AIBU to want a gentler health/weight discussion

[argumentativefeminist]

Want to interact with others and get support/motivation for getting healthier and active, and in the process losing weight. But I absolutely don't want to hear any "diet culture", calorie counting or unhealthy disordered eating promotion. Surely I can't be the only one? Sometimes it seems like every thread I click on is just full of upsetting, unhelpful comments that sound like they could have been lifted from a thinspo website.

Hi all.

Favourite types of exercise is a great idea; I’d like to hear too.

Cardio makes me feel best - fell or trail running for preference but spinning was unexpectedly fun as well.

Hill walking

Sea swimming

Ceilidh dancing (does that count?!)

Yoga for sanity

Pilates for my back and pelvic floor

And pre-birth-injuries, which have rather pissed on my parade, a really good shag

Hey again Verbena, I've missed you! A really good shag does definitely sound like the best option, but I suppose they all technically give you endorphins 😂 I'm going to try Pilates, indoor cycling and burlesque come September. I definitely want to find some big ol hills to walk up though, it really does do you good. I might try some fitsteps too, I like dancey stuff!

Hey lovely

Where(ish) are you studying? If you give me a vague area I can probably suggest some nice places to walk (others might also have good ideas).

Burlesque sounds loads of fun, definitely try it! I sometimes go to Dr Sketchy sessions (its life drawing but with burlesque performers instead of traditional models) and being conventionally ‘pretty’ is definitely not a requirement. Bags of personality and humour are. You’ll be grand!

Thank you Verbena that's really made my day!! Anything nearish Norwich city centre would be grand 😊 I dont drive but give me any suggestions you have and I'll work out what's feasible!

Ah that’s tricky as Norfolk is beautiful but pretty flat! However, a quick google has revealed these guys...
norfolkhillwalkingclub.co.uk/

They do trips and have a minibus. Worth a go?

That sounds great Verbena I'll definitely check it out! Currently on a breath catching break halfway through a cardio video - so much harder after a week or so off!

It’ll come back quicker than when you first started out though - just keep going!

I’ve been distracted helping our friends prep for their wedding and then dancing like a fool at said wedding and experiencing my first parental hangover (dear lord! Not worth it!!), but setting up the turbo trainer and will hop on that this afternoon.

Parental hangover sounds grim - I think I only survive because I can just hide away in my room with a Subway and Colin Firth movies 😂 Hope you have a good workout this afternoon!!

Sounds like you’re all doing really well. Definitely go for burlesque Af that sounds fab!

I love any form of dancing and have one of the Strictly Fit Steps DVDs (one of my fave shows ever!). It doesn’t feel like exercise to me which is an added bonus! Feel the same way about walking, especially when there’s beautiful scenery to look at. We’ve been ttc for a while - hadn’t thought to class that as exercise

Pixie I think I'm going to check out the Fit Steps DVD - I do enjoy the exercise I'm doing now, but anything that's a bit more fun would be great and I love dancing.

Thank you all for your kind words about burlesque - I'm definitely going to try it! The group is more neo-burlesque (think Beyonce backing dancers moves) so a good workout!

pixie beautiful landscapes are good for minds as well as bodies I think - and ttc definitely counts (apparently orgasm burns 60–100 calories 👍🏼) though our baby was IVF and I’m not sure injecting yourself and the delights of progesterone pessaries have quite the same health benefits!!

I'm feeling really good this afternoon and I'm sure the exercise this morning is part of that. Today's mission is to make a start on Frankenstein for next semester (been saving the best till last) so might pop down to Costa or just stay in bed with coffee depending what the family are doing. Hope you're all feeling happy too 💕🌟

hello, checking in again. Thanks for the kind and funny words from previous posters .

AgathaTabithaBagatha you asked what changes I made to lose my one stone. Well, I underwent treatment for alcoholism at a rehab place. That was my huge, creaking turning point to where I am now healthwise and lifewise.

I thought I'd lose way more weight because I'm alcohol-free but everything in life is one million percent better now, that the lack of weight loss doesn't get me down. I've toned up like crazy though, from plus size pants I'm in normal shop size 12 and my belly is slowly, slowly reducing to a healthier circumference.

Last week I consciously started cooking dinners from scratch and it's so easy and makes such a difference I'm a little in shock. Before this I existed on takeaways and ready meals. Changing the way I eat has been quite a long process and I'm still learning so I'm glad about this thread.

