It is fair to say that I am not the athletic type. I'd rather walk the whole way to work than run after a bus, the thought of a social game of soccer makes me break out into a cold sweat and I don't even run for shoe sales any more.
My exercise philosophy has always been no. Too hard, too boring, too sweat inducing, just no. Until that horrid turning point in my life when my previously fast metabolism decided to be as lazy as I am. All of a sudden I started putting on weight. And it didn't come off.
While I'm modifying my eating to be more healthy, even I have to admit that being active has to be part of the bargain.
A way to a healthy life by Abdullah AL-Naser
I considered a number of options for introducing exercise into my life. Despite the fact that I can't see the logic in working more hours to be able to afford more things to save ourselves time and effort and then paying to exert ourselves, I was even prepared to invest some money in my future health and fitness.
Swimming at the local pool
Good:
- I'm not completely hopeless at it
- Not expensive
- Easy to get to
Not so good:
- Crowded swimming lanes
- Being seen in my bathing suit
- Poo in the pool
Gym near home
Good:
- Not pretentious: low number of posers
- Not ridiculously expensive
- Easy to get to
- My husband and some friends go there
Not so good:
- Gym equipment confuses me
- My husband and some friends go there
- I'd have to get up before 6:00am
Gym near work
Good:
- I could go immediately before or after work, or during lunch
- Lots of nice equipment
- Great, encouraging staff who will show me not to look like an idiot
Not so good:
- Sweaty gym hair at work (ew) or wet hair for the rest of the day (it takes two hairdressers a long time to blow-dry my hair)
- I'd have to take gym gear/makeup/work clothes on the bus to and from work
Jogging or running by myself
Good:
- Fresh air
- Can do it anywhere
- Free!
Not so good:
- How would I stay focussed?
- I have no idea what I'm doing
As tempted as I am to say that the above lists prove that exercise is no good, I did some more research.
Lazy Cat by dougww
I found out about the Couch to 5K program. The program was designed by Cool Running and involves, um, running. The program is a gradual one, progressing from couch level fitness (which is where I'm sitting right now) to being able to run 5 kilometres. At once. Without stopping. It takes about 2 months to get to that point (although depending on fitness level it can be slowed down a bit) and involves a three day a week commitment.
The Couch to 5K website gives you a handy guide for how to progress your running. There is a schedule (I like schedules) prescribing what to do on each run. This solves my problem of not knowing what to do or how to do it.
To keep up the motivation and to make it easy, Robert Ullrey has made a series of podcasts for the program, incorporating music and directions on when to run and slow down during the workout. I found my husband's old ipod and was able to easily load them all on.
To top it all off, you don't have to pay a cent for the program or the podcasts. It is all provided free from the goodness of peoples' hearts. I figure if they're going to do all this to help me get fit and healthy the least I can do is get on with it.
So I checked with my doctor, (which is a very good idea if you're starting a new fitness program, particularly if you have medical conditions, are overweight, over 40 or just hopeless like me) and with her approval I've gotten off the couch.
What you need to start
- Couch to 5K program
- Couch to 5K podcasts
- An ipod, mp3 player or mobile phone that can play mp3s
- 45 minutes, 3 times a week
- Properly fitted running shoes
- Health check-up with your doctor
I'm now at week one - which means we can do it together if you'd like to join me. I'd also like to know what fitness and exercise you prefer and what your health goals are - tell me in the comments below.
Other posts you might be interested in reading
- Keeping it balanced In my experience, creating and maintaining a balanced lifestyle is one of the most difficult things to do. I read enough zen and life management...
- Weighing in – weight gain and moving on As promised, I have weighed in at the end of week 1 since starting my weight loss plan. photo credit: bayat I now weigh 68.3kg. ...
- Bathroom scales and a kilo or two of guilt Extra kilos always seem to come with a bonus helping of guilt, repulsion and self-pity. For many people this is of course a vicious cycle...
- Speedy mini post: Vietnamese Prawn Salad I recently mentioned Emma Knowles' Vietnamese Prawn Salad recipe which was posted at Gourmet Traveller. I made it for dinner last night, with a few...
- Foodies don’t get fat Confession. While I don't eat a lot of greasy fast food and mars bars aren't my downfall, I do eat..well..a lot. Accordingly I weigh a...
Good for you! You know, I used to hate exercise. Especially cardio. And ESPECIALLY weight training. But you know, once you get in shape (allow 2-3 months), it becomes a pleasure. Really a pleasure. Like half of the week it is the best part of my day. Stick with it and you will look and feel awesome before you know it. (Keep this in mind for those first few months when it's still hard).
