New, running not an option

mugfilms
mugfilms Posts: 7 Member
edited November 8 in Introduce Yourself
As a fat kid growing up most of my life, then a rather studly soldier, then sliding back into obesity, I'm really looking forward to getting fit again and will hopefully be able to maintain that in the long term.
About 240 now, goal is 180 . I'm not afraid of bad/cheat days as long as I keep the big picture in mind.
One drawback is that due to a lingering Army injury I cannot run or jog for any extended length of time. I may regain this ability as I lose weight and take the pressure and impact off my ankle, but for now it is not a good idea.
If anyone out there has a similar experience or knows any good alternative for cardio exercises I'd be glad to her them. I've recently focused on strength training but what I'm doing now doesn't seem to count against gross calories.
Anyway, thanks for your consideration and I'm happy to share this experience with all of you.

Replies

  • mellyo77
    mellyo77 Posts: 214 Member
    I too cannot run. I struggle because I immediately develop chin splints also I just hate running...like passionately.....if there were a zombie invasion at this point I would be done. It sucks but there are some amazing alternatives to running for cardio. I know for me spin class, or stationary and regular bike riding, swimming, and even kettlebells which build muscle and provide cardio (depending on the circuit ) are amazing.....good luck. I am new (just rejoined the site) but you can add me if you want :)
  • ellie0213
    ellie0213 Posts: 516 Member
    Hey! Thank you for your service! There are lots of cardio options that are not running. Feel free to add me.
  • YoEdward
    YoEdward Posts: 9
    I know a few body builders and they keep telling me and friends that since they are so big they really don't run at all. All they do is walk for an hour or walk up hill on the tread mill for an hour or more depends on how they feel. After running 12 miles I couldn't run my usual 5K daily so I do Punching Bag drills, shadow boxing. Also one thing that I really recommend is having a Hear Rate Monitor, I just bought my second one in one month and it's amazing, no more guessing or being confused on how much did I burn, hope it helps. If you need references let me know.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
  • nikiramirez
    nikiramirez Posts: 43
    Welcome :) You're in the right place to find ideas that'll work for you... running and high impact don't have to be answer either! I do run, and like it (self-torture I guess) but it isn't by any means my main method of fitness... I love PiYo and Yoga - so much good, hard work and great results. Anyway, you're going to do great!
  • NofatdaddyMike
    NofatdaddyMike Posts: 574 Member
    Thank you for your Army service. I do not run due to bad knees developed while in the Navy. I do however walk and that is my main form of exercise. I do some weights and getting a HRM is a must. Anything you do can burn calories, so go and get one. You will do great and you are at the right site. Feel free to add me if you like.
  • EllieB_5
    EllieB_5 Posts: 247 Member
    I agree with walk. I have severe arthritis in my lumbar and sacroiliac (SI) and there isn't a cardio exercise that won't aggravate the SI. I bought a pair of elbow crutches, that may do your ankle great benefit at this point, in order to keep the weight off my left (worse) side and I go as far as I can as fast as I can.
  • SonicKrunch
    SonicKrunch Posts: 192 Member
    Walking is what I did. Running would bring back a bad Patella injury so I walked. I'd walk for my work breaks, walk for my lunch, walk the dogs. I'd keep up a high pace. 4.0-4.5mph. I did do some biking and I'd jog when I felt like I could, however the two biggest things were my eating habits and walking. Now that I'm down ~60 pounds, I can do a lot more however and I'd hope for you that is the case as well. Good luck!
  • DM01234
    DM01234 Posts: 317 Member
    A Concept2 rowing machine is an all out amazing low impact cardio option. I tried jogging/running and was not appealing.

    A couple / few days spent on focusing on proper form and it's an amazing full body workout.

