was mainly uphill. I made them walk on the return journey.

Morning laloop, well another day here without feeling sick which is great, hope its over already at only 6 weeks

speedymama! you are definitely working hard doing all of those DVDs - do you have a fab body after all of this effort?

I must do my Davina DVD tonight as I didnt go to the gym this morning - went with my friend to try her wedding dress on and ended up having latte and cheese toastie afterwards. VERY naughty!