What do you do for your personal fitness?

[aspie*mum]

I am someone who gains weight very easily - and I LOVE to cook and eat.  I'm also not someone who enjoys exercise that much, but I force myself to do it, because, firstly, I don't want to be fat, and secondly I want to be healthy.

I go to the gym Monday Wednesday and Friday from 6.15 to 7.15am, before work.  I think this is pretty good. I tend to slack off a bit in the holidays.  I do a combination of cardio and weights training.  I gain muscle easily, but struggle to loose kgs, so I have to be careful not to do to many weights and make sure I do enough cardio.

I am starting to do a pole dancing class on Monday's too.  I figure that I should learn a few tricks, plus, physically, you need strength as well as fitness, so hopefully it will be a good workout.

What do you do?

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

I have gone from an almost size 20 to fitting a pair of size 14 jeans. They are tight at the moment because I put on a little bit of weight in the past two months, battling illness, being overwhelmed with study and caring duties, sick sister and trying to get my father in law settled again after moving him down here. I don't indulge eat when I am down, I eat even less...so my my body holds on to whatever I do eat. I also tend to shut down and shut everyone out and hibernate. I am doing much better again and being more active again.

Frooty, around here there are a few vacation parks that have outdoor gym equipment that we can use for free. They are low impact (which is good for my knees) but they get your heart moving and you build up a sweat. Is there anything like that near you ?

I also get out into the backyard with our dog and play fetch with him.

It is funny a lot of the stuff we do daily we don't even think of as exercise, but packing and carrying and delivering hampers is a workout. Cleaning up after 40-80 people for lunch each week is also a bit of a workout.

A good guage of what you do each day is to wear a pedometer. You would be surprised how much you do move around...and for some people...how little.

[froot_loopz]

I have arthritis in my lower back and a hip, for now I find walking relieves the pain, cricket is marvellous for me, besides the first couple of games and training sessions   LOL. My back really loosens up and my recovery time became less and less. The body feels fantastic by the end of cricket season.


wish we played all year long LOL

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

Back issues seem really common here 😞 so bad.  My mum had a bad accident last year (fell backwards down the stairs whilst overseas, hospital, delayed return home, had to come back business class etc), and that was a year ago now, and she still has problems and probably always will.  She has found pilates really helpful and yoga.  Although she can't do in yoga what she used to be able to do.

Swimming is also really good.  My problem with swimming is it's so expensive.  It's $8 for a casual swim!  That's $24 a week if I go 3 times.  Nearly $200 a month.  And a membership isn't much cheaper, nor is buying a book of tickets - 5% discount.  And it's a wee bit cold to swim in the ocean this time of year!

U can look into hydro and if you are in a health fund or have a healthcare card, some places offer their use for a lot less.

Those of us with back issues (mine was a fall in 1998), you would be surprised what programs are available to get you fit and they are often subsidised or funded. I can claim gym membership from the insurer if I wish to, I don't, because I don't like the gym mindset. For me I prefer to make it a lifestyle thing. Find ways in nature to build my fitness IYKWIM. I love being outdoors most of the time and find it good for my mental health.

[froot_loopz]

I currently have a side strain, well we are assuming its a strain, after nothing came back in my chest xrays yesterday (did find out I have an extra rib LOL )


Ive been walking around with it for months,  I either got it from digging in the garden with my vegie garden, or cricket or carrying  home bags of shopping, I suspect me struggling with the roller doors at work hasnt helped matters either.

[kengillard]

an extra rib?????????

Was it Adams?

[froot_loopz]

😄

[diffusiongroupie]

I do a combination of cardio and weights training.  I gain muscle easily, but struggle to loose kgs, so I have to be careful not to do to many weights and make sure I do enough cardio.

Can I suggest that you do an equal amount of weights and cardio rather than more cardio. I am speaking purely from experience.

My PT advised me to do the same and explained that although a significant amount of cardio might make you feel like you have burnt more calories, weight training is just as beneficial.

I took my PT's advise and I can honestly say that the 18kg I have lost so far is due to the combined training. Previous to this advise I used to do an hour of cardio 5 days per week and my weight barely shifted.

If you do lighter weights with higher reps you are not going to have bulk muscle (which is a common fear). You will tone up and burn fat. Also, stop looking at your scales, you can tell by your clothes whether you have lost or gained weight. When you are weight training, scales give a false (for lack of a better word) reading.

You already have the drive to exercise (even if you don't want to - I relate very well) so use that drive to the best of your advantage.

Pole dancing is brilliant. It is a lot of fun and a good workout, I hope you enjoy it.

To answer your question about what exercise I do...

I train from 6am - 7am 6 days per week. Monday, Wednesday & Friday are all strictly weights, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday is cardio.

Don't get me wrong, I hate getting out of bed and the thought of exercising as soon as my eyes open is not a pleasant thought however, I have made a point of not thinking about it. I just get up, get dressed and train.

The plus side is that I feel great for the rest of the day. I now find that on Saturday (my day off) I feel sluggish and I have less motivation and energy. Interesting.

[purple_haize]

My back problems stem from when I was born, and now I have degenerative spinal disease, plus facet joints are rather thin, as is the bottom of my spine.

I cant go to a gym, my pain specialist dr. says it is out for me............however, I have found walking all the time, helps me lose weight.

Plus I am always going up and down stairs, as we have a 2 story house, that to, helps.

[aspie*mum]

Thanks diffussiongroupie!  I will try what you suggested with the weights!  Maybe I could go to the gym another day  a week (over the weekend) but (at this point!) I don't think I have the drive to do it 6 days!  You are a star!

I find it really fascinating to find out what other people do.

My boyfriend runs 10kms 3 times a week + bike riding and swimming, as he does triathlons.  He's quite slim/athletic and very tall!

[cat_mioux]

You don't need a gym to get fit!

I was a gym junkie for years. I was fed up with paying heaps of money and only using it 2 x week.

I wanted to get fit for a month's holiday in Europe so this is what I did.

Treadmill - 5 days a week 20 mins incline plus interval (You don't need a tready. Walk!)

Free weights - every second day. Cheap to buy, if you can't afford them use cans or flagons of water.

The Plank - OMG tough but effective

Fitball combined with free weights. You don't really need a fitball.

A big step outside - used for step ups and side jumps.

Pilates 2 x week using a DVD.

I got super fit after 6 months and found it easy to walk for up to 7 hours a day and hike up the hills and valleys of Ireland.