Best way to get fit quick? Running?
Options
elengwenllian
Posts: 25
Hia guys!
Okay - so I am completely unfit!
And last night I went to my first netball training session in about 10 years as I used to absolutely love netball! And last night was sooo good!" But I did notice how unfit I was, and that it will be affecting my game!
Now, I understand that I won't get fit overnight, but I don't want to rely on netball training only to get fit. I'm also doing 30 day shred (but not really doing it every day), but I was thinking - would running be the best way for me to improve my fitness the quickest?
I was thinking maybe couch to 5k....
What do you all think?THANKS! x
Okay - so I am completely unfit!
And last night I went to my first netball training session in about 10 years as I used to absolutely love netball! And last night was sooo good!" But I did notice how unfit I was, and that it will be affecting my game!
Now, I understand that I won't get fit overnight, but I don't want to rely on netball training only to get fit. I'm also doing 30 day shred (but not really doing it every day), but I was thinking - would running be the best way for me to improve my fitness the quickest?
I was thinking maybe couch to 5k....
What do you all think?THANKS! x
0
Replies
-
get a bike.start off with some small rides maybe to and from work.this will be a lot easier to get into than running and a lot more enjoyable.having fun while working out is the key to keeping yourself motivated.I,m not knocking running its a great exercise its just so tough on your body and hard to do if your not fit.enjoy.0
-
Swimming is good for all round fitness too. I think varying your activities is the best way to keep yourself interested and means you cover all the muscle groups.0
-
Varying activity is good. If you are interested in running, try a C25K app. I did one about a year ago, now I'm running 3-4 times a week.0
-
Thank you so much for your messages and advice.
I should've said in the first message actually - I used to cycle everyday to work etc, and go on quite long rides, but last year I had quite a bad cycling accident that left me needing treatment on my face. So....unfortunately, cycling is a no go for me! I work myself up and I'm not comfortable back on the bike :-(
Swimming on the other hand might be a good one....I love swimming!
x0 -
Fit is relative...do you want to be able run fast or far. Do you want to be strong or look powerful? Do you want to be lean and flexible?
Diet and the type of training you do will mold you into the type of "fitness" you want. But without more info, we can't help you determine where you actually want to get to.
BTW...you can always switch as you go, you simply need a starting out goal. Then see how it goes. As you start reaching different milestones towards your goal, you can revisit if that's what you really want.0 -
Fit is relative...do you want to be able run fast or far. Do you want to be strong or look powerful? Do you want to be lean and flexible?
Diet and the type of training you do will mold you into the type of "fitness" you want. But without more info, we can't help you determine where you actually want to get to.
BTW...you can always switch as you go, you simply need a starting out goal. Then see how it goes. As you start reaching different milestones towards your goal, you can revisit if that's what you really want.
sorry to hijack this post - ( I will give my tuppence worth in a sec) but can you be very strong and not look it or vice versa? can u give some tips for this lean look of which you speak?? I'm losing weight, i'm exercising, I'm noticing a difference, but I want that "no lumpy bumpy' look. whilst I appreciate that its a lot down to diet and nutrition, what exercises could I do?
In terms of starting to become fit, I started with HIIT with running. I ran on the treadmill as hard as I could for 30 seconds, then I walked for 1.5 minutes, ran/walked for 30 minutes. Slowly but surely I upped the speed of running as well as the length of time, until I could just run. My aim at that time was to be able to run as opposed to lose weight (Oh how I wish I was still there!!!) but HIIT is a great way of getting fitter, using any cardio0 -
Variety will be great, it will help keep you interested and each type of cardio will improve different elements of your fitness, strength and overall condition.
Of the different things that I do today and have tried previously I have a bias towards running because it's just so accessible; you don't need to spend 30 minutes going to the pool and getting changed etc. I have also found it to have the greatest overall effect on the body and fitness if following a varied training plan.
A poster above calls out some risks to knees which are not quite right. There's no inevitability about running causing you damage but there are risks if you use poor form or poor equipment. Same as any activity.
C25K is the way to go, having first gone to a specialist running shop and been fitted for the right type of shoe for you. A few minutes on youTube researching proper running gait will be time well spent also.