Sorry for the essay, just had to get that down because no one in real life is interested

Oh and I STILL haven't done a cardio thing so I'll do it tomorrow. Hmm, I'll use the treadmill at the gym then. Whoooo!

Go go go Liquorice! That's such an amazing journey and I'm really proud of you 💕 So excellent that you've started learning to cook from scratch too - I'm still learning as have only been feeding myself for a few years, so you're definitely not alone!

Thanks so much AF! I'm proud of myself too

I've got a mental block when it comes to cooking from scratch, I think. I come from a family of talented cooks so I compare what I make to theirs. I'm starting to break the habit of comparing myself to others though, and I've really enjoyed the dinners I've cooked.

Once I have some spare cash I'm thinking of enrolling in an Italian or Japanese cooking class (my two fave cuisines).

licquorice cooking is such a joy - I love the whole sensory thing of it: the colours and textures and smells of produce, and the sounds of sizzling or bubbling. Makes me feel like a witch

Well done on kicking alcohol - growing up with one grandparent who didn’t, and seeing the devastation his issues caused has given me a pretty clear idea of how damaging it can be and also how incredibly difficult it is to decide “that’s enough” and actually follow through with your decision. I think you’re a hero .

(Could you put even some of what you’d previously have spent each week on booze in a jam jar, and use it for a cookery class? I’ve done a couple of classes and always loved it)

Ive just spotted this thread, I'm a bit late to the party!
I love the Jessica Smith videos on YouTube, also don't know if anyone's already her but Lucy Wyndham Reads youtube workout videos are great and she does loads of different healthy programmes and is just generally really positive! I've been trying to walk more and been trying to do long country walks with DH at weekends. Also been using a pedometer app called step ahead which is free and syncs with stuff...just trying to be a bit more active, get more fresh air and hopefully feel better

Hey all! Back to CrossFit today, it was fab.

I spoke to a PT/women’s coach there who is doing a special four week training camp for abs, she says it will sort my diastasis recti IF I wear my belt for the duration of it.

So I’m going to take the plunge and do that. It is training, breathing exercises and diet all wrapped around my already extensive training plan. DH is going to do it alongside me and it will cost £40 for the four weeks including support groups, recipes, meal plan and so on.

It starts next week!!

Liquorice You're already doing so much to be the best version of yourself that you can be, try not to put too much pressure on yourself by comparing to others. They're not you, and we can't all be as good as each other at everything. That being said, it sounds like you're getting on really well with your cooking, and I think classes sounds like a great idea!

Welcome pearl! Fresh air and general healthiness is such a big part of my journey too so hopefully we can help you on this thread! Thank you for the recommendations, I'll definitely check them out.

Good work Camel! The 4 week plan sounds great, hopefully it'll give you a good boost to complement what you're doing already. Don't push yourself too hard though, and don't forget to listen to your body over whatever the trainer/meal plan/other people are doing. Let us know how you get on!

AG i am relying on you guys to be my secret support!!!

I was told lots today that I’m looking slimmer which is amazing because I did nothing but ate cake and drank Pimms for two weeks.

My husband is off work for the foreseeable because his factory exploded

So looking forward to lots of DIY being done!

I'm sure we can do that Camel! I find cake and Pimms gives me a wonderful looking glow even if it doesn't actually make me any slimmer 😂 Hope your husband and his colleagues are all okay! But yes, definitely put him to work around the house... maybe a hot tub? 😂

Hot tub would be great but I’ll settle for him finishing the kichen or putting up some of the many doors he’s been threatening to do for years

Or the planter he is supposed to be building (I could go on )

House jobs are never done, I’ve decjded a relaxed attitude is the best strategy!

Currently sweating buckets after the bloody turbo trainer - aiming to do 2 ‘runs’ on it a week plus one outside once I’ve had my pessary fitting, and depending on its ability to keep my bits inside my fanny 😬🤞🤞🤞🤞.

Camel that’s so fab about having a plan. And maybe pimms and cake are the secret?! Tbh I’ve had a week of wedding prep with v dear old friends and much cake, and seeing photos of myself in my party frock I was really pleasantly surprised at how I’m able to recognise my body as being my own, and beautiful, in a way I haven’t really since childbirth. So that’s lovely. Cake and joy (and sweaty exercise) for the win, says I!