Queryg what was/were your primary exercise/s for getting in shape

awnurmarc

Obviously fat loss is mostly eating habits, but was there a physical activity that significantly eases your calorie goals or improved another fitness parameter or helped in some other way? A routine or regimen you adopted.

sijomial

Cycling is the big thing for me, I can lose or maintain weight so much easier when I have a big calorie allowance boosted by exercise. In the last 12 months my Garmin tells me I've burned 182,334 net calories just from my sporting/serious cycling which is almost exactly 500cals/day. There's a lot of dietary freedom maintaining at 3,000+ cals/day and if I want to cut some weight it's pretty painless from there.

Plus I love cycling so it's no chore. As regards fitness it's been a revelation - I always thought I was poor at endurance cardio and gravitated towards sprint or stop/start oriented sports but discovered I just hadn't trained for it properly. Previously I considered having a RHR of 60 as me being fit but now it's 20% lower. Also find it compliments my strength training pretty well, on a nice day I'm outside cycling and the gym is mostly for rainy days and evenings.

Wish I had started earlier but I see loads of far older riders than me (I'm 60) still doing long distance events and being noticably lean, healthy and enthusiastic. It's been great for my mental health in lockdown too, being out in the countryside raises my spirits enormously.

nexangelus

Lifting heavy (weight training), have always cycled, walked and been physically active otherwise....

_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_

I prefer to cross train, so I run, lift weights, do yoga, and hike extensively. It keeps things interesting and improves cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, endurance, and results in a decent calorie burn.

Lietchi

I started out just walking on the treadmill. After building up my fitness level (increasing speed and incline) I decided to try running again. This time round, I fared a lot better than my previous attempts at C25K, so now I run on the treadmill a few times a week. On top of that, I row occasionally (Concept 2 indoor rower) and I started lifting weights a few months ago.

The running is pretty good for giving me extra calories to consume and I like improving my running times and distances.
Rowing is not something I particularly like, usually 20-30 minutes when I feel I've been too lazy and my legs need a rest after running. Since my rowing sessions are short, it doesn't really do a lot for weight loss, just a little calorie boost.
Weight training takes longer, but doesn't burn a lot of calories. I like getting stronger and I'm sure it will help me look better without losing a lot more weight, since I'm almost at a normal BMI. And I'm sure I've lost a bit of muscle mass after losing 55lbs, so it will help with that.

Generally speaking, my cardiovascular fitness and endurance has increased drastically (I'm fitter now than 15 years ago before gaining weight), from the walking and then running. My resting heart rate is also lower.

dbanks80

nexangelus wrote: »

Lifting heavy (weight training), have always cycled, walked and been physically active otherwise....

Lifting heavy helped to transform my body. I always run 2 miles before my lifting session. But progressive weight lifting really helped me.

MaltedTea

Lifting heavy crap 🤷🏿‍♀️ I did ride on my janky hybrid bike a lot during the summer but that was mostly to chill out.

4Phoenix

tai chi

cwolfman13

Cycling enthusiast...road and mountain/trail. I used to do a lot of long distance road cycling events but took a couple of years off from those to just enjoy riding and being more casual. I'm back to actively training in 2021...I have a Fondo scheduled for late May, so hopefully that stays a go and doesn't get COVID cancelled.

I also hit the weight room 2-3 days per week depending on my schedule. I also enjoy getting out on hikes when I can...usually spring through fall when we do a lot of camping in the mountains.

Helps with the calories, but really I do it to maintain a fairly high degree of fitness, and it does wonders for my health markers and I enjoy it. I'm doing a lot of FTP interval kinds of stuff right now, which is fairly strenuous, but it's relatively short in duration with periods of rest and doesn't burn a ton of calories.

Remus42

Basically after being an active kid, I become an inactive teenager and that followed me into adulthood. Then I said screw this and rediscovered my passion for all things active. Basically I want to continue to be active as long as I can.
I love that I cross train, so I never get bored with my exercise routine. Right now it's all focused on swimming and yoga. I have an ongoing injury that is limiting my other activities, but I hope that is slowly resolving.
When it's nicer I am always on the go with my mountain bike. I love snowboarding but winter has been poop here so far. And I want to get back into my running again, injury willing, that might be back come this summer.
Plus I really, really want to get a sea kayak. I use to sprint kayak when I was younger and I have since rediscovered that love too.

riffraff2112

Anything that you enjoy doing on a regular basis and gets the heart pumping. I've had success with fast walking, jogging, cycling, golf (walking not riding).

gallicinvasion

Walking! Enjoyable, easy, low-impact, keeps me burning steady calories, and do-able ANYWHERE.

