Low Buy Fitness Thread for 2014/2015

[veronikawithak]

Aerials classes (silks, trapeze, hoop, etc.) start again next week for me and on Friday I plan to start yoga classes again. Classes also start next week so the challenge will be making time for both.

 

[Audrey C]

Aerials classes (silks, trapeze, hoop, etc.) start again next week for me and on Friday I plan to start yoga classes again. Classes also start next week so the challenge will be making time for both.

I've never tried Aerials but it looks like so much fun! Do you need yoga experience to do it or is it something beginners can do?

 

[veronikawithak]

I've never tried Aerials but it looks like so much fun! Do you need yoga experience to do it or is it something beginners can do?

No experience needed! Abs and upper body strength are useful and flexibility helps too but anyone can start with really beginner moves and work up. I highly recommend it, so much fun! It never feels like "exercise."

 

[karmachameleon]

I've finally got doctor clearance to begin exercising again (I burst a blood vessel in my eye during the summer and I couldn't do anything that would raise the blood pressure in the eye - not even yoga). My hubby and I went hiking yesterday at a local conservation area; it was cold but I layered up in my new winter running gear and was fine. It was a hilly 3.6k but easily achievable. My daughter and I are doing the Resolution Run 5k tonight at our local Running Room (we're walking it) and I've signed up for the Learn to Run 10 week session that starts on Monday. I haven't run for about 5 years, but I used to do 5-7k most days. I know how to get myself from walking to running over a couple of months, but I thought it would be more fun to do it in a group and that it would help hold me accountable in the frigid winter when it's more tempting to just curl up in front of the fire.

I expect to register for the Frosty 5k at the beginning of March and am considering registering for a local 10k at the end of May. I've never run that far before, but since I've done 8k on my own plenty of times, I'm pretty confident that I could do it. I'm not interested in any distances beyond that, though. I have asthma so I always do a run 10, walk 1 pattern.

I'm down 18 pounds since starting WW in mid-October. I gave myself permission to just maintain for the last three weeks of December (one business trip, a two day conference where I had no ability to influence what food I was served, Christmas itself plus a couple of parties), but I lost a little over 2 pounds over the last 3 weeks. I'm happy with that. My birthday is Friday and we're going out for dinner, so we'll see what Saturdays weigh-in looks like. As of now I'm down a pound or so since last Saturday.

I reached out to a couple of friends that I never seem to find time to keep up with, and we're going to start a Saturday afternoon brisk walk together this week. I'm trying to do better at seeing friends than I have been (work and my family seem to consume almost all my waking hours), so this will help on that front too. Plus, we can all use the exercise!

I knew I was out of shape, but last summer's family trip really highlighted just how much to me. When we were walking hills in Scotland, I kept having to stop and let the family go on without me so I could catch my breath. I hated that; I was always the one at the front. I can't stop aging, but I can and will improve my fitness again. My goal is to be down another 35 pounds by next summer (we're going to Australia in August) and be in reasonable shape. Both are achievable. I was wearing a size 16 when I started in October and I'm in a 12 now. At what used to be my 'normal', fit but not skinny, weight I'm a 6. I have an athletic build (muscular thighs and calves, broad shoulders) so I'm never a twig.

well done. even though losing weight is fab it is really about health and fitness and all the physical and psychological benefits of that which you are probably already experiencing. great job!

 

[charlotte366]

I weighed today, my starting point is 80.9kg. My aim is to be under 60kg by my birthday in July. I start my new job tomorrow and the gym is 5 minutes away so hoping to go to the gym 4 times a week either before or after work. My first Pilates class starts on 10th January. I didn't gym today but I did go for a walk. I also managed to maintain over the festive period.

 

[Audrey C]

I also managed to maintain over the festive period.

Wow - that's ambitious. That's a loss of almost 8 pounds a month. I can do that when I'm heavier, but I find that my weight loss slows as I get nearer to goal. YMMV, of course. Good luck, but please don't set yourself up for feeling discouraged if you can't lose close to a kilo per week. I have weeks where I lose a kg and others where I lose half that.

My daughters and I did the Resolution Run on NYE. I could see that my youngest in particular was struggling to hold back with me, so I told her to go ahead and run. Both took off. LOL I ended up finishing in just under 45 minutes, so about a 4 MPH pace. That's a decent walking pace for someone who's been completely sedentary for months, so I was ok with that. I let everyone go ahead of me and started dead last, but I noticed that I overtook a fair number of run/walkers with my more consistent pace. I just did another 5k on my treadmill today. It will keep getting easier. I'm planning on walking 5k per day until Sunday, when I'll shift to run 1 minute, walk 2 (the first step in transitioning to running). I'm pretty sure that's what they'll start us at during my running clinic, and I'd like to see if I can manage first. I'm just getting over bronchitis and I'm still coughing when I push myself too hard.

