Hello, I have no idea what I'm doing.
gaiaresurrected
Posts: 26 Member
Doing an Open University mini-course on 'The Science of Nutrition and Healthy Eating' required me to weigh myself. As it turns out, my scales need re-calibrating, I was weighed at a medical appointment this week, and next week's weight-log will look like I've shifted an additional 3kg.
It's not the 'weight' that's the issue, it's the appalling lack of fitness. I've had some 'events' in the last six years that have changed the ways I move and eat (And sleep, and think in general), this physical body is showing more signs of wear and tear than it ought to, and I say "Ouch!", and worse, far more frequently than I ought to.
I'd originally set up the NHS weight-loss app, but that defaulted to starting on a Monday. It was Saturday, and I'm as pedantic as hell, so it's just sitting on my phone, it'll probably beep soon, to check if I'm dead.
I've never been 'on a diet', and, until 2019, I had a 42-year streak of never having been inside a gym. Work, and 'normal life' provided enough activity to balance-out my abysmal diet. That changed in 2016, after some surgery, and it's showing. I know how food works, I'd just been doing it wrong, I have a theoretical understanding of exercise, but not much practical experience, combined with a tendency to fall over, I'm not really suited to in-person gym activities.
I'm sarcastic, and use humour as a deflection-mechanism. I'm not a sociable type, just thought I'd introduce myself, in case anyone thought I was a lurker.
It's not the 'weight' that's the issue, it's the appalling lack of fitness. I've had some 'events' in the last six years that have changed the ways I move and eat (And sleep, and think in general), this physical body is showing more signs of wear and tear than it ought to, and I say "Ouch!", and worse, far more frequently than I ought to.
I'd originally set up the NHS weight-loss app, but that defaulted to starting on a Monday. It was Saturday, and I'm as pedantic as hell, so it's just sitting on my phone, it'll probably beep soon, to check if I'm dead.
I've never been 'on a diet', and, until 2019, I had a 42-year streak of never having been inside a gym. Work, and 'normal life' provided enough activity to balance-out my abysmal diet. That changed in 2016, after some surgery, and it's showing. I know how food works, I'd just been doing it wrong, I have a theoretical understanding of exercise, but not much practical experience, combined with a tendency to fall over, I'm not really suited to in-person gym activities.
I'm sarcastic, and use humour as a deflection-mechanism. I'm not a sociable type, just thought I'd introduce myself, in case anyone thought I was a lurker.
5
Replies
-
gaiaresurrected wrote: »I'm sarcastic, and use humour as a deflection-mechanism. I'm not a sociable type
Hi. Are you me? You sound like you're me. I don't appreciate my identity being stolen like this.6 -
Most of us arrived here not knowing what we're doing 🙂
There is lots of useful info to be found in these forums. I recommend starting with the stickied Most Helpful posts at the top of each subforum and just general reading of the topics. And if you have specific questions, lots of helpful people around here to answer them.
Good luck!3 -
You two will get along in a fetching way, it seems 😉
@gaiaresurrected I've been impressed by the NHS C25K running program but perhaps you'll wanna get a handle on the calendar adjustment for your current app
And if running isn't your thing due to mobility or stability challenges then perhaps consider something like yoga or Pilates. Both are low impact and have a lot of floor or stability equipment...but, geez, they can work up a sweat.
Thank you for your pleasantly transparent intro and welcome to MFP! 👏🏿1 -
Welcome. You don't have to go to the gym if you don't want to. You can start out walking and then branch out from there and try new things. Exercise that you like, gets done. It'll take a little time before you see the benefits. Just don't start doing too much too soon. Injuries can hold you back. I won't comment on the diet part, since you say that's under control. Good luck.2
-
Thanks, all.
I'm trying (very) to do this sensibly and properly, 'sensible' and 'proper' are not my middle names, BUT I'm aware of my 'old' tendency to run at everything full-tilt, then wonder why I'm on the floor again. My compost-bin loves me again, with all the veg-ends I'm feeding it, or maybe it actually fancies me, thinking I'm one of its kind.
Next step, work out how to reply to individual responses...1 -
Welcome! I’m a former lurker, too, now a reformed lurker. These forums are amazing. Any question you can throw out will be answered quickly and pedantically, which should scratch all your itches.