Good luck. Feel free to add me if you'd like any encouragement along the way.0 -
Pilates is a great way to start off, also! It's something that you can do at home, without any equipment, and it can help build muscle or tone depending on what you want and what you do. Definitly a great basic daily workout though to help you start getting into shape!
Check out the blog and YouTube channel "Blogilates". The woman, Cassey, is an amazingly enthusiastic trainer who is very informative and has workouts for beginners who are literally just starting. I learned a ton from her and her videos and blog really helped me get started a few months ago when I first began to exercise daily.
She has a beginners calander too, that is arranged to make sure you work everything, without overworking anything. It's a pretty great for anyone who is looking to get back into shape but doesn't quite have a plan just yet.
Also, her recipes on her page are delicious, so check them out!0 -
Fit is relative...do you want to be able run fast or far. Do you want to be strong or look powerful? Do you want to be lean and flexible?
Diet and the type of training you do will mold you into the type of "fitness" you want. But without more info, we can't help you determine where you actually want to get to.
BTW...you can always switch as you go, you simply need a starting out goal. Then see how it goes. As you start reaching different milestones towards your goal, you can revisit if that's what you really want.
Yep I get what you're saying. So basically - my goal at the moment is to get myself fit enough to be able to play a game of netball at the end without struggling for energy and it affecting my game by the end of the game.
So basically....stamina..but also speed to some extent - as I do need to use spurts of speed in netball too. That's what tires me out atm!
Thanks!0 -
C25K is the way to go, having first gone to a specialist running shop and been fitted for the right type of shoe for you. A few minutes on youTube researching proper running gait will be time well spent also.
Good luck. Feel free to add me if you'd like any encouragement along the way.
Definitely! Thank you so much!
So you'd recommend just going to a running shop and getting proper shoes? Would a sport shop be okay, or you'd say a specialist running one?
I'll add you, thank you!0 -
A poster above calls out some risks to knees which are not quite right. There's no inevitability about running causing you damage but there are risks if you use poor form or poor equipment. Same as any activity.
My information is based solely on my own personal experience, and that of people around me, so I apologize if it's not accurate. I will have to research a bit.0 -
So you'd recommend just going to a running shop and getting proper shoes? Would a sport shop be okay, or you'd say a specialist running one?
I'll add you, thank you!
When I got started, I went to a general sports shop (a big chain), they hooked me up on a treadmill with a video whatsit attached, analysing my gait as an underpronator and recommended shoes for me, with support insoles that cost extra.
2 months later I've got a messed up left knee and when I go to a specialist shop they determine that I am actually a mild overpronator, I have insoles that are too small for the shoe (and pointless anyway), that I am lacing my shoes up too loosely which is causing my foot to move around inside the shoe each time my foot strikes down - all adding up to sending the wrong stresses on the knee. Oh and my stride length was too wide and I was heel striking which meant each time my foot landed I was essentially putting on the brakes and sending shock waves up the leg.
So I was pretty much doing everything wrong
A specialist running shop is the way to go in my opinion. Well worth paying a bit more for the right advice.0 -
From the OP it looks like you're talking stamina rather than strength.
For building up my stamina it's long cardio sessions, like running or cycling (or swimming if you're that way inclined). I use rock climbing for strength, but this requires lots of stamina as well, so is the best of both worlds, but coupled with cardio work inbetween I often find my climbing improves due to increased stamina (which means I can hang on for longer and so have enough reserves for the hard moves later on in a climb)
In rock climbing circles there are those that argue that with strength comes stamina, I don't subscribe to this view though, it's a long drawn out argument that is constantly talked about (many think strength is better as you're not quite pushing at your limits as often so tire less quickly, but endurance athletes can push at their limit for far longer than a strong athlete will at their limit). It doesn't help that arguably the best two climbers in the world, one is ripped (Chris Sharma) and the other looks like a stick insect (Adam Ondra).0 -
I didn't really answer the original question did I? Just get out there and do the cardio and build up sensibly, if you can only run a mile, just do a mile and gradually extend the distance from there.