Thanks for the encouragement Darya! At the moment I can't really imagine liking exercise but I'm definitely liking the idea of being fitter and healthy. I know that once I get a routine down it will definitely get easier. Thanks again for the inspiration!
"My husband and some friends go there" - LOL! That made me giggle.
I'm a big lover of exercise, but wasn't a fan of running until the last few years (two certain physical characteristics prevented me, if you know what I'm saying). But I also started using a program that's an download - Treadmill trainer by Yuri Elkaim. It's really awesome.
Couch to 5K sounds pretty cool too. Best of luck with it! Looking forward to seeing how you go
Christie @ Fig & Cherry’s last blog post..ANZAC biscuits, a tiny bit late
Thanks Christie, I will be regularly logging my progress off the couch
I've just had a look at the Treadmill trainer program, it looks good. I like that you can download a few workouts for free before signing up. The website is at http://www.mytreadmilltrainer.com/ if anyone else wants to check it out.
I know what you mean about the physical impediments - all I can say is firm support..or firm support x 2 is key. But not particularly comfortable.
I'm hoping with time it will become less of an issue.
Exercise is a reluctant part of the whole process for me too. Best of luck with the couch to 5k! I'll be cheering you on (from the couch most probably
)
Is is very wrong that I just want to curl up on the couch with that cat? Oh, yeah, I guess so...
Good luck!
Maureen’s last blog post..I Killed Christmas
Thanks Lorraine and Maureen - looks like we're going to end up with a crowd on the couch!
Hi, this touched such a chord with me- my metabolism has also just decided it is no longer prepared to accomodate my lifestyle and some of clothes are becoming decidedly snug! I wish you luck in your new running venture- I'm still on the search for my exercise silver bullet- in the meantime I've signed up to WW today- try and control my raging appetite as a first step.
Good luck, can't wait to see how you and the others progress!
Maree’s last blog post..Healthy freekah salad a la Cumulus
Hi Maree
Congratulations on taking the step to join WW! A good friend of mine had a lot of success on their program and has kept the weight off. If I may make a suggestion though - don't hold out for a silver-bullet exercise program. It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be more than what you were doing before and not too much for you to handle. 
It is a lot easier to meet your goals if you aim for better, not perfect!
I'm a big fan of c25k. This is my 3rd attempt and I am so so so close to finishing, just have 2 runs left! However, I will not be anywhere near being able to run 5k. I'll just be able to run 30 minutes and I am fine with that. Will work on speed later or never.
the forum at c25k.com has been quite helpful for me.
However it's a bit depressing that I am not losing any weight. Apparently diet matters, boo. Apparently diet matters more for weight *loss*, actually. But I cannot focus on exercise AND diet at the same time. That is too much for me. Am hoping that by becoming fitter my body will naturally crave healthier foods. We shall see, we shall see . . .
Anyway, good luck with c25k. Go at your own pace. Stick with it. You will achieve greatness.
Sweeter’s last blog post..2 miles!
Hi Sweeter, nice to see you here! Thanks for the encouragement for C25k!
With your diet, can you use a semi C25K approach? gradually change your diet - maybe start by picking something you can cut out or substitute and go from there? With diet, after a while you do feel awesome eating healthy, whole foods and you don't want the rubbish so much anymore. I do find that I get on a bit of a slippery-slope though.. so I have to focus myself.
Thanks for posting the link to the Couch to 5K program and podcasts! I'm going to give a shot at it too; had some setbacks in the first week so I'm starting again this week >.< I HATE running, but have found that this isn't too bad so far! I'm also rationalising that being able to run is a useful skill that I currently am terrible at, so there's a lot of reasons to do it. Good luck with your efforts!
Chisa’s last blog post..Handmade Market
Thanks Chisa, and good luck with your efforts in the C25K too. Do keep me posted and let me know how you go. You're right that there are a heap of fabulous reasons to do it and it will only get easier.
[...] be able to relate to her post on the pros and cons of exercise and find her post “Off the Couch - Fitness for Free” really [...]
Hi, I have had 8 hip replacements and 18 back operations , I also have a morphine pump that drips Hydro Morphine onto my spine,
I have just started on an excercise bike (the one where the arms are pushed back and forward at the same time as you peddal), and i have been at it a week now . When I started I could only do a minute now i am up to 7 Minutes and am working up to 10, But it is so boring especially living on your own,
I have started a High proteine diet but that is hard as well especially on crutches, But am giving it a go. Will keep you informed
Regards
Iain.
P.S. Due to extreamly long lengthy Stays in Hospital I ended up at 150kg I am now 140kg.