To reply to individual posts simoly hit the “quote below the post you want to reply to, then put your response underneath, not inside the quote marks.2 -
springlering62 wrote: »Welcome! I’m a former lurker, too, now a reformed lurker. These forums are amazing. Any question you can throw out will be answered quickly and pedantically, which should scratch all your itches.
To reply to individual posts simoly hit the “quote below the post you want to reply to, then put your response underneath, not inside the quote marks.
Thank you! Once I learn a new system, it sticks, but this is a new platform for me.1 -
minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »gaiaresurrected wrote: »I'm sarcastic, and use humour as a deflection-mechanism. I'm not a sociable type
Hi. Are you me? You sound like you're me. I don't appreciate my identity being stolen like this.
I don't *think* I'm you, I thought I was me, but I did have a call from 'BT' this morning, saying my contract would be terminated due to some 'illegal theft and hacking', so maybe I did steal your identity? I'm not with BT, and didn't realise there were legal forms of theft and hacking.2 -
Most of us arrived here not knowing what we're doing 🙂
There is lots of useful info to be found in these forums. I recommend starting with the stickied Most Helpful posts at the top of each subforum and just general reading of the topics. And if you have specific questions, lots of helpful people around here to answer them.
Good luck!
Thank you- I'm still navigating my way around the site, I'll figure it out.0 -
You two will get along in a fetching way, it seems 😉
@gaiaresurrected I've been impressed by the NHS C25K running program but perhaps you'll wanna get a handle on the calendar adjustment for your current app
And if running isn't your thing due to mobility or stability challenges then perhaps consider something like yoga or Pilates. Both are low impact and have a lot of floor or stability equipment...but, geez, they can work up a sweat.
Thank you for your pleasantly transparent intro and welcome to MFP! 👏🏿
Thank you, I did look at the C25K a couple of years ago, but I'm a liability in terms of balance, I don't think running is going to be my 'thing', I'm looking at the 'Strength and Flex', but starting from home, not a park bench...1 -
snowflake954 wrote: »Welcome. You don't have to go to the gym if you don't want to. You can start out walking and then branch out from there and try new things. Exercise that you like, gets done. It'll take a little time before you see the benefits. Just don't start doing too much too soon. Injuries can hold you back. I won't comment on the diet part, since you say that's under control. Good luck.
Thank you, gyms/running aren't 'me', I'm building up my walking, and spending more time shifting stuff about in the garden- bonus there is free produce in season- gentle yoga, hoping to move up to Pilates, I've signed up for a free 'Core Restore' online course starting at the end of the month, I'm a shade of what I used to be, I know I'll never be 21 again, but I'd like to be fitter than I am now.0 -
gaiaresurrected wrote: »You two will get along in a fetching way, it seems 😉
@gaiaresurrected I've been impressed by the NHS C25K running program but perhaps you'll wanna get a handle on the calendar adjustment for your current app
And if running isn't your thing due to mobility or stability challenges then perhaps consider something like yoga or Pilates. Both are low impact and have a lot of floor or stability equipment...but, geez, they can work up a sweat.
Thank you for your pleasantly transparent intro and welcome to MFP! 👏🏿
Thank you, I did look at the C25K a couple of years ago, but I'm a liability in terms of balance, I don't think running is going to be my 'thing', I'm looking at the 'Strength and Flex', but starting from home, not a park bench...
If you're looking for strength, flexibility, and balance you might want to try light yoga. I'm 66 and started with a class 6 yrs ago. It is now part of my daily routine at home. The benefits are incredible, but I also do other things--swim, acquagym, walking, strength training, and a stretching routine.0 -
snowflake954 wrote: »gaiaresurrected wrote: »You two will get along in a fetching way, it seems 😉
@gaiaresurrected I've been impressed by the NHS C25K running program but perhaps you'll wanna get a handle on the calendar adjustment for your current app
And if running isn't your thing due to mobility or stability challenges then perhaps consider something like yoga or Pilates. Both are low impact and have a lot of floor or stability equipment...but, geez, they can work up a sweat.
Thank you for your pleasantly transparent intro and welcome to MFP! 👏🏿
Thank you, I did look at the C25K a couple of years ago, but I'm a liability in terms of balance, I don't think running is going to be my 'thing', I'm looking at the 'Strength and Flex', but starting from home, not a park bench...
