tips for beginners that no one told you.
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I felt like I got really good support & advice starting out. The most important thing I would pass along is CONSISTENCY brings success. Many small steps are best, rather than a few huge leaps followed by a crash.14
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tracymegan wrote: »Eons ago, I was a heavy lifter, so have lottos thickness and muscle mass...even though I have padded the crap out of that mass. In seeing a trainer, I changed my routine from 10-12 reps of 3 sets to 20 reps of 4 sets..no breaks and stepped training! Cannot believe the changes!!! Huge in literally weeks! Have lost 5 inches on each thigh!
Ooh, I'm trying this!0 -
Always buy running shorts with a tie waist. ALWAYS!
Oh, and you can never have too much Body Glide.13 -
Work on running, even though you don't currently like it.
I wasted way too much time walking as a beginner. Fitness magazines completely oversold its health benefits. It was only years later that I realized how much I was wasting my time. I later learned that doctors and mags exaggerate its benefits because it's hard to get people to do anything more strenuous.18 -
Great information, everyone....
but these really speak to me and getting me back on track after Halloween binge of a week.LiveLoveFitFab wrote: »If you can't take eating a deficit any more, mentally that is - move up to maintenance for a week or however long and just concentrate on fitness. Dieting for months on end can be exhausting and instead of giving up it's okay to take a break from eating to lose as long as you keep logging and keep your work up at the gym. This is a marathon, not a sprint.notreallychris wrote: »You aren't going to burn off that candy (or whatever treat) by getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Fit that candy (or whatever treat) into your daily, or weekly, allowance.JerSchmare wrote: »It’s a lifetime pursuit, not a goal to stop when you get there. Slow and steady win. Slow progress is still progress.
Getting back to it....!3 -
Jogging is the best weight loss exercise for me. I am not talking running or racing. Those are competitive and lead to injury and disappointment. My idea is that I don't measure distance, I don't care how far I go. I don't measure pace, I don't care how fast I go. I jog to fill time, meaning I will go out in one direction for thirty minutes and return That is one hour of consistent exercise. I need nothing more than a wristwatch and a good pair of shoes. (The best shoe I ever bought was NewBalance 475) I was able to do this for a year with a minimum of once every two days and lost over fifty pounds without a difficult diet. I never had an injury other than a scrape from tripping on the sidewalk. The whole idea was that competing with others didn't help me with my personal goals of health and happiness15
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Make small changes to begin, then work up to a total lifestyle change.
You'll burn out fast if you try to go balls to the wall changing everything all at once--your diet, trying to exercise until you die every day, giving up all your vices--carbs, wine, candy, fries, whatever. Make small changes along the way so you don't get burned out and become self defeating when you mess up in an area.7 -
don't weigh your self every day. take measurements and before pics7
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Someone has to be the heaviest person in the gym/runner on the road/cyclist on the trail/whatever. Maybe that person is you and maybe it isn't. No one else around you is judging you nearly as much as you're judging yourself.13
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I learned to not skip out on the exercises I don't like. I never enjoyed running and would always go with another alternative for cardio that was easier for me. I realized that I only never enjoyed it because I was never good at it, not for any other reasons. So I need to get off my behind and run, improve myself to the point that I can say I don't suck at it anymore and actually find the fun in going out for a run.3
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Doing something, no matter how little, is better than doing nothing. If you struggle at the beginning, do what you can and gradually build up to more.8
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notreallychris wrote: »You aren't going to burn off that candy (or whatever treat) by getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Fit that candy (or whatever treat) into your daily, or weekly, allowance.
Something you could have told me BEFORE Tuesday.
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The notion that running has to be competitive is, with all due respect, misguided. So is the idea that one should avoid running because it can lead to injury.jamesnewberrysr wrote: »Jogging is the best weight loss exercise for me. I am not talking running or racing. Those are competitive and lead to injury and disappointment.
In our lives, there will almost certainly be situations in which we HAVE to run. It's far better to be prepared for such situations. Failing to do be ready could lead to more serious injury or other consequences, especially in an emergency.
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Learn good form, whatever activity you do. Get some coaching, whether it's running, lifting, swimming... the cost of a few coaching sessions may prevent a lot higher coast in pain, surgery, rehab, etc. plus you'll enjoy just about anything more if you do it well.
Also, sleep is way underrated and so needed!9 -
not every muscle that's nagging you needs to be stretched.2
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In our lives, there will almost certainly be situations in which we HAVE to run. It's far better to be prepared for such situations. Failing to do be ready could lead to more serious injury or other consequences, especially in an emergency.jamesnewberrysr wrote: »Jogging is the best weight loss exercise for me. I am not talking running or racing. Those are competitive and lead to injury and disappointment.
I took up selling crack because running from the police is good motivation.8 -
NorthCascades wrote: »
In our lives, there will almost certainly be situations in which we HAVE to run. It's far better to be prepared for such situations. Failing to do be ready could lead to more serious injury or other consequences, especially in an emergency.jamesnewberrysr wrote: »Jogging is the best weight loss exercise for me. I am not talking running or racing. Those are competitive and lead to injury and disappointment.
I took up selling crack because running from the police is good motivation.
I took up using crack because running from crack dealers is even better motivation.11 -
Unique, inspiring, and insightful exercise ideas in here!1
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Be patient. Weight fluctuations are a thing even if you eat at deficit consistently (yes, that means every single day!). No one at all is looking at you at the gym. No one cares about you and that's a good thing. Focusing only on calories and hitting protein is okay. You can throw out every excuse in the book but in the end, your progress is entirely up to you. You don't have to workout every single day you possibly can.2
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Lifting heavy means lifting what is heavy for you.
If your first step is learning to touch your toes and lifting your arms over head- it's a win.
Not everyone can, wants, or needs, to move a 45lbs bar.
Cheers, h.6
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