  • Travis_2
    Travis_2 Posts: 1,445 Member
    Walking, pool, weight lifting, cycling

    Just no curling in the squat rack.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Bike, row, shadow boxing with hand weights
  • NoelFigart1
    NoelFigart1 Posts: 1,276 Member
    mugfilms wrote: »
    As a fat kid growing up most of my life, then a rather studly soldier, then sliding back into obesity, I'm really looking forward to getting fit again and will hopefully be able to maintain that in the long term.
    About 240 now, goal is 180 . I'm not afraid of bad/cheat days as long as I keep the big picture in mind.
    One drawback is that due to a lingering Army injury I cannot run or jog for any extended length of time. I may regain this ability as I lose weight and take the pressure and impact off my ankle, but for now it is not a good idea.
    If anyone out there has a similar experience or knows any good alternative for cardio exercises I'd be glad to her them. I've recently focused on strength training but what I'm doing now doesn't seem to count against gross calories.
    Anyway, thanks for your consideration and I'm happy to share this experience with all of you.


    I can't run. But holy crimoly can I SWIM!

    So, yeah. I smell of chlorine and insanity most days.

    The thing is, when people recommend swimming to former runners, they talk about how wonderful, how joint-friendly, what a lovely all-body workout that is. How delicious a swim is and how mellow and wonderful you feel afterwards.

    And that's true.

    Except...

    Swimming is incredibly technical. I mean like Ballet or Kung Fu levels of technical. So you won't be able to leap into the pool and glide through a wonderful workout at first. If you're not already a swimmer, you're going to start out feeling clumsy as all hell.

    It's when you get past that that you start to feel so wonderful.
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    Bi-cycle!
    BI-cycle!
    (I want to ride my bicycle! I want to ride my bike!)
  • mugfilms
    mugfilms Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks for the ideas, guys. I'll look at my options and put them to good use.
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    I love the elliptical. Cycling and swimming are good too.
  • wilsoncl6
    wilsoncl6 Posts: 1,280 Member
    I live on the elliptical due to two knee surgeries for overuse injuries caused by many years of running in the service. Should have paid attention when they kept telling me to get good pairs of running shoes. The rowing machine is a very good no impact option also, along with swimming and stationary or regular biking. I can't bike because I like doing exercise that incorporates my own body weight. I think I'll try running again when I get down to my goal weight. I really liked it but my knees really hate it at this point. Are you doing cardio for the calorie burn or to strengthen your cardiovascular system?
  • RavenLibra
    RavenLibra Posts: 1,737 Member
    try elliptical trainers or stationary bicycles... recumbent or standard... swimming... working with medicine balls... OR... lift light... really fast... introduce circuit training...
  • mugfilms
    mugfilms Posts: 7 Member
    Both. Focusing more on calories, but I'll take the other benefits with it.
  • gary622
    gary622 Posts: 2 Member
    Nthing elliptical -- I used to run in my younger days, my back got to where it really hurt when I ran, and then an accident (motorcycle) put me on an artificial hip and that means NO high-impact. Elliptical is the thing that gives me the closest feeling mentally (and in terms of HR/sweating/etc.) to a run.
  • AcadianRedneck
    AcadianRedneck Posts: 6 Member
    I'm new as well ..... Cannot run due to a bad knee, but I do lots of walking as well as cycling.
    Welcome aboard Mug !
  • acf6b
    acf6b Posts: 12 Member
    mugfilms wrote: »
    As a fat kid growing up most of my life, then a rather studly soldier, then sliding back into obesity, I'm really looking forward to getting fit again and will hopefully be able to maintain that in the long term.
    About 240 now, goal is 180 . I'm not afraid of bad/cheat days as long as I keep the big picture in mind.
    One drawback is that due to a lingering Army injury I cannot run or jog for any extended length of time. I may regain this ability as I lose weight and take the pressure and impact off my ankle, but for now it is not a good idea.
    If anyone out there has a similar experience or knows any good alternative for cardio exercises I'd be glad to her them. I've recently focused on strength training but what I'm doing now doesn't seem to count against gross calories.
    Anyway, thanks for your consideration and I'm happy to share this experience with all of you.