If you're looking for strength, flexibility, and balance you might want to try light yoga. I'm 66 and started with a class 6 yrs ago. It is now part of my daily routine at home. The benefits are incredible, but I also do other things--swim, acquagym, walking, strength training, and a stretching routine.
Thank you- I did have a few yoga classes as part of my 'Social Prescribing...' gym package, I had to sit out due to a monumental thigh-tremor, and never went back to that class. I'll start slow and steady, I looked at Pilates years ago, and there are some entry-level videos from reputable sources online.0 -
After I had a few bad falls running (if you could call it that!!!) my trainer suggested I consider power walking.
To me, it seems like it’s just super slow running, but it eliminates my superhuman ability to trip and go flying. The flying’s not so bad, but the landings are a *kitten*.
Anyway it’s still a great workout, it’s not as brutal as running, still burns a lot of calories, it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.0 -
it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?0 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?
@SavageMrsMoose She’s killing it.
You know, it must be something with mooses (moose?) because some other moose chick on my feed table dances in 6-8 inch heels every day.
Or that’s what I SWEAR my eyes see every day, til I do the ScoobyDoo head shake and reset my eyes. But whatever it is the...errr....other Moose is doing is sure burning the calories.0 -
Every time I see this I think it says 6-8 inch heels and I’m in awe1 -
springlering62 wrote: »DancingMoosie wrote: »it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?
@SavageMrsMoose She’s killing it.
You know, it must be something with mooses (moose?) because some other moose chick on my feed table dances in 6-8 inch heels every day.
Or that’s what I SWEAR my eyes see every day, til I do the ScoobyDoo head shake and reset my eyes. But whatever it is the...errr....other Moose is doing is sure burning the calories.
Omg. I died laughing 🤣2 -
springlering62 wrote: »After I had a few bad falls running (if you could call it that!!!) my trainer suggested I consider power walking.
To me, it seems like it’s just super slow running, but it eliminates my superhuman ability to trip and go flying. The flying’s not so bad, but the landings are a *kitten*.
Anyway it’s still a great workout, it’s not as brutal as running, still burns a lot of calories, it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
With you on the 'landing' being worse than the 'falling', I don't drive, so I walk pretty much everywhere anyway, frequently with more grocery-shopping than I should attempt to carry on my own. Various medical issues/ailments mean I have to stay in reasonably populated areas for my semi-regular 'fast walking', the problem with that is swerving dog-walkers, it's getting lighter in the mornings, I'll just have to go out earlier, to avoid the *kitten*-slalom.
With you on the 'other chick' thing, my brother and sister both post workout-updates, and motivational quotes on FB, I'm just plugging away quietly, and hoping for gradual results.
1 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?
We all know one... I'm mostly confining my nutrition/exercise posts to here, because I know how irritating *some* people can become with the incessant updates- my last job had a group of women doing Slimming World in the same office as me, and they never talked about anything else.0 -
springlering62 wrote: »DancingMoosie wrote: »it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?
@SavageMrsMoose She’s killing it.
You know, it must be something with mooses (moose?) because some other moose chick on my feed table dances in 6-8 inch heels every day.
Or that’s what I SWEAR my eyes see every day, til I do the ScoobyDoo head shake and reset my eyes. But whatever it is the...errr....other Moose is doing is sure burning the calories.
I cackled at that. I was 27 before I learned to walk in stilettos without looking like I was auditioning to be a pantomime dame. I'm 5' 9" barefoot, the ex was about the same height, so we had 'issues' when I wore my stiletto-heeled Dr Marten boots, they're gorgeous, but not for dancing in, my 'dancing' is a bit special, somewhat reminiscent of a jellyfish being electrocuted, I worry people might call an ambulance.2 -
springlering62 wrote: »
Every time I see this I think it says 6-8 inch heels and I’m in awe
Dear Gods! When I was at school, we had step classes as a trial. I fell off the step. Balance and co-ordination are not my thing, and I have 'directional dyslexia' (not a thing), my head confuses left and right, so I frequently refer to 'the other left'. When I attended yoga classes, I was the one the instructor had to say "No, your other leg." to. "That IS my other leg, I only have two to choose from, I'm running out of options here."1 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »springlering62 wrote: »DancingMoosie wrote: »it just leaves me sadly jealous of the chick on my “friends list” who runs like the wind for two hours a day. You know: sadly inadequate.
