Healthy living support thread for feminists

[SeraOfeliaFalfurrias]

In response to a few discussions we've had down the pub - there are some of us who are striving for better health through better diets and more exercise, but who struggle among the usual support groups where it's all about looking better rather than good health. And it certainly can be tricky as a feminist, walking that fine line between not conforming to beauty ideals through dieting and making sure you actually look after your body through a healthy lifestyle.

So here is a support thread for those of us who are trying to eat better and get more exercise.

Me, I could do with losing a bit over 2 stone to get back to a healthy weight. I had an ankle injury after running a marathon about 3 years back, and between not being able to exercise and the stress of my PhD (I'm a stress binge eater) I gained 3 stone and lost all my hard-earned fitness. I'm finally getting back on track, I've lost nearly a stone and am hitting the exercise hard again. The hardest bit has been getting back into running - while my ankle is better, my joints are really feeling the extra weight I'm carrying. It's also hard to do karate when your wobble gets in the way of you doing a good kick and you get out of breath when sparring. So I need to lose weight in order to enjoy my sports hobbies again. I'm taking it slowly, doing Slimming World but not religiously - I'm not in a hurry to lost the weight, but I also need to watch that I don't take it so slowly that it never happens!

Yesterday I ran 8km, which is really encouraging as I was still going strong at the end. Just a couple of months ago I was run/walking 5km and would have welcomed death at the end! So I feel like some kind of switch has been flipped and my body now "remembers" how to run. The down side is that both ankles are aching and stiff today.

My diet has been rather rubbish the last couple of weeks, including a few binges, and I put some pounds back on, but I'm in that good place mentally now and hopefully ready to focus on getting my body healthy again. I loved being lean and fit and athletic, and I'm not getting any younger (thoroughly middle-aged), so I feel like the window of opportunity for getting myself in a sustained state of good health without drastic measures being required is closing!

That looks quite good Sera. I think I'll join you. It doesn't seem to stipulate how far your run every day which is good! So I can take it at my own incredibly slow pace!

From other bits of the ronhill website, scallops, it seems the idea is to do at least a mile. It would be most awesome if you joined in!

Good idea for a thread. Can I join in? I'm searching for the motivation to do something about my blubber. I really need to lose weight but i'm struggling to find my motivation moment. I sort of want to look like society tells me I should but i'm also pretty happy with the way I look now! I think I need to come at this from a health angle maybe

Thank you! I'm so sick of every thread being about being thin and "attractive" in a conventional sense, rather than focusing on being healthy, active and generally just trying to eat right.

I may be adapting their model Sera ;) Although hopefully by then I'll be up to a mile.

Can I join please?

I am very interested an fitness from a health perspective and especially on being strong and fit and healthy - muscles, not skinny.

I do a lot of interval training weight workouts (well not too many as I have three young kids).

Hate the obsession of exercise to look good and would love to talk to like minded women

I am leaning towards trying out some form of weight training but where on earth do you start? I did some zumba classes at the beginning of the year and gave up because the entire focus was on getting sexy for summer, slipping into a sexy bikini etc. etc. I just wanted to lose some fat and feel better about myself, not look sexy on a beach..

Been weight lifting for awhile now. So I'm happy to give what advice I have. I do a 5 day split, but that's because I go to the gym 5 times a week. You can get great results (By which I mean building muscle) from 3 days a week.

Here's a link to my blog (not trying to promote it I swear) and a program I put together for my friend:

fatandfit.altervista.org/exercises-for-beginners/

Thanks, that's really helpful, particularly the links to the videos. I went looking for videos to show basic moves recently but there was too much out there!

For the bench press - do I need to have someone 'spotting' me? I had a trial session with a PT who showed me how to do it, and I've done it once by myself. I'm only using the bar by itself, so it's not like I'm going to be crushed by a 100kg weight if I can't lift it back on to the rack straight away. But I wasn't sure if it was considered safe to do it by yourself.

p.s. I have period hunger today so I have eaten all and any carbs available to me, including, but not limited to, a tube of smarties from the dcs' packed lunch, and two slices of bread and butter approximately half an hour before dinner. Oops.

I shall work extra hard at the gym tomorrow, yes I shall.

So, scallops, did you have a go at your first C25K run? :)

No you don't need someone to spot you. That's only if you're really going to try and go for one or two reps of the heaviest you can lift. If you can't put the bar back into the rack relatively easily you should be lifting less. The goal is to be feeling the burn by the end of the 10 reps.

