Really starting at couch level (lack of) fitness level

[Uris]

I am not healthy. I was really really unhealthy this past year. I am only now beginning to have good days. I have been motivating myself to use the “Active 10” a free APP by the NHS. Unbelievable as it is being active for ten minutes three times a week is challenging and not yet obtainable. I fortunately have lots of areas I could walk in my neighborhood & it’s almost summer. Additionally it would take me a year, but only if I were successful in losing 2 pounds a wee, to JUST get to a healthy weight. Amazingly my BP is a pretty healthy 115/75 but my RESTING HR this year had been 100 is now 78 so definitely improving, not great or ideal but better. Working on BMI & waist size getting smaller & trying to add daily steps SERIOUSLY from none steps to say 4,000/ a day three times a week as a goal right now. It’s delightful to hear everyone’s successes and their week one and so on… because getting to the stage where I could do a week one is currently my goal. I want a lot of things but being healthy should be a no 🙂brainer!

[Jell6 Graduate]

It will get easier and you will be surprised at how much you can do. There's no rush, just keep doing what you are doing until you can tackle the programme as a walking challenge, with brisker walking for the running parts. By the time you can do this you'll be ready. Good luck 😊

[Uris in reply to Jell6]

Thanks I appreciate your kind words of encouragement.

[Pinkpig20 Graduate]

You have made a good start and you may feel your progress is small, but it is progress and it all counts. Keep going! 😀

[Uris in reply to Pinkpig20]

Thanks!

[backintime Graduate]

Congrats on your progress so far, you're doing great!

[Uris in reply to backintime]

👍

[Uris]

Much thanks!

[MatthewR Graduate]

well done! EVERY little step is a step in the healthy direction. You will get there but take it really slowly and easily. The biggest mind change I had was the realisation that my routine and focus to weight and health had changed for good. Good luck with everything 🙂

[Uris in reply to MatthewR]

Yes, definitely attitude makes a huge difference! Thanks

[Petem56 Graduate]

Congratulations on starting your journey, It doesn't matter how long it takes but just keep taking those little improvements step by step.

[Uris in reply to Petem56]

Every improvement is definitely is a positive step forward! Thanks

[Hidden]

A year after I started the C25K, another group of Mums from our school started. One had to be helped back to her car as she almost collapsed while do the 5 minute warm up walk.

In her case, although her BMI was high, it was not excessive, but it did not tell the full story. Her doctor said that her body muscle to fat percentage was the lowest he had seen for a woman in her 30's.

When she got pregnant the first time, she was going to give up work but her boss asked her to stay on and work from home. He did everything he could to make he life easier so that she did not quit. He paid for a cleaner, a nanny to come in during the day once her child was born and takeaway food etc. As she put on weight, her dieting was to skip meals, or just eat green salad veg. The combination of no exercise and low protein in her diet caused severe muscle wastage. She told me that if she had not seen her doctor when she did, she may not have been around for much longer.

She spent the next year under a dietitian and physio/trainer to build up her muscle and fitness again. She amazed me with her determination and her aim was to start and complete the C25K which she eventually did. Running turned out not to be her passion and took up badminton but is keeping fit and well which is the important thing.

To be told that unless you change your ways you will not see your children grow up must be a powerful motivator, but her goal was to be able to complete the C25K program as that had initially beaten her the first attempt.

Good luck with your journey, you can do it.

[Uris in reply to Hidden]

That sounded awful! amazing that an employer would do all that for an employee & for one to be so valued by your employer. Unfortunately I did gain 100 pounds in EXACTLY the span of 3 months due to steroids due to an autoimmune illness. In the following 20 years I put on another 40 pounds. In the last 7 months, I now “ONLY “ need to lose 95 pounds. I made have been super fat but I was also super active; skiing at Lake Louise, Hiking to top of Sulpher Mountain, cycling great distances, swimming & kayaking, etc. But last May everything changed; lungs, fatigue & inactivity. But going forward I have 93 pounds that I still need to lose & I now need to go from inactivity back to my always active lifestyle (even as an EXTREMELY fat person), that is until up till May of 2022. May 2022 till February of this year zero activity. Now Literally stop & go for an hour or two just to get 4,000 steps in. But not able to do walking daily & trying to work right now would & is physically impossible. I have bad days that force me back to bed but on good days I make every effort to be active as I can & I continue to try to lose some weight weekly. I had been my high school weight till I was 38 so that’s ONLY a loss of 93 pounds yet to lose! I LOVE hiking, cycling, swimming & travelling. Broke & unfit but happy & motivated.

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

Well done for recognising the problem and doing something about it.

I look forward to hearing more as your fitness levels increase, which will definitely happen with determination and consistency. You will look back and see how far you’ve come.

‘Rome’ and ‘not built in a day’ come to mind. Be patient and build gradually but be dogged in your perseverance.

Very good wishes to you in your health and fitness quest.

[Uris in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

Thanks for your optimistic view! I like the reference to “Rome wasn’t built in a day” but of course my mind wandered onto the image of Rome burning 🔥. I have given myself obtainable goals to strive towards. It’s super embarrassing to think how “striving” to be only super fat is currently a goal. Oh well! Thanks for the encouragement I really & truly do appreciate it.

[CBDB Graduate]

it’s great that you started with the Active10 app.

Just in case you were not aware, there is a dedicated community here on HealthUnlocked for walking, and supporting individuals on the Active10 journey. It is at healthunlocked.com/active10

You will find many runners and walkers mingle in-between our forums. We even have some monthly fun walking challenges up and running every month.

Currently:

1) Monthly theme: Follow a River at healthunlocked.com/active10...

And

2) photo walk: Yellow healthunlocked.com/active10...

So having a lot of walking routes in your area sounds great for all sorts of future walking explorations.

Hope to see you over there!