🤔Who is this chick🐣?
@SavageMrsMoose She’s killing it.
You know, it must be something with mooses (moose?) because some other moose chick on my feed table dances in 6-8 inch heels every day.
Or that’s what I SWEAR my eyes see every day, til I do the ScoobyDoo head shake and reset my eyes. But whatever it is the...errr....other Moose is doing is sure burning the calories.
Omg. I died laughing 🤣
Also chuckling at this, the last time my beautiful stilettos were out, I 'smashed it'. Unfortunately, the 'it' in this case was my top lip, after a rapid and unplanned face-down lie-down in a pub. There was gin involved, and I'm still perplexed at HOW my mouth hit the floor, not my nose/forehead, I looked like I'd had cheap implants for about a week. I'm clumsy and uncoordinated, I can fall off the floor, those boots, and that much gin is a mistake I'm not planning to repeat.0 -
Apologies to those who posted earlier this week, I'm still working my way around this platform, and didn't realise there were replies.
A couple of weeks into using MFP, I'm gradually adjusting to eating three times a day, I was a horrendous 'grazer', but don't really have an appetite, I'd eat food 'because it was there', the accountability with this system is helping me, as is looking at the overview, to see what macronutrients I 'need' for dinner, to round-out the balance for the day. (Still tend to go 'over' on carbs, because my head is still stuck in the 'Eatwell Guidance' mode.)
Getting into something like a routine for exercise is going to be the next step, amongst my plethora of medical issues, I have photo-sensitive hemiplegic migraine, I can't go out and do my walking if the light is 'wrong' (As well as everywhere in this village being uphill, far too many of the streets I walk on seem to point east, at this time of year, the angle of the morning sun is problematic.)
The 'Core Restore' trial I've signed up for starts at the end of the month, so I'm doing some gentle prep-work to avoid completely embarrassing myself, a bit like those people who tidy up before their cleaner comes.2 -
I wore stilettos for my daughters wedding a couple Christmases ago. First-and last- time in twenty years or so. Unbelievably painful. And like ice skating, no good if you have weak ankles.
The 'Core Restore' trial I've signed up for starts at the end of the month, so I'm doing some gentle prep-work to avoid completely embarrassing myself, a bit like those people who tidy up before their cleaner comes.
Hahaha!!!! I love this on so many levels!1 -
Have you tried any YouTube videos by Jessica Smith, Leslie Sansone or Pahla B? They have some beginner workouts...1
-
springlering62 wrote: »I wore stilettos for my daughters wedding a couple Christmases ago. First-and last- time in twenty years or so. Unbelievably painful. And like ice skating, no good if you have weak ankles.
The 'Core Restore' trial I've signed up for starts at the end of the month, so I'm doing some gentle prep-work to avoid completely embarrassing myself, a bit like those people who tidy up before their cleaner comes.
Hahaha!!!! I love this on so many levels!
Hehe, I wore ex-army boots at MY wedding, I'm not conventional, or girly. I used to wear 'those' boots when I was security at school proms. "Miss, how can you stand up all night in those?" from girls with their heels in their hands. "Practice." (And a ludicrously high tolerance for pain.)
Tidying up for the cleaner always amuses me, my mother used to hire a sunbed before holidays, so our Yorkshire-white skin didn't snow-blind people on the beach. I'm SUPPOSED to be this pale, the one time she insisted I use the sunbed, I blistered to hell, I'm not the kind of ginger that tans.0 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »Have you tried any YouTube videos by Jessica Smith, Leslie Sansone or Pahla B? They have some beginner workouts...
I haven't, might look them up. In a previous spate of get-fit, I bought a Jillian Michaels 30-day shred DVD, and always wanted to opt-out/vomit at minute 17 of 20. I have no low gears, I'm all-in, or not in at all, I need to be more careful with myself.0 -
Jillian is a little tough. Try the ones I mentioned, and let me know what kind of workouts you like. I'll try to recommend some others.2
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions