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Keeping fit

Starbuck

I am curious as to how other people stay fit and healthy on the forums.

My fitness levels are not great at the moment so I am thinking about what I can do to get back into a routine.  My energy levels are very low so need to build something up gradually, but would like to get back into cycling again as I do miss it.

What about you?  What is your approach to health and fitness? 

  • I spend most of my time running away from NT folk....that keeps me trim!

  • hey! Cycling is a great way to keep fit, I try to ride 2-3times a week for an hour or so. It works wonders for mental clarity and energy levels. Remember the saying healthy body healthy mind!

  • I have found that routine is absolutely key, especially with some kind of external motivation, i.e. attending regular classes.  I do yoga and always intend to get into a routine at home but if I don't attend a regular yoga class it just doesn't happen.  Oh I'll do it tomorrow, oh a couple of days won't hurt, oh I can't fit it in today, etc.  When I attend a weekly class I find that I am more motivated to keep practising a few times a week so that I don't fall behind in class.

    Also I have to admit that the fitness app things have helped to keep me motivated too.  I'm usually anti-tech for things but I started recording my steps over a year ago and have continued to monitor them.  I also added other activity and now I have my own activity goals which I monitor.

    I have cancer so I have to be careful with my energy, but then I also have to keep fit.  So I think that has kept me motivated.  If my activity levels drop I start to wonder whether it's an energy blip or whether it's the symptoms starting again.  That gives me a blast of motivation because I don't want to feel ill again.  If it's an energy blip then I should come through it and be able to increase my activity again.

    Diet - I don't think there is a one size fits all.  You have to go with your body.  I am generally low carb but don't worry about fats as long as they are the right types of fat.  Our body needs fat.  Now the weather is a bit colder I have increased my carb intake as I can feel that I need the energy it provides at the moment.  But I still keep plenty of fruit and veg in my diet.  There's a lot of discussion about whether you should have fruit or not given that it has sugar in it but I do have 2-3 pieces of fruit a day and try to make sure that I have different types of fruit.  I tend to have around 6-7 portions of veg a day, again trying to make sure it's a good mix of different types.  Processed sugar is of course evil, but unfortunately does contribute to an occasional tasty treat (mmm fruit crumble).

  • I have fibromyalgia and so struggle greatly with exercise fatigue. I would say add things gradually. I started not even being able to get up a flight of stairs and my muscles had become so weak that I could barely support myself properly. I started out with a few exercises from a pilates routine and gentle walking and slowly built up. I am now averaging 2-3 hours a week (two dance classes and a yoga class) plus extra walking and home exercises when I can. I have also been to quite a lot of sessions of physio therapy which have really helped as they have helped me target the areas where I struggle most. This has been over a period of 3/4 years. 

    Also as said before quitting sugar has helped greatly along with cutting back on meat. I have just started on the Patrick Holdford Low GL style diet and been finding things much easier energy wise. 

  • in reply to Robert124

    Exercise does definitely help your mental health so long as you are not over training, which is hard to do unless you are training for events etc.

    My main goal for exercise is to increase my energy levels (currently very low and long walks take their toll on me) and to build my muscle mass and tone as I have lost all my muscle due to not exercising.  Weight has never been an issue for me, but despite this I appreciate I am probably at my most unhealthy at present and need to do something about it.

  • I was placed on a proper  12  week. Health fitness and diet course by one of my work advisors.  These courses are NHS sponsored and free to the user and give much useful information.  

    Again, it depends one what you want to get out of it.  Do you want to lose weight, get more stamina, more physical strength or what ?

    Interesting aside, I missed one session because I had a psychiatrist appointment at a mental health unit. He suggested the identical course I was already on. Saying that physical health can help improve mental health.