LisaGetsMoving

When my success story is written it will say that I *walked and hiked a lot, it will say that I rode my bicycle for fun, it will say that I started lifting heavy things, building muscles and improving my strength. It will say that I kept an eye on my calorie intake and learned how to include the "decadent" foods I love regularly but at appropriate portions. I am only just now starting but I've got good long range vision and can imagine my next birthday or Christmas in a totally different shape.

*My calculation is that if I walk 90 minutes per day and stay within my calorie range I will lose a minimum of 1 pound per week, so that is what I am aiming for. All other exercise is done for fun or for building muscles.

Chef_Barbell

Lifting heavy things, then putting them back down.

jfsilva25

Walking about 20 miles each week and resistance training. The resistance training was in part back rehab that morphed into a 3-a-week habit that has kept my back strong and the rest of me mostly injury free. Lots of squats and lunges and also upper body work. The key for me has been keeping it regular and doing something 7 days a week. Also bringing people into the workouts (virtually) and logging - both to keep me accountable.

kjratliff55

While losing weight (315lbs -185lbs) I walked 3 to 5miles a day (sometimes more but 5 was an average).
dropping from 200 to 185lbs I cut my calories back to much and lost some muscle; a year of weight training got it right back.

durhammfp

Walking outdoors about 30-35 miles/week while making sure I ate at a calorie deficit, that wa responsible for 85% of my weight loss. The last 15% I have lost, over a much longer timeframe, running 12-30 miles/week. For me, I think running makes my calorie deficit more difficult to attain since I am hungrier. The Runger is Real.

ETA: I do love running and I think it's helping keep my weight down as I recomp a little... so I'm not complaining about it.

GummiMundi

When I started, the only exercise I did was walking (I enjoy it, plus it gets my heart beating a little faster), and pilates (helps with posture, back problems, and flexibility).
It wasn't until I dropped most of my excess weight that I started experimenting with other things (jogging, some cardio classes, some resistance training). I didn't feel physically or mentally ready to do these things when I was obese, but now I do.

rosebarnalice

Swimming laps!

WannaBeAnon

This is probably more specific than you were thinking, but THE one exercise that had the biggest impact on my general fitness and strength is heavy rowing (bent-over, chest supported, even machine-pulldowns and pullups). A strong upper to mid back is the first thing you notice when you improve your general fitness - in my opinion.

lunascribe

Endurance speed rope. Despite being a very fit long-distance runner, jump rope was torture that rapidly evolved in a few weeks to pleasure - and my fitness level increased by leaps and bounds.

kedwards4267

I started with walking 30 min a day, 7 days a week and a month ago I started rowing with a water rower. I love the rower, I do 30 min 3 days a week and I already see my arms and abs toning up.

Girlheidi

Walking and running are my go tos. I was quite large and then started on the couch to 5k program on the treadmill. It was do-able and very encouraging to be able to run for 30 minutes. Then I took it outside - I quite enjoy running outside, but I have to have music! On the treadmill I watch shows, so it passes the time (It is a bit dodgy outside on the roads at the moment so treadmill is better).
With me running, a couple of my slimmer but very unfit friends, decided to also give it a try, and they can now run 5K too! I always say, if I can do it, anyone can. It is also very cheap to run outside. I paired this with a fitness watch and MFP and it worked together. I like cake, and I fit it in to my diet.
Whatever works for you - and even something small is better than just sitting on the couch.

nitalieben

I lost 32kgs through diet only. I was much smaller obviously, but still looked "squishy" and "flabby". Then, I started incorporating strength training, and though I gained back roughly 2kgs, I look much firmer and feel much better. My waist circumference initially increased with 1cm only, and remained at that. Other areas, of course, increased, but that is hoped for (biceps, thighs, butt :laugh:)

cstatdixon

Pre-COVID, at the gym, heavy weightlifting 4 days a week and for fun, l did speed skating. Speed skating is an exceptional workout and so much fun! Post-COVID I do the aerobic step only.

vanmep

My theory is that if it’s something I enjoy doing and if it doesn’t cause too much disruption in my life, I’m all for it. So for me, cycling to work, walking with my partner in the evenings, hiking, yoga, kayaking, and then a few classes thrown in here and there to make sure I cover all the muscle groups.

steveko89

Personally, it was seriously getting into lifting; so much so it's a hobby and passion, not simply something I do out of necessity or a means to an end. For my wife, it's running. If you can find a mode of exercise that you enjoy doing independently of getting in shape.