    First thank you for your service. I have a bad knee which I am overcoming and from what I am guessing new found shin splints(sharp pain in one spot on my left shin that goes to my foot) when I run/walk. I was 198 with a goal of 175, I am now 179. My main source of cardio is a recumbent(spelling) bike that I purchased but I also started focusing on other things, such as balance, standing at work, etc. I am a geek so i play video games, so the bike is nice and I have a balance board that I use. I couldn't run at all when i started out because of my knee but that pain is gone now. My shin will act up but nowhere near as bad as my knee was. The balance board helped a lot, I also am training in the "barefoot" type of shoes, I have basically really just started to retrain myself how to walk and slowly to run. feel free if you would like to add me as a friend on here. I also use a fitbit everyday if you get anything like that. I can always share stuff I am doing and how it works, etc.
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
    I sorta feel your pain. I shattered my left femur in a car accident many moons ago, and I haven't been able to run/jog since. That story is nowhere as cool as your being injured while serving your country, but it's all I've got.

    I had to have a titanium rod inserted in my femur, and now I can't do ANYTHING that requires any sort of range of motion for that knee. So, I walk. I can walk rather quickly when I want to (up to 5 mph), but no running, no biking, no elliptical. It also prevents me from doing a lot of lifting (I injure my knee every time I squat). I'd swim, but I hate swimming. I CAN use the stair climber, which I love. That is the only thing I regret about quitting the gym.
  • Beautifulbridgittlee7
    Beautifulbridgittlee7 Posts: 352 Member
    Rowing/elliptical/swimming/water jogging/hiking, weight training all good. The stairclimber and arc trainer might be good to you, if you can use a versa climber or a Jacob's Ladder that's really good cardio right there , it's like rock climbing. Race walking is good too, hula hooping, water aerobics,etc
  • joanthemom8
    joanthemom8 Posts: 375 Member
    I didn't read through all of the replies, so maybe someone already recommended this...the elliptical. I do run, but when I had leg and foot issues, I used the elliptical ... you really get a good burn on it. Also a stationary bike (I hear the recumbent bike is good) or a real bike if you like that.
    BTW - thank you for your service to our country!
  • AgentOrangeJuice
    AgentOrangeJuice Posts: 1,069 Member
    Y U NO DDP YOGA BRO?
  • mugfilms
    mugfilms Posts: 7 Member
    Pokeybug: Trust me, my story is not very cool. I'm good at twisting my ankle in mundane situations.

    AgentOrangeJuice: Thank you for pointing me in that direction. I had seen the "inspirational" video for it once and couldn't remember what the program was. I'll check it out.
  • AgentOrangeJuice
    AgentOrangeJuice Posts: 1,069 Member
    I've lost 75 lbs on DDP Yoga and have kept it off.
  • AgentOrangeJuice
    AgentOrangeJuice Posts: 1,069 Member
    Also, I twisted my ankle 2 years ago, sprained my ankle, broke several bones in my foot, pulled some ligaments. Not a fun time in my life. Yoga will help you improve your balance and strengthen your core.
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
    mugfilms wrote: »
    Pokeybug: Trust me, my story is not very cool. I'm good at twisting my ankle in mundane situations.

    It's cooler than putting yourself in the hospital for 3 months, because you didn't look both ways for oncoming traffic before you turned, lol.

  • kareneastwood865
    kareneastwood865 Posts: 132 Member
    I just do not enjoy running. On the first night I joined my boot camp class, the trainer asked if I had any particular areas of concern. I blurted out "I don't run and I can't jump". He laughed when I said I was dead serious. He has found other things for me to concentrate on. We started with TRX workouts. I am now doing everything in the circuit and have worked up to a light (no, very light) jog. Baby steps. Good luck to you. Feel free to add me!
  • ndolezalik
    ndolezalik Posts: 1 Member
    Mugfilms, you and I are in the same boat. I'm 29, started at 239lbs with a goal of 180lbs. Three months later I'm down 28 pounds with extremely limited cardio. I've learned that you can cut it out completely from your routine.
    Skip breakfast. Shoot for 1600 calories per day. Eat chicken and turkey all day. You can gorge yourself on it and it's very minimal calories. Plus, it gives you needed protein. Now, go to the gym for an hour four nights per week and lift hard. DOMS is real so don't give up after the first two weeks. The pain goes away.
    Don't drink your calories.
    There. Best alternative to cardio, no cardio.
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