Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Flip

1 2 ··· 8 9 10 ··· 14 15

Original poster

Healthy living support thread for feminists

357 replies

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 16/08/2015 18:11

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!

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 03/09/2015 13:05

Forgot - feckity it took me 6 months to build up to a 20kg bench press. I'm impressed.

toast I agree any comfy trainers will be fine for the gym. If you can bear it Sports Direct have cheap branded ones. It's great you've got new kit. The more you have the better-I seem to spend half my life washing gym kit. I found it really helpful to keep a duplicate set of toiletries and towels in my gym bag do I could just grab it and go without thinking about it/making excuses not to go.

HelenaDove · 03/09/2015 14:57

fitfatty Its called "fitspiration" and is just as damaging as the pressure to diet. I have looseness under the top part of my arm as well as loose skin elsewhere and ive actually had idiots tell me that yes you can excersise off loose skin. Doctors have told me to ignore it because of course you cant. After a 10 stone loss im not too bothered. I did it for my health. In other news my slimming world consultant is very slim and yet wants to lose another 2 stone by late November. its up to her of course as its her body but i sometimes think these slimming clubs can be toxic environments. And i hate the phrase "bingo wings" I have never heard it applied to men.

shovetheholly · 03/09/2015 15:38

Helena - 10 stone loss! SUPERWOMAN, much?!!!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 16:17

The ( wannabe) personal trainer might not have said it in a very pleasant way but what she said is right. If you want to "tone" a certain area of your body then the best way is to lose weight over all.

Doing some exercises to target the area might help a bit but the best way is to lose weight.

Duckdeamon · 03/09/2015 16:27

Hi everyone,

Have never been sporty but For a while now, with the odd blip, I've been doing well with (basic, slow) exercise like walking, slow swimming, mutu mamas DVD workouts and feel much better for it, physically and mentally, but still struggling a lot with sleep and to organise and prepare decent food.

Was pleased recently when DD saw some outdoor exercise equipment when out with a friend and got excited about telling me about it "because mummy loves exercise, it helps her brain feel well".

Just so much to do and so little time!

Duckdeamon · 03/09/2015 16:30

magick I really relate to your great description of meals with small DC and the cheese!

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 17:52

Hi mide, normally I would say your right, but the op had already lost 4 stone and was at her goal weight through diet and was looking for ways to "tone" that area. Too me that says she needs to build muscle, so I gave her some exercises that will build muscle. Much better then further restrictions imho

thatstoast · 03/09/2015 18:22

OK, got my trainers on order from JD sports. I might actually make it to the gym rather than the pool.

I went to the doctor today and she reviewed my family history and it's focused my mind on losing more weight. My mother has never really focussed on her health and now has type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol etc and I'm determined to be more proactive.

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 18:28

Ahhh ok, sorry for getting on my high horse erm.... Fatty..... erm fitty..... TheFF

YonicScrewdriver · 03/09/2015 18:30

I ate my healthy lunch too early then had icecream and biscuits as late afternoon snack. Grr!

Gym tomorrow, it's a new day!

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 18:40

lol feel free to get on your high horse anytime! I'm no personal trainer or even wannabe!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 19:31

It's a difficult one really FF because generally you need to eat more to build muscle. People who've lost a significant amount of weight can be a bit concerned about eating too much in case they undo their hard work.

Sounds like your right about different goals tho, not everyone wants to be as lean as a bodybuilder.

YonicScrewdriver · 03/09/2015 20:03

I walked back to the station and got fresh air so that's good!

Original poster

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 03/09/2015 20:43

You always hear people saying that you can't 'spot tone', which is true in general terms - you can't stuff your face full of infinite doughnuts, then do tricep dips and end up with ripped triceps and a flabby rest of you. But of course different exercises target and strengthen different muscles. I won't get strong shoulders doing squats. I won't improve my legs doing bicep curls. So as long as you're eating healthily and working on your overall fitness, it's a perfectly reasonable question to ask about exercises that target specific areas! How can it not be?!

OP posts:

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:16

Well precisely Sera. PELVIC FLOOR anyone! In fact you can probably improve your pelvic floor and eat doughnuts. Bargain!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 21:23

I guess it depends on your goal Sera, if it's to strength then yes of course doing a load of bicep curls will improve your biceps. If you want to "tone" a specific area then you need to lose weight or gain muscle.

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 21:30

Don't I know it mide! I'm really into weightlifting now and I know I need to up my protein, etc to continue the results I'm getting. But after years of disordered eating it's hard for me to eat as much as I need to and not feel like shit. I'm more concerned about encouraging others to follow a healthy, slow path then I am an extreme one which will ultimately lead to unhealthy patterns

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:30

And what a great idea for a challenge Sera for the refugees. Good luck with that!

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:33

I think the important point is lose weight or gain muscle. The woman was asking how to gain muscle. Not really an unreasonable request.

Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 21:34

Problem is a lot of people lose the weight but don't understand gaining the muscle. In the op I'm talking about's case that Is her problem. She needs to start weightlifting and toning specific areas.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:36

And to be quite honest as thefitfatty said there was just no need for a reply like that. Most people would have understood what she wanted.

scallopsrgreat · 03/09/2015 21:37

Sorry x-post!

Mide7 · 03/09/2015 21:48

I think there is a lot of misinformation about with regards to weight training and diet in general and in particular for women. The whole "I don't want to get to big" thing but it is slowly changing.

Like I said earlier the Bodybuilder woman wasn't wrong but she could have gone about it in a better way.

HelenaDove · 03/09/2015 23:28

I had yet another idiot tell me i could excersise off loose skin today. Why are some ppl so bloody stupid.

Thankyou Holly

YonicScrewdriver · 04/09/2015 08:21

Gym today! Then a latte, yoghurt, blackberries and cereal for breakfast and school drop off. All before 0830!

Feels good.

Flip

1 2 ··· 8 9 10 ··· 14 15