Roofs wrote:
Hi guys / girls. Just wondering if it's okay to start a health and fitness thread where we can share experiences, tips etc?
Trying to lose weight and improve overall fitness and health (lost about half a stone since January but long way to go). Am doing pretty much solely treadmill work at the gym, and then at home am doing a mix of kettlebell, yoga and shadow-boxing. Anyone else do any of these and have any advice? I must say it felt weird as a bloke trying yoga at first (not that I'm sexist, just it's still seen by some as more of a "lasses' thing") but it is enjoyable to be fair, and some parts difficult!
The kettlebell is an interesting one - my brother recently told me about it, but apparently its been around for decades. Bought an 8kg one (I'm not a strong or muscular person in the slightest!), at first I was wishing I'd perhaps got a slightly lighter one, but getting used to it.
So, how does everyone else get their fitness rush? Any pointers, success stories etc?
I find weights shed the fat for me. I started going to the gym again (only once a week) just before Christmas after 3 years of not going and only sporadically doing some free weights and I have lost a lot of my accumulated fat, particularly round my waist and neck/face. I wasn't particularly overweight but I feel a lot better for it. I find the machine weights are most effective as they are designed to do the whole of your body with lower risk of injury. You can work your way up easier as well.
Everyone's different and what works for some doesn't work for others. I hate running on treadmills so I don't do it. I like cycling and go for plenty of walks instead.
Kudos for starting though. The hardest part is finding time to start and making sure you don't find something else to do instead of carrying on.
Cod'ead - well done on your diet, although don't cut too much of the things you like out because you're more likely to fail. A few of the lads at work stopped smoking for new year, some just went cold turkey and the rest have got e-cigs. All of them have kept it up and feel a lot better for it - including their pockets!