I'm glad the holidays are almost over; it's easier to stay on track when I'm not surrounded by party treats.

 

[charlotte366]

Wow - that's ambitious. That's a loss of almost 8 pounds a month. I can do that when I'm heavier, but I find that my weight loss slows as I get nearer to goal. YMMV, of course. Good luck, but please don't set yourself up for feeling discouraged if you can't lose close to a kilo per week. I have weeks where I lose a kg and others where I lose half that.  My daughters and I did the Resolution Run on NYE. I could see that my youngest in particular was struggling to hold back with me, so I told her to go ahead and run. Both took off. LOL I ended up finishing in just under 45 minutes, so about a 4 MPH pace. That's a decent walking pace for someone who's been completely sedentary for months, so I was ok with that. I let everyone go ahead of me and started dead last, but I noticed that I overtook a fair number of run/walkers with my more consistent pace. I just did another 5k on my treadmill today. It will keep getting easier. I'm planning on walking 5k per day until Sunday, when I'll shift to run 1 minute, walk 2 (the first step in transitioning to running). I'm pretty sure that's what they'll start us at during my running clinic, and I'd like to see if I can manage first. I'm just getting over bronchitis and I'm still coughing when I push myself too hard.  I'm glad the holidays are almost over; it's easier to stay on track when I'm not surrounded by party treats.

There was no doubt it is ambitious target, but I managed it before and I want my old body back, this time rather than just exercise I am trying to eat as clean as possible too. As long as the numbers move in the right direction I will be happy, if it takes longer then so be it! My new gym clothes arrive next week too so I'm excited to get stuck in! I might look at signing it up for a 5km charity run, it might be good motivation. !

 

[Audrey C]

I might look at signing it up for a 5km charity run, it might be good motivation. !

I hear you, I'm the same. I'm a driven person so I do best when I set clear goals and chart my progress against them.

 

[charlotte366]

I hear you, I'm the same. I'm a driven person so I do best when I set clear goals and chart my progress against them. 

That's how i am trying to approach it, for the first 6 weeks weight isn't important I want to work on getting some fitness back and forming positive fitness habits which I can then work with going forwards

 

[Anaphora]

Is anyone here on MyFitnessPal? I need motivation! I'm thinking about getting the new Fitbit Charge HR. Anyone have that or any other tracker with a heart monitor?

 

[DarylandCarole]

Is anyone here on MyFitnessPal?  I need motivation! I'm thinking about getting the new Fitbit Charge HR.  Anyone have that or any other tracker with a heart monitor?

I don't have myfitnesspal yet but I'll check it out.m. I just got the Fitbit Charge, not the HR. I like it, though. It's doing exactly what I hoped it would - showing me how little I move around most days. That makes me think about it and do more. I haven't logged food yet, but even just seeing how many calories I burn each day gives me an idea of what my limit should be re: food. They have groups that you can join on their web site, too. But I would like it better if we connected because at least we (in this thread) sort of know each other. So let me know if you get one!

 

[Anaphora]

Hey ladies! Just checking in. How's everyone been doing?

 

[DarylandCarole]

Hey ladies! Just checking in. How's everyone been doing?

I weighed myself tonight for the first time in months. I didn't lose anything but I haven't gained, either. Considering that I hibernate in winter, I'm happy with that. Hopefully when the weather gets a little warmer I'll be more active and will lose some. I'm loving my Fitbit. It motivates me to think kore about what I'm going to eat, as well as how much I move around. It's also been eye-opening regarding my sleep. It seems I wake up more than I realized and I'm extremely restless, so I don't get very much deep, restorative sleep. I get several hours less sleep due to this, so I usually only get 5 - 7 hours a night. For me that's not enough, I used to sleep 9 or 10 hours each night. At least now I know why I feel tired all of the time. I do use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea so I'm guessing I need to have another sleep study and see if I need an adjustment. How is everyone else doing?

 

[NicoleL]

I might have to look into the fitbit, sounds like it is giving you some good insights. I was making progress and was up to working out 2 to 3 times a week and then I got sick so I'm trying to work my way back from that. I hope to started up again tomorrow.

Hope everyone is feeling motivated, like @burghchick I go into hibernation mode this time of year too. Now that I'm feeling a little better I hope to snap out of it.

 

[NicoleL]

pretty quiet in here, how is everybody doing?

 

[Anaphora]

Hey ladies! How are things?

Since I last posted I've been working with a personal trainer, going to group fitness classes, and doing cardio on my own. I'm really excited about all of it and think it can only get better from here.

 

[namkhoa68]

Joining!!
Count me in!