Man, if that's all you eat with period cravings you're lucky. I eat crisps like they're running out the week before my period! With my workouts I need to take a week off every 4 or so weeks to let my muscles recovers, so I figure period time is the perfect time for that. LOL.

After joining this thread over a week ago I finally made a start on Sunday, and have done the first 2 days of the C25K. This is my third attempt so hopefully I'll see it through this time.
I plan to alternate with the 30 day shred for toning up and am giving myself 10 to 12 weeks to complete both.

Oh no, fitfatty, that wasn't it at all - many biscuits and breadsticks consumed too. The dc's sweets and the bread right before dinner just seemed the most unnecessary

Thanks for the tip on the bench press, will give that a go again today.

Well done feminists! I'm getting back into this now summer is over. I just made my own sandwiches and fruit for the long train journey today instead of relying on something bad from the buffet.

I'm thinking of not drinking until 1st December, maybe go a step at a time to 1st October...

Well feckity, if you can't eat like crap before your period, when can you eat like crap?

Well done Yonic. I had five hours on the train yesterday and packed my healthy snacks too. Work travel is my downfall so I was pleased I managed to avoid the junk for once.

I've realised I need to be more organised if I've got any chance of sticking to my healthy eating plan. Massive well done for remembering train snacks-I normally end up needing to remortgage the house to get a packet of quavers.

I've been away on holiday and despite all the hill walking, I feel bloated and sluggish after eating badly and drinking more than usual. New month, new determination to sort out the eating (ie ditching the junk and the mindless grazing).

Can I join?

I used to be really fit and really strong. Now, post-illness, I am neither. I want that feeling BACK!

I have a secret weapon: a newly-acquired bike. It is easier to ride than to run for someone as unfit as I am!

Organisation is indeed the key. When I went out to the beer fest on Saturday I took my box of carrot snacks and had previously worked out how many ciders I could have before I went. I pre-book my gym classes as far in advance as I can. I bought a packet of seed wraps, lettuce and hummous and have taken them to work so my healthy lunches are all there for the week. It takes a little bit of planning but if you set yourself up to succeed, it's a bit harder to blow it.

Oooh, new bike! Very exciting, holly. Is is beautiful and shiny?

Yesterday I ran 10 km for the first time in over 3 years, first time since my injury. Just a few months ago every run was agony and I thought I was going to have to give it up forever. Now my body seems to have 'remembered' how to run, and I'm so happy! I'm still slower than geology, but it doesn't hurt so much any more. Plus a new low number on the scales this morning. Thanks for being here to support me, fellow healthy feminists, I'm finding it much easier knowing you're here with me.

I've had a really good day in terms of eating. I've just polished off a delicious Thai noodle broth with extra veggies and quorn. Full of fresh ginger and proper spicy so it tastes healthy. I have a meal plan for the rest of the week and a fridge full of colour. No exercise today (new haircut and didn't want to mess it up-lame I know) but have a personal trainer session tomorrow. I totally agree about booking gym classes in advance-I am so much more likely to go.

Great news about the 10km run sera. I'm very slowly building up from 5km. And I mean slowly!

All achievements celebrated here Buffy, well done :) How does it feel getting out and about with the dog?

Well done on the 10K Sera :) I'm gradually improving my running on the treadmill at the gym, trying to edge a bit quicker or a bit longer each time. I think I would definitely have to switch to outdoors running for long runs though, I can't imagine plodding along on the treadmill for over an hour!

Ooh well done Sera! And well done Buffy! Walking the dog is more than I did today!

And did I bloody hellers like go for a run this weekend. I am shit In my defence I do have a sore throat and a blocked nose. But really that's just an excuse because I could have done it Saturday or Sunday.

OK so new goal is by Friday to do the first run. And well done TheVeryThing for doing those first couple of runs.

I have eaten quite well the last couple of days though. So that's a bit better. Small steps!

Well done all, 10k is so impressive Sera.
buffy, I hope you (& the dog, of course) felt good after the walk. I used to go jogging with my dog but she is ancient and arthritic now so I have to go on my own.
Yes to organization being the key.
I haven't exercised today but have eaten pretty well, will start 30 day shred in the morning. I know that the best time for me to exercise it 6am but somehow I have difficulty remembering that once 6am actually arrives.