Obese Walking to fitness

[thisyeariwillstopprocrastinating]

Right this is for everyone out there whose done only limited / no exercise in 2024, not yet ready for starting 0-5K training, but who wants to get a bit fitter and lose a few pounds along the way.
I did the 0-5 k a few years ago but never managed to get beyond 8 / 9 weeks, as it suddenly jumped up from a few minutes of running, to several mins, I wasn't ready for the jump, got disheartened and gave up🤦‍♀️.
So my plan is to walk everyday, I'm setting myself SMART goals, so tomorrow, despite the predicted rancid weather, I plan to walk 4,000steps (approx two miles for my stride). Plan to do this for just over week, then add 1,000 steps each week starting 13/1/25. Once I get to 10,000 steps, I'll start walking a bit faster, and add more hills into the mix my goal is to be able to start 0-5K after Easter, so I join my dc with doing Park runs.
Go at your own pace this thread is for support and motivation

Dancingwhilstfacingthemusic your user name is brilliantly positive you keep dancing, and walking, girl! Sorry you are going through Chemo, listen to your body and don't be hard on yourself, chemo is really tough going for the body. If it's cancer you are being treated for, I hope the chemo blasts that f*er away.

feegle I'd like to do some park walk/ run too, but at the moment I'm just not fit enough, but I'm determined to get there this year!

Thanks @thisyeariwillstopprocrastinating yep. Arsing cancer. I’ve had my operations and this is apparently “insurance”. I’m going to walk and dance it out of my life!

Best of luck @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic keep us updated!

Thanks! I find popping some disco on to listen to as I walk really gives me a boost. The days it’s too grotty to get outside, I pop some disco on and have a little boogie at home 😀

I think you're doing absolutely brilliantly @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic, and sending you best wishes for your recovery!

@FeegleFrenzy I'd love to (walk!) parkrun as well, but our local one is Saturday morning and I usually have to take DS2 to his sports club at that time. Maybe if/ when he changes clubs that will be my opportunity

I've been logging all my walking on Strava, more for myself than anything else as most of the walks are only 2K or so. Everything counts on there though and if you join challenges you can get badges etc on your page - silly I know but I do find it motivating!

How's everyone going is it to late to join

Jump on board!

I'm going to the gym for my (disability) class today and will warm up on the treadmill. Aiming for 10 fast minutes.

Waving! I’ve managed a few decent walks and have had my walking poles to help my confidence in icy conditions. Went out with a friend today over snowy fields and it was lovely. My weight is still going up but my nurse is happier that way. I have a few weeks of more challenging treatment, so who knows how I’ll be walking. However, as a gradual recovery in a couple of months time it’ll be perfect exercise!

Well done @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic a snowy walk sounds nice!

I managed my 10 fast minutes on the treadmill so I'm pleased with that today. I did consider going out for a walk round the block but it's SO icy here (Scotland) that I dare not.

Couldn't get out yesterday but managed 20 mins after work before it got dark today so pleased with that - no ice or snow here thankfully.

I did a 25 min dog walk yesterday which is my longest walk in years! And it was fine! The whole way back I felt a bit ouchie and I was pouring with sweat which wasn't nice at all, but I did it.

Well done all. After a very tired few days my dh drove me to a nearby forest which has “proper” paths and we had a lovely walk in dappled sun.

Hi all, hope it's OK to join in.
I lost loads of weight a few years ago, low carbs, HIIT workouts but mainly walking in a very hilly area.
I power walked until I was sweaty, out of breath and heart pumping.
Eventually I took longer and longer to get that way, and then started running which came easy because I was quite fit by then.
Anyway, life happened, and I let things slide badly.
I've gained a stone, not masses, I was a fit muscley 9 stone, but it's a stone of flab, so it feels so much more to be carrying around.
I've got fibromyalgia and arthritis now, so have to pace myself and I don't think I'll ever run again.
But I've been upping my walking (with my dogs), I now live in a very flat area so need to walk further to feel I'm getting any benefit, but my hips hurt before I get puffed out.
I saw a documentary a while back about different ways to lose weight, diets and exercise routines, with different experts giving advice.
I think it might have been Michael Moseley who said that 4000 steps at a rate that got you out of breath was far more beneficial than counting your daily mooching around the house, work, shopping etc.
So I tend to only count my "active" walk steps.
I have the Samsung app, but I'm looking for an app that can set to zero when I head out, I'd love some recommendations, preferably free 😊, to save me trying to remember what my step count is before my walk and doing the maths!
I have horses, and sort them out before walking the dogs, and probably rack up about 4000 steps, but it's something I've been doing for donkey's years, and I'm not feeling any exertion.
Thanks to anyone taking the time to read my essay!

@CherryogDog I use Strava :)

Thanks @NessaSmith , I had a look at Strava but couldn't find a free version.
12,000 steps today, my hips are not happy 😁

Mine's definitely free! Well done on the steps

When you get to the running part of your journey have a look at Jeff Galloway - he has a very interesting system of alternating between running and walking at very short intervals which is much easier for beginners and a lot of people find it faster than straight running once you're up to longer distances. Its also much kinder on your joints especially if like me they have quite a bit of bulk to carry. There's also a great facebook group called girls that jeff where you can ask questions. I'm pretty sure there's a free couch to 5k on his website too.

How are people getting on with their walking pads? Can you watch tv when on it? Do you feel travel sick getting off?

@CherryogDog I definitely use the free Strava version too - every so often they send me a special offer for the paid version, but I don't use it enough to justify the cost

@Londonmummy66 the Jeffing info was really useful to me when I did C25K, there's loads of helpful stuff on there - seems like such a nice community!