If you used to cycle a lot, you'll hopefully find you get back to your previous fitness levels quicker than it took you the first time round. After taking a few months off running, I find the first few runs to be horrible (especially as you jog along thinking to yourself that you should be finding this easy), but after a week or two I'm often back to 80-90% of my usual performance levels. Also if you are going to run, do it outdoors, its far more rewarding than a treadmill and there's hopefully such things as hills nearby that are great for attacking (tilting a treadmill just doesn't compare to a good steep hill).0 -
Running can do some epic damage to your knees and shins if you jump right into it
If you're jumping then there is a serious problem with your form, generally when running I go for a running action rather than a jumping action. I can sustain it for longer
(or just eventually in general for people who run on a regular basis).
That's nonsense, although it is an activity where form is very important as poor form can exacerbate existing conditions and develop new ones.0 -
I started doing 5k runner it's similar to C25k I'm doing a 10k in a little over 2 weeks I've got up to 7k and feel confident that I'll finish the 10k in about 70 mins.
3 months ago I couldn't run more than 30secs so I'm much healthier now
I'm going to continue running for cardio but start back at the gym and get my PT to get a good weight training plan as I have no strength in my upper body.
So you do need to think about balance running is great but you may need something else too.0 -
C25K will be good for stamina but it's not really complementary to the stop start nature of your sport (netball).
Maybe use fartlek training either instead of C25K or alternate between the two?0 -
Okay - so I am completely unfit!
As upthread, fitness is really all about your objectives. I note from a subsequent post that you've clarified that for you fitness is as much about the sport, Netball, so you need to pick something that is complementary to that.I was thinking maybe couch to 5k....
In terms of your objective, then C25K will certainly help. That'll get you capable of running for thirty minutes continuously. Once you've done that then you can either continue at that length of session or start to increase your distance, each leading to different outcomes.
As your focus is on netball then you'll also need to do some strength work. For your lower body that's also complementary to the running as it helps reduce the risk of injury, but in court sports it also helps reduce the risk of injury from the twisting movements. for the upper body it'll help improve your stamina and of course your power.
Personally I used the NHS C25K podcast series (http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx), and they have a complementary set of bodyweight strength training sessions. There is now an app as well.
The bodyweight stuff is designed to work alongside the C25K sessions, on the non running days, so it fits quite neatly.
That podcast series also has a lot of advice about running form, so I'm very much an advocate for that, rather than some of the apps that just tell you to walk or run at different intervals.
Once you've got to 30 minutes of continuous running you can start contemplating speedwork to support sprinting, although what I'd say is that most people get little benefit from speedwork when they're running less than a 60 minute session. For new runners most speed gains come from getting the miles in.
As far as shoes are concerned, I'd support the suggestion of going to get looked at in a proper running shop, although I'd leave it until you're in about week three of the programme. By that time you'll have settled into a running gait so the view of your running will be a bit more informed. That said, a decent running shop will have a returns policy that allows you to swap them even after running in them, which mitigates the risk of picking the wrong shoe.0 -
Running can do some epic damage to your knees and shins if you jump right into it
If you're jumping then there is a serious problem with your form, generally when running I go for a running action rather than a jumping action. I can sustain it for longer(or just eventually in general for people who run on a regular basis).
That's nonsense, although it is an activity where form is very important as poor form can exacerbate existing conditions and develop new ones.
As stated above, I was basing those statements on personal experience and I realize that since that experience involves pre-existing joint conditions, the information I gave is not accurate. I will edit that bit out of my post so as not to spread misinformation.
Edit: I do not seem to have the option to edit that post, but ignore my statements regarding running.0 -
BEST? Define best.
Um - what's best for you may not be for me..
For me, it's running and cycling ... but I'm not super heavy, so my legs can normally take it (injured at the moment :-( ) and I like being outside - so running and cycling work well for me.
But then some of the nutters here :-p like being in the gym and lifting etc... .. I can't think of ANYTHING more boring.
If I want to lift weight .. I'll go rock climbing .. I've got more than enough weight to lift without finding lumps of Iron to throw around.
So it's horses for courses.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.8K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.7K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 400 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.8K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 